Over the next half hour, he looked at every Google link that had to do with Angela Weatherby of Chicago, Illinois. By the time he was finished, Max was forced to admit that he didn’t know her at all.

Who the hell was this woman? She seemed to be determined to exact some kind of revenge on any guy who didn’t automatically fall in love with the woman he was dating. His own profile was filled with detailed stories of Max Morgan’s pathological inability to commit.

Hell, if she’d read his profile, why in the world would she want to date him? If he were a woman, he’d stay as far away from himself as possible. But was he really that bad? He’d never made any promises and then broken them. All the girls he dated knew he wasn’t interested in marriage. But they’d all been certain they’d be the one to change him. It’s not like he forced them to hop into bed with him. They were perfectly willing partners.

Max leaned back in the desk chair, rubbing his hands over his face. Now that he knew, what was he going to do about it? He could pretend it didn’t make a difference, but he knew it did.

How had he missed this? His experience being in the public eye had given him a keen radarlike sense that detected anyone with suspicious motives. When he’d come home to Chicago, he’d let his guard down and shut the radar off. And now, he was left to wonder just who Angela Weatherby really was.

Max pushed away from the desk and walked back out into the bar. “I’ll see you later,” he muttered as he passed Dave.

“Hey, didn’t I tell you? It’s weird, huh?”

Max’s jaw tensed as he fought the impulse to turn around and curse a blue streak at his brother. Though he ought to appreciate the fraternal loyalty, he didn’t like his family interfering in his social life. But wasn’t that what he’d come to Chicago for-to be closer to his family? When it came down to it, he’d always trust them first.

When he got out to the street, Max realized he didn’t have his car. He’d either have to run back home or run all the way to Wicker Park to talk to Angela. He turned west, toward Angela, and toward the answers he needed.

By the time he reached Angela’s office, he was drenched in sweat and even angrier than he was when he’d left the bar. He wiped his face on his T-shirt, then walked inside. A receptionist sat at a desk in the lobby, her gaze fixed on her computer. She turned and smiled and then caught her breath in surprise. “Hello,” she said. “You’re-”

“Angela Weatherby,” Max interrupted. “Can you tell me where her office is?”

“Down that hall and to your right. Last door.”

When he found the office, Max drew a deep breath and then opened the door. Though he wasn’t sure what he planned to say, he knew he’d come up with something the moment he saw her. Unfortunately, he saw Ceci first. She stood beside a table, a sheaf of papers in her hand, a stunned expression on her face. “Max. Hi.”

“Ceci.” He glanced around. “So this is where you two work.” The tension had seeped into his voice and Ceci forced a smile as she glanced around nervously.

Ceci’s shoulders slumped and she sent him an apologetic smile. “Max, believe me, she never thought anything would happen with you two. She just wanted to interview you. And I think, part of her wanted to see if the feelings she had for you so long ago were finally gone. I talked her into going out that night. If I hadn’t, you two would have never met. She wouldn’t have gone on her own.”

“Why do I feel like I’m only getting half the story? First, she doesn’t know me. Then she does. Then she was madly in love with me. And now-I don’t know what’s going on now.”

“Maybe you better talk to her. She just went out to get coffee. She’ll be back in a few minutes.” Ceci grabbed her purse from a nearby chair. “I’m just going to leave you two alone.”

“That would probably be best,” he muttered.

She stopped halfway out the door, then turned back. “For what it’s worth, I really do think she loves you. She just wasn’t prepared to still feel that way. And certainly not after a week. You caught her by surprise.”

“Everything seems to be catching me by surprise,” Max said.

The door swung closed and Max was left in the silent office. He sat down in one of the desk chairs, bracing his elbows on his knees as he shoved his fingers through his damp hair. He wasn’t sure whether to believe Ceci or not. Did Angela love him or was Ceci simply trying to cover for her friend?

A minute later, the door opened again. Angela froze when she saw him, two large paper cups in her left hand. For a moment, her arm wavered and Max jumped up and grabbed the coffees from her, setting them on a nearby desk.

“Tell me something,” Max said, his gaze fixed on the coffees.

“Anything,” she said in a shaky voice.

He looked at her, his eyes locking on hers. “Are you writing about me in your book?”

“Am I or was I?” she asked. “There’s a difference.”

Max cursed softly. “We are not going to play word games, Angela. Am I in your book? Yes or no?”

“Yes,” she said. “But it’s not you. I mean I don’t use your name. There’s no way anyone would-well, maybe a few people would make the connection, but-no, you’re not. Not anymore. I decided to take you out.”

“And all that happened between us? Was that just research? Or was all this just some elaborate scheme to meet me?”

“It wasn’t research. And it wasn’t a scheme.” She took a step toward him, then stopped when he held out his hand. “I know this all looks bad,” Angela continued, “but it’s not. I have never done anything more than love you. It sounds stupid, but I think I knew the moment we met that we belonged together. All those years ago. And then again, in the bar that night. Ceci thinks it’s karma and I have no idea if she’s right. But I think I’ve been waiting for you my whole life. Kind of like those penguins.”

“And this is the way you get my attention? By trashing my name on the Internet?”

“It wasn’t me,” Angela explained. “Those women have a right to their opinions. I-I don’t happen to share their views, but that doesn’t make their feelings any less valid. Max, I didn’t expect to feel this way. I just wanted to prove that you were everything they said you were. And that these feelings I had for you were silly and childish. Only you weren’t…and my feelings weren’t. I didn’t know what to do.”

