I glanced at the garage.
I hope what waited for him pleased him.
Maxx had an early morning flight, and with the time difference, his plane should land about two. With customs and driving home, I expected him around dinner. I made him his favorite chicken and rice casserole, planning on slipping it into the oven around five. Brett was booked solid all day, and I was busy between the last-minute additions to the waiting room and the final piece for the wall. Once it was hung up, I stood back and looked at it, wondering on a scale of one to ten, how much Maxx would hate it. I only had it dry-mounted, so it wasn’t expensive. If he was furious, I could get rid of it easily. But I hoped he would like it.
Brett looked at it, threw back his head in laughter, and patted me on the shoulder.
“That is brilliant.”
“Will he hate it?”
“Probably. But it’s eye-catching and I like it. He’ll get used to it. You know Maxx, it takes him a while to warm up to things.”
Even with the garage busy, I couldn’t settle. I flitted from job to job, finding it hard to concentrate. Finally, I left the garage and went to make Maxx a pie. I told myself I was simply anxious about Maxx’s reaction. The truth was, I had missed him terribly. All sides of him. His growls and glowers. The glares he threw my way when I annoyed him. Our verbal sparring.
His honest, quiet thanks for the meals I made him. The caring way he was with Rufus. The respect with which he treated his customers.
The odd moment when he would look at me with tenderness. His gentle teasing. The rare treat of being close enough to smell him. The subtle fragrance of his cologne and just him. The heat that bubbled in the air between us at times. Hot and aching—the way he left me feeling a great deal of the time. Even if he had no intention of doing so.
I liked all sides of Maxx.
With a sigh, I finished beating the meringue and piled it on the lemon, still steaming from the pot. I fluffed the egg mixture with the fork for peaks, then slid it back into the oven to brown. I washed up the dishes and took the pie from the oven, sliding it onto the counter to cool. It looked beautiful.
His favorite meal and dessert. That alone should tell him I missed him.
I only hoped it was enough to soothe any anger he had over the changes.
Brett finished about five and left to head home. He assured me he would be back in the morning to talk to Maxx. He was hoping Maxx would take him on for a while in the garage, and maybe allow him to stay in the room out back. He was a quiet guy and enjoyed the privacy. He usually ate his meals on his own at night, the way I did, and went for a long run every evening. He had confessed to not wanting to go back to his father’s place simply because his dad expected him to work in the small store, and he really didn’t like it.
I wasn’t sure how that would work since I assumed Maxx would be sending me back to the room in the garage, but I wished him much luck with his talk. Brett would be a good addition to the garage and help free up some of Maxx’s time. His email had exploded since the weekend with inquiries about hiring him to restore motorcycles. He was so talented, I hoped he would focus on that endeavor.
I paced around the garage, finally heading over to the house about six. I had thought Maxx would be home by now but decided his plane must have been late. I slipped the casserole into the oven, fussed in the living room, then began to regret everything I had done.
He was going to hate it. I just knew it. I had crossed the line, but once I’d started opening boxes in the garage, I couldn’t stop myself. Maxx’s house was so sterile and plain. What I discovered in the boxes was all him. His past. His life. He should have it around him.
I fidgeted with the edge of a small throw blanket, worrying the fringe when a throat clearing from behind startled me. I jumped, spinning on my heel.
Maxx stood in the door, Rufus pressed against his leg, happy to have his master back. I had been so deep in my thoughts, I hadn’t heard him arrive. Maxx’s expression was inscrutable as he stared at the room, taking in the changes.
Finally, he spoke.
“What have you done?”
MAXX
The garage overhead door was shut as I pulled into the driveway, so I assumed Brett must have been done for the day. I knew he had worked extra to keep up while I was gone. Rufus nosed open the screen door of the mudroom and rushed out to greet me, his tail wagging as he weaved around my legs, happy and excited. I patted his haunches and stroked along his back, as pleased to see him as he was to see me.