Anything but Love Read Online Free PDF

third. “Tell Keerya to see me when she gets in.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Kendall walked straight for her office without another word. It was starting out to be a devil of a day.
    She entered her office and found Max sitting in her chair behind her desk. Did the man not know how big a mess he’d created with his so-called matchmaking attempts? She closed her door with a thud, dropped her briefcase on the leather chair in the corner of her office. “Max, how many times do I have to remind you that I can find my own dates?”
    Max ignored her question. “I was merely trying to speed up the timetable. Admit it, Kee, you know you want Cole. I think you’ve met your match. He doesn’t back down from you like most men. He challenges you. It’s going to be interesting to see who falls first.”
    Kendall’s brain was on overload. Max wasn’t even denying his underhanded plan! “Max, listen to me,” Kendall started slowly. “I am not dating Cole. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. If I see his face again it might be harmful to your health.”
    Max rose from the chair and shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever. You’re still going out with Staci this weekend for girls’ night?”
    With all the drama with Cole the last few weeks, Kendall had completely forgotten about her monthly dinner date with one of her closest friends, Staci Diaz. “Thanks, Max, it had completely slipped my mind. Staci would kill me if I cancelled on her.”
    Max nodded and walked to her. “You know, I do all this for your own good. Kendall, you need some love in your life.”
    Kendall shook her head. “I tried love and it didn’t work. I’m settling for a little friendship, which I have with you.”
    Max looked at her with serious blue eyes. “You know I love you, but you need someone to do the things I can’t.”
    Kendall knew what Max meant. Yes, it would be nice to cuddle and watch a movie with someone, but she didn’t have that option. “Max, it would be nice, but I’m not looking for that. How about I just settle for Mr. Will Do? You know, someone that will do when I need a date and not much else.”
    “I think you’re selling yourself short.”
    “Maybe. But for now that has to be enough.”
    Max kissed her on the cheek.
    Kendall smiled at her friend of six years and laughed. “This is when you say, ‘If I wasn’t married, you’d be my woman.’”
    When Max didn’t answer, Kendall knew it was time for her to drop all pretense. “Okay, Max, I’ll tell you what.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “I’ll be nicer to Cole if you tell me what’s going on in your life. By life, I mean marriage.”
    “Why do I feel like I’ve just been escorted to the corner of the room and there’s no way out but yours?”
    Kendall batted her eyelashes, something she’d never do in front of anyone other than Max. “Because you’d be right.”
    “How about you come to Nurses’ Night Out, next Friday? If you do, then we have a deal.”
    Kendall knew this was another example of getting what she paid for, but decided to play along. She extended her hand to Max. “Deal.”
    Max smiled. “Pleasure doing business with you.” He headed for the door.
    “Wait just a minute. Spill it.”
    He stopped at the door and took a dramatic breath. “All right.” He turned around and walked back to her. “Remember, you wanted to know, so I’m telling you. And only you.”
    Kendall nodded.
    “For the last few years, Caitlin and I have been having problems. She didn’t like the idea of me returning to school after Carson was born. She says I spend too much time at the hospital. And I’m just tired of arguing with her. I know I tell you you deserve some happiness, but I think I deserve some, too. Do you know I’ve haven’t been intimate with Caitlin in almost three years? Carson is four.”
    Until recently, Kendall had always thought her friend was happy. “I’m sorry, Max.”
    “It’s not your fault. Caitlin and I have been married ten years, and I