Max (Cold Fury Hockey 6)

"Sure," I say quietly, and I walk out of the kitchen.

Now, I am in no way not going to listen in on what's being said, so I make a production of climbing the stairs with some mild stomping so Dwayne thinks I'm out of earshot, but I stop right at the top landing and lean my forearms on the banister. Looking down over the open foyer with the front door just beyond, I know the sound from the kitchen will travel well enough for me to hear what's going on.

"Just a little bit of money," Dwayne says, his supplication now aimed at Max. "I know you got plenty, man, and I swear, you won't ever see me again."

I'm surprised when Max says, "And what about Annabelle, Levy, and Rocco...will they see you again? You just going to jet out of their life for good?"

"Man...you know I'm not a good daddy," Dwayne says with an actual measure of genuine self-disgust aimed at himself. "Wasn't a good husband either."

"Doesn't mean those kids don't need to know their father," Max says, and this again surprises me. I sort of thought when he asked for privacy, he was going to lay into Dwayne.

"I'm no good for them," he says, and that sounds like self-pity now, and I never could tolerate that attitude, so my nose involuntarily wrinkles. "So maybe just give me some money and I'll be out of here for good."

There's silence, and I can almost envision Max staring Dwayne down. I can also envision Dwayne doesn't have the bravery to hold Max's critical gaze.

Finally, I hear Max's voice, and it's empathetic but uncompromising. "We're not going to give you a dime, Dwayne. You've managed to take care of yourself this long in life, I'm sure you'll find some way to survive. But I will tell you what I'll do. First, if you ever think to threaten Jules again about taking those kids away from her--when you've never once showed an ounce of interest in their well-being or in their mother as she died--then I want you to know I will use every penny of my vast and incredible fortune to fight you. I will bankrupt and bury you before I ever let that happen."

There's a small pause, and Dwayne doesn't say a word.

Max continues, his voice a little softer now. "But, what I will do is talk to Jules about perhaps rescinding the order for child support. Take that monkey off your back, since you clearly have no desire to pay it. In return, I want you to relinquish all of your paternal rights so Jules can officially adopt those kids. She's their mom now. She's been more of a parent to them in these months than you've been in their entire lives."

More silence, and I can no longer even envision what Dwayne's or Max's face looks like at this point, because this is so not where I thought their conversation would go.

"However," Max says, this time as if he were talking to a child who needed some type of encouragement. "I know Jules would still want you to be a part of their lives. You don't have the maturity to care for them and raise them the way a parent has to sacrifice to do so, but I do think you have the power to love them. So I would propose you still have some type of regular visitation. Jules and I will bring them to you when our schedules permit, or I'll pay to fly you here to see them."

Immediately, my nose starts stinging, and I don't even try to quell the tears that start to form.

Oh, God...sweet, genuine, generous Max, doing right by not only me and those children, but also doing right by Dwayne. Still trying to include a wayward father into those kids' lives.

I don't bother listening anymore. I have no clue what Dwayne will decide to do, but I know Max would never make decisions without me and will call me down when I'm needed. Besides, it really doesn't matter what he decides. Nothing will change the fact that those kids belong to me and Max.

So I turn and head into Levy's room, and make myself busy picking up his toys and clothes he'd left lying around this morning before going to school. I'll do the same for Rocco and Annabelle when I'm done.

Three weeks later...

"It's finally here," I shout out as I barge into Fleurish, not caring if I scare the crap out of any of Stevie's customers.

Stevie calls back, "I'm in the back."

I hurry back there, vaguely noticing that the shop actually has a few customers, but they're currently being helped by one of Stevie's employees and don't give me a second glance.

I find Stevie at a large worktable, creating a floral arrangement of such beauty, it takes my breath away for a moment. "Oh, wow. That is stunning."

"Never underestimate the value of a gay man arranging flowers," he says dryly and then pushes the large container of what looks to be lilac and lavender sprigs mixed with baby white roses away from him. "Let's see it."

