Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
~MAX~
I ’m pretty sure I just swallowed my tongue.
Had a heart attack.
Stroke.
Something .
Because, my God, just look at her.
“Are you okay?” Willa asks from inside the door, smiling at me with uncertainty in her brown eyes. “Is this dress not appropriate?”
“It’s appropriate for many things,” I reply, finally finding my voice and following her into the house and closing the door. “Like lying in a heap around your ankles after I rip it off of you.”
“Hey, this was an expensive dress,” she says, scowling at me as if she’s scolding a child.
Which only turns me on more.
The fabric is ice-blue and shiny, falling in thick, floating cascades, shimmering from her chest to the floor. It molds to her breasts but hides the rest of her, flowing as she walks. Sapphires twinkle at her ears and around her wrist as she reaches for a white fur wrap.
I take it from her and slip it around her shoulders, leaning in to press my lips against her neck, just below a sparkling sapphire.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” I whisper against her skin. “You take my fucking breath away.”
“That’s better.” She smiles up at me, then turns to adjust my already straight tie. I think it’s a woman thing to adjust a man’s tie whether it’s straight or not. “You’re handsome yourself.”
“He’s in the bath,” Debbie says as she comes out of Alex’s bathroom. “Oh, hi, Max.”
“Hello.”
“My goodness, you two look like you should be in a magazine. Here, Willa, give me your phone, and I’ll take a picture.”
She arranges us in front of the fireplace and snaps a few photos.
“We might be late,” Willa warns her, but Debbie just shakes her head and smiles.
“Take all the time you want. The kiddo will be in bed soon. In fact, stay out all night if you like.”
“Oh, I don’t—” Willa begins, but I cut her off.
“That would be great, if you’re sure.”
Debbie winks at me. “You got it.”
“Ready?” I ask Willa as she grabs her clutch and checks her lipstick in the mirror by the front door.
“Looks like it,” she says with a nod.
“Oh, Max,” Debbie says before I shut the door behind us. “I think that what you’ve done for the hospital is just wonderful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I nod and close the door, then help Willa down the stairs. “Those shoes aren’t really appropriate for snow.”
“I’m not wearing boots under my dress,” she says, holding onto me as she maneuvers her way into the vehicle. “Besides, they’ll look fantastic around your shoulders later.”
“I—” I swallow hard and try again. “I think we’ll skip this fucking party and go straight to my house.”
She’s still laughing when I climb into the car next to her. “We can’t skip a party being thrown in your honor,” she says.
“I could say I came down with a case of something.”
“Nope.” She grins over at me. “I’m dressed for a fancy party, and that’s what I want.”
“Then a fancy party the lady shall have.”
“I guess it didn’t occur to me that I’d know just about everyone here,” Willa says an hour later after saying hello to half of the town. “Then again, I’m not the only one who loves a fancy shindig.”
“Didn’t you sell a bunch of formal dresses this winter?” Abby, Hannah’s cousin, asks.
“I did, actually. I just didn’t put two and two together. Math isn’t my strong suit.”
“I love your dress, Abby,” Hannah says, making her cousin blush. “What did I say?”
“This was my backup dress,” Abby says, giving her date, Dr. Drake Merritt, the side-eye.
“What happened to the other one? Is it defective? Should I send it back?” Willa asks.
“No, nothing like that,” Abby says.
“I ripped the first one off of her,” Drake says calmly as if he’s discussing the weather.
“ Drake !” Abby says.
“What? It’s the truth.”
“Well, at least you had a backup plan,” Willa says with a laugh, glancing at me because I had the same exact thought when I saw her earlier.
We’re at a table with Brad and Hannah, Abby and Drake, and Jacob and Grace, who are currently across the room chatting with the medical director of the hospital.
“Oh, my phone is ringing.” Willa frowns and pulls the cell out of her clutch. “It’s not my mom.”
“Who is it?” I ask.
“Unknown number. Must be Jesse. Hello?” Her face lights up, confirming that it’s her brother. “You have the worst timing. Well, get a regular phone, and I could text you. …I know. I’m at a party with some friends, but Mom’s at my place with Alex. You should call them. …Okay, love you, too. Bye.”
“How is Jesse?” Brad asks. He and Jesse were in the same grade in school. Jesse went into the military after graduation and has rarely come home since.
“Fine, I think,” Willa says as she tucks her phone into her bag. “I don’t hear from him much.”
“Top-secret maneuvers,” Hannah says with a wink. “That’s what happens when your brother is 007.”
“I don’t know what he is, honestly,” Willa replies. “He doesn’t tell us anything. But he sounded good.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.” A local celebrity, a radio DJ who has been around for a long time, is the master of ceremonies tonight. In addition to the large donation that Jacob and I made, there’s a silent auction happening, and he will reveal the winners after the announcement of the donation. “Before we begin with the silent auction winners—I really hope I won that trip to Maui for my wife and myself—I’d like to invite two men to come up and join me.
