Orange Blossom Brides (16 page)

“Um, we should go up.”

They climbed the stairs in silence and entered her apartment. Max stood in her living room while she hurried about turning on lights. Strange, having this larger-than-life male standing in her very feminine apartment, blatantly checking out her digs.

Sure, friends like Jewel spent plenty of time here, but having Max filling the space felt new and a little nerve-racking.

“I’m not normally a damsel in distress,” she blurted. Even to her own ears she sounded needy and hated it.

A grin tipped his lips, as if Max knew how she felt and sympathized with her.

“What can I get you? Coffee? Iced tea?”

“Tea is good.”

“Have a seat, and I’ll be with you in a minute.”

She poured two glasses then joined him on the couch.

Max leaned forward and picked up one of the bridal pictures Lilli had left spread out on the coffee table. “Pretty dress. Ever think about wearing one?”

“Almost did, once.”

His brow rose. “And?”

“He ended it at the rehearsal dinner. At the country club.”

“Ouch.”

“Exactly.” She pushed her glass around, unsure if she should give details or leave it at that.

“So, a fund-raiser with a wedding theme.” He glanced over at her, his gaze dark and steady. “Think your Mom planned it on purpose?”

“On purpose?”

“Since your wedding never took place, maybe she’s trying to tell you something.”

“I wouldn’t put it past her, but not for the reasons you think.”

“You’d be surprised what I think.”

She supposed she would. “My mother wants me to consider the possibility of marriage, especially after the breakup. I don’t think she planned this on purpose. She’s not an intentionally mean person, but she really gets immersed in her projects. She would never come right out and tell me to get back into the dating world, but I’m sure that’s what she wants.”

“Seems extreme. Why not sit down and talk it out?”

“In my family, that’s not so easy.” She took a sip of her tea then asked, “How about you? Do you talk things through with the people in your life?”

“Not usually.” Max took a sip of the tea then said, “I guess Gram is right.”

“About what?”

“I’m not very good at opening up to people.”

“Old habit?”

“Guess you could say so.”

“Hmm. We have that in common.”

They sat in silence.

“Maybe your mother has a point. Life goes on.”

Her shoulders sagged. “I know.”

“It’s just...you’ve got a lot going for you. Don’t let some jerk get you down.”

She glanced pointedly at him.

“Me included.”

Lilli laughed. “I hardly think you fall into that category.”

“Darlin’, your mother would never consider me marriage material. She’d have blown a gasket if I came around.”

“And you know this how?”

“No mother in her right mind would let her daughter near me. And for good reason. You name it, I probably did it. Can’t believe Gram put up with me.”

“I think that’s what parents do—wish for the best and pray a lot.”

“That’s Gram.”

“So why did you give her a hard time?”

“Young and stubborn. I guess it’s safe to say you aren’t the only one with mother issues.”

Lilli offered him a look she hoped would encourage him to continue.

“Like I told you, my dad died when I was young and my mom couldn’t handle me. It was Gram or the foster system.”

“Oh, Max, I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. Anyway, things didn’t go well between Mom and me so she took off.”

“Just left you behind?”

“Dumped me at Gram’s is more like it. Yep. Gram was the only family I had, so she took me in.”

“Wow. I thought my parents were tough.”

“I had a major chip on my shoulder. I don’t think I really came to terms with how I felt about my mom leaving until I went into the navy. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Gram’s tough love and the chief’s interference, I probably would have ended up a career criminal.”

Max sifted through a few more pictures. Lilli would have loved to know what went on in his mind. He didn’t seem in a hurry to leave so she searched for any topic not wedding related. Anything to discover the secrets under his tough exterior.

“Anyway, I straightened up.”

“You did a good job.” She laughed. “You’re an upstanding business owner now, but you were definitely
not
the kind of guy my parents would have let me hang out with back then.”

“I think we’ve already established that fact. I’m not sure others see how much I’ve changed, though. Your mother hired me for a job. I don’t think she anticipated anything more.”

She glanced at him. He still had an air of danger about him, one that spoke of stolen kisses on moonlit nights. “Still, it would have been fun. Doing the exact opposite of what people expected.”

