Before the Moon Rises (3 page)

smell my car on me?"

"No, I could smell you on the car."

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Before the Moon Rises

by Catherine Bybee

He was serious. He didn't even cut a smile with his

explanation. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

Max leaned over the center console and took a deep

breath through his nose. "The last thing you ate in here was a

hamburger."

"Me and half of America."

Undaunted by her sarcasm, he went on. "Double double

from In and Out without onions, fries and a diet coke."

She knew her mouth was open, his laugh made her close

it.

"How do you keep your figure eating like that? I thought

nurses were all health freaks."

"Fast metabolism," she explained still put back by his

observation.

"This is my exit." Max pointed at the sign.

Janet let him lead her up and into the hills above

Hollywood. Soon the houses started to spread out and the

driveways grew longer. He guided her to a gate where hedges

kept anyone from the street from seeing in.

"This is your house?"

"No, this is my gate."

Janet stopped at the voice box and rolled down her

window. "There are no numbers."

"No, there isn't." Max leaned over her body, his face mere

inches from hers. "Excuse me." He reached out and pressed

one of the buttons on the call box. No one answered. Instead,

a small door opened and a laser type camera emerged.

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She sat back and watched the laser scan his eye. Done, a

British voice came over the intercom. "Welcome home, Mr.

Ritter."

Janet gawked at him. How could she not? He was so damn

close. Before Max settled back into the passenger seat he

nudged closer and deliberately sniffed her hair. His eyes

closed briefly as if savoring the smell.

She squeezed her legs together in an attempt to block out

the tingling between her thighs.

A metallic hum of the automatic gate opening broke the

spell. "Shall we?" she asked.

She knew he wasn't homeless, but this was ridiculous. He

had a butler. Who has a butler? His house was huge! Thirty-

foot ceilings, massive archways and marble columns made up

the entryway and hall. Artwork the size of her car covered the

immense walls of what had to be a formal living room.

James, the butler, helped her out of her sweater and

offered her coffee when Max went off to get dressed. She

accepted the coffee, but instead of sitting to drink it, she

wandered around Mr. Naked Man's home.

Could this really be his house? If it was, then why the hell

was he naked on the streets if he lived like this?

Was he into drugs? Suddenly nervous, Janet put her coffee

cup down. She noticed cameras, or what she knew were

cameras, hidden by small black disks on the walls and ceiling.

Was he spying on her now?

Max glanced over at the bank of monitors on the wall. He

watched her pace his home. Her hands skimmed over several

pricy pieces of art. He could see her breath quicken.

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He slipped into a casual sweater, but decided against a

shave. From the expression on Miss O'Brien's face, she was

ready to bolt. He ran a hand through his hair and grabbed the

remote controlling the surveillance equipment. After pressing

a button, the wall of monitors disappeared.

He yanked his keys off the dresser and shoved his wallet in

his pocket before heading out the door.

"You ready?" He bounced down the stairs. She had already

headed for the door.

"Why is it locked?" She tossed an accusing look his way.

"It's locked?"

"Yeah, it is." She tugged on the door.

Max strode over to the control panel by its side and started

punching buttons. "I have a new security system. Damn

things too complicated."

She stood back, her trembling hand slipped into her purse.

"New security system?" she asked.

"Yeah, someone robbed me a few months ago, my

insurance agency suggested this." He continued with the

buttons he knew weren't connected with the lock on the door.

"Shit," he exclaimed when he tested the door himself.

"James?" he hollered.

"Sir?"

"Can you get me the phone, the door's jammed again."

The butler returned moments later, a cordless in his hand.

Max smiled down at Janet who seemed to ease up. He dialed

his brother's number.

"Holy shit, Max is that you?"

"Hey Rich, the door is locking itself again."

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Before the Moon Rises

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Richard, knowing Max only called him Rich when he wasn't

at liberty to talk candidly, picked up on his cue and starting to

ask yes and no questions. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I tried that." Max rolled his eyes in Janet's direction.

"What the hell happened last night?"

"If I could tell you that, I wouldn't be standing here

instead of taking a pretty lady out for breakfast."

Richard started to laugh. "Man you work fast. Who is she?"

"Ah huh."

"Oops, all right I get it, you can't talk. Did you find

Gorman?"

"Yes."

"Did he see you?"

"I think so."

"Shit, did you save the victim?"

Max noticed Janet check her watch. "Kind of, listen I really

need to get this door working properly. I want you to get over

here and fix it. I can't be locked in my own house."

"All right I'm on my way. How long will you be gone?"

"A couple of hours? That's not good enough, I need to

leave now." Max punched another series of numbers and a

green light went on. He turned the knob and opened the door.

"Okay, that worked, but I still want you to get over here and

fix this damn thing."

Max hung up, handed the phone over to James and lifted

his arm to Janet. "Ready?"

They drove his car, one of them anyway. It seemed Janet

wasn't the only one who liked fast cars. She actually balked at

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his suggestion that he drive until he opened the garage door

and showed her the Ferrari.

Something about the rumble of the engine churned up her

blood. She walked over to it and caressed the fiberglass as if

it were the skin of a lover. "Nice."

"I'm glad you approve."

She eased into the passenger seat and spread her hands

on the Italian leather. "So where are you taking me?"

