“No, not really. I mean, he’s not like the ‘kill puppies for sport’ kind of cruel.”
Her mom laughed. “Well, that’s an item for the pro column.”
“It’s just he’ll go off at someone for not doing something they’re supposed to...or the way he expects them to, but he’s always so patient with me, and even listens when I tell him to calm the hell down.” Grace blew her nose. “I don’t know, Mom. I love him and none of it makes any sense.”
“Give it time, Grace. You may have to help him learn to be a little less uptight.”
“This coming from the woman who taught us that men should not be changed.”
“And I still hold true to that advice.” Her mom sat on the edge of the bed. “A woman usually dates a man while believing she can change him, whereas a man dates a woman, believing she will never change.”
Grace rolled her eyes...she’d heard it all before.
“If you,” her mother continued, “being the beautiful, smart, and flexible woman I know you to be...go into this with your eyes wide open and allow Max to grow, then I think you’ll be successful. He seems like a man who’s had everything handed to him, and he probably doesn’t hear ‘no’ often, but I see his face when he looks at you, and I know he values what you have to say.”
“I know he does,” Grace admitted. “And I can talk to him about anything. I just wish he felt the same way about me. There’s so much he keeps hidden.”
“Give it time, Gracie. Remember, you’re not alone. We’re here to support you, no matter what you decide.”
Grace smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
Her mom rose to her feet. “Well, I’m off to the other patient. Maggie’s doing quite a bit worse than you, actually.”
“She should probably see the doctor, Mom. The flu typically runs its course in a couple of weeks. She’s been feeling sick for longer than that, hasn’t she?”
“Yes, but you know her. She hates the doctor.”
“Well, make her see mine. Ally’s amazing.”
“Okay, honey, I’ll suggest it. Get some rest.”
Her mother left the room and Grace burrowed under the blankets and tried to sleep. She couldn’t. She felt silly, but she missed Max. He’d put her on the plane from Alaska to Portland, ensuring that she was in first class, and then headed to the private gate to board his plane to Scotland. They were stopped several times for autographs and photos, but Grace was glad no one mobbed them.
She hoped he’d make it back for her birthday...actually, she hoped she’d still be alive on her birthday, which was in five days. She was going to try and survive this plague, if for nothing else so she could see him again and find out all these secrets he promised to tell her.
She managed another hour of sleep, until the buzzing of her phone awakened her. She grabbed it to see Max’s name pop up. “Hi,” she said.
Max chuckled. “Hi, beautiful.”
“I thought you were going to call tomorrow.”
“I wanted to hear your voice now. You sound miserable.”
Grace nodded. “I am miserable, and beautiful isn’t an accurate description right about now.”
“I wish I was there.”
“No you don’t,” Grace retorted. “I’m ridiculously diseased at the moment.”
“Oh, dear,” he said in a much thicker Scottish accent, “have you the plague, lass?”
“Aye, I’ve the plague.”
Max chuckled. “We’ll work on your accent when I see you.”
“Can’t wait.” Grace smiled.
“Yer mum said the flight didn’t go well.”
“Well, I have to say that when you’re feeling as though your head’s going to explode, it probably doesn’t matter if you’re in first class or coach...the cabin pressure’s horrible either way.” She sighed. “I really could have used your magic fingers on the flight. Actually, I could really use them now.”
“I’m sorry, love.”
“It’s okay. Did you know we were on the Anchorage news?”
“I did.” He sighed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have seen that.”
“Oh, I didn’t. I had a couple of women sitting with me at the gate who were beyond chatty and they filled me on everything. They recognized me from the photos at the hotel when we had to drive through the crowd. Even though I had my hand covering most of my face in the car, those paparazzi were surprisingly skilled at getting the photo.”
“You could have called security, you know.”
“No, it was fine.” Grace smiled. “They were actually very nice. My mom’s age, I think. They were fascinated by you, and quite frankly, I couldn’t blame them.”
“Were they grilling you?” he asked.
“Like crazy.”
“What were they asking?”
“Who I was, how I knew you, how long have I known you, that type of thing.”
Max sighed again. “And what did you tell them?”
“Well,” Grace hummed. “I told them my name was Cinnamon, I hired you to be my gigolo for the night, and I’d known you for about two days.”
Max laughed. “You didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t. I just told them I worked for you. Surprisingly enough, I was quite good at diverting the subject away from me and back onto you.”
“Well done, love.”
Grace giggled. “Thank you.”
“Has the attention died down at home?”
“Yes. No one’s camped out here for the moment, anyway.”
“That’s good.” Max sighed. “I’ll make it up to you, sweetheart, I promise.”
