Page 4

He had spent the half an hour in complete silence, a frown etching his brow.

She had wanted to ask him about the woman in the store but thought better of it.

Kai was not easy to deal with, and she was already treading on shaky ground where he was concerned.

But she had seen the look on his face when he saw the woman—one of shocked surprise and something else.

It was the something else that had her feeling this unease.

Her career was drying up; parts were few and far between and she wanted him as her back-up plan.

He was an excellent lover, and it did not hurt that he was gorgeous and loaded.

He had connections, the kind that would catapult her dying career and give her the respectability she craved.

As Mrs. Kai Tanaka, she would be untouchable.

No one was going to take that away from her.

Forcing an alluring smile, she touched his arm lightly. "I expect dinner tonight at my place."

Without responding, he rounded the hood and tipped the valet who had rushed out to take care of the car. "I won't be staying."

"Right, Mr. Tanaka."

Kai slid into the driver's seat, the tension still coiling in his stomach like a spring wound too tight.

He replayed the encounter in his mind, her voice, her defiance, and her watchful eyes that revealed nothing.

Maxie had always been like that—guarded, enigmatic, as though she could disappear into her own world and take all her secrets with her. It infuriated him.

He gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening as he navigated the streets with precision born of habit rather than attention.

His mind, however, was consumed by her. The years had not dulled her beauty, nor had they softened the sharp edge of her demeanor.

If anything, she had become more formidable, more self-assured.

And yet, there had been that flicker—so brief he might have imagined it—of vulnerability when he had touched her.

It was that vulnerability he couldn't shake from his mind.

Parking outside his office building, Kai strode past the glass doors without acknowledging the flurry of greetings from staff who instinctively stepped aside for him. His assistant, a sharp-eyed woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, hurried to keep up, her tablet at the ready.

"Cancel my afternoon meetings. I don't want to be disturbed unless it's an emergency," he said curtly, not breaking his stride.

"Yes, Mr. Tanaka," she replied, her tone neutral, though her raised brow spoke volumes. It wasn't like him to deviate from his meticulously crafted schedule.

Kai entered his private office, closing the door firmly behind him. The vast room, with its minimalist décor and floor-to-ceiling windows, seemed too expansive, too hollow in that moment. He loosened his tie and sank into the leather chair behind his desk, staring at the skyline without seeing it.

He needed answers. About Maxie, about the life she had carved out for herself, and about the walls she had built so expertly around her. The past was not something he revisited lightly but seeing her again had awakened something in him—something restless, something unresolved.

Pulling out his phone, he hesitated for only a moment before dialing. The voice on the other end answered on the second ring.

"Mr. Tanaka," the man said, his tone professional but curious.

"I need you to look into someone. Discreetly," Kai said, his voice steady, though his hand tightened around the phone.

"Of course. Name?"

"Maxie..." He paused, the sound of her name catching in his throat. "Maxie Priestley. I want everything—her business, her connections, her life over the past ten years. And make it fast."

"Understood, sir."

Hanging up, Kai leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the horizon as shadows played across his face. Whatever it was that had transpired between them all those years ago, it wasn't over. Not by a long shot, he decided. She was not going to shut him out.

She walked the dog. As soon as she got home, she changed into an old pair of sweats and gave Brutus his fondest wish. Tagging along with him through the nearby park. Which to her relief was practically empty—due no doubt to the chilly evening.

She did not want to think. After Kai had left, she had buried herself in work, refusing to satisfy her workers' curiosity about their intense conversation.

"Come on boy," she called out as she threw him a stick for him to fetch.

"He's pretty energetic, isn't he?"

She jolted at the sound of the male voice behind her and felt the stab of fear. The park was practically deserted by now and it had gotten even darker. Turning around, she was about to make an excuse and get the hell away when she realized who it was.

"Oh, hi. It's Matthew Oakley, isn't it? You came into the store a few times to purchase something for your sister."