"Are you up for a drive?" He turned the key in the ignition,

the engine roared to life. The purr was positively erotic.

"Yeah."

"Good."

He pulled out of his driveway and headed west.

Traffic was light, and the road up the coast clear. Max

watched her out of the corner of his eye. The grin she wore

spoke volumes on how she reacted to the drive.

It wasn't often he used his Ferrari to turn a woman's head,

but he knew it was the weapon of choice for this one. He had

to keep her close or Gorman would have her for dinner. At

least that's what he told himself. The more time he spent with

her, however, the more intrigued he became.

The scent she gave off drove him mad. Earlier when he

leaned into her to open his gate, he nearly lost it. He could

hardly wait to see how she would taste.

He maneuvered around the curve a little fast, as she had

earlier. He watched her cross her legs and wondered if her

body hummed. He felt himself stiffen with the thought. She

closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She moved her

hips in the seat.

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Oh, yeah... she hummed.

"What made you become a nurse?" Max needed a

distraction. Concentrating on whether or not her panties were

wet wasn't cooling his libido.

"Job security."

"You're kidding? You didn't have a Florence Nightingale

complex?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble." She laughed but kept her

eyes shut. "Not every nurse or doctor is one because of their

overwhelming need to save the world. Some of us have bills

to pay."

"You're blowing my illusions out of the water, first the car,

now this."

She opened one eye, glanced his way, and then shut it.

"Considering you were found naked and unconscious, I

wouldn't cast stones."

Splashing a grin, Max agreed. "You have a point."

The conversation stopped for a few minutes. The soothing

roar of the engine was like the strings of a well-played violin.

Surf pounded on the rocks of the shore along side them.

Janet appeared to sink deeper into the leather seat and said,

"Don't think I'm not going to ask."

"Ask what?"

"Why the medics found you naked."

She wasn't asking now, he noticed. She simply said she

wasn't going to let him off the hook. He didn't worry, he had

a thousand excuses. Although, being a nurse she could

probably toss away nine hundred and eighty of them.

Saying nothing more, Max continued the drive.

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Before the Moon Rises

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They arrived at an old Victorian home that someone had

the good sense to convert into a restaurant years before. The

warm and cozy atmosphere felt like a bed and breakfast.

Seawater pounded over the rocks sending a cascade of white

foam in its wake. A transom window held open by a spring

filtered cool air into the room which added sound to the

breathtaking views.

Janet slipped into the booth and studied the menu. She

had so many questions, but didn't really want to ask them.

Admittedly, she was afraid of the answers.

Other than the fact she nicknamed Max, Mr. Naked Man,

Janet could find nothing wrong with him.

Aside from the obvious physical attraction, he was polite,

well-mannered and somewhat chivalrous. Janet couldn't

remember the last time someone she dated opened the door

for her and he had done so twice in less than an hour. Oh,

yeah, she thought. Don't forget the rich part. He would have

to be to drive a three-hundred-thousand dollar car.

That was where she kept hanging up. Mr. Naked Man, lots

of money, no explanation...
Damn. Who is he?

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

She put the menu down and folded her hands on the table.

"You."

He nodded and stared her in the eye. "I don't suppose I

can put off my explanations until we get to know each other

better?"

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"I'm here against my better judgment, getting to know me

better is completely dependent on this conversation."

He flashed his million-dollar smile. "What if I told you I

have seizures?"

"Beep... try again, seizures that put patients out as long as

you were, wake up disoriented and confused."

"But..."

"Not to mention, the DMV would have taken your license

away, and I sincerely doubt you would drive that machine out

there." She waved toward the parking lot. "And risk smashing

it to pieces."

His smile wavered. "I have to admit, I have a small drug

habit."

"Beep... I had the medics give you a drug, which reverses

the effects of almost everything out there. And I glanced at

your tox screen. Negative. Not even alcohol."

The waiter made an appearance.

After ordering, Janet stirred cream into her coffee, and

continued. "Well?" she asked when they were alone again.

"I hit my head?" It was a question.

"Cat Scan was negative."

"Narcolepsy?"

"Falling asleep is not the same as being unconscious. I

have to admit though, you're getting better."

"Sleep walking!"

Janet laughed, the thought of a man walking from his

home to the inner city naked flashed in her mind. "That

doesn't even deserve a comment."

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Before the Moon Rises

by Catherine Bybee

Max leaned forward and captured her hand. His fingers

traced the back of it sending a tingle up her arm. "Have I told

you how beautiful you are?"

"No, and you're changing the subject." Janet tried to

ignore her body's signals. The fast beat of her heart made her

head dizzy. What had she asked him?

"All right, Miss O'Brien, if you really must know, I work for

the FBI. Last night I was working undercover."

Janet shook her head and removed her hand from his.

"You really aren't going to tell me, are you?"

"I really don't think you'd believe me."

Their breakfast arrived, and Max dug in. Although hungry,

Janet stared at him instead of eating. "Are you into something

illegal?"

He wiped his mouth and leveled his sober eyes to her.

"No."

It was the first honest answer she'd heard. Why she

believed him she would question later, but for now, it was

enough. He had his secrets, but hell... who didn't? "Fine, for