“The truth might have been nice.”

Angela nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Probably. But after a while, I just didn’t want to ruin it. I figured you’d put an end to it sooner or later. I guess this is it.”

Max closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “You knew how I felt about the press. What you’re doing here isn’t much different.”

“No,” Angela said. “It’s not. And I can understand how you might think it’s an invasion of your privacy. But maybe you need to see a bit of truth in it as well. These women all felt they had a good reason for writing about you. And I think, if you’re honest with yourself, you know you didn’t treat them well.”

“So you think I deserve to have my reputation trashed?”

“No. But I think my opinion of you might be a bit prejudiced. We are sleeping together.” Angela took a ragged breath. “I didn’t know what to do. Being with you was like a fantasy come true. I couldn’t help myself from getting caught up in it.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“I’m not going to make excuses,” Angela said. “This is what I do for a living. You don’t have to like it.”

“But you’re doing it to me,” he said. “What does that say about us?”

“There was no us a week ago,” Angela said. “And I’m not sure there’ll be an us next week. I don’t know how this is going to turn out, Max, but if your profile is any evidence, it’s not going to turn out well. I’m going to be just another notch on your bedpost.”

“How can you be such an optimist and a cynic at the same time?” he asked, shaking his head.

“That’s always been my problem. I want the fantasy, but I’m too practical to believe it when I get it.” She closed the door and crossed the office. Kneeling down in front of him, she placed her hands on his knees. “I know I’ve probably messed this up. And I don’t know if you can forgive me. But if you can’t, I’m all right with that. I had my chance and I blew it. But at least I had my chance. No matter what you say to me, I don’t regret it.”

Max looked down at her, his anger waning. He wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss her until all the confusion went away, until he was sure of his feelings again. But at the moment, he wasn’t certain of anything. He quickly stood, stepping around her, and walked to the door before he could touch her.

“I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

Angela sat down on the floor, then nodded as he closed the door. Max stopped, bracing his hand on the wall as he looked back at office. Every instinct told him to go back inside, to begin again, to forget everything that had happened. This was a woman who had just admitted she loved him and he was ready to throw that all away because of-of what?

He needed time to sort this all out. Time to figure out exactly where Angela belonged in his life. She’d been a part of his past. Would she be a part of his future, too?

“YOU KNEW THIS MIGHT HAPPEN,” Ceci said. “There is no such thing as anonymity in the age of Google. So how did you leave it?”

“He walked out.”

“That’s it?”

“He said, see you later. But he says that to everyone.”

Ceci smiled wanly. “Well, maybe he means it this time. Maybe he just needs time to think this out.”

“No. It’s definitely over,” said Angela, shaking her head. “And that’s good. I accomplished what I set out to do. I got to know him. I turned the fantasy into reality. He seduced me and he dumped me. My thesis is proved.”

“And that makes you happy?”

“No,” Angela said. “But I’m back to where I was before we met. Only now, I won’t have to compare every guy I meet to Max Morgan. He will not be the standard by which every other man in my life is judged.”

Ceci leaned up against the edge of Angela’s desk. “You seem to be handling this very well.”

She swallowed back her tears and tried to put on a brave face. “What’s there to handle? We were together a week. For Max Morgan, that’s pretty good.” A tear trickled down her cheek and then, a sob slipped out. Angela couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her composure was shattered.

Ceci gathered her in her arms. “Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” Angela replied, forcing a laugh.

“I told you you’d have to pick up the pieces.” She wiped her damp cheeks with her fingers. “I tried not to fall in love with him but it was so difficult. He is a devil. He tempted me and I just…cracked.” Angela drew a ragged breath. “But I had fun. The sex was great. And I got to do some interesting things.”

A soft knock sounded on the office door and a few moments later, Will stepped inside. Ceci turned, her arms still around Angela. “Hi. You’re early.”

“Yeah. I thought you’d be too excited to wait.”

Angela glanced back and forth between them.

“Excited about what?”

Ceci shook her head, stepping away to grab her purse. “Now’s not a good time,” she said. “We’ll tell you later.”

“Tell me what? I’m fine, really.”

“She just broke up with Max,” Ceci explained. “I really don’t think-”

Angela cursed softly. “What?”

Ceci bit her bottom lip. “Will and I are engaged.

He proposed last night and I said yes.”

Angela felt the tears start again, only these were tears of happiness. “Oh, Ceci, that’s wonderful. So you had your moment?”

“The mustard stain at the baseball game. That was it.”

Angela hugged Will. “You’ll be so happy. I know you will. You picked the best girl.”

Ceci wrapped her arms around Will’s waist and they all hugged each other. “He’s my guy! Besides, if I didn’t marry him, who would?”

“I think it’s perfect,” Angela said through her tears.

“Stop crying or I’m going to start. Why don’t we all go out for a glass of wine?”

Angela drew a calming breath. “You two go. I’ll be fine. I have some work to do on the book.” She gave them a little wave as they walked out. Then, pressing her lips together, she fought back another surge of tears. She was happy for them, really she was. But she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever find a guy who loved her as much as Will loved Ceci.

She sat down at her desk, cupping her chin in her palm as she scrolled through the site. She clicked to the main menu and then typed in a search for Max’s name. His profile came up, along with a series of photos that the women had posted.

As she looked at each one, Angela was struck by how none of the photos resembled the man she knew. For all she could tell, she was looking at a complete stranger. Max’s smile was warmer, and his eyes darker, and the dimple in his cheek deeper.