What Remains Page 8

Mrs. Winston went for their coffee. “Stuffed cabbage is the dinner special,” she called over her shoulder.

  “Sounds great,” Terry announced, plopping down on the stool. He gave Ana a nod and I was surprised to see her cheeks flush.

  Max settle down next to him and gave me a grin.

  “Where’s your tiny sidekick?” I teased.

  “Home. Mom’s feeling better. Besides, Terry and I just shut down the shop.” His gaze fixed on mine. “Came to check on you.”

  The magic eyes held steady on me and waited for my response.

  “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Just nervous is all.”

  Max folded his hands before them. “I’m not going to say to not be,” he said gently. “I wouldn’t want to be standing where you are.” I saw the muscle in his jaw flex. “But if he even tries to hurt you, I will have to do my best not to kill him.” His voice was calm, deep, but dangerous.

  Something in the tone suddenly calmed me. I had no doubt he spoke the truth. “I appreciate that, but, Max, I don’t want you hurt. I know how to handle Logan.”

  The muscle twitch again and then he was hiding his anger behind a mask. He would make no promises. I may know how to handle Logan’s moods, but I was just getting reacquainted with Max and his moods. I wasn’t sure how far to push this issue.

  Terry slapped a hand on Max’s shoulder. “The guys not worth you getting into it with. He and Hadley will say their peace and then he’ll stay away from her.” Terry’s eyes fixed on mine. “And then he leaves you alone, or I will let Max kill him.”

  I rolled my eyes. So much testosterone! I couldn’t help feeling a little happy at the show of protection, though.

  “He is more bark than bite,” I assured them. “You guys grew up with him. He really never matured past what you remember…promise.”

  The corner of Max’s mouth lifted is a grin that he quickly tried to hide. He was feeling smug. My information pleased him.

  “He was immature, but hot,” Ana, responded with a lift of her shoulders.

  “Well, that hasn’t changed either.” I immediately regretted saying the words. I had never been superficial, but how could I admit the many times I let Logan get away with something because of that handsome face? Because of that gorgeous smile, or because of the way my body responded to his? Physical chemistry and emotional chemistry are two different things and ones beautiful face and d body only went so far. Logan was not beautiful on the inside and I finally was able to see the monster inside him.

  Max was staring down at his folded hands and I felt the awkwardness my words had caused. It would sound like I was trying too hard if I said looks aren’t everything. Or if I were to deny looks mattered.

  What if I spoke the truth? What if I said I preferred hazel eyes and crooked grins to blue eyes and haughty stares? That I preferred tattoos? Grease stained hands to manicured fingernails?

  Max was everything that Logan was not. That emotional chemistry had always been there, but I had been to young to recognize it.

  “Some stay the same while others only improve with age,” I said softly.

  The hazel eyes lifted to mine.

  “Yeah?” His voice was soft but the deep voice rumbled in his chest

  Yep, magic. I instantly wondered what the combined emotional chemistry and the physical would feel like. I smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Get a room,” Terry teased.

  Mrs. Winston came out just then with two heaping plates in her grasp. “Eat up,” she ordered.

  Ana and I were thrown back to work when a few customers came in for dinner. It was unnerving having Max there because I felt his eyes on me, but it was exhilarating, too.

  All of the fear and nervousness I had been carrying all day shifted. I felt safe with him here; Terry, too, but it was different. It is one thing for your blood to stand for you and completely another when a man who cared about you did. I was protected.

  Terry and Max stayed long after their plates were clean. They remained as Mrs. Winston locked the front door. They waited as Ana and I cleaned our areas and restocked supplies beneath the counter for the next day.

  Max waited by the door as I came around the counter. My heart skipped.

  “I’m gonna walk Ana home,“ Terry announced nonchalantly, but I saw the nerves. Ana was looking pretty flushed, too. Her cheeks nearly matched her red hair. I approved.

