“You told me not to see her anymore,” he reminded her. “You said she wasn’t good for our family.”
“And at the time she wasn’t,” Elise insisted. “Max, your father didn’t think she was good for you. And no matter what I thought, I couldn’t stand to see our family torn apart by teenage hormones. You were two rebellious teens, and you fed off each other’s defiant ways.”
“I loved her, Mom,” he repeated. And he still cared deeply for her. “I would’ve married her had she come to L.A. when I tried to get her there.”
“I know you would’ve,” she said softly. “I know how much you cared for her, but at the time I just couldn’t have my family ripped apart. You two weren’t ready to be together, to be that far away on your own. You had stars in your eyes. Your father used to have that same look.”
For the first time when discussing his father, Max really looked at his mother. Her eyes had darted down, her mouth no longer smiling. Max loathed his father. The man was nothing but a careermonger who did anything and everything to get to the top, to be the best. He had sacrificed his family, his personal life and ultimately the relationship with his son. There was no way Max was like his father. He wouldn’t sacrifice his family...at least not intentionally.
But he was so far past caring what his father thought. He did, however, care about how his mother was being treated.
“When will Dad be here to visit?” he asked, already figuring the answer.
“He’s so busy, Max. You know how he is...”
Max nodded. “I know. I just assumed he would take some time off.”
He didn’t push. No need in stating the obvious and making his mother feel worse about a marriage that was obviously one-sided. Did his father see what all he was missing in life? Was a chain of five-star restaurants that important when your wife was recovering from breast cancer surgery?
Max stewed in silence as his mother ate, but a few more questions kept gnawing at him. Did his mother know about the adoption or guardianship or whatever the hell was going on with Raine? Surely she did, because Raine hadn’t been pregnant, and his mother would’ve known. Hell, the whole town more than likely knew about this, so why wouldn’t she tell him the truth?
Didn’t she think he’d understand? He was adopted himself for pity’s sake. Perhaps that was another reason he’d fallen so hard, so fast, for little Abby.
But he wasn’t done with Raine. They were just getting started. He’d get her to open up, he’d break down that wall of fear, and then he’d figure out just how the hell they could make this work.
* * *
As Raine assembled her last basket for the morning, her doorbell rang. She glanced over at Abby, who was pleased as punch in her Pack ’N’ Play pen, and left her to head downstairs to see who her unexpected visitor was.
She frowned when she peered out the window alongside the door and saw a man in a blue work uniform standing on her front step. Cautiously easing open the door only a couple inches, she kept her hand on the knob. “Yes?” she asked.
The man held out a clipboard with what appeared to be an order form. “Good morning, ma’am. I’m here to install your new furnace. I was informed the old one has not been removed, so I’ll need to do that first.”
Raine stared down at the order, then back up at the man. “Excuse me? New furnace?”
Then it hit her. Max. Damn it. Most women got flowers and got all weepy. She got a new furnace and tears pricked her eyes. She was so not normal.
“Um...no. No, the old one hasn’t been removed.” She allowed the furnace man to enter. “It’s right back here.”
As much as she wanted to protest, she knew this worker didn’t want to get caught in the middle of a feud, and she also knew when to just let someone help. And that was a totally new concept for her, since Raine didn’t get reinforcements from anyone. Yet, stubbornness aside, how could she deny that Max had been there for her more in the past several days than her parents had been most of her adult life?
When Raine showed the man where the furnace was, he went back out to his truck and another man came in as well to assist. Raine wasn’t too comfortable being alone in her house with two strange men, but that was life. She was a single woman, and this was just how it worked.
Once she realized they didn’t need her standing around staring at them, she went back upstairs, grabbed her cell from her work area and then picked up Abby.
She quickly dialed Elise’s house and wasn’t surprised when Max answered.
“You seriously paid for a furnace?” she asked, not beating around the bush.
“I seriously did,” he said with a chuckle. “Did you try to kick out the workers yet?”
Raine smiled and shifted Abby’s weight. “I thought about it, but then realized I would only be hurting myself and Abby if I didn’t accept your very generous and much appreciated gift.”
“Wow. The old Raine would’ve fought me tooth and nail over this.”
Her smile spread across her face as she started to head back downstairs. “Yeah, well, I’m not the same Raine, and I’m not an idiot. I need a furnace and you want to gift it to me. I’ll take it.”
Max laughed again. “I’m very impressed with the new Raine. Would the new Raine happen to have any plans for Valentine’s Day?”
Was he flirting with her? She hadn’t flirted since...way too far back to remember.
“Sorry. The new Raine has a baby and no sitter.”
“I’d like to have both of you for my date,” he stated. “I’m kind of greedy.”
“What about your mother? Will a nurse be watching her that night?”
Abby’s little arms were waving about and nearly knocked the cell from between Raine’s shoulder and ear. Raine eased her head the other direction to ward off slobbery fingers.
“Well, Mom claims my father is coming to town to spend the day with her.”
Raine stepped into the living room, settled Abby into her swing and turned it on. “You don’t sound convinced.”
“I believe he wants to come, but work always gets in the way.”
