The bartender came to us and Max ordered four beers.

I studied Harry then turned into Max’s body and wrapped my other arm around him too. “I’ll go and keep him company.”

Max looked down at me. “I thought you were keepin’ me company.”

“You have company,” I tipped my head to Brody at the pool table, “Harry doesn’t.”

Max bent his neck so his face was closer to mine before he told me, “Brody’s been my best friend for a long time, honey, and it’s good havin’ him home. Still, prefer your company.”

This made me feel nice, very nice and, again, I pressed closer but I pointed out, “I can’t do locker room talk.”

“Not that I ever do locker room talk but if I did, I wouldn’t do it with your Stepdad.”

I nodded my indication that I thought this was wise. “Then it’s probably not good that I’m around, seeing as you won’t be able to complain about my foibles and neither can Steve about Mom’s.”

“Foibles?”

“Faults, bad habits.”

“Tellin’ you a man secret, babe, but men aren’t like women. We get together, we don’t bitch. We just drink and, if we talk at all, we talk about the game.” I smiled at him and he went on, “We did bitch though, again, not sure I’d share my thoughts on your faults with Steve.”

My happy mood evaporated, my body got tense and my eyes narrowed. “So you think I have them?”

He grinned. “Baby, you set yourself up for that one.”

“Okay, what are they then?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Your ass looks too good in those cords.”

I blinked for this was not what I expected as a response.

My “attitude”, yes. My habit of trying to stop a discussion when I was losing an argument, definitely. My inability to say no to dessert, probably.

My bottom in my cords, no.

So I asked, “Sorry?”

“You walked across the room and practically every guy you passed looked at your ass. Hell, you’re standin’ here pressed up to me and still every guy who passes is lookin’ at your ass.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see if this claim was true. Max’s body started shaking with laughter then he pulled slightly away to get out his wallet.

“You’re lying,” I accused.

“Nope,” he said, flipping his wallet open and taking his arm from my shoulders to pull out some bills so I dropped my arms.

“Well, if that’s true, it’s not my fault.”

“Gotta put some meat on you, Duchess. No one’s lookin’ at Kami’s ass,” Max lifted his chin to the bartender to keep the change, flipped his wallet closed and shoved it in his pocket.

“She’s sitting down.”

“They were checkin’ you out when you were sittin’ down too.”

“My behind?”

He looked at me and stated, “Nope, your hair, face and, sometimes, tits.”

I gasped then breathed, “They were not.”

He grinned. “Babe, they were.”

“You’re full of it.”

He shook his head and his eyes went over my shoulder then he grabbed two of the beer bottles from the bar and handed them to a passing Steve who was making his way back to the pool table. Steve smiled at me but said no more before he moved off to join Brody.

Max handed me a beer and took the other one. Then his arm slid around my waist and he pulled me to his front.

“Why d’you find that hard to believe?”

I explained it to him, “They’re just looking at me because they’re curious because I’m with you.”

“Maybe that’s why some of the women are lookin’ at you. The men are lookin’ at you because you got a pretty face, great hair and nice tits.”

“Max!” I snapped.

“It’s true.”

“You just like me.”

He shook his head and his arm got tighter. “Shockin’, Nina Sheridan fishin’ for compliments.”

His comment annoyed me for it was patently untrue therefore I pulled back from his arm but it just got tighter so I gave up and snapped, “I’m not doing that.”

He was grinning again before he remarked, “Christ, you go from sweet to pissed faster ‘n lightnin’.”

“Only because five minutes ago I was in the mood to be sweet then you were annoying.”

His brows went up. “Tellin’ you you’re hot is annoying?”

“Telling me all the guys are checking me out when they aren’t is annoying.”

“Babe.”

“Max.”

We seemed to be at a stalemate then he sighed.

Then he said, “I’ll tell you somethin’, whether you believe they’re lookin’ or not, you gotta know, I don’t care they look. They can only guess what that ass, tits and hair promises but I know.”

I rolled my eyes even though my stomach pitched in a good way. Max started laughing and I hoped, since I knew now that he could read my face, that what my stomach did wasn’t written there.

“I’m going to go talk to Harry now,” I informed him when he’d controlled his amusement.

“Yeah, you can do that after you kiss me.”

I decided to give in and avoid the inevitable argument so I leaned up, placed a hand on his bicep and touched my mouth to his. Then I pulled back several inches but Max jerked me forward again so I was plastered to him.

“That’s a kiss?” he asked.

“Um… yes,” I answered surprised to find myself plastered against him.

“Honey, not even close.”

My eyes got wide as I understood his meaning. “I’m not making out with you in a bar.”

“Why not?”

“Why?”

His face again dipped closer. “Because, first, I want you to. And second, whether you believe it or not, guys are checkin’ you out and that’d be me stakin’ my claim.”

“Staking your claim?”

“It’s a guy thing.”

“It’s a Macho Mountain Man thing.”

“Same thing.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You gonna kiss me or what?”

“If I don’t, you’re just going to kiss me anyway, aren’t you?”

Again, he gave me a grin. “You finally got that?”

“Impossible,” I muttered.

“Kiss me, Duchess.”