I headed for the driver’s side. “I’ll drive. You rest.”
Before I could climb in, he swept me off my feet, startling a gasp out of me. “Max,” I protested. “Let me drive, please.”
He shook his head. “It’s okay—I’m okay, baby.”
“No, you’re not.” I held those tormented green eyes with mine. “And it’s okay. I’m here now, and together, we’ll find a way out of this nightmare.”
He stilled at my paraphrasing of his words at the fair. Then he shut his eyes and pressed his face into my hair and just held me.
As if I would ever leave him alone to face something that was hurting him so much.
Chapter Fifteen
Ila
Despite the painful, early morning venture to the site of the tragedy, the days passed quietly. Max didn’t have any more nightmares that had him running to the site of the accident. Or if he did, he hid it very well. I hoped that wasn’t the case. But I understood too that he couldn’t have closure while his memories remained hidden. And he wasn’t sleeping much, either.
Still, the nights were magical. No matter the time, he came to me. The intensity of our lovemaking had my heart expanding. It was almost as if he felt more than he let on…but then it was probably all in my head because I was the one changing, not him.
Unable to concentrate, I dropped my brush into the jar of turpentine and went to find him. My cell beeped. I retrieved it and scanned the text.Ila, please. Don’t shut me out, I miss you.
With a sigh, I deleted Devyn’s message. Another one from him this week, and finally blocked him. I didn’t tell Max, knowing he’d go after Devyn. Pushing my ex out of my mind, I walked into the silent kitchen. Ray was at the bar, though it was her night off, she was covering for someone.
“Max?” I called out, but just the quiet answered me. Then I saw the neon pink post-it stuck on the fridge.Back at 9. Need my baby this evening. M.
What baby?
Before my mind wandered into a gray area and my fears took hold, I shut it off. And set about making my Oreo pudding since I’d finished the last one earlier. I got out the biscuits, whipped cream, cream cheese, and sugar. It didn’t take long to put together. Once the dozen pudding glasses were layered and saran covered, I placed them in the fridge.
Still too restless to go back to work, I opened the cupboards and looked for the wine. Nothing. I checked the fridge, and there was the half bottle of merlot.
It could only be Ray. When she cleaned, as long as things were out of sight, she was happy.
Cold red wine was not good, but I wanted some, so I poured a glass and wandered back into the lounge. I set the frosty crystal on the coffee table, then selected a DVD from my collection and slotted it into the player.
About to sit down, I stared at the armchair, recalling exactly what Max had done to me on its twin a week ago. My belly flopped—God! Heat scorched my cheeks at the memory. It had been a turning point for us…for me mostly. Afterwards, he’d held me close, held me as if I mattered as we watched the fireworks through the window…
If Max walked away from me, I wouldn’t just be broken, I’d be destroyed.
A rough sigh escaped me. Scrubbing my face as if it would wipe away all these feelings clamoring inside me, I pushed the thought aside, picked up my wine, sat down, and started the movie.
Several sips later, feeling a little more relaxed, the front door opened. Max walked into the living room, his tote slung over his shoulder, hands shoved into his pockets. He stopped when he saw me, his grim expression vanishing. Pleasure lit his face.
“Hi.” I sat up, pausing the video.
“I thought you’d be working.”
“I was…then I missed you.”
His tote dropped on the floor with a thud, and he strode across the room. Before I could say a word, he pulled me up and kissed me deeply then swept me into his arms and broke off to say, “Don’t drop that.”
My head spinning, I blinked. “What?”
He nodded to the wine glass I held, striding toward the stairs.
My grip tightened on my glass. “What baby?” I asked.
His brow furrowed in confusion. Then a playful smirk tipped his mouth. “Jealous?”