“I wouldn’t go glamorizing it. I was trouble, pure and simple, and didn’t care who I hurt. Not exactly a sterling quality.”

Lilli noted the pensive light in his eyes that might have spelled trouble a long time ago, but now he was driven to prove himself trustworthy. To right the wrongs of his past by behaving maturely. Responsibly. “You’re a good man, Max. Every person in this town will come to realize what you’ve done to turn your life around.”

He leaned toward her. Her ears began to buzz and her heart raced. His gaze moved to her lips and she went a little lightheaded.

“I like you, Max. Granted, we got off on the wrong foot, starting at the beach that summer night and now with Tie the Knot, but I’ve discovered you’re good at what you do. You care about your grandmother. About Bart. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”

“What if I don’t care what other women think? Only you.”

She swallowed hard. “Then I would tell you the more I’ve come to know you, the more you’ve grown on me. Sure, you’re controlling and single-minded about your business, but I can overlook that.”

“Just like I can overlook you being bossy, not to mention prim and proper.”

“Bossy?” Is that how he saw her? “Try I’m good at my job. Or, jobs, I should say.”

“Point taken. But you’re nice, too. I was ready to read Mrs. R. the riot act and you handled her much more gently.”

“Maybe we even each other out.”

“Right.” Max sat back. “It’s probably best we focus on the fund-raiser.”

Great. She’d blown the intimate moment by mentioning work. “Why? Is there something else to focus on?”

His gaze moved to her lips again. Heat shot through her. She realized his intention. Tonight they’d moved into new, uncharted territory in their relationship. Not like the night on the beach when a stolen kiss had caught her off guard. That was kid’s stuff. By the current look in his eyes, they’d graduated to grown-up awareness.

Max’s eyes moved back to meet hers. He didn’t say a word, but he had her complete attention. She swallowed hard, waiting. For him to make the first move? For him to say how he felt? Anything.

When that didn’t happen, she tried to downplay the anticipation between them by asking, “So, um, are you going to the fish fry on Saturday?”

He hesitated. “Not sure.”

Oops. Had she stepped over the line? “Listen, you don’t have to tell me anything.”

“It’s not that.” He looked uneasy. “I kind of have previous plans.”

Lilli’s stomach dropped. Did he have a date on Saturday? With one of the women she’d seen listed on his calendar? Heat flushed her face. Here they sat, caught in this tug of attraction, and he might have a date? She eased away from him.

“It’s not a big deal.”

They fell into silence again, turning into a long drawn-out moment.

Abruptly, he rose. “I think I should call it a night.”

She followed him to the door, torn between wanting to ask if she was the only woman in his life and wondering if she should just let it go. The small foyer left little room between them. Shadows enveloped them in the dim light. She stared up at him, her heart beating rapidly. He reached for the knob, then dropped his hand and angled toward her. With a frown wrinkling his forehead, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

Her heart nearly stopped beating. She rested her palms on his chest and sank into the kiss, determined to make this moment last. The kiss went a little deeper and she fell for Max a little harder. Just as she slid her hands to his shoulders he pulled away.

“Not a good idea,” he said, his voice low, clipped. “I gotta go before I do something stupid.”

“Like kiss me again?”

He closed his eyes. “I’m not the right guy for you. You need promises. A future. I’m not that guy.”

“You could be.”

He stepped back. “I need to go.” He opened the door and slipped away before she could think of any way to stop him.

She pressed her forehead against the cool door, eyes closed. Did he regret coming here tonight? Kissing her? Did he want more between them, as she did? Or would it always just be about work?

She wished she could go back to that electric kiss and ignore the world around them. She wished she didn’t care if he was interested in her beyond the job. If he wanted to try for more. Considering his past, maybe Max didn’t want to take a chance. She’d felt the same way not long ago. Now...something in her had shifted, and she suspected it was because of the man who’d just walked out her door.

