“I’m helping Daddy and Uncle Terry,” Madeline broke the silence.
“And doing an excellent job,” Terry called from under the hood.
“Yes, I am,” she agreed.
I laughed and gave her another smile. “I’m sure you are.”
Max tossed the towel and set his hands on his hips. He waited on me.
I pulled in a breath, met his eyes, and then started for the stairs to the apartment.
“Terry, keep and eye on Mady?” Max’s deep voice requested, as he followed me.
My heart skipped, as I heard his footfall behind me. It hurried my pace and I was up and into the living quarters in a second. I turned about, as he took the last step up. I swallowed and cleared my throat.
“Hadley…”
“Take off your shirt,” I whispered breathlessly.
Max’s eyes widened.
I blushed, realizing how that order sounded. “Show me,” I said softly. “Show me my tattoo.”
He stepped closer to me, understanding now. He reached for the hem of his shirt and drew it over his head, messing his dark hair. He reached up to run his fingers through to un-muss it, but the hazels remained fixed on me.
I pulled in a breath and released it in a rush, stepping forward before my courage failed me. I lifted my hand, stretched my fingers, and traced the beautiful angel embedded in his skin. The muscles in his stomach contracted and I heard him pull in his own breath.
I took my time retracing from rib to hip, admiring the artistry of the drawing and the man beneath the ink. I paused and went to where my name was woven through the wing of the angel. I stepped near, rested my head on his chest and set my palm over my name.
His head bent down and he kissed the top of my head. His breath was warm and erratic in my hair. His heart galloped under my cheek. This was all from a simple touch. You don’t react this way to someone you aren’t drawn to, but that was just the physical. I needed to know that it wasn’t just his body that wanted me, but his heart.
“Why did you keep it?” I whispered. I ran my fingers over the letters again and pressed my cheek to his chest. His arms came up and about me and I was engulfed in him. It was the best spot on earth.
“You have to ask?” His deep voice rumbled in his chest and against my ear. His lips moved against my hair, “It should be pretty obvious.”
I smiled. “The whole angel would have been painful to remove, but you could have camouflaged my name.
He chuckled and flexed his arms.
“So why?” I wrapped my arms around him and peeked up at his face. The magic eyes were soft and happy on me now.
“That tattoo is a permanent part of me, Hadley,” he murmured. “You are, too. Ain’t no way in hell I’m giving up either.”
My heart slammed hard.
“You get me?” He grinned.
I nodded stupidly.
He chuckled and leaned down, capturing my kiss. His hands went for my hair so that he could hold me in my place, but I wasn’t going anywhere. His mouth was soft and seeking. I let him take control and I simply followed his kisses until I couldn’t breathe. Max pulled back to catch his own and his eyes, dark with desire, studied me for an instant, before he lead me to the couch. Gently he pulled me down onto his lap.
He brushed a kiss against my lips and wrapped me tightly with those arms again. “Was that it? You kept me locked out for three weeks for that?”
I pulled my gaze from his mouth and shook my head. “I mean, I had wanted to ask, but, no, that’s not why.” I reached up to run my fingers over the stubble of his jaw. “I just couldn’t understand how you could still feel the way you did for me. All of these years I have been angry with you and I thought of you as trash because of a lie.” I closed my eyes when his lips touched my forehead.
“You didn’t know, sweetheart.”
I opened my eyes to him again. “But how could you so easily forgive me? You kept my name etched in your side and what did I do? I believed the worst of you. I don’t deserve to have you protect me, to love me, to want me.”
He smiled his crooked smile. “You made a mistake,” he defended. “One that I am pretty sure you won’t make again.” He tilted my chin with his fingertips. “The past is the past, Hadley. There are things we will never regain and we will never experience because those moments are gone. All we can do is start from now and work with what remains.” He kissed me tenderly. “We have a lot of good remaining and a lot of firsts from here on out. Yes?”
I couldn’t help the tears. He murmured sweetly and shushed my crying. His lips caught my tears and then were on mine. I melted into his touch. My arms wrapped around his neck and I held on for dear life.
“Oh great! More kissing!”
Max and I jumped apart at the little impish exclamation.