“Please give Max Hull and Jacob Baxter a round of applause.”
Jacob and I stand, buttoning our coats, and walk through the ballroom to the podium. We decided beforehand that I would be the one to speak on behalf of both of us.
“Good evening,” I begin and wait for the room to quiet. “Jacob and I are honored to be with you tonight. As you know, the money collected from the silent auction benefits the hospital, going toward the new cancer facility set to break ground in the spring.
“It is my distinct privilege to announce that Jacob and I have each donated one million dollars toward this worthy cause.”
The room erupts into applause, and I step back to shake Jacob’s hand, then look out across the crowd to find Willa, who is beaming proudly. She knew that I was making a donation tonight, but I hadn’t told her how much.
Jacob and I smile and pose for a round of photos, then return to our seats with our friends.
“I had no idea,” Willa whispers in my ear.
“I know.” I take her hand in mine and kiss it, ignoring the looks from those seated near us. Tonight is the first time we’ve been outwardly affectionate in public, and it already has the rumor mill buzzing.
Let it buzz. I don’t give a shit.
Willa’s mine. I’d gladly take out a full-page ad in the newspaper if that’s what it takes to let everyone know that I’m completely gone over her. Hell, I never stopped loving her for the girl she was, and I can’t resist the amazing woman she is now. I’m damn proud to have her by my side.
“I’m drowning,” Willa says the next morning. She’s at the shop, and Alex is out of school. Her mom is helping her, along with the two girls Willa hired as part-time help, but they’re barely keeping up.
“Did you make everything free?” I ask, looking around in awe.
“Almost. It’s a winter sale so I can make room for the spring inventory I have coming in. Everything’s fifty-percent off. Apparently, the advertising I did worked.”
“You’re a walking advertisement,” I remind her, watching as a woman in her early twenties squeals with delight when she finds the pair of jeans she’s been looking for. “You always look fantastic, Wills. They just want to look like you.”
“They just want a killer deal on a pair of jeans,” she says, but boosts herself up on her tiptoes and offers me a kiss. “But thank you for saying sweet things.”
“They’re true.” I kiss her plump lips. “How can I help?”
“I was hoping Alex could spend the day with Ken, but he caught the flu. Ken, not Alex. And I need Mom here?—”
“I got this,” I say easily as Alex joins us. “I’ll take Alex for the day.”
“Yes!” Alex exclaims, holding his hand up for a high-five.
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do that.”
“I’m totally sure.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We’ll figure it out,” I reply with a shrug.
“Yeah, Mom,” Alex says, shrugging the same way I just did. “We’ll figure it out.”
She sighs, looking back and forth between us, and then shrugs herself. “Okay. Thank you. And, Alexander Cary Monroe, you behave and do as you’re told. You’ve had a crappy attitude lately.”
“Wow, your full name, dude.”
“Yeah,” Alex says, staring at the floor. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll be good.”
She squats in front of him and pulls him in for a hug. “I love you so much. You hurt my feelings when you sass me.”
“I’m sorry,” he says and kisses her cheek. “I’ll be good. Honest.”
“Okay, then.” She smiles up at me as if I hung the moon. I enjoy the kid. If spending time with him earns me looks like that, I’ll take him every day. “Have fun.”
“We will.” I kiss her lips once more, then follow Alex to her office so we can gather his jacket. “Where’s Rocky?”
“At Grandma and Grandpa’s,” he says, moping. “ I couldn’t go because Grandpa’s sick, but Rocky got to go.”
“I bet he’s good company for your grandpa,” I say as he shoves his arms into his coat. “I know that it would help me feel better to have a puppy to snuggle.”
“Oh.” He considers that for a minute, then nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
We walk out the back door to avoid the crowded showroom and climb into my car.
“What should we do today?” I ask. “Ice skating? Movie?”
“I want to go skiing,” Alex announces proudly. “Can we go?”
“I don’t know, Alex.” I turn toward my house, expecting to spend the day in the theater with movies for the kiddo and my laptop. “I don’t know if your mom would be okay with that.”
In fact, I’d be shocked if she was okay with it after what happened to Cary.
“She’s totally fine with it,” he replies easily. “I was supposed to take skiing lessons this year, but we didn’t have time. In fact, you’ll be doing her a favor if you take me ’cause then she won’t have to.”
I glance over at him, and he looks so sincere and excited, how can I tell him no?
“We don’t have your snow pants with you.”
“They’re in my backpack,” he replies. “See? It’s like we were supposed to go skiing today.”
“Now you’re laying it on a little thick.”
“Does this mean we get to go?” he asks hopefully.
“Yes, but... You have to stay close to me at all times and do exactly what I say so you don’t get hurt. This is important, Alex.”
“I will do that,” he says, nodding. “Honest. I’ll listen.”
“If you don’t, we’ll stop and go home.”
