He shook his head. It was hard not to blurt out why he was really staying, and to tell her what he was trying to do for her.
“Ring me, any time,” he said. “I’m sure our families will get along. Hell, we do, right?”
She put on a brave smile. “Sure.”
He sighed. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. You and the baby are the best thing in my life.” He kissed her slowly, her lips moved with his in a longing that they couldn’t address right now.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A car horn sounded outside.
Max pulled away, took his hand in hers. “They’re here. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
“I just need to go to the bathroom once more.”
“I’ll take your bag to the car then.”
“Thanks.” She went ahead, while he picked up her bag.
It wasn’t really that heavy, he’d been hoping to make her laugh, but she was way too worked up about this trip.
Maybe I should go with her?
He pushed on the screen door, slipped on his boots, and then walked out to the car, the bag slung easily over his shoulder. “You ladies ready for some shopping?”
“Absolutely,” answered Kate.
“Mornin’ Max,” called out his mom from the front passenger’s seat, waving casually at him as she paused from her knitting.
Kate got out from the driver’s seat and opened the boot of the car. Max noticed there was already a reasonable amount of luggage packed in there for an overnight stay.
He raised his eyebrow. “You reckon you’ll have enough room for what you want to buy?”
“Of course,” Kate huffed.
“Don’t you be cheeky now,” called out his mom. “You know you should be coming, too.”
The tone in his mom’s voice caused guilt to cut through his gut.
He should be.
But.
There were more important reasons not to.
“Zoe understands,” he said slamming closed the boot of the vehicle.
Well, she will be when she sees my surprise for her. Bloody hell, he hoped he could pull it off. Otherwise, he was running being in the doghouse in regard to her, and by the looks of it his mom as well.
Zoe came out from the house, the back-door slamming behind her. The wind caught the navy-blue maxi dress she wore, pushing the material over the bump low in her belly.
He smiled. She looked radiant. Hot. Bloody sexy.
She’d taken time to straighten her hair, and it was styled neatly below her shoulders. For a moment, he thought about canceling what he’d planned for the day to make sure he joined her. It would be fun having a hotel room to themselves. With her ranging hormones adding to the sparks that were already there between them they could have a whole load of adult fun together. But it wasn’t possible. He’d already decided he needed to think more long term, for her and for them, and their soon to be born baby.
Max quickly opened the car door for her. “My lady.” He winked at her, relieved she smiled back at him. She was undoubtedly putting on a brave face considering how nervous she was when they were in the bedroom packing.
Zoe slid into the SVU, put on her seat belt. He leaned and kissed her goodbye once more. Her salty taste bursting in his mouth in a delight that he hoped would tie him over until tomorrow. She hadn’t been on the farm barely a month, and it surprised him how much he didn’t want her to leave. It kept his resolve to do whatever he could to make this work between them.