His light blue eyes lit up in pleasure. "I'm flattered you recognized me."

"How could I not remember the man who came rushing in, frantically to try and find an appropriate gift for his sister's engagement party?" She gave him a friendly smile as she tossed the stick for Brutus as he came rushing forward to run circles around them. "How did she like it?"

"She adored it. Hence the second and third trips. I've been meaning to make another visit."

"To buy another dress?"

He shuffled his feet and ducked his head. "Not really. I wanted to ask you out." He laughed at the surprised look on her face. "Oh, come on. You cannot be shocked. You happen to be an incredibly beautiful woman."

"Why, thank you." This time her smile was wider. He had the type of face that invited confidence, and she recalled him saying that he was a lawyer.

"Do you live around here?"

"A few miles away," he gestured to the left. "Up those hills. I recall you saying that you often utilize the park."

"And you just happen to be using it this evening."

"A coincidence that I am not going to question.

" His eyes twinkled. He was attractive in a rumpled sort of way with thinning sandy hair falling over his forehead.

He might not be the gorgeous type, she thought—pushing the image of a certain male from her mind, but he looked honest and open.

And after her encounter this afternoon with Kai, she was feeling bruised and emotional.

"Come on boy," she whistled and Brutus came bounding over, tongue hanging out.

"German Shepherd?" Matthew asked. Hunkering down, he delighted Brutus by tickling his belly.

"He is." Maxie laughed as the dog rolled over and over on the grass. "If you keep that up, he will want to go home with you."

"I doubt he would make the switch from you to me." Rising, Matthew dusted his hands and shoved them into the pockets of his sweats. "Would you mind if I walked with you?"

Snapping on the leash, she shook her head. "Not at all."

He fell into step with her and for a few minutes, they walked in silence.

The energetic run had loosened her hair from the careless ponytail and had tendrils whipping around her face.

Matthew was trying to find a way to ask her out but found himself tongue tied in her presence.

She wasn't wearing makeup and her sweatsuit looked as if it had seen several cycles in the washing machine, but he had never seen a more beautiful woman.

Clearing his throat, he made his move as soon as they reached the wrought iron gate that led to her house.

"Look," he moistened his lip and tried again.

"I really like you. I am thirty years old and single.

I have been divorced for the past year and a half and have stayed away from relationships since then.

You already know that I am a lawyer and a particularly good one—even if I say so myself.

I live alone and can cook a decent meal if the occasion requires it.

Basically, what I am saying is I would like to take you out for dinner. "

Her first instinct was to refuse politely.

She was not ready and in the past when she thought she was, it had ended up disastrously. But there was an appealing expression on his rugged face and dammit, she was going to have to move on. Staying steeped in the past was ruining her life and she could not afford that. Enough was enough.

"That's quite a testimonial." Her smile was genuine this time and took his breath away.

"Impressive enough?"

She angled her head to stare at him quizzically. "Was that the reason for it? To impress me?"

He shuffled his feet and had her grinning. "I have a feeling my answer had better be in the negative."

"Smart man."

He grinned at her sheepishly. "What do you say Maxie? How about a date? Dinner and dancing at the Luxe."

Her tapered brows lifted. "Now, I really think you're trying to impress me."

"Maybe. Is that a yes?"

She shrugged. "It's a—I'll think about it. Why don't you drop in at the store tomorrow and I'll let you know?"

His eyes lit up and warmed her heart. "Sounds promising. I'll wait until you go inside."

"Oh, there's no need."

He shook his head. "My dearly departed mother would be very disappointed if I just walked away."

Tugging on the leash, she waved at him before heading towards the house.

"I'll close the gate."

"Thanks." With another wave, she bounded up the steps and unlocked the door.

He was still there when she looked out the window.

He saluted her before turning and walking back where they came from.

Fixing the curtain back in place, she hunkered down to rub her dog's furry face, smiling when he proceeded to shower her with wet kisses.

"Time for a new chapter," she muttered.