They headed out the back of the house where there was a good-size slope leading down to a large pond out in the distance. Max had loved this house as a kid. Sleigh riding in the winter, fishing in the summer. Of course his dad had always been too busy for either activity, so Max usually had a buddy over.
He took his boot and cleared a pile of snow out of the way before tossing down his sled. “Let’s go slow a couple times to get this packed some, then we can race.”
“You’re on.”
By the time they’d climbed back up the hill the third time, they were both out of breath.
“Apparently I’m not in as good of shape as I thought,” he said, panting.
“Well, I’m blaming the heavy meal in my belly and carrying this sled. It’s not me.”
Max laughed. “We’ll go with that. You ready, hotshot?”
She sat the sled atop the snow and settled onto it. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“On three.” He sat down, placing his hands beside him in the snow to push off. “One...two...three!”
They shot down the hill, her sled turned at the last minute, slamming into his and knocking them both from the sleds and into a pile of snow. Even though snow slid into the top of his coat and made his neck cold and wet, he couldn’t deny he was having a blast. And Raine’s sweet laughter resounded through the night, wringing his heart and making him wonder again “What if?”
With her body half on his and half in the snow, he rolled over to his back and pulled her fully onto him.
Her wide eyes stared back at him, her smile still in place.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I know,” he whispered. “I love to hear you laugh, to know I’m the one who brought a bit of happiness into your life.”
“I’m really glad you came home. Not for the circumstances, but because I needed this.” Her eyes dropped to his mouth. “I needed you.”
Because anything he said at this point would be too heavy and emotional, he made better use of his mouth and slid his lips against hers. She returned his kiss softly, gently, then eased back.
“Your mom is looking better and better. I’m so glad we came tonight.”
“Me, too.”
“She really loves Abby.”
Just as he was about to bring up Abby and the court documents he’d seen, cold, wet snow went up his shirt...thanks in part to Raine and the snowball she just shoved beneath his coat.
“Raine,” he yelled, laughing as she came to her feet and started running away. “Payback’s coming, sweetheart. You better run.”
He quickly rolled and fisted a huge ball of snow and launched it at her back as she retreated. On cue, she squealed and returned a ball of her own. Max chased her around the flat part of the yard, volleying one ball after another until he’d had his fill, and then he charged after her and caught her around the waist. His arm wrapped around her from behind as he lifted her up. Her laughter filled the night, and Max didn’t know when he’d felt this alive, this free, this in—
No. Love didn’t come into play. He was just getting caught up in nostalgia. They’d been apart too long. How could he trust that he’d truly fallen back in love?
When she wiggled, Max eased her down to her feet and turned her around to face him. He smoothed the hair back from her face that had escaped her knit hat.
Raine’s eyes searched his, and he knew she wanted more. He knew she wanted everything they’d dreamed of years ago. He knew it, and part of him even still ached for that. But going slow was the only option, because, if this was going to work, they had to nurture the relationship and protect it at all costs.
“You’re so special, Raine,” he said huskily. “You’d really like L.A. If you ever wanted to visit, I’d love to show you around.”
“I’m pretty happy here.”
“I am, too,” he admitted. “More than I thought.”
Raine gasped, and, before she could ask questions or he could say more asinine things without thinking, he captured her lips and pulled her tighter against him.
When he pulled back, she fluttered her lashes up at him, and he knew those questions hadn’t left her mind, but he still wasn’t ready to answer them.
“What do you say we go inside and get some hot chocolate?” he suggested. “We can relieve Mom of baby duty.”
Raine nodded. “You know we aren’t done here, right?”
He knew exactly what she referred to. “I know, but let’s just enjoy this for now. I’m in a territory I had no idea I was heading toward, and I need to think.”
“Neither of us planned this, Max. We were both blindsided, but I have to consider Abby first.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less from you.”
She continued to hold his gaze. “And I can’t afford to let my heart get wrapped up in you again if I’m going to get hurt.”
A band slid around Max’s chest, squeezing tight. The ache of hearing her talk about heartbreak meshed with his own.
“I won’t let you get hurt,” he professed, hoping he could keep that promise. “I care for you, Raine. I care for you in a different way than I did the first time...and I have no idea what the hell to do about it.”
She reached up with her gloved hand and cupped his jaw. Such delicate hands, such a strong woman.
“We’ll figure this out together,” she told him. “But right now I can barely feel my toes, and I need that hot chocolate you promised.”
Max kissed her on her icy-cold nose and led her back into the house. He truly had no idea what he would do about these feelings he had for Raine. He only hoped to hell that, by the time he left Lenox, he had some answers, because right now all he knew was that he had the film of a lifetime waiting on him, he had a mother he was tending to, and he had an ex-girlfriend who was starting to work her way into his heart.
A heart she’d already broken once before. They had both been ripped open again upon discovering the truth. Could they risk so much for another chance?
Fifteen
Raine stopped in her tracks as she adjusted the carrier in one hand and the diaper bag in the other. She’d run out to deliver a few of her new lotions and soaps to some clients, and to leave some samples at area businesses.
After a long morning of running errands, all she wanted to do was relax and lay Abby down for a nap. But there was a note on her door, and as Raine grew closer, her smile grew wider.
