Moving In
Max
Maybe I should have talked to Fiona before dealing with the stupid kids in Maddox’s sewers. The anger radiating off of her is painful. It’s worse knowing that I caused it.
Not that I regret doing a single thing. Her safety comes first…even above her own convenience, but still.
As we walked to her apartment, all I wanted to do was take her hand in mine and offer her some comfort, but the chasm between us is too big at the moment to overcome with a touch. I’ll get her safely ensconced in my house, and then we’ll sit down in the library and talk until she calms down.
Soon, I’m going to need to talk to Dad about renovating one of the rooms to fit Daria’s book collection. My parents have an extensive library, but hers is vastly larger. There doesn’t seem to be much overlap.
We’re also going to need to renovate a suite for Fiona and me, though I have to figure out her style first. The living room seems to be more about Daria than Fiona, but I could be wrong about that.
As soon as we step into the apartment, Fiona says, “Hope would you mind watching Dash for me for a little while? I need to talk to your dad privately for a minute.” Her voice remains cool and steady, but her eyes are screaming with pent-up frustration. “Max, can we talk?”
That’s definitely not a question. I guess it’s better getting this over and done with rather than carrying it into her moving into my home…our home.
I LOVE the sound of that.
Without waiting for a response from me, she heads towards the hallway. I follow behind, taking in the details so that I can find similar items to make her feel more comfortable.
Turning into her room is like stepping into a different space in the secret part of Fiona’s mind. The space you create tells so much about who you are.
My woman is soft like the blankets tossed all about her room. They aren’t frilly or fussy. They’re earth tones in the softest materials. Blankets you want to cuddle into on a warm day. I trail my fingers across her bed as I walk over to her dresser.
It’s not covered in knickknacks like so many women love. There’s a small jewelry box, a few perfumes, and a spiral-shaped mirror perched on it.
Fiona always smells like food when I’m with her. What does she wear when she isn’t working? I grab the most used bottle and lift it up.
“Earth to Max.”
Reality comes flooding in, but it can’t overwhelm the joy I feel. “I love getting to know you.”
That seems to throw her off balance, even though the loud music she turned on should have been enough to do that. “How does this help you get to know me?”
“It’s the little details. You don’t like a ton of knickknacks.
Everything is soft…touchable, like you.” I need to touch her now.
To offer the comfort she wouldn’t allow me before.
After carefully setting down the perfume bottle, I wrap my arms around her, waiting a second to give her time to say no.
When she melts into my arms, I scoop her up and carry her over to what she probably thinks of as an oversized chair. We’ll need something much larger in our rooms, but this will do for now.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying out the chair to see if it’s as comfortable as it seems.” Which it is. My woman cares more about comfort than anything else.
“You know I’m mad at you, right?” To belie her words, she cuddles into my arms.
“Yeah. But it’s been a hard day. Let me just take a second to reassure myself that you’re alright.
Then we can have the fight you want to have.
After that, we’ll make out and then start packing up.
” But all the fight has gone out of her body.
Hopefully, that means we can talk about what she was feeling.
I hate that the kid scared her. That he damaged something she worked hard to make a safe haven.
“You mean make up.”
“Nope.” Her little blush convinces me even more that I said the right thing. “I meant make out. Right here. Though we can switch to the bed if you want.”
“Your daughter is in the living room.”
“And?” Hope doesn’t care. She’s thrilled I found someone.
“What kind of example would that set?”
“A better one than us playing loud music to cover up the fact that we’re fighting.” I’m constantly asking her to turn hers down to protect her ears.
“I didn’t want her to hear and be worried or upset.”
“That’s one of the things I love the most about you.” This woman is so perfect.
“You know it’s going to be impossible to fight with you when we’re like this.”
“That was the plan. Instead of fighting with me, why don’t you just tell me what’s bothering you, and we’ll see if we can fix it.
” I love that just touching her was able to calm her down enough that we could talk.
Why does she always wear long sleeves? They keep the bakery at a nice, comfortable temperature.
But I wish I could feel her skin, even if it was just her wrist or arm.
I run a finger down the palm of her hand.
“You can’t do what you did today again.”
There are so many things she could be upset about. “And what did I do?”
“You demanded that I do exactly what you want. You didn’t take my feelings into consideration. We might be dating, but you don’t own me.”
WHAT? Why would she think that?
“I won’t have my life dictated to me by anyone, not even the man I love. I go where I want, when I want. You don’t just pick me up, drop me somewhere, and tell me to stay like a dog. That’s happened to me too many times in my life. It won’t happen again.”
A dog? What happened when she was a child? “Fea.”
“Don’t even try to sweet-talk me. There is no excusing that. Do you hear me?”
Loud and all too clear. The urge to kill men I’ve never even met flows through me. She doesn’t want an explanation, even though I didn’t mean it like that. “Yes.”
“I will make my own choices. And you will request, not demand, when you want me to do something.”
“Of course.”
“What?”
“You always have a choice. With one exception, when your life is in danger, I will do whatever I need to do in order to ensure your safety.”
She sighs. “I wasn’t in danger.”
“You can’t trust an addict. And I can’t handle losing you, so I’ll keep chucking you over my shoulder or fighting to the death for you without apologizing about it. But I’m sorry that I made you feel anything but loved and cherished today. We’re equal partners in this relationship in every way.”
“Oh, really?”
“Absolutely.” I take her hand and place it on my heart. “Hearing that my actions made you think about that time in your life breaks my heart.”
“What was that you said about making out?”
This woman makes my whole heart smile.
There’s a pounding at Fiona’s bedroom door. “Dad, Daria is here.”
“And we’re out of time.”
“We could make time.” Her sultry grin is enough to tempt a stronger man than me.
“Later. I need to talk you and your sister into moving in with me now.”
Fiona shoves herself out of my arms and walks over to turn off the radio. “You know we’re safe here.”
“You’ll be safer in my home.”
“Max.”
“You’re a target. Therefore, your sister is a target.
Maddox has all these children to care for without the added pressure of worrying about you two.
My family has more security than Fort Knox, and no one will think to look for you there.
Plus, it’s not like you’re moving in with me.
You’d be moving in with my entire family.
There would be no pressure. It would be a great way to get to know them. ”
Fear fills her face. “What if they hate me?”
“They’ve already met you and love you. There’s no need to worry. Everything will be just fine. And think of all the built-in babysitters for Dash.”
“Dash. Max, we have to be careful. Hope seems really attached to him. He could be going to his adoptive family really soon.”
I love it when my woman protects my daughter. How did I pick such a wonderful person? “Hope won’t get her heart broken.” Because we’re going to be those parents.