Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
M axwell arrived in the dining hall minutes before the line closed. He’d meant to arrive sooner. Of course, he had. He had a girlfriend to eat meals with now, but Jordan had pulled him aside at the end of the workday to point out that the tiles for Cottage Three had come from two different dye lots and didn’t exactly match. By the time Maxwell had phoned the supplier and made arrangements for half a dozen boxes to be replaced, it was 5:55 instead of 5:15.
He scanned the dining hall as he stood behind Jordan, who was divvying the last of the baked beans onto two plates. His heart leaped when he saw Eryn and her dad sitting with Paisley and Weston. Oh, and Bryce. What was Bryce doing there? Up to no good, for sure.
After loading up his tray, Maxwell headed toward their table. There was no vacant spot beside Eryn, so he took the seat between Bryce and Weston. “Hey, sorry I’m late.”
“You’ll be late for your own funeral,” Bryce quipped. “Too busy working .” He finger-quoted that.
Slugging his brother would be super satisfying. Maxwell did his best to even his tone. “Hey, someone around here has to do their job.”
Bryce leaned back in his chair. “We all do our job. Even me, believe it or not.”
“Congratulations.” Maxwell ducked his head for a silent grace. Was it okay to ask God to shut his brother up along with being thankful for food? He’d take a chance on protocol.
“So, how was your day?” Maxwell glanced around the table before resting his gaze on Eryn.
“Not bad,” Bryce put in. “I planted ten pounds of crocus bulbs in that bed in the campground. Should be a nice pop of color come spring.”
“Good for you.” Maxwell shot an irritated look at his brother. “Eryn?”
She glanced between them, a slight frown marring her features. “Nadine is teaching me the ways of sourdough bread. I also baked cookies this morning.”
“Best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted,” Bryce said. “Did you get any, Maxie? Oh, wait. I bet you were too busy to come down for afternoon coffee.”
“It’s Nadine’s recipe,” Eryn said.
“She doesn’t have your touch.” Bryce smirked. “Truly amazing. Didn’t you think so, Paisley?”
“What I think is that you should shut your face.” Paisley glowered at him.
“Hear, hear,” Maxwell said under his breath.
“Stop mumbling, little brother. Didn’t Mom teach you to speak up? Wait, no. That was Dad. Take charge of your words, Maxie.”
Maxie? Seriously? Was Bryce ready for his head to roll? Also, how had this become Maxwell’s life? He was late, sure, but that didn’t usually put him off his game. But then Bryce didn’t usually pick on him so blatantly.
Was Bryce seriously hitting on Eryn? She wasn’t his type. If she were, she wouldn’t be attractive to Maxwell. Plain and simple. Therefore, he must be doing it merely to annoy Maxwell. And it was working.
Maxwell studied his brother.
Bryce met his gaze with an eyebrow lifted in challenge.
“These baked beans smell great.” Maxwell shoveled in a bite and tossed a prayer heavenward that he wouldn’t lose his cool and deck his big brother right there in the dining hall. He could totally take him, though. Right? Although Bryce had been digging and raking and edging and whatever landscapers did for a couple of summers. He might have grown a muscle or two.
Doubtful, but possible. Either way, this wasn’t the time to find out.
“Hey, Maxwell.” Paisley pushed her plate aside as she leaned on the table. “A few of us are talking about heading out on a trail ride slash camping trip the weekend before Thanksgiving up to that mountain lake. Interested?”
Maxwell’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth. “Sounds cold.” Still, would Eryn be going? He glanced toward her, but she was looking down.
“Yeah, I agree.” Bryce punched Maxwell’s shoulder a little harder than required. “We Sullivans are used to the lap of luxury, and camping in the mountains in November is not remotely luxurious.”
“No one invited you.” Paisley skewered him with a look. “I was talking to Maxwell.”
Whoa, Maxwell hadn’t realized how deeply Paisley’s animosity toward his brother ran. Had Bryce tried to lure Paisley into his web before she’d caught up with Weston? Probably. She was female, under 50, and lived in Montana.
And now he was hitting on Eryn. Not because he wanted her — probably — so it must be to mess with Maxwell. What had Max ever done to him to deserve this treatment? Nothing.