  We exited together with Mrs. Winston staying behind with the cook to fill orders for next week. She locked the door behind us.

  It was still light, but dusk would be arriving soon.

  “You in a hurry to get home?” Max asked softly.

  I shook my head.

  “Take a walk with me?”

  I nodded.

  We went one way and Ana and Terry the other.

  It was never very busy in our town. Things were still old school with shops and business closing early. Family seemed to still reign supreme here. It was like the world had not been able to touch the innocence. It was a good place to live, albeit, a bit boring.

  Up the road, Mrs. Miller was closing up the library. I remembered spending hours and hours there growing up. Terry and Max used to make fun of me and call me a bookworm. I laughed as I recalled this.

  “What?” Max bumped my arm as we walked.

  “Just memories,” I laughed.

  “Tell me,” he insisted.

  “Very little has changed here. I look at that old library and remember you and terry teasing me about my time spent there. I look at this main road and everything about it provokes a memory. It’s like things have been frozen in time.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”

  I laughed and bumped his arm back. “That’s a good thing, Max. I’m not complaining. This is my home. I’m just happy to see it hasn’t moved on without me.”

  Max’s hand found mine and he squeezed my fingers. “It’s not just the town that waited for you.”

  I let my fingers twine with his.

  We had reached his shop and he tugged my hand, as he moved towards the door. “I want to show you something.”

  I followed with curiosity.

  He unlocked the door and ushered me through. “There’s one thing that has really changed from our childhood,” he announced.

  “Terry showed me the remodel,” I laughed.

  “Not that!” His eyes twinkled. “What was the one thing we always begged Mr. Crane to let us do?”

  I smiled. “There were a lot f things he didn’t let us do and it was for our good.”

  “Hadley,” he admonished. “We even plotted how we could make it happen. Do you remember? He tugged my hand further in to the shop.”

  I loved his boyish excitement. As he neared the stair, it suddenly hit me.

  “We wanted to see where he lived upstairs! He always said that was his place and he would share the shop, but not his space.” I squeezed his hand with excitement.

  “I think he just didn’t want nosey little kids roaming his living quarters.”

  I laughed.

  “I have to admit, I have seen it,” he teased. “It is my shop now.” He started up the stair. I remodeled some of it and left parts. I had considered moving in here. There are two bedrooms and a good living space. I just couldn’t imagine leaving my mom alone.”

  We made our way up the stair as he spoke.

  “When Bethany and I were married, we lived just a few houses down. I visited about every day, but mom never quite accepted Beth. It was a rough time…and then Mady came along and I thought things would change.” He stopped and met my gaze. “I’m sorry for bringing that up, I…”

  “Max, we all have a past,” I said softly. “Bethany is going to come up now and then, as is Logan. They were a part of our lives.”

  He seemed to like my response. We reached the top of the stair and I was so surprised.

  It was mostly an open living space. There were windows n each side, making it bright. The skylight above really surprised me. The
blue sky above peeked down on us.

  “Look at the pictures.” He pulled me to the far wall. There were old shots of the towns picnics and church events, but more surprising, there were pictures of us.”

  “He always said we were like family,” Max said gently. “He didn’t let us up here in his home, but I think he let us in his heart.”

  I reached out to touch the frames and smiled. I turned about and took in the place in entirety. There was an open kitchen, three other doors as well. I could only assume they led to the bathroom and the two bedrooms. “It’s bigger than I expected.”

  “It looked smaller at first, but I tore out the old dark paneling and shag carpeting. I put up drywall and refurbished the wood floors instead.

  I admired the cream colored walls and the wood floors. I stared up at the skylight again up in the high ceiling. “You did that, too, didn’t you?”

  He grinned proudly and nodded.

  “It’s a shame it’s not being used,” I sighed. I walked over to a beautiful oak desk set up in the corner. Sets of matching bookshelves were on each side.

  His grin grew. “You want it?”

  My heart skipped. “What?”