* * ** * *

M
AX
TOOK
A
SIP
of the too-hot coffee
and grimaced.
He’d stopped at Cuppa Joe for his morning fix, looking for caffeine and absolution. Last night’s kiss with Lilli had left him replaying and overanalyzing the moment until he finally fell into a restless sleep.

Yeah, he meant to keep Lilli at a distance, if only to cover his own reaction to their kiss. It had rocked his universe, right down to his toes.

No way he’d fit into her future. Right now the only thing they had in common was the historical society. After the benefit, they’d both move on to new work projects. He was working long hours already, and if he got the Rawlings account, it would mean being gone frequently over the next few months, maybe longer. They couldn’t build a relationship that way.

“Max, are you listening to me?”

He snapped out of his mental grousing, turning his attention to the owner of the coffee shop, Dorinda Hobart, one of his grandmother’s friends. Since returning to Cypress Pointe, he’d made it a habit to stop into Cuppa Joe every morning. Not only to shoot the breeze with the older lady, but to check in on her. She kept him busy with all kinds of handyman jobs around the shop. Along with Gram’s other ladies, he had a lengthy to-do list and a full calendar.

“Sorry, Ms. Hobart. You were saying?”

“The back door is sticking. I tried calling last night, but got your voice mail.”

“By the time I got home last night, it was too late to return your call.”

Dorinda waved her hand. “Neither here nor there. You’ll take a look? The Merchants Association is after me all the time to fix this, update that. They’re never happy with what I do, especially since they’ve revitalized downtown. It seems I have a notice for improvements taped on my door at least once a week. I’m getting too old for this.”

“I’m on it.”

He made his way to the back room, checking out her complaint. Yep, it was sticking. Nothing a wood plane couldn’t smooth out.

If only he could fix his personal life so easily.

He headed back to the front of the store. “I can take care of it for you. I’ll bring the tools tomorrow morning.”

“You’re a good man, Max.”

“If I were a few years older, watch out,” he quipped.

She laughed. “My Joe was the only man for me.”

“The world’s loss.”

“And you’re too handsome to still be single.”

He shrugged. “Haven’t found the right woman yet.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Believe it.” Did he say that for her benefit or his?

Not only did Dorinda brew a rich cup of coffee, she had a big heart, always seeing the best in people. That’s why some folks stopped by for coffee and advice, and some because they just wanted to hang around. Gram said the coffee shop was Dorinda’s living room. Max didn’t know about that, but he knew the woman was well liked.

Dorinda’s eyes twinkled. “The right woman will come into your life.”

He tried not to visualize Lilli, her cheeks flushed after his kiss, and failed.

“How do you know when it’s right?”

“Your life changes. You think about that person all the time. Stop to consider their needs. See something funny and want to share it with that special someone. There are lots of ways, Max, but you just know.”

Did he know? Lilli got to him, in ways no other woman had. She was ambitious, but not cutthroat. She hadn’t wanted to head up the fund-raiser, but helped her mother anyway. She volunteered at the animal shelter. He supposed if he put his mind to it, the list could go on and on. He was definitely attracted and, bottom line, he liked her. Liked being with her. But was that love?

To get his mind off Lilli and his clumsy attempt at romance last night, he nodded to one of many pictures on the wall behind the counter featuring a familiar woman posing with different Hollywood stars. She looked familiar. “Who’s that?”

Dorinda beamed. “That’s my engaged granddaughter, Nealy.”

“Wow. She sure grew up.” Frowning, Max looked closer. “Is she with George Clooney?”

“Yes, I think that’s what she told me.”

“She’s engaged to Clooney?”

“No, a different man. She works with many celebrities. George happens to be one of them.”

“Huh.”

“So, young man, no changing the subject. Your grandmother and I would like to see you settled. What do you say?”

“Did I mention you make great coffee?”

“Your grandmother says you always put off talking about the future.” Dorinda scrutinized him sagely. “Love is going to happen, Max.”

“I promise to tell you when it does,” he replied with lack of conviction. He needed to figure out this attraction to Lilli. “But right now I’m working on building my business contacts. There’s a good chance I’ll land a nationwide security job. It’ll involve travel.”