Being born last in a family of four boys meant that Maxwell had scrambled for every bit of favor from his father. As eldest and heir to the Sullivan throne, Wally’d had the lion’s share of approval. Easygoing but hardworking, Tate had been Mama’s boy while holding his own with Dad.
Bryce had been an underachiever his entire life. It hadn’t taken Maxwell long to realize he might never be either parent’s favorite, but he could beat out Bryce with one hand tied behind his back.
Had Bryce resented that? No one had made him step aside.
And now it seemed he wasn’t taking it anymore, but petty digs and jealousy games were juvenile maneuvers unsuiting to a Sullivan.
Maxwell nearly choked on his mouthful of ham. Oh, boy. When had he gotten as conceited as Janessa’s earlier accusation? Because he seemed to think that Sullivans were above mere mortals.
Except for Bryce.
Whoa, he had some thinking and praying to do.
Dinner had been agonizing. Maxwell had been late, and his brother rude and condescending. If that was flirting, Eryn wanted none of it. Paisley’s invitation to the trail ride had fizzled. Weston, as usual, was lost in his own quiet world, and Dad had yawned repeatedly throughout the meal and excused himself before everyone else was finished.
That would leave Eryn to walk back to staff housing with Maxwell. She should be glad of that, right? They’d been together for only a couple of days, but other than that one perfect kiss, nothing had changed.
Seriously, Eryn? You expected him to ditch his job for you every day like he did Monday? He has work to do. Work he hasn’t invited you to see. Work with several female crew members. Also, Janessa is pretty.
Eryn shook her head, trying to dislodge the insidious thoughts. Would she ever feel worthy of anything, let alone Maxwell’s attention?
The attention he hadn’t given her today.
Because he was working, as he should.
“Deep in thought?” Maxwell smiled at her across the table.
Bryce elbowed his brother. “Not sure how you’d even know about that. Your brainwaves are so shallow they barely exist.”
And Eryn was so, so tired of listening to Bryce cut Maxwell down.
Paisley pulled Weston to his feet and turned to Eryn. “See you tomorrow!”
“Sure!” Eryn infused brightness into her tone. Could she walk back with Paisley and Weston instead? No, not with the way Weston pecked a kiss to Paisley’s cheek then tugged her toward the doors.
Maybe she could go in the kitchen and help Nadine wind down the day, but the lights were already low beyond the counters.
What kind of woman wanted to get away from her boyfriend? But it wasn’t Maxwell she wanted to avoid, it was Bryce, who seemed to enjoy nothing more than jabbing a stick in the spokes of their fledgling relationship.
Carrying his half-finished plate, Maxwell rounded the table and slid into Paisley’s deserted seat. “I missed you today,” he said quietly.
Eryn caught Bryce’s eyeroll from the corner of her eye, but she’d do her best to ignore him if Maxwell did. “I missed you, too.”
“Get any more done on the proposal?”
“A bit. I could show you a sketch later.”
He grinned at her. “I’d like that.”
“I’d like that,” Bryce echoed in a mocking tone.
Maxwell turned to his brother. “Don’t you have a life of your own? Because you’ve overstayed your welcome around here.”
“The dining hall is a public space.”
Maxwell shook his head and ate several more bites before rising. “I think I’ve had enough. Are you ready to go?”
Eryn eyed his plate. “You don’t want your dinner?”
“Seems my appetite has fled.” He glanced toward his brother.
Bryce smirked.
“I’m good sitting here until you’re done. You’ve worked hard today and need your calories.”
Maxwell stood beside his chair, clearly undecided.
“You two are just too cute,” Bryce mocked as he stood up. “I know when I’m not wanted.”
“Do you?” Maxwell stared him down across the table.
“Definitely, but you make it entirely too amusing to take you seriously. I’ll be going now. Don’t worry. I’ll see you around.” Bryce sauntered off.
Maxwell released a long breath but didn’t reseat himself until the lodge doors closed. “Sorry.”
“He’s your brother. He’s not you.” Words Eryn should take to heart in her own life.
“I know, but still. He’s mostly ignored me forever, and I’m not sure how I got a target plastered on my back now.”