I round the worktable and come up to stand beside him, plopping the latest issue of Sports World on the wooden top.

Max's gorgeous face grins back at us with the title "Hottest Sports Bachelor" across the top.

I have to say, I love the photo they chose. It was one of him sitting on a chrome barstool, holding a goalie stick across his lap as he wound tape around the base. I remember the photographer telling him to look up and "smile," and when he did so, they captured the perfect picture, complete with shining eyes and panty-dropping dimples.

"Have you read it yet?" Stevie asks as we stare at the cover.

"Nope," I tell him. "Thought we could do it together and maybe giggle like girls when we do so."

"I can totally do that," he says, and starts flipping through the magazine until we get to the article, which starts with the preceding page filled with Max and the two bikini babes on either side of him.

Doesn't even bother me in the slightest.

"He's so hot," Stevie murmurs.

"Tell me about it," I say dreamily.

"Okay, let's read the article," he says, and starts to do so out loud. " 'Voting was contentious and close, but we're pleased to announce that Max Fournier, hot goalie for the Carolina Cold Fury, has been named as Sports World's Hottest Bachelor.' "

Stevie continues to read aloud, the article actually giving a lovely recitation of Max's accomplishments, all the way back to when he played hockey as a little kid in Montreal. While he reads, I just stare at the hotness of Max, completely able to disregard the gorgeous women beside him.

When Stevie flips to the next page, I blink for a moment but then immediately my eyes are locked onto the next picture and I'm stunned. It's not one from the formal photo shoot, but rather one of the candid photos Camille took of me and Max. The reporter must have reached out to her for them.

It's not one that was in her horrid article but appears to be the moment just before he'd kissed me. He's got one hand wrapped around the back of my neck and he's peering down at me with such utter love that my knees start to shake.

Did I recognize that in his eyes then?

I don't remember, but it's clear as day now.

Max is looking at me as if I matter more to him than the air he breathes. And my gaze back at him...it mirrors his perfectly. I'm staring back with the same look of almost awe and d

evotion.

" '...and Max was more than happy to talk to us about his love life,' " Stevie says, and my ears definitely perk back up at that.

I lean in closer to him and my eyes start scanning the article, trying to pinpoint exactly where he's reading from. But the magazine is snatched out from under my nose and Stevie steps back from me, holding it up to read further.

"Stevie," I say with a growl.

He just holds his hand up and says, "Cool it, sister. And just listen."

I give out a huff of frustration, but then Stevie's reading and I'm suddenly lost to Max's words. " 'Let me tell you something about Jules. She is without a doubt the most amazing human being I've ever met. Not woman...I'm talking out of all the people I've ever encountered, she's the best of them. I could go on and on, but I know it would embarrass her if I did. That's because she's also one of the most humble people I've ever known. I know she's taken some flack from a few of my fans, but I have to believe that most of them aren't like that. That they're truly happy for me that I've found someone to share my life with.' "

Prickles in my nose again, and that's the sign a good cry is coming. It's my cry-o-meter.

Even Stevie gets a little choked up when he continues on, " 'And while I wasn't all that crazy about being named hottest bachelor and all that, because let's admit it--it's a little embarrassing--I'd at least like to accept this title as sort of my last hurrah. So Jules...I know you're reading this, babe...I'd like to officially take myself off all bachelor lists and ask you to marry me. You know it's not too soon, and you know it's right. So as soon as you finish this article, give me a call and tell me yes, okay?' "

"Holy shit," I wheeze as Stevie's eyes fly up from the magazine and lock with mine.

"Did he just?" Stevie whispers.

"Ask me to marry him?" I whisper back.

He nods at me, almost afraid to say it again. But then he lowers the magazine and, still whispering, asks, "What are you going to do?"

I don't even hesitate as my hand dives into my purse and I fish my phone out. My hands are shaking as I pull up Max's number and tap it. As it starts to ring, I look back to Stevie and grin. "I'm going to say yes, of course."