Chapter 14

Max went into Kyle’s room to wake her up. It was the first night she didn’t share a bed with either of the brothers.

They were trying to make her feel as if she had a say in things so she would want to stay with them.

“Little bee, it’s time to wake up,” he whispered in her ear and kissed her on the cheek.

“Do I have to?” she asked as she rolled over and stretched out, looking at Max. She loved looking at Max. He had a rough exterior and sharp facial features, but she knew he was soft deep down.

“I’m afraid you do. I have things planned for us, so get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes.”

Kyle was excited. She hadn’t gotten the chance to be with Max outside of the house, and she didn’t know him well enough to figure out what he had planned for her.

***

Max surprised her. They ended up in town at a small bookstore.

“Pick whatever you like. If you want it, pick it up.”

“Really? How many?” she asked Max.

“There is no limit, little bee.” Max watched her eyes light up. He had no idea that books would make her so happy.

“I love books, but we couldn’t afford them most of the time. The books I have were given to me, so this is a real treat, Max. Thank you.” She stood on her toes and kissed him.

She took her time and walked through the bookstore picking up books and putting them down. Kyle loved that she could get whatever she wanted, but she didn’t want to go crazy.

By the time she was done, she had picked out ten books.

“Is that all you want?” Max asked her.

“For now.”

Max helped her to the counter, looking at the books she had picked out. She had a little bit of everything. She picked The Great Gatsby, Jane Austen, a ~How to Learn Russian~ book, and some romance novels.

After they paid for the books, they walked back to the car. Kyle thought they were done and was confused when Max only unlocked the trunk.

“Are we not leaving?”

“No, a trip to the bookstore isn’t complete without a trip to a café,” Max said, grabbing her hand so we would walk next to him.

Max liked that Kyle was much smaller than him; he liked the feeling of having to protect her.

***

Kyle loved her day out with Max. She was happy with the bookstore, but to have lunch with him while he treated her like his girlfriend made her happy.

She noticed that Max seemed so light and carefree out with her, and she liked seeing him like that.

Kyle realized that Max was driving out of town the opposite way he came in.

“Is this a different way home?” she asked him.

Max smiled because she called it home.

“~Nyet~.”

“That means no?” She was almost sure that was what he said.

“Very good. You’ll be speaking Russian in no time. We have one more stop,” was all Max would give her.

Max turned into a parking lot, and when Kyle saw the name on the building she couldn’t contain her excitement.

“I love animals,” she squealed.

“I thought you would. When we go in there, you can pick out any dog you want,” Max told her.

“Why are you giving me all these things?” she asked Max.

“I want you to be a happy little bee. I want you to like it with us.”

“But Max, I already love being here with you. I thought I would hate it, and I thought you and Dimitri were horrible people, but you are so much more.”

Kyle leaned over and kissed Max. “But now that we are here, I’m getting me that dog you just said I could have.”

“Fair enough,” Max said while leaning in to kiss her.

Kyle had a hard time picking out which dog to adopt. If it were up to her, she would have taken all of them.

She ended up picking a small dog that was a mixture of breeds. It was quiet and scared and came to her right away.

“You sure you want this one?”

She glared at Max. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m going to name her Elliot.”

Even though small dogs were not Max’s thing, he would let her have a dozen if it made her smile.

“All right, little bee, let’s take her home then.”