Turn It Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

and Dad came up with decent Max names to meet the requirement of the legacy fund. Auntie Maxamule—I can’t say her name without wanting to giggle.”
    “Maximilian is bad as well.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Is it terrible to admit I don’t like our cousin very much?”
    Max leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs, letting the sun warm his face. Was Tasha asleep or thinking about his proposal? “He’s a fake, that’s why. You’re too sweet to like someone who’s a phony.”
    “I’m not sweet.”
    He guffawed. “Yes, you are.”
    “I’m not.”
    “Are too.”
    She narrowed her eyes and he made a face at her. “Oh, you’re so grown-up.”
    They smiled at each other, their conversation having digressed back to twin-speak. Max looked his sister over as she sipped her tea. She was sweet, and innocent, and he was glad to be able to work with her. She had a soft heart, and he didn’t mind watching over her, like any good brother would. In a family as big as the Turners, there was something happening all the time, and Maxine was usually right in the middle of it. He’d learned to withdraw a bit from the constant clannish demands, partly because he’d been working for himself since he’d discovered computers. Maxine never seemed to have learned to say no.
    He opened his mouth to tell her about Tasha, then took a quick gulp of tea instead. Until he had something concrete to tell, he wasn’t going to share. And until Tasha made a decision, there was nothing to convey.
    It felt kind of strange, to keep a secret from Maxine. Not that he told her everything, but they were close. She chatted about something going on with a couple of their younger cousins over the past week, and he nodded and listened as best he could. All the while his thoughts drifted. Back to the soft touch of Tasha’s skin under his fingers when he’d kissed her. To the taste of her lips. He could hardly wait to make love with her.
    “What do you think?”
    He jerked upright guiltily. “Sorry, Maxy, lost my train of thought for a minute.”
    She laughed. “Didn’t get much sleep last night, hey? I heard you ended up driving Cousin Lila and her drinking buddies home. I thought I was the only one sweet enough to get suckered like that.” She batted her eyes and he groaned.
    “I didn’t mind.” No, he hadn’t. Hadn’t minded one bit. In terms of charitable acts, it ranked right up there as one of the most self-serving activities he’d ever taken part in.
    He sat back and concentrated harder on Maxine. Tasha wouldn’t be calling any time soon, and until tomorrow, his life was in limbo.

    There was something hard poking her in the belly, and the most god-awful taste in her mouth. Tasha rolled over, tossed the shoe she’d found to the floor and winced as the sunshine pouring in the window stabbed her in the eyes. Okay, officially not the best way to spend a day. She levered herself vertical, fearful her head would spin, or her stomach.
    It was her heart that did back flips when she spotted the file folder on the side table.
    Maxwell Junior had proposed to her.
    She wasn’t sure which rose faster or higher—confusion or anger. He hadn’t done anything on purpose to upset her, but damn it all, she’d had everything figured out. She was happy with her plan for artificial insemination. All the arguments he’d gone through she’d fought out with herself over the past months. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d be a fabulous mother, and any baby that did come along would be well loved and cared for. Still, she wasn’t about to argue that two good parents couldn’t provide even more, and she loved the thought of having extended family for her child.
    But it wasn’t possible. She’d tried the regular route of getting involved with a partner. She’d had no luck finding anyone she wanted to spend a year with, let alone long enough to raise a child.
    I like Max.
    Her mind darted everywhere. It wasn’t acceptable for him