Love in Xxchange: Miles to Go Read Online Free PDF Page B

TO GO
    Bailey Bradford
    25
     
    Those were bad enough, but even worse was owning up to why he’d refused Bo’s
    invitation. The fact was, Max was scared to say yes. Bo made him feel things he just didn’t know how to deal with, and even now he wouldn’t examine those things too closely. Max had been alone for more years than not. He hadn’t felt any particular desire to be with another person, not in any way. He knew that made him well past odd and it wasn’t something he cared to shout out from a rooftop or anything. There were reasons for it, he imagined, but he’d never delved too deep in his psyche to search them out. It had just been easier to accept it and keep to himself outside of working relationships.
    And yet, here at the Galloway Ranch, he’d kind of made friends, of sorts. Work friends, at least. It’d been impossible to keep Chance and Rory neatly labelled as just bosses, and there was Annabelle. Max hadn’t been around a lot of women; he’d pretty much stayed on whatever ranch he’d worked on except when he couldn’t get out of it. Even then, it hadn’t been like there’d been women throwing themselves at his feet.
    Max snorted softly. Like he’d have noticed if any had. On the rare occasions when he was out somewhere where there were female folk, he ignored them. Max kept his mind on what needed to be done, and he hardly saw anything or anyone not related to that task.
    Probably God himself could walk right past Max and he wouldn’t notice.
    Well, I’m going to hell for that thought if nothing else. Guess even Daddy’s belt couldn’t whip the sacrilegious thoughts out of me. And I sure don’t want to go thinking about all that shit right now.
    Most of his memories regarding his parents and home life were as painful as thinking about Bo hurt, scared and alone.
    Max closed his eyes as he chewed the last bite of his sandwich and pictured Bo, his eyes twinkling, something hot and mysterious in their hazel depths, his broad smile and those deep dimples. The Texas sun must have poured on more heat despite it being winter, because Max felt it roll over him like a wave. The muscles in his stomach quivered and the insides of his thighs shook as fantasy Bo laughed, the light tinkling sound shooting from Max’s memories into his bones, making him ache in a way he couldn’t fathom.
    “You about ready to get back to work now?”
    Max nodded as he opened his eyes, almost resenting Annabelle for chasing off that phantom Bo. Annabelle stood and dusted her hands on her jeans and tipped her head towards his truck. “I didn’t hear it ring, but do you want me to go check anyway?”
    MILES TO GO
    Bailey Bradford
    26
     
    “I’ll do it,” Max said as he stood. His knees popped and his lower back cramped a bit.
    He grimaced as he shot Annabelle a bashful look. “It’s hell getting older.”
    “Beats the alternative, which is not getting older,” Annabelle pointed out. “And all the plastic surgery and crap like that in the world doesn’t stop someone from getting older. It just makes them look really fucking creepy for the most part. So the way I see it, getting older beats being dead, you know?”
    He couldn’t really argue with that. Max checked the phone and didn’t see any missed calls or texts. It occurred to him he might not hear it if it went off while he was working on the fence. “You got your cell phone on you?” he asked as he peered over his shoulder at Annabelle. She nodded. “It okay with you if I text Rory and Chance and tell them to call your number if they hear anything?”
    “Of course, like you even have to ask.” Annabelle plucked her phone out of her shirt pocket. “I’ll text them.”
    With the matter settled, Max tried to get some of his focus back on work. He wouldn’t be doing anyone any favours if he got careless with the barbed wire. Despite his best attempts, though, Bo remained in his thoughts, his laughing visage almost constantly on Max’s