Outspoken Angel Read Online Free Page A

into somewhat of a
normal lifestyle. As normal as could be expected, anyway. There was
still the occasional unexpected visitor who attempted to scale the
gate around the property or determined reporter trying to make a
quick buck from the tabloids, but those things were easily handled
by the expert security team Max had in place.
    He smiled as he headed to the living room. It
would be nice to hang out without the threat of being mauled by
overzealous groupies.
    “Hey, man.” Hawke sat with his feet propped
on an ottoman in front of the couch. The 3D television blared a
baseball game.
    Max sat in an oversized recliner opposite
him. “Who’s winning?”
    “Diamondbacks, six to four.”
    “Good game?”
    Hawke nodded. “Decent. The team’s pretty good
this year.”
    Max cleared his throat. “Did Huntington
corner Pirelli last night?”
    Hawke snickered. “You know Greg. He tried to
keep it business-like. Guess that’s why he’s the manager. I voted
for a swift kick in the ass.”
    “How’d Pirelli take his reassignment?”
    “After a few choice words, amazingly
well.”
    “How big of a hurry are you in to replace
him?” Max asked.
    “Not a big one. Greg’s working on a
replacement for the Professionals for People concert and then we’ll
go from there.”
    “Rachel still doesn’t want to reschedule the
concert?”
    “No. She insists everything go as
planned.”
    Max swallowed his argument. He knew it
wouldn’t do any good to challenge Rachel’s determination when it
came to her charity. She and the other business professionals in
Diablo spent a lot of time rebuilding needy communities. She’d just
flash him her regular sweet-as-honey smile and put him in his
place. Or sic Cameron on him.
    “Besides,” Hawke continued, “with the baby
coming, I’m not going anywhere for a while anyway.”
    Max fought the urge to hurl when the word
baby left Hawke’s lips. He quickly redirected the conversation.
“I’ve just about got security wrapped up for the concert. Has
Rachel scheduled you to volunteer on her new neighborhood
project?”
    Max knew the answer before Hawke answered.
And from experience, Max knew security would be a nightmare. Max
had fallen for that once. Using Rachel as bait, Cameron managed to
manipulate both Hawke and him to help rebuild a neighborhood
destroyed by fire. Max hadn’t minded volunteering, but working with
Cameron had been a true test of self-discipline.
    Hawke smirked. “Yes, and because you won’t
let me go anywhere alone, so are you.”
    Max lifted an eyebrow. “You volunteered me
too.”
    “Yes. Cameron said she needed more muscle and
you’re the first one that came to mind.”
    Although Max respected Rachel’s dedication to
her charity, he wasn’t quite so respectful of her decision to put
Cameron in charge. Somehow, taking orders from a pint-sized piranha
wasn’t entirely his idea of charitable contribution. Especially
since he was the boss and she refused to acknowledge that well
known fact.
    Max scrubbed a hand down his jaw. He and the
rest of his SEAL team had managed to build a successful private
security firm. Maybe he could convince Hawke to cut him some slack.
“One of has to take care of business.”
    Hawke gave a shit-eating grin. “Nice try. If
something comes up, I’ll make sure you’re covered.”
    Max prepared to release a big fat NO when he was distracted by the sound of footsteps running down the
hall.
    Rachel slid to a stop next to the sofa. “Oh,
Max,” she wheezed, “I’m glad you’re here.”
    Hawke dropped his feet and stood to push
Rachel to the couch. “What’s wrong?”
    Rachel batted Hawke’s hands away. “I can’t
find Cameron.”
    “So?”
    “She just left here not two hours ago and I
can’t get her on her phone.”
    “So?” Hawke repeated.
    Max frowned at Rachel’s uncharacteristic
panic.
    She took a few deep breaths before
continuing. “You know as well as I do, that Cameron always answers
her phone.”
    Hawke