37. Chapter 37
thirty-seven
I n a daze, Willow walked behind Max, out of the brewery and into the office, trying, and failing, to shake off the shock of having seen him laughing and joking around with Jer.
He pulled back the door and stepped to the side, gesturing her through, then followed and closed the door behind them, shutting out the rest of the world.
She rolled her eyes at Barley, who’d been staring up into Max’s eyes and cuddled against his chest like a baby.
What a traitor.
He was supposed to be on her side, growling and snapping at him for being an ice-cold asshole to her, not falling in love with the guy.
She sat in Max’s giant leather office chair behind the desk and crossed her legs, trying hard to hold on to her anger even though it was slipping away at the sight of him. He’d sat across, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched her.
God, his mouth.
She’d forgotten how attractive he was.
He stared at her and sat in silence, and she stared back. Hadn’t he said she should silently stare at someone until they started speaking with more respect? Not acknowledge their unacceptable behaviour?
That was actually good advice.
She cocked a brow, wondering how long the staring contest would go on for and determined not to break first.
Max finally looked away from her, down at Barley as he scratched up the little pup’s outstretched neck. “This is a great dog,” he said with a smile. “I had a dog when I was a kid. He died when I was fifteen, and I never cried.”
Willow’s face fell as her anger evaporated in an instant and all the feelings she’d felt for Max came surging forward.
What was this trickery?
“Adam cried for, like, three days,” he said with a shake of his head. “I felt like crying but wouldn’t let myself. Even when I was alone. ”
Willow desperately tried to keep being mad at him, but her face went slack as she watched the emotions work their way over his face.
“I’m sorry about how I treated you,” he said. “From the first time we met until the last time I saw you.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and she stared at his eyes, so open and calm. She never wanted to look away.
“I was way too pushy because I was afraid that if you went back there, you’d never return, and I’d lose you.”
Her head felt too light as she pulled in a shallow breath. She’d walked into the brewery fully expecting to go into battle with Max. She hadn’t expected for one second that he’d be calm and open, telling her he was sorry.
“I’m sorry, too,” she said. “I didn’t want to let Nikki down, but I let everyone here down instead.”
Max shook his head. “You haven’t let anyone down. We’re all good.”
The regret she’d started feeling at Nikki’s wedding came rushing back, and her shoulders slumped. “I never should have gone back there.”
“What happened?”
She sighed. “Nikki was the one sexting Shane.”
Max’s eyes grew, but he stayed quiet.
“I found out right before the wedding.”
“Holy shit. Are you okay? ”
She gave a half shrug, replaying the last two days in her mind. “I don’t know. At first, I was kind of numb and full of regret. I was mad at myself for leaving here,” she said, looking up at him. “For leaving you.”
He stood and placed Barley gently on his chair, then came around the desk and pulled her to her feet into his arms.
She cuddled in, letting him hold her, and felt a thousand times better. In fact, she hadn’t felt this comfortable and at home since the last time she was in his arms.
God, she loved him so much.
Why had she ever left?
“I fucking hate that they treated you like that,” he said, his voice grumbling deep with anger.
He turned them and sat in the big chair, pulling her down onto his lap. She draped her legs over the armrest and put her cheek against his chest.
“If it makes you feel any better, the groom punched Shane in the face.”
Max laughed. “That does make me feel better. Did he still marry her?”
“I don’t know. I walked out right after that.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry you had to deal with all that.”
“Me too,” she said with an exhale .
She sat with him like that for a long while, basking in the warmth of his hand on her knee, rising and falling with his chest. She was at peace. And it felt so fucking good.
“Max?”
“Mmm?” he said.
She took a calming breath. “I love you.”
He squeezed her in tighter, wrapping his arms around her almost protectively. “I love you, too.”
She pulled back and sat up, just enough to look him in the eye. “I’m staying. Here in Mapleton. At Monroe Manor.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, softly at first, then deeper and deeper. He finally pulled back but kept her face in his hands.
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
She couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled out of her throat. “Yes,” she said, her face splitting into a giant grin. “I’d love to be your girlfriend.”
He kissed her again, then pulled back. “That was very decisive,” he said with a smirk.
She laughed. “It’s easy to be decisive when you know what you want.”
He smiled for a moment before his face went serious. “I’m gonna try really hard not to fuck this up.”
She smiled and snuggled into his chest, then sighed out a breath of relief.
“Me too.”