CHAPTER 42
Maxie
I doubted I’d ever been redder in my life. I was so embarrassed that any politeness or etiquette I’d ever had was just gone. I just stood there, mouth agape, until Reed cleared his throat and took his daughter from Vera.
“I think us men folk will go to the porch and try out those rocking chairs.” He looked at Rhett and grinned. “I’d ask if you were coming but…”
I buried my face in my hands and groaned.
“Go away, all of you. Except Waylan. And the baby.”
Rhett pulled me close and kissed the top of my head.
“Enjoy your sisters, baby.”
I groaned as he walked away with the other guys. Waylan took one look at me and hurried after the men, leaving me alone with my sisters and the baby.
“I’m mortified.”
Vera came at me then, her laughter gone. Without any preamble she pushed her baby into my arms and then settled on the hay bale I’d just desecrated.
“We need to have a little chat with you. First of all, you look hot with that hair. It’s no wonder your man had you bent over in a barn. Second of all, I’m so jealous. I’m still under strict instructions not to have sex and it’s killing me. I write sex scenes all day long and I’m a horned-up mess. Third of all, how dare you insult yourself by saying you think you’d become our mother.”
Nellie took over.
“I thought you were joking about the surrogacy thing last night. If you think we’re going to stand by while you abuse yourself, you’ve got another thing coming. You’re going to be the best mother ever. No amount of abuse from our mother could’ve damaged your soul that fully, babe. You’re good. Like, good good. Angelic, even. You’re going to tell those men you were joking about surrogacy and then you’re going to get knocked up and give me more nieces or nephews.”
Tears filled my eyes. After having my brain silenced by Rhett, I was having a hard time bringing back the negative crap that made me shut off from my sisters usually.
“The surrogacy is off. They wouldn’t accept it. They said no.”
Vera grinned.
“Thank god. I knew I liked them.”
I stared down at my baby niece and some of the ice around my heart cracked away. She was so beautiful, her big green eyes staring up at me with so much interest.
“I still don’t think I can be a mom. Look at her. She’s so amazing. She’s so fragile, though. I don’t think I can take the chance of hurting my child.”
Vera shocked me with a snort.
“I almost dropped her yesterday. I was horrified, don’t get me wrong, but that’s how parenting is, I’m discovering. It’s just one bump in the road after another. Anyone can hurt their children, Maxie. Abusive parents, or not.”
“Amen. I don’t even want to talk about how often I fucked up with Waylan in the beginning.” Nellie shuddered. “One time, when she was still just a baby, I was so tired from being up all night long that I didn’t remember where I’d put her down. I ran around the house panicking for a solid ten minutes before realizing she was right there in her crib. I almost called the cops.”
I cradled my niece tighter.
“Arlo told me he loved me. I think they all do.”
“That’s amazing, Max. Right?” Vera watched me with worried eyes. “You look like a scared deer about to book it, babe. What’s wrong?”
I let out a watery laugh and sank down on the bale next to her.
“Nothing? Everything? I don’t even know. Things just feel too good. I’ve never… I don’t know how to be happy.”
Nellie burst into tears and hugged me around the baby.
“Oh, god, Maxie. I’m just so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. We should’ve known. We should’ve helped.”
Vera wiped her eyes as she cried, too.
“Oh, man, we’re a mess.”
“What the hell happened?” Shep’s voice was full of concern as he walked into the barn. Seeing me, he rushed over and cupped my cheeks. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Nothing.” I let out an embarrassed laugh and sniffed. “I just—”
“Do you love our sister?” Vera stared up at Shep with a hard look on her face.
“Vera! You can’t—”
“Yes.” Shep answered without any hesitation. When I snapped my head around to face him, he smiled. “You didn’t know that? Of course, I love you, Maxine.”
Nellie squealed a little too loud and the baby started to cry. She winced and apologized to Vera.
“Shit. Sorry!”
“Will you take her to her daddies, Shep? Pretty please? I’d like to talk with my sister a little more.” Vera waited until Shep took my niece from me and held up her hand. “Look at him, Max. He looks good with a baby in his arms, doesn’t he?”
He did. He really, really did. His smile when he winked at me was warm and full of love. And I could see it so clearly after hearing him say it. He loved me.
“Maxie looked good holding a baby, too. Just saying.”
Vera barely waited for him to walk off to grab me and shake me.
“He loves you! No more playing games. No more letting our mother control you. You need to go change into something sexy and tell those men you love them. Because it’s so obvious you do. I refuse to have a sister of mine acting so foolishly when it comes to hot, hot men. Do you understand me?”
I frowned at her.
“You know I’m the big sister, right?”
“And?” She tipped her chin up. “I write love stories for a living, Maxie. I know love when I see it. Get your head out of your butt and start your life with those bad boys.”
“We brought a gift to help you along. It’s on the porch.” Nellie grinned. “Compliments of the Dolls.”
“You can’t just bully me into a relationship.” At least I didn’t think they could.
“We’re not going to leave you alone, Maxie. Not anymore. We’re your sisters and we’re here for good, to help take care of you and to help you make the right choices for yourself. Those guys are the right choice for you. Or…if they’re not, walk away from them. Now. Today. You can move in with us and start selling your baked goods full time, like you should’ve been doing all along anyway.”
I stood up and crossed my arms over my chest. The idea of moving away from the guys didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t leave them.
“That’s what I thought.” Vera laughed heartily and stood up to hug me. “We arranged for you four to have a private date at the diner tonight. There’s a dress and shoes waiting for you with the basket of toys we brought.”
I stammered.
“Basket of toys?”
“Welcome to Doll’s Club, babe. Where the women are wild and the toys are wilder. There’s a vibrating butt—”
Nellie and I both shouted Vera’s name to get her to stop talking. Nellie sighed and shook her head.
“That’s my cue to go home and get away from you two.”
I started to panic.
“Wait. I can’t just… A date? That’s crazy. I’ve never been on a date.”
There was a growl from behind me that made me jump. I turned to see Arlo standing a few feet away.
“You’ve never been on a date? We’re going to fix that.”
Vera fanned herself.
“I cannot wait for these six weeks to be over. I am ready to start humping the walls. I have to go. Have fun, Max. Be good to my sister, Arlo. I know you will be.”
“Love you, Maxie. Have fun tonight!” Nellie linked arms with Vera and they both strolled out of the barn like they hadn’t just shaken my world onto its head.
I looked up at Arlo and took a deep breath.
“We don’t have to—”
“We’re taking you out. It’s a crime that we haven’t already. Let’s go get ready, sweetheart.”