  “I was thinking, maybe you could live up here. You could have your own space. Terry loves living at home, but I know you. You need your alone time.”

  I held a hand over my heart. “But this is yours, Max! I couldn’t just take your place!”

  “Mady and I are with mom right now,” he assured me. “I want you to have it. You love it, no?”

  I nodded. “Very much so.”

  He smiled that boyishly happy smile. “I figured if you have your own place, you would be less likely to want to leave again.”

  There it was. I saw the uncertainty in his eyes. He was afraid.

  “Max.”

  He pulled me closer. “I just want you to stay.” He shook his head. “My life is here, Hadley. My job, my family, my identity is all wrapped up in this town.” His fingers gently tipped my chin. “And now that you’re back everything feels like it should.” He brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I was struggling for some happiness. I was fighting to keep my smile so that I could be the rock my mom needs and the dad my daughter needs, but I was struggling.” He leaned in and those hazel eyes held me captive. “The moment I saw you sitting on your porch, my happy returned.”

  My heart turned over in my chest.

  “Hadley, I need you here.”

  I stepped closer.

  His arms gently circled my waist and he drew me into the strength of them. He bent down slightly and my arms automatically went around his neck. He leaned down and set his cheek against mine. The scrape of his stubble against my smooth skin was a sensation that I could not describe the pleasure of. His lips to my ear made me shiver.

  “Stay?”

  “I had no plans to leave,” I whispered. I felt the steady wrap of his heart against my chest. His arms flexed about me. “I didn’t know how long I would be staying until I saw you on my porch.” I fed some of his words back to him and felt the chuckle it caused as it rumbled through him.

  He leaned back and met my gaze. “Even though you still hated me?”

  “I never hated you,” I argued. “I was hurt and I was angry, but I never hated you.”

  “And now?”

  I grinned. “I kind of like you.”

  He shook his head at me. “I think you more than kind of like me.”

  I raised my brows. “Oh?”

  He nodded and his gaze dropped to my mouth and then back to my eyes. “I think you kind of love me.”

  I gasped in shock and held my breath.

  He gentled me with a smile. “Just like I kind of love you.” He kissed my forehead tenderly. “Still,” he added. “Because that has never changed.” He hugged me tighter. “I’ve always loved you, Hadley and I won’t let you escape again.”

  “No?” my voice trembled.

  “No,” he growled and moved in without hesitation. “And I’m going to kiss you now,” he murmured. “If that’s okay.”

  I nodded without a second thought.

  His lips touched mine and the warmth of them stilled every thought in my brain. He was gentle as the softness of his lips explored, tempted, and teased. He kissed slowly, as though he was waiting for my response.

  I pressed closer to encourage him to continue.

  Suddenly he changed course and sweetly ran his mouth along my jaw and to my neck. He pressed kisses gently down its length. I shivered and felt his lips curve into a smile. He had remembered how sensitive I was there. He straightened and started the tease all over again.

  Sensation took over and overwhelmed me. I didn’t know which way was up, but I knew if he stopped I would go mad. I ran my hands over his shoulders and rested them on his chest. I felt his heart hammering against my hands.

  “Max,” I whispered.

  “Yeah?” He murmured, and brushed his bottom lip to my top.

  I forgot my words and my fingers grasped to the front of his shirt.

  He paused and pulled back to give me a glance. “Don’t stop,” I ordered softly. I frowned up at him and tugged the front of his shirt and he took that as the invitation it was to lean in again. His deep chuckle, set goose bumps to work all over my body.

  He nipped my lower lip and then brushed it with his own to soothe. I sighed. He seemed to like that response because he repeated the action and then he chuckled again.

  I opened my eyes to his and saw that crooked grin. “Are you making fun of me?”

  “No, I am admiring your response,” he whispered. He reached up and moved my bangs from my eyes.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be responding yourself?” I accused.

  His eyes darkened and he backed me up against the desk I had admired. His body was strong and solid and the pressure of him against me brought illicit thoughts.