Had Eryn underestimated Bryce? Was he actually jealous of Maxwell because of her? No. Couldn’t be. She wasn’t that special.
Maxwell pushed the remaining food around his plate and shook his head. “I wasn’t completely kidding about my appetite having disappeared.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. I can only blame Bryce for that. He makes everything seem so unpalatable.”
Bryce being at their table and mocking Maxwell was Eryn’s fault, though, but there wasn’t any point in arguing about it. “I don’t want to talk about your brother.”
Maxwell grimaced. “Me, either. I finally have my sweet girl to myself, and all I can talk about is my petty sibling? Smooth move, Sullivan.” He caught Eryn’s eye and offered a self-deprecating smile.
“What did you think of Paisley’s idea for a trail ride up to the lake? She showed me some photos from their camping trip there last summer.”
“It’s November. We’d be lucky if the trail wasn’t covered in snow.”
“It’s in ten days, and the forecast says it will stay unseasonably warm at least that long.”
He eyed her. “You really want to go?”
This had been Paisley’s big idea for a surprise party for Maxwell. Eryn might have misgivings, but the outcome would be worth it, right? She still didn’t know what she’d give him for a gift — what did you get a man who had enough money to buy whatever he wanted? No clue. “It sounds fun?”
Maxwell shook his head and laughed. “I never thought you’d be a diehard outdoorswoman, but if you want to go and it’s not snowing up there, sure, I’m game.”
“Paisley says it’s a really nice spot and there are two pit toilets and a campfire ring and everything.”
“A really nice spot in July.” Maxwell chuckled and raised both hands in surrender. “No, I said I’m game, and I am. Did she say if there are any hot springs in that area?”
“Hot springs?”
“Montana has loads of them, but I’m sure she’d have mentioned if there was one. I was teasing.” He scraped the remaining food to one edge of his plate. “I hate to dump this, but I will, anyway. Ready to go?”
“I’ll clean our table so it’s ready for morning.”
“Okay.” He carried their plates and cutlery into the kitchen and added them to the small stack awaiting morning while she snagged a spray bottle and a cloth to wipe the last couple of tables.
She put the supplies away to find him waiting for her. “Ready?”
“Sure.”
Maxwell ushered her out of the lodge and paused on the wide front steps. “Listen.”
“What am I listening for?”
He tugged her to his side. “What do you hear?”
Not much. “An owl.”
“The wind in the treetops. Anything else?”
Distant laughter from up on Hummingbird Lane. A door shutting. “It’s so quiet.”
“I love it. I hadn’t realized how desensitized I’d been to the sounds of nature living in Chicago so many years.”
Memories of the Kansas farm flooded Eryn. The horses Dad sold along with the sleigh after Mom died. The smell of prairie grasses in spring and of the wheat harvest in late summer. The blue, blue skies and puffy clouds and the shelter belt of trees around the farmhouse, alive with songbirds and small mammals. The breeze — occasionally hurricane-force — that swirled her hair away from her face and cleared the cobwebs from her brain.
She leaned against Maxwell. “Kansas wasn’t noisy.”
“You’re right. Not like Chicago, but we lived in town limits and not really in tune with nature. This—” he waved his free arm “—this all is something I never knew I needed in my life. I didn’t want to need it.”
“Too busy to need it?”
He scoffed lightly. “You’ve been listening to Bryce too much. Sure, I kept busy, but not too busy to be aware of my surroundings. It’s the entire pace of life here that’s different. The sounds around us are only an indication. No traffic and sirens and gunshots, just stillness.”
The owl hooted again and was answered by another across the lake.
“And owls.” Maxwell laughed. “Let’s walk. It’s freezing.”
Eryn tucked her arm around his waist and reveled in the embrace of his arm around her. Yes, he was busy and often late to meals. Yes, he had a rude brother. But moments like this made it worthwhile.
They hiked up the hill to where several lanes diverged then Maxwell stopped and turned her to look back down the way they’d come. The rising moon shone a path across the small lake and illuminated the dimly lit lodge.
He took her face between his hands and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
Oh, yes. Moments like this made it all worthwhile.