LITMIR.BIZ

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winding staircases and timeless furnishings.

      He pulled into the underground garage and cut the engine. “Come on. Let me show you around.”

      Reese followed him around the rambling abode, awestruck. Words to describe the hideaway palace escaped her.

      Every room on the second level opened to a deck where the beach was clearly visible. And as much as she hated to cook, she could easily change her tune if she had a kitchen like Max’s. Light streamed in from every angle, dancing off of the chrome and aluminum fixtures and utensils. The center island was a work of art in black and white marble that matched the gleaming tile floors.

      “Kick off your shoes and make yourself at home,” he instructed. “Today is your day. If you feel like dancing,” he said giving her a low bow, “we have—” he pressed a button in the wall “—music.” The silky, sexy voice of Marvin Gaye’s “Distant Lover” floated through the air. “If you feel like swimming, the heated pool is below.” He indicated a door that led to the basement. He grinned mischievously as he watched the expression of childlike wonder skip across her face. “Should you care to immerse yourself in a jettison of aquatic relief, the Jacuzzi is upstairs.”

      Reese beamed in delight. “This is like taking a trip to Disney World. What about if I’m hungry?” she tossed out.

      “The kitchen, madame, is thataway. I’m sure it’s fully stocked and everything you could want is in there. Carmen is always good about taking care of those details.”

      Reese blew out a long breath, put her hands on her waist, and looked all around like a tourist on their first trip to the big city. “This place is absolutely fantastic,” she said finally. She turned to find Maxwell leaning casually against the archway. “But when do you get the chance to enjoy it?”

      “Not often enough,” he admitted, folding his arms in front of him. “But I try to get down here at least every two to three months.”

      Reese nodded. She wanted to ask him how many women he’d shared the glass wonderland with. She wanted to ask him if this was all part of the seduction. And she did.

      “How often do you bring company to this little den of delights?”

      The corner of Maxwell’s mouth quirked upward in a grin. “Do you really want to know?” he taunted.

      “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,” she said, raising her chin in challenge.

      “Not as often as I’d like,” he said being intentionally evasive.

      “Seems like I’ve heard that somewhere before.”

      Maxwell pushed away from the door, crossed the short space and stepped right up to her, forcing her to look up into his eyes. His voice dropped to a rumbling whisper. “Let’s just say your question has been asked and answered.” His dark gaze did a slow waltz across her face. “The important thing is you’re here—right now. Anything or anyone before you, before now, doesn’t matter. So don’t let it.”

      He was so close, Reese could feel the heat from his body reach out and wrap around her. Her heart was racing and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Suddenly he turned away and the spell was broken.

      “I’m going upstairs for a minute,” he said over his shoulder. “Enjoy yourself in the meantime.”

      Reese watched him bound up the stairs. She shook her head in frustration. She just couldn’t figure him out. One minute he was cool and distant, the next he acted as if he’d strip her bare with the slightest provocation.

      She crossed the sunken living room and walked around the redwood table that dominated the center of the room. The hardwood floors, all the color of sand, gleamed as the rays of the sun bounced off of them.

      Soft music drifted through the rooms from speakers built strategically into the walls. Reese opened the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the enclosed deck. She inhaled deeply of the sea-washed air, invigorating herself. Where was all of the California smog she’d heard about? From her vantage point, she could see for miles in every direction. She thought she spotted a car nestled in the shrubs just beyond the perimeter of the house. But there was no reason for…

      “Enjoying the view?”

      Reese jumped at the sudden sound of his voice so close to her ear. She hadn’t heard his approach.

      “You should make some noise and let a person know you’re around,” she said, annoyed at having been caught unaware.

      “Sorry,” he chuckled. “Old habit.”

      “What kind of habit—scaring people to death?”

      Maxwell hung his head and grinned. “Not exactly,” he said, looking up.

      If she didn’t know better she’d swear his eyes were twinkling. “What exactly does that mean?”

      He could see the beginning of a smile teasing the corners of her mouth and knew that he was on safer ground. He slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Well I’ve studied martial arts for a little over twenty years,” he began. “It stresses the importance of harnessing your energy to make your movements one with the environment. When you can accomplish that, you can virtually move from space to space without disturbance.”

      That would certainly account for his uncanny ability to sit for long periods of time without seeming to move a muscle, she realized. “Like a ninja or something,” she offered trying to make a correlation to something familiar.

      Maxwell chuckled and shook his head. “Yeah, something like that,” he teased.

      Reese impatiently folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Don’t patronize me,” she said in a huff. Her eyes narrowed daring him to challenge her.

      He held up his palms in a fending off position. “Sorry,” he apologized with what he felt was just the right amount of sincerity to appease her. She still rolled her eyes.

      “Can I interest you in something to eat—to make amends?”

      One side of her mouth inched upward as she struggled to keep from smiling. “That’s a start.”

      Maxwell turned and stepped through the opening in the sliding door. Reese was on his heels beaming like a Cheshire cat.

      Reese sat on one side of the island on a bar stool with her feet wrapped around the rungs watching Maxwell work wonders in the kitchen. Within minutes, mouthwatering aromas permeated the air.

      “Smells good,” Reese said, skepticism underscoring her husky voice.

      “I’m sure you’ll be quite pleased, Ms. Delaware,” was his pointed reply. He refused to rise to the bait.

      She had no intention of letting him off that easy. “So—what are we having?”

      “Chef’s surprise.”

      She tossed her head back and laughed. “I can see the headlines now,” she spouted, theatrically spreading her hands through the air. “World-famous journalist, Reese Delaware, found poisoned in the posh home of computer wizard, Maxwell Knight.”

      “Very funny,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “I’ll have you know that I’ve been cooking since my preteen years. Since my father was in the military, we traveled a great deal.” He paused to sprinkle some hand-chopped condiments onto the sizzling wok. “With my stepmother working, I learned how to cook as well as pick up some of the native recipes.”

      “What did your father do?”

      “Military intelligence,” he scoffed. “Some high-level stuff he never wanted to talk about.”

      “Hmm.” Reese let that bit of information sink in. “What about your mother? You mentioned stepmother.”

      Maxwell shrugged. “I never knew my birth mother. My father met her when he was stationed in Japan.” He looked down at his handiwork and stirred. “I always

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