  “Am I not?” His question was spoken in that deep tone that I loved. My body warmed to its sound.

  He swallowed hard and his hands at my waist lowered to my hips and squeezed gently. “I’m watching you respond so that I can control my own.” He easily lifted and set me on the desk. “You only gave me permission to kiss you.” The tone of his voice was a warning and a promise. “I’ve wanted a lot more for a long time.” He moved in against me again and I knew his words were true. “I’m trying to be a gentleman,” he crooned.

  For an instant I considered asking him to not be a gentleman. But then his next words calmed me, as if he could read my thoughts.

  “Slow and easy, sweetheart.” He leaned in and kissed my ear. “We have a lot of time to get there. I want to enjoy this.”

  I laughed softly.

  “It’s true. I’ve waited forever and I had no idea I would ever get this chance again. I’m not going to take a quick moment.” He shook his head at me. “When we get there, there’s not going to be anything quick about it.”

  Butterflies took flight in my tummy. It was not a statement, but a promise. “I believe you.”

  He pressed my hips softly. “Good.”

  I reached my arms up around his neck and lead him down to my level. I bussed my lips against his. “Kiss me again.”

  He bumped his nose to mine. “Why don’t you kiss me?”

  I quieted him by doing just that. I felt his body tense, as if I had surprised him. He wrapped his arms around me and nearly knocked the breath out of me, as he lifted me.

  “Hold on,” he ordered, his voice rough with desire. My knees tightened around his hips as he carried me the short distance to the couch. He laid me under him and kissed me sweetly.

  “Slow and easy?” I teased him, breathlessly.

  “This is just kissing,” he chuckled. “And I’m just a man. I need to touch you.” He met my gaze. “I’ll be a gentleman,” he whispered.

  I laughed and took his face in my hands. His hazels worked their magic as he looked down on me. “A gentlemen would have walked me home and kissed my cheek at the
door.” My fingers brushed down his jaw.

  He grinned sheepishly. “Then allow me to be a teenage boy for a moment,” he teased. “For old times sake.”

  I looked up at his messed hair…my doing, and his happy grin. “I leaned up and captured his kiss as my answer. He sighed and laid me back again. He kept his weight from crushing me, but I would have been okay if he hadn’t. I wanted to be as close to him now as I could. His lips danced with mine and his fingers traced a path down my side to the hem of my shirt. His hand moved beneath and touched the soft skin of my stomach. His fingers were calloused and rough, but they felt better than the softest silk. They brushed gently up my ribs and then he hesitated.

  I felt his hesitation and buried my fingers in his hair to encourage him. He groaned when I tugged none too gently. I wanted him closer, even if in all reality, there was only one way he could possibly be any closer.

  He took the encouragement and I sighed as he explored. “Slow and easy,” he whispered, but he was starting to lose his will. I knew this as he moved against me. His head dipped to the side of my neck and his rough stubble brushed my skin. It felt wonderful. His body moved insistently as his whiskers continued to score my neck. He adjusted me beneath him. I murmured his name in a plea and mimicked his action this caused him to react. He drew in a ragged breath and pulled away.

  “Hadley, be still,” he growled. His eyes were bright and his skin was flushed. I smiled up at him and he swore roughly. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”

  I shook my head and then laughed. “You’re more of a gentleman then I gave you credit for.” I sat up with him, leaning into his shoulder.

  He leaned over and kissed me softly. “Damn,” he sighed, looking at me so tenderly and drawing in deep breaths. “I love you Hadley. I really truly do.”

  I took his hand and laced my fingers with his. “I love you, Max.” It sounded so strange, but it felt so right. His eyes softened and he leaned in to kiss me again.

  “And I meant what I said about Logan,” he said gruffly. “He comes near you to harm you…”

  I touched my fingers to his lips. I hadn’t once thought of Logan, being here with Max. I didn’t want to talk about him now. “We’ll deal with that later.”