Madeline stood with her arms crossed and her foot tapping.
“Get used to it, doll,” Max growled and reached over to grab her arm. He hauled her up into our laps and smiled at me. “You’ve met my daughter, the ninja?”
I threw my head back and laughed. He took advantage of my exposed neck and kissed it, which made me laugh harder. He soon showed mercy and helped me sit back up straight.
Madeline seemed quite amused by our activity.
“Mady, do you like the idea of having this lady around more?” Max asked his daughter, but kept his eyes on me.
“Course, Daddy! I love Hadley.” She got her little mischievous smile. “And so do you,” she said poking his chest.
“That I do,” he admitted.
I reached for Madeline, who quickly crawled into my arms. Her little head rested on my shoulder. I peeked over at Max. I had never seen him happier. I’d never felt happier.
My heart gave a little skip when I thought of all that was to come for us. I would never have guessed that coming home would result in this. Who would have imagined?
I came home to escape my pain and I had found my healing and that big gaping wound was closing. A lot had been stolen from us, but you can’t steal real love. It might lay dormant for a time, but you can’t kill it. Max was right, it wasn’t about what was lost; it was about what remains.
Prologue
Six months later
~Max
How could I be so lucky? I have no idea what I could have possibly done to deserve all of this. I’m a good man I suppose. I am a fair father. I love my little doll with all my heart. And it has only been six weeks, but I think I’m doing well at this husband thing, too.
Just look at her! That smile and those warm brown eyes. They’re magic I tell ya, pure magic.
She watches me so closely all the time, like she expects me to disappear or change my mind about us. Never going to happen. She is the girl I want to spend every breathing moment with. I understand her. She’s been hurt and she’s been betrayed.
If there was only a way to prove I wouldn’t do that to her. She’s getting better at accepting me saying that. I will convince her soon enough.
Right now I just want to climb over this dinner table and kiss her breathless. Those shy glances she keeps throwing this way are enough to drive a man insane. But for the sake of the entire family, I will remain in my seat.
Madeline pokes me in the arm now. “Daddy, am I spending the night at grandmas’?”
I grin down on her. We had moved into the apartment over the shop a few days after the wedding. It was at my mom’s insistence. I think she was finally ready to enjoy some alone time. I can admit that I felt guilty at first, but she’s doing just fine and having a place for just Mady, Hadley and myself is working out beautifully.
“Yeah, you’re staying with grandma tonight,” I assure her.
She frowns. “But it’s your birthday!”
I laugh and look over at my wife. “That’s why you’re staying over.” I love the way Hadley’s cheeks turn pink.
“Max, hush,” she laughs. I love her laugh, all soft and musical.
“Yeah, hush,” Terry grouses. He puts an
arm around his little red head and grins at her.
Ana was fitting in quite nicely. Terry deserves a good girl. I’m really happy for him. I give him a scowl and then turn back to Madeline.
“You’ll have fun with grandma,” I shush her pouting.
“And you’ll have fun with Hadley,” she exclaims matter-of-factly.
I bite my tongue, but the rest of the table explodes in laughter, so I join in. I mess her hair playfully. She has no idea.
I wink at Hadley; she does.
Yep, I’ve reached the ripe old age of thirty-one. But my thirties were looking pretty promising. I run two businesses, have a smart little girl, and a beautiful wife. Yes, promising indeed.
We all eat our dinner and I get the customary birthday cake. Truth be told, I would gladly skip the cake if it meant I could be one more moment closer to being alone with my wife.
She promised me a few surprises. I’ve learned that surprise in lady talk and surprise in the minds of men are two different things, but I’m willing to use my imagination.
We finish up the cake and I refuse an after dinner cigar with Marcus. Hadley hates when I smoke and even if it’s my birthday, I aim to stay on her good side tonight.
I run out to start up the car. It’s a cold February night and I want the car nice and warm for our short drive home. I’ve found that it’s the little actions that get Hadley. She doesn’t need grand sweeping gestures, or so she says. I seem to recall how it affected her when I took Logan down.
We say our goodbyes to the family and Hadley and I hug and kiss Mady goodnight.