Raine watched Abby as she swung back and forth. The men in the other room were making quite the racket, and Raine couldn’t believe she was contemplating a date with Max. Seriously? And if they went on a date, where would that lead? Back to bed?
Marshall had already seen Max at her house, so that secret was no longer well kept. Perhaps if that became an issue with the adoption, this “date” would go a long way in proving Max wasn’t just a fling. Even though she couldn’t necessarily define what they were at the moment, they’d definitely gone beyond just sex.
But was she ready to take that next step and go on a real date?
“I’m not sure,” she said.
“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, but I know we have a good time together. What do you say?”
“Can I think about it?”
Max chuckled. “You can, but you have a day to do it.”
“If I did agree, what would we do?” she asked.
“I have plans in place if you say yes. That’s all you need to know.”
Shivers coursed through Raine. How could she refuse a man when he’d already given her and their time together so much thought and consideration?
He was right in the sense that they did enjoy each other’s company, and she didn’t have anything else to do.
Oh, who was she kidding? She wanted this date like she wanted her next breath.
“If you’re sure you can handle me and Abby, then I guess we’re available.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I’ll be at your house tomorrow at five. Does that work?”
Giddiness swept through Raine, and she spun in a little circle. Max couldn’t see her, and, even if he could, she didn’t care.
“Where will we go?” she asked.
“All you need to worry about is being yourself. Don’t get all fussed up. I just want to see the natural Raine I spent three days with in the snowstorm.”
Raine wrinkled her nose. “You’re serious? Because natural Raine isn’t worthy of public places.”
“You’ll be fine,” he assured her with a laugh. “Promise.”
By the time she hung up, Raine was intrigued as to what he had planned. Max being back in town had already turned into something she’d never expected. How could she not fall for him again? Especially when she ached for him with all her heart and soul.
Although she knew she should probably keep her distance, deep down she knew there was no way she could stay detached from him. Her emotions were too profound, their bond too strong. And since they’d been intimate and had begun to confront their past issues, that bond had only grown.
He was extending this olive branch to her. She had no doubt he wanted to see where this newfound relationship led. She did, too.
But as much as she wanted to savor this time together, she knew they both needed to proceed with caution.
Because neither of them could afford another emotional landslide.
Thirteen
When Max took his first step over the threshold of the Shakespearian Theater, he had to stop and take it all in. The large red-velvet curtains draped from the stage at the far end. The slanted rows of seats and the tiered balconies on either side were completely empty, but in a few short weeks would be overflowing with an eager audience...he hoped.
This play was for charity, and they needed to raise an insane amount of money for the theater’s renovations. Of course he’d donate a large sum as well, perhaps double the amount brought in from the play.
And since he’d just been faxed the script yesterday morning, he’d barely had time to look it over, but he did know he was playing a Roman soldier. Just what he wanted to do—sport a sheet, a metal chest plate and wield a sword. But for the sake of the arts and as a favor to his mother, he’d do it. God knows he’d played worse characters over the course of his career.
As he made his way down the aisle, that thrill shot through him of doing live theater again. There was nothing like that immediate feedback, the cheers, the standing ovations...and the ego boost that inevitably followed. The vanity of acting was just part of the process, and he’d learned long ago to face it head-on, but not let it consume his life. Too many talented actors had fallen, because their ego had gotten in the way of their dreams.
Max made his way to the back of the stage where he’d told the director he’d meet him.
An elderly man was bent over in the corner mumbling something about cords and wiring. Max smiled and cleared his throat to get the man’s attention.
“Oh, oh. I didn’t know you were here.” He came to his feet, extending his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you in person, Mr. Ford.”
“Call me Max,” he replied, pumping the other man’s hand.
“I’m Joe. I’m the director here. I can’t tell you how thrilled we were when your mother said you’d take on this part. We had a local man scheduled to play the role, but he had to bow out at the last minute.”
“I’m happy I can help.”
Joe slid his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “How is your mother doing? Hated to hear about her illness.”
“She’s on the mend and doing remarkably well,” he told the older gentleman. “We’re really lucky they caught the tumor in time. The doctor expects a full recovery and no chemo, so she’s happy.”
“That’s fantastic news,” Joe said with a smile. “We all just love her around here. She’s always been such an advocate of the arts and it’s nice to have someone like her in our corner.”
Max nodded toward the wires. “Having some problems over there?”
The director sighed, shaking his head. “I can’t get this mess figured out. We need to have the lighting updated, and I’m trying to get through this one last play before having it replaced.”
“Is it the time or the money that’s the hold up?” Max asked.
“A little of both.” Joe laughed, moving over the squat down again. “I really need to get an electrician in here before we do this production at the end of the month...”
“Call someone and I’ll cover all costs. See how fast they can get it done.”
Joe’s head whipped around. “You’re serious?”
Max nodded, squatting down beside Joe. “Absolutely. I can do some things, but this may be out of my element.”
Joe grinned. “Yeah, I heard rumors there may be collaboration between you and Bronson Dane. Any truth to that?”
Shrugging, Max smiled. “We’ll see.” Coming to his feet, he rested his hands on his hips. “Now, why did you need to meet me today? Don’t tell me you’re spending Valentine’s Day working.”