Surprise waiting for you inside. Had to use spare key. You need to find a new hiding spot.
M
In the past three weeks since Max had been in Lenox, he’d spent a good portion of his time caring for his mother, but Raine and Abby were oftentimes over there, as well. Their alone time was limited, which meant this newfound love she had for him was not based on sex.
Max Ford was still the one for her. He was the one now, just like he was the one then.
Raine slid her key into the lock and went inside. Eager to see this infamous surprise, she set her stuff down and uncovered Abby from the blanket shielding the cold air from her in the carrier.
Taking the baby, Raine started to walk through the house. She tried to focus on the anticipation, instead of her mother’s phone call earlier in which Raine was scolded for spending more time with Max’s mother than her.
Raine had simply stated that Elise accepted her for who she was. Granted that hadn’t always been the case, but Raine loved Max’s mother. She was sweet, loving and not judgmental.
Her mother had been damn lucky Raine hadn’t gone off on her about Max’s shocking revelation. But that conversation was not to be held over the phone. Oh, no. That would be a face-to-face meeting. Soon.
Shoving aside the hurt, Raine searched the living room, kitchen and entryway. Nothing.
Climbing the steps, she wondered if it was something big and obvious or something small, and she’d already walked right by it.
She glanced in her work space area, in the nursery, but, when she hit the doorway to her bedroom, Raine froze. There draped across the bed was a beautiful long blue gown. Another note lay atop the gown.
I’ve lined up a sitter. Don’t worry, she’s trustworthy. Be ready at five, and I’ll pick you up. Tonight is all about you. Not Abby, not my mother and not work...for either of us.
M
She read the note again. Tonight was the opening of the play at the theater. Was he taking her? What about his mother? Wasn’t she going to attend? Who had he lined up for a sitter?
While she was beyond thrilled with the idea of going to the show tonight, and, even more thrilled that Max had gone to so much trouble to get this exquisite dress for her, her mind was whirling with questions.
Her cell vibrated in her pocket. Raine sat Abby in the Pack ’N’ Play pen in the corner of the room and pulled her phone out, smiling at the caller ID.
“You are determined to get me to the theater again, aren’t you?”
“I’m relentless when I want something,” Max stated. “And since I know your mind is going a mile a minute, I’m letting you know that my mother’s nurse will be watching Abby. You know Sasha from school, and she’s very trustworthy.”
Okay, Raine was relieved that the sitter was someone she knew.
“Where did this dress come from?” she asked, eyeing the narrow waist and hoping the thing fit.
“That’s not for you to worry about. The bathroom should have a bag with shoes, jewelry and new makeup in it. I had a lot of help from some friends, but I want you to be pampered tonight, and I want you in the front row...just like you used to be.”
Tears pricked Raine’s eyes, and she swallowed hard. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I’ve been planning it for some time,” he confessed. “And I knew you wouldn’t accept the gifts and theater ticket if I offered, so I made sure everything was in place.”
“You’re sneaky.” She headed to the en suite bath and nearly keeled over at the designer labels on the makeup he’d bought. “Max, I can’t even imagine what you spent on this stuff. You’re insane.”
“No, I just want you to have nice things, and if I want to pamper you one night, I will. Now, rest up because I plan on giving you an amazing night and showing you that sometimes you need to put yourself ahead of others.”
“I put myself ahead of others,” she insisted.
Max’s rich laughter filtered through the phone. “When? From what I’ve seen, if it’s not Abby, it’s your clients. And everyone I’ve talked to has said what a hard worker you are and how you are always running around town delivering plants, lotions, soaps, giving advice on healthier lifestyles.”
Raine shrugged even though he couldn’t see. “I do what I can for my clients. It’s how I make my living and am able to stay home with Abby.”
“All the more reason for you to get out of the house tonight.”
Raine smiled. “All right. I’ll be ready at five.”
“Wonderful. Sasha will be there just before, and you can go over Abby’s feeding and bed schedule. I plan on keeping you out very late.”
Oh, the promise in that declaration sent shivers racing through her body.
“I’ll be ready.”
After they said goodbye, Raine gathered up the bags of shoes and jewelry, and nearly floated back into the bedroom to look at the dress one more time. Blue was her favorite color; he hadn’t forgotten. She knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Max Ford hadn’t forgotten one single thing about her in all the time he’d been gone.
Thrumming with anticipation, Raine set the jewelry on top of her vanity and gingerly opened the black velvet boxes. Her eyes traveled appreciatively over the expensive sparkling jewels, but she knew exactly what piece she should wear tonight.
The locket.
* * *
“Loraine.”
Raine cringed as she stood from her front row seat after the final curtain call. There were only two people on this earth who called her Loraine and she knew at least one of them was standing right behind her.
As she turned, she pasted on a smile and came face to face with her parents. Yes, they all lived in the same town, but she still tried to avoid them at all costs.
“Mother, Father.” She eyed her mother in her perfectly coiffed hair and her simple strand of pearls around her neck. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Anything to help raise money for the arts,” her father piped up, his voice rising to make sure all surrounding spectators heard him.
Raine nearly rolled her eyes. What he meant to say was anything to look good for the upcoming mayoral election later in the year. She had no doubt whatever monies her parents had donated, they were all too willing to share the amount and take all the accolades for their generosity.