Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Twenty

The rest of the week passed by uneventfully. If they didn't go to blondie's birthday barbecue, it might raise suspicions. Lizzy was Abby's closest friend. Abby would naturally go about her routine, at least until they had a handle on the threat. She was their only link.

Eleven in the morning and the sun was already baking hot. Max dressed casually in faded jeans and a white T-shirt. While waiting for Abby to emerge from her bedroom, he ambled down the passage and paused at her studio. The woman was talented. A new canvas featuring a charging African elephant sat on the easel. The rough sketch already captured the movement and power of the giant mammal. Throughout the busy week, Abby had still made time for her art. Sandals clicked as Abby walked towards him.

"What do you think?"

Abby's deep blue dress blew his socks off, complementing her warm chocolate hair and tanned skin. She'd paired it with tan sandals and a matching belt. The dress flowed casually to the floor and clung in all the right places. The gentle dip of her cleavage peeking through had him working up a sweat.

"Killer dress," he said gruffly.

"I mean about the artwork."

Max looked at her blankly.

"You were looking at my new canvas?"

"Um. It's good. Amazing. You have bucket loads of talent."

"I don't need to be pandered to. I won't be able to improve if people aren't honest with me."

Max leaned towards her, taking in her comforting scent. "Do I look like someone who panders? If I didn't like it, I'd tell you."

Abby nibbled her lip. Did she know what that simple action did to a man? This assignment was hell. Max pushed away from the wall. "Let's go, Abby, we're going to be late."

***

"It's as hot as fucking balls," Max muttered.

"Hot and dry, baby. Just pretend you're in your sauna back home," Johnny said before sauntering away. The men never got tired of the Finnish jokes.

"Screw you, Big Bird!" Max poured a Sprite, loading it with ice.

Lizzy's backyard was a hive of activity; South Africans sure knew how to throw a party. Endless amounts of meats sizzled on the grill, tables overflowed with salads, and the beers were flowing. Max eventually lost track of all the family members. Each person was just as crazy as the last, and it was clear where Lizzy got her energetic nature from. Roars of laughter and good-natured ribbing filled the yard. Lizzy raced past, giggling as one of her crazy cousins threatened to push her into the pool.

She'd merged her eighties vintage vibe seamlessly with current fashion trends, in fitted jeans with a neon-pink belt matched with a striped white-and-pink tank top. Converse sneakers and chunky bracelets finished the look. Her blonde hair was blown out into a fluffy hairdo. Max kept a close eye on the girls as he stood with the men around the grill.

Abby stood amongst the chaos like a beacon in foggy seas. She smiled sweetly at one of Lizzy's jokes. It pleased him that she was relaxing among her friends. She deserved every ounce of joy after all the misery she'd suffered, first at the hands of her father and then that bastard monster, Khalid.

Max couldn't resist walking over and placing a hand on her waist. They were supposed to be newly dating—that was their cover story and he took every opportunity to drive that home. Not that it was a hardship—if anything it felt natural to slide his hand into hers or to stroke her back—it felt too darn good.