Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
B y the time the men hung the drywall on the new walls, the other crew had demolished the one wall and cleaned up and patched all the walls that would stay. Shortly after those tasks were done, the crew left for the night.
He wanted to see if Juliette could stick around a little longer, but she had disappeared without him noticing. No doubt she’d left along with everyone else.
Once the house was quiet, he stood in the kitchen, assessing the day’s work. The cabinets were still in their boxes, unopened, shoved against the dining room wall, along with the new appliances he’d ordered. He’d been told they’d be opening the cabinets and putting them together in the coming days. He couldn’t wait.
He could just imagine how the room would look months from now—the warm honey color on the walls, the rich color of the wood cabinets, the sanded wood floors gleaming. There’d be bread baking in his new double oven. Maybe cookies? The smell of spring would be gently blowing through the windows. The sound of laughter and music… he stilled and cocked his head to the side a little as he frowned.
Was that “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” playing softly from somewhere in the house?
“It looks amazing,” Juliette said beside him. He jumped and covered his heart with his hands. “Sorry.” She chuckled. “I forgot my bag.” She held up her bag and waved it at him. “Gosh, you look like you saw a ghost.”
“No,” he said quickly, but he was pretty sure he’d just heard one. He’d never believed in ghosts before. Why now? Something about this old place had him questioning his sanity. He must be overworked, sleep deprived, and under sexed.
But he wasn’t afraid of whatever was there. After all, the only feelings he’d gotten around the property were love and excitement.
Maybe it was the young couple that had lived here before? Maybe an old lighthouse keeper?
Whoever or whatever was lingering, it was obvious they meant no harm.
He shook his head to clear the stupidity from his foggy mind and then, without thinking, driven by some unknown force, he took two steps towards Juliette until he was less than a breath away. Then he leaned down and kissed her.
The moment she melted against his chest, he knew he was a goner. She tasted like he’d imagined she would. Sweet, sensual, full of heat. He knew in that second he would do whatever it took to keep her right there.
They jumped apart when a door somewhere in the house slammed shut.
“What was that?” she asked, her eyes wide as she glanced down the now dark hallway.
“I’m guessing one of the guys is still here.” He narrowed his eyes at the darkness.
“No,” Juliette said slowly. “Everyone is gone. I walked out with them. My car is the only one left.” She took a step behind him. “Go check.”
He chuckled. “Not alone.” He took her hand and flipped on the lights as they went. They checked every single room and closet. When they headed up to the top of the lighthouse, she assured him that it was probably the wind that had shut an almost closed door, though she was chatting nervously.
“That happens all the time at my parents’ place. Their bathroom door slams shut every time one of their windows is cracked open.”
Since he didn’t want to worry her, he agreed. Hell, if it meant keeping her here a little longer so he could enjoy her company, he’d agree to anything.
They stood once more looking over the town lights as the last rays of sunshine disappeared over the horizon, and he turned to her.
“I was going to head into the Golden Oar for food. I still don’t have a working kitchen. Do you care to join me?”
She glanced at her watch and then bit her lip. “I was going to try to pick up a shift tonight. My bills don’t pay themselves,” she joked.
He frowned. “Oh! I…” He cursed himself under his breath. “I meant to talk to you about that.”
“About? My bills?” She frowned.
“No, about your pay.”
“My…” Her frown increased. “What?”
“Here, I have…” He patted his back pocket and came up empty, then remembered he’d put the envelope with the check he’d written earlier that morning in his shirt pocket. Smiling, he pulled it out and handed it over.
“What is this?” she asked, holding the envelope like it was going to bite her.
“Your cut of the first month’s revenues.”
“What revenues?” She glanced up at him.
“From the videos you’ve been making. Ad revenues. I just got the first check a few days ago.” He nudged it towards her and waited as she opened it.
When her eyes went wide, he smiled.
She glanced up at him in disbelief. “This is more than I make at the restaurant in two months, working five days a week.”
He chuckled. “I was shocked too. And since then, we have even more followers. I’m expecting this to double next month. If you keep up the videos.”
She laughed. “I guess this gives me enough reason to head to dinner with you.” She tucked the check into her bag and then wrapped her arm through his. “Lead the way,” She motioned towards the stairs, then froze. The look on her face had him once more shielding her from whatever was obviously scaring her. His eyes moved to where she’d looked, but he didn’t see anything. They’d left the lights on as they’d gone, so the landing below them was fully lit.
He could see that there was no one there and certainly nothing that would have caused her face to go as pale as it had.
“What?” he asked, still ready to protect her.
“I… I thought I saw…” She shook her head.
“What?” he asked when she didn’t finish. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.” He took her in his arms and held her. He felt her shiver once and then straighten up.
“I thought I saw a young man there.” She motioned to the landing.
“Young? Like a child?” He frowned down at the landing, instantly worried some kids had broken into the place.
The first few days he’d lived there, he’d watched a few local kids climb up the stairs from the beach and cross his property. He hadn’t thought much about it, just as long as they didn’t mess with the buildings.