“I understand.” He’s solemn and earnest, so I decide to take the day off with him and spend it doing what I love the most: skiing.
It’s crazy that I’m taking my best friend’s son skiing for the first time. I wish Cary were here with us. He’d be so excited.
But he’s not. I’ll keep Alex safe and show him the ropes on the bunny hill today.
The drive up to the resort is quick. I park and help Alex into his snow pants, then slide mine on, as well. I always keep a pair in the car, along with boots, skis, and poles, because I sometimes decide on a whim to come up and ski a run or two.
I won’t be using my skis today, so I slide on my snow boots, lock up the car, and take Alex’s hand.
“Ready?”
“This is going to be the best thing ever ,” he replies, skipping next to me.
“First, we have to go rent your equipment. If this becomes something that you really like and you want to stay with it, I’ll get you your own skis and boots next year.”
“You’d do that?” he asks with wide eyes.
“Of course.” I ruffle his hair, then hand him his hat. “You’ll need this. It’s cold up here today.”
Thirty minutes later, Alex has skis, boots, and poles, and we’re headed for the bunny slopes when I hear someone call my name.
I glance around to find Jacob approaching with someone I don’t know at his side.
“Hey, hold up,” Jacob says. “I want you to meet my mate, Sebastian. Sebastian, this is Max Hull, a good friend of mine.”
“I know the name for certain,” Sebastian says with a smile, shaking my hand. His face looks familiar.
“Have we met?” I ask him.
“No, this is my first time in Cunningham Falls, but I’m glad I came. Jacob has been trying to get me to visit for years.”
“We went to college together at Oxford,” Jacob says as Alex tugs on my sleeve.
“This is Alex Monroe, a friend of mine,” I say, introducing Alex to Sebastian. “He’s never skied before, so I thought I’d show him the ropes.”
“Really?” Jacob frowns, but something from the corner of his eye catches his attention. “Oh, bollocks, I have to run. Sebastian?”
“I’m with you,” Sebastian says and smiles at both Alex and me. “Nice to meet you both. I hope to see you again.”
He waves and rushes off, and I lead Alex to the chairlift that leads to the simplest run.
“I like their voices,” he says with a smile.
“They’re British,” I inform him.
“I know, I like it. Okay, what do we do first?”
I show him how to hop on and off of the chairlift, which is enough to make him giddy. When we hop off, and I take him through some lessons, he’s all smiles, mastering it quickly and efficiently, just like his father.
He does exactly as I say, listening intently and being the perfect student.
When it’s time to call it a day, Alex sighs with happiness and walks, slower now, to my car after we hand in his gear.
“This was the best day ever,” he says, settling back on the seat. “Like, ever ever. ”
“You did a great job,” I say, easing down the mountain. It snowed while we were skiing and has gotten colder, making the road more treacherous. “I’d say you’re a natural.”
“Like my dad?” he asks eagerly, and I remember what Willa said the other day about Alex not asking many questions about his dad.
“Absolutely.”
“Awesome.”
“You know, your dad and I learned to ski together.” Memories flood my mind of two little boys as excited as Alex was today to learn to fly down the mountain.
“Really? You knew him that long?”
“Pretty much his whole life,” I confirm.
“What was he like?”
I glance at Alex. I feel like I’m treading on thin ice here, but Alex doesn’t look sad or upset. It’s as if he’s asking me what anyone is like.
“He was funny. He always had a joke to tell.”
“Mom says I’m funny, too,” Alex says.
“You probably get that from him, then,” I say, nodding. “He liked to fish and go out on the boat. Basically, if it was outside, your dad liked it.”
Alex frowns. “What was his favorite movie?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. He liked Star Wars , and he loved action movies. I think Die Hard was one of his favorites.”
“Mom won’t let me watch it, even though Pierce says it’s a Christmas movie.”
“Well, that just gives you something to look forward to, I guess.”
He shrugs a shoulder. “Did he have a dog?”
“Have you ever asked your mom or your nana and papa these questions?”
“No,” he says quietly. “I think talking about my dad makes them sad. Especially Nana and Papa.”
“I’m sure they’d be happy to answer your questions,” I insist. “It was a long time ago, Alex. And I know that they will always love him, but you have every right to ask questions about him, too.”
“Yeah. Nana and Papa are coming to visit next week. Maybe I can ask about him then.”
“That’s a good idea.” My phone rings. “It’s your mom.”
I accept the call on the Bluetooth.
“Hi, guys,” she says happily. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” we reply in unison. “We’re headed back to my house. Unless there’s something you need first.”
“No, I’m fine, I was just checking in. You’re just now headed to your house? Where have you been?”
I glance at Alex, but his eyes are wide, and his skin is whiter than before. I have a very, very bad feeling.
“We went skiing,” I reply and watch Alex gulp.
“You did what ?” Willa demands.
“Uh-oh,” Alex whispers.