Page 16 of Love Like Ours

Chapter Five

What was Max really doing in Pride? When she’d met him a little over a year before in New York, the attraction had been instant. Who wouldn’t be drawn to the sexy successful man with kind eyes and an easy way about him.

The first thing she’d found out about him was that Max Wilson was never in a hurry to do anything. Including making a move on her.

Four months later, after their first impromptu date, he’d asked her out on an official date, which had ended in a sweet passionate kiss that had knocked her socks off.

The fact that she’d instantly compared the kiss to the one that Palmer had given her long ago had just made her pursue Max harder over the next few weeks.

Now that he was here, however, she realized that over the past few months, her feelings for him had fizzled, replaced by the old spark she’d felt for Palmer. Still, she felt guilty for pursuing him so strongly in the city. Was she really what had led him to the Oregon coast?

She didn’t think he was a stalker. He wasn’t the type. She’d met his mother and sisters once when they’d come to New York to visit him, and she knew that they lived in Portland, Oregon. No doubt he’d moved to the West Coast to be closer to them. His sister Ally had a two-year-old and was going through a messy divorce. His other sister, Faye, had had a few medical issues the previous year and had to have a few surgeries.

Still, she wanted a chance to talk to him and make sure he knew that her feelings for him had fizzled. Hadn’t they?

After leaving Palmer and Parker at the bakery, she and Avery headed to Sassy and Classy boutique to purchase a few things for the baby’s room.

They had recently refreshed the inside walls with a bright pink and teal paint and had several new furniture pieces that Avery fell in love with for the nursery and arranged to have delivered. Sophia spent her time looking at the new spring clothes that had been recently stocked. She ended up purchasing some new shorts and blouses for herself in hopes of warmer weather. She really wanted a sundress, but the weather wasn’t that warm yet.

“So,” Avery said when they sat down almost two hours later in Brew-Ha-Ha bookstore with fresh cups of hot tea and coffee. It was shortly before lunch, and the place was quiet except for a children’s reading session in the back corner. “I’ve never seen a real-life love triangle out there in the wild.”

Sophia rolled her eyes and said clearly before taking a sip of her hot tea, “There’s no love triangle.”

“That’s not what I witnessed,” Avery said, leaning back and nibbling on a scone she’d ordered.

Sophia was still full thanks to just having eaten breakfast but knew that Avery was always hungry now.

“What exactly did you witness?” she asked, curious.

“Well, before tall, fit, and mysterious showed up, you and Palmer had major flirt going on. Then…”

“Max,” she supplied when Avery seemed to struggle with remembering the name.

“Right, then Max showed up and suddenly you could cut Palmer’s jealousy with a knife.”

“Really?” She perked up slightly. “Palmer was jealous?”

“Seriously?” Avery laughed. “The entire bakery could smell it on him. Not to mention, Max laid on the flirting extra thick because of the vibes Palmer gave off.”

“What vibes?” she asked.

“The ‘she’s mine’ vibes.” Avery sighed.

“You are imagining things.” She relaxed back. There was no way Palmer thought of her as… his.

“No. I’m not. Palmer has it really bad for you,” Avery said as she finished her scone. “Do you want to split a cookie with me?” She glanced back at the counter.

“You’re going to give that kid diabetes before it’s even born,” Sophia warned.

“It’s not my fault. Junior wants what junior wants.” She shrugged. “He also loves spicy food.”

“He?” Sophia asked.

Avery shrugged. “Until I know differently, it’s a he.” She smiled. “And no, we do not want to know ahead of time. Your brother likes the suspense.”

“He’s always been like that.” Sophia rested her elbows on the table. “What names do you and my brother have picked out?”

“He wants Lucas the fourth.”