I help my wife into her coat and usher her out the door. We hurry down the stairs and I turn her body into mine to keep the cold wind from freezing her out. We jump in the SUV and I am reminded of how much I miss my Shelby. Give it a few months and Hadley and I would be resuming our country drives. I can hardly wait.
Hadley’s hand reaches for mine as we drive down the road. I lace my fingers with hers and lift them to my lips. I can feel the tremble in her fingers. I affect her as much as she affects me. That’s a damn good feeling.
We reach the shop and I hit the switch to lift the door. I’ll park inside tonight. A few less seconds in the cold for my Hadley.
“I’ll be up in a second,” I whisper to her.
She smiles and tugs my collar gently. I know what she intends and lean down so she can kiss me and I kiss back. She moves that little body into mine and I nearly forget where I am. I grip her waist and pull her in. I don’t see this obsession changing anytime soon. I’m never going to tire of the feelings she causes in me and I’m talking mind and body.
She pulls away and straightens my collar. All I can do is swallow hard and watch her start up the stair.
I quickly lock everything down and take the stairs two at a time. She’s already in the bedroom. I shrug out of my coat and move to the kitchen.
“Wine?” I call out.
“Yes, please,” she answers softly.
I open her favorite bottle. I take the glasses down from the shelf and pour us each a glass. I take a sip to fortify myself and to calm myself.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” she calls.
I grin. “Yep.”
She comes out fully dressed and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m pretty disappointed but it passes quickly. The look on her face wipes all disappointment away.
I notice two things, the envelope in her hand and the fact that her wrist is wrapped. How had I missed that? I set my glass down and move quickly to her. “What happened?” I reach for her wrist and realize the wrapping has a small ribbon around it.
She smiles. “Your first surprise.”
I grin back and those brown eyes twinkle. Magic eyes. I untie the ribbon and slowly unwrap her wrist.
She starts to laugh as I come to the last layer. She seems so darn proud of herself. I love it.
My breath catches a bit as I pull the last bit of cloth away. “Hadley,” I whisper softly. “You didn’t.” There is my name etched in the butterfly on her wrist. Guys aren’t supposed to cry, but I am very close right now.
She smiles up at me. “It’s a part of me, Max. Just like you.
I recognize my own words. I capture her chin with my fingers and I touch my lips to hers. “Baby, I love it.” I look down and barely touch it. It looks fresh and I have no idea how she hid this from me. I use every excuse to touch this woman. How did I miss the wrap around her wrist?
She is smiling ear to ear.
“You did good,” I laugh. “Definite surprise.” I tug her close. “Can I unwrap this present now? I tug at a button on her blouse.
“Max,” she laughs.
“You said you want to think about babies. I’m just thinking about babies.” I’m teasing her, but suddenly her eyes light up.
“What a good segue,” she laughs. “Here is your other surprise.” Her eyes dance and she hands me the envelope I had already forgotten with the cool tattoo and the baby making talk. No apologies for that.
“Take it,” she says softly and I see something in her eyes that I recognize. It’s hope and it’s joy.
I know my smile dropped. It didn’t drop because the idea of what’s in this envelope is about to change our lives. It dropped because I was afraid if I didn’t get serious, tears may threaten again. I take the envelope and open it slowly. “Hadley,” I whisper. I have to grip the counter.
“Maybe you should sit,” she teases.
I laugh at myself and shake my head. She curls around my arm and cuddles up into my side, as I pull the piece of paper. I unfold it and my smile returned. It could not have been stopped for anything.
I give out a whoop of celebration, toss the paper and grab up my Hadley. Her arms go about my neck and I spin her around. “A baby? Are you kidding me?” I swear softly and bury my face in her neck. I let the tears come.
“Happy Birthday, Max,” she whispered.
You have no idea what this means. At age twenty-two I knew this girl was the love of my life. I lost her and spent some miserable years without her. But she’s here. She’s in my arms. She’s my wife and she’s carrying my baby.
You hear these miraculous stories. You know? The ones that go beyond belief? I’m telling you this; our story is a miracle
I’m living this miracle. Life is good.
Love is one tough son of a gun.
What Remains Page 10