“No, it… he was about my age, I suppose. He was dressed in all black, with one of those old caps that men used to wear on his head.” She blinked a few times and then shrugged as she looked at him. “He looked like he’d stepped out of a black-and-white movie.” She sighed. “I suppose I’m just jumpy after getting spooked.” She took his arm again. “And very hungry from all the work today.”
“Well then, shall we?” He led them back down the stairs.
When they reached the first landing, he felt her shiver next to him. But after a quick and very thorough glance around, they both knew they were alone.
After shutting off all the lights and locking the house up, he followed her back into town and parked beside her at the Golden Oar. The place was packed, as usual.
The second Max stepped into the Golden Oar with Juliette beside him, he felt the weight of half the room’s attention land squarely on his shoulders. He was used to that, sure—but this was different. Pride wasn’t New York or Hollywood, and these weren’t reporters or producers looking to schmooze. These were locals, with curious eyes darting between him and Juliette, no doubt piecing together whatever small-town theories they’d cooked up.
And damn, he didn’t hate it.
Juliette brushed against his side as they made their way through the crowd. “Please. Don’t mind us small-town folk. I’m sure everyone here was hoping to catch a glimpse of you sooner or later, Mr. Hollywood.” She grinned at him.
“You’re the real star here.” He leaned closer to her and whispered, “Lead the way. I’m just your humble plus one.”
She shot him a look, but there was color rising in her cheeks, and it made him grin like an idiot.
They approached the bar, where Iian Jordan was wiping down glasses. Iian spotted Juliette and immediately lit up, signing something Max couldn’t quite catch until Juliette responded.
Max hung back, watching her hands move effortlessly as she used ASL to communicate. God, she was something else. Smart, funny, beautiful—and clearly full of surprises.
Juliette turned, introducing him. “Max, this is Iian. He owns the place.”
Max offered his hand, signing slowly, “Nice to meet you. Love your restaurant.”
Iian gave him an approving nod. “Your videos are all anyone talks about lately.”
Max smirked and looked over at Juliette. “See? Told you. They didn’t even read that stupid article.”
She rolled her eyes. “I regret bringing you out in public.”
But she didn’t really mean it. He could tell by the way her lips twitched that she was fighting a smile.
Iian pointed them to a corner booth, promising drinks on the house, and Max followed Juliette through the maze of tables, her ponytail swaying, her laughter trailing back towards him as someone called out her name.
She stopped a few times and introduced him and quickly caught everyone up on the progress of the lighthouse. Which is all anyone wanted to talk about, it seemed. Still, it was nice.
Yeah, small-town life wasn’t so bad.
Once they were settled, he stretched his arm along the back of the booth behind her, more to feel close than anything. “So,” he said, “how does it feel to be locally famous?”
She snorted. “Oh, please. You’re the one slumming it with the small-town nobody, remember?”
He remembered the article’s words and winced. He hated that they’d called her a nobody. She wasn’t a nobody. She was the most amazing person he’d ever met.
He let his gaze linger on her. “Honestly? Feels like an upgrade,” he admitted truthfully.
She ducked her head, pretending to study the menu, but he caught the smile she was trying to hide.
“Just so we’re clear, I’m not hiding out here after the Gabriella fiasco. And I can assure you, I am not slumming it now.” He touched her arm lightly and felt her relax against him.
She blinked, then laughed. “I know. I can’t decide if I should be honored or insulted?”
“Definitely honored. They have no idea you’re the one actually running the show. I’m just the guy holding the hammer.”
She smirked. “Speaking of which, maybe we should post a video of you actually working. Just to silence the haters.” She nudged him in the ribs.
“Ouch. After today’s work, I’m counting the days until my new shower is installed. Dreaming of it, actually.”
“You can always head down to the Boys and Girls club. The showers there are good.”
“Not a bad idea. Beats using the hose outside like I did last night.”
She shivered. “That must have been freezing.”
“It was. My toes are still numb,” he joked. “You know sign language. How?”
“I worked here a couple summers in school, before I moved over to Pride Pueblo Cocina. Since almost everyone here knows it in order to work efficiently with Iian, I took a night class. How about you?”
“My family took a class together with Faye.” He felt the darkness seep in about his sister and all that she was losing.
Before Juliette could ask him more, their drinks arrived. She wrapped her hands around the glass, cheeks still slightly flushed from laughter. God, she was… radiant. He hadn’t realized how dark things had felt before her.
“You know,” he said, taking a sip of his cider, “in some cultures, the fact that I have proposed to you twice makes us basically married.”
She nearly choked but recovered as she glanced around as if to see if anyone had overheard him.
He shrugged, grinning.
Juliette laughed so hard she had to set her drink down. That sound? He could live on it.
“Wow. That explains why you’ve been getting so handsy lately,” she teased.
He leaned in, voice low. “Just embracing tradition.”
A few people waved in Juliette’s direction, and he watched her wave back, fully aware that the town was probably dissecting every look and smile they shared.
But honestly? For the first time in years, Max didn’t care what anyone thought.
Sitting there beside her, hearing her laugh, watching her eyes light up…
Yeah.
This felt like exactly where he was supposed to be.