“You’re already doing that. I’m glad you didn’t wait to call me until tomorrow.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Brownie points for you.” She glanced at her alarm clock. “How did everything go with your brother?” There was a minute of silence and Grace frowned. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”
“It’s not that,” Max said. “The funeral was actually quite lovely, but that’s all I’m going to say, because I just don’t want to subject you to anything unpleasant.”
“Too late, Max. I’m in the midst of a nasty flu, remember? We’re well past unpleasant.” Grace grabbed a tissue and wiped her nose. “Tell me.”
“I will when I can, sweetheart,” he said. “Right now, I just want to get back there. I miss you.”
Grace smiled. “I miss you too.”
“I’m glad.” Max chuckled. “I’m winning you over, aren’t I?”
She sighed. “Oh, I’m already won.”
“Does that mean you’ll change your status to ‘in a relationship’? I’m not liking the ‘single’ business.”
“Would you settle for ‘it’s complicated’?”
“No.”
She wiped her nose. “Really?”
“Really.” He chuckled. “Your move, Grace.”
“Okay, honey, I’ll change it as soon as I know I’m not going to die.”
“Mmm, I love that.”
“What?”
“You calling me ‘honey.’”
Grace laughed, followed by a coughing fit.
“Sorry, love,” Max said.
“It’s okay.”
“I should let you go back to sleep.”
“Yes, you probably should.”
Max groaned. “God, I miss you, sweetheart.”
Grace sighed. “I wish I could be there with you, but then again, I wouldn’t want you to get sick.”
“If I can finish earlier, do you want me fly back earlier?”
“Is that an option?” she asked.
“I own the plane, so yes.”
Her heart soared. “Um, yes, please.”
“Right answer.” He chuckled. “Go to sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow. Make sure you get a lot of rest.”
“Yes sir.”
“Tha gaol agam ort,” he said.
Grace bit her lip. “Same.”
“Really?”
“Da
ng it,” she groaned. “Yes.”
“Say it,” he challenged.
“No, I think I’m going to wait a little while.” She shifted in her bed in an effort to get comfortable. “When you tell me everything, I’ll say it.”
“I’m concerned that when I do tell you everything, you won’t want to say it,” he admitted.
“Well, then I don’t want to say anything I might have to take back.”
“Touché,” he grumbled. “I will let you go, but I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Sounds good,” she said.
“’Bye.”
Grace smiled. “’Bye.”
“Hang up.”
Grace shook her head. “You do it first.”
“No.”
She giggled. “I’m going to hang up now.”
“Go ahead,” he said.
“I’m going to do it.”
Max chuckled. “I dare you.”
Grace bit her lip. “I can’t.”
“Okay, I should go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“’Bye.”
“’Bye, sweetheart.”
Max hung up and Grace tried to sleep.
* * *
“Everything all right?” Niall asked once Max returned to the great room of his home.
“Grace is sick. She’s got the flu.”
Niall set his drum magazine aside and frowned. “The things humans are subjected to with their health must be frustrating for them.”
Max flopped down on the leather sectional with a sigh. “Aye. And it’s why Kade makes so much money. Humans love their drugs. What does Payton say about this new research Samantha’s doing?”
Niall shook his head. “Nothing. You know she’s tight-lipped when it comes to the Gunnachs. Personally and professionally. It’s one of the many reasons they love her.”
“I thought being her best friend would offer you some secrets.”
Niall laughed. “Maybe when it comes to Brodie or her family, or something like that, but she would never, ever discuss the business with me. Any information I have on the research is the same as what Samantha shared with you and me at dinner.”
“Damn it.”
“I don’t know why you’re so uptight, brother. Her research is in relation to blood diseases. That wouldn’t help Grace with the flu. Only you can do that.”
“And I’m useless to her here.”
Niall shrugged. “Then go.”
“What?”
“Go,” Niall repeated. “Take the plane if you need to. It’s not like you weren’t going to ask me anyway. We’ve got time for Ernan to rest and return. Or we can just fly commercial...the gear’s still on the plane.”
Max’s heart felt considerably lighter. “You don’t mind?”
Niall chuckled. “Sure as hell beats you sitting here sighing like a school girl who’s lost her love.”
Max grinned, uncaring that his brother had just insulted him. “I’m not waiting around for you to change your mind.”
“Good idea.”
Max rose to his feet, called their pilot, and then Bruce. Once they had a flight plan, he’d be on his way back to Grace, and that couldn’t be too soon for him.
A DAY AND a half later, Grace sat in her family room, alone. Her parents and Spencer were at work, and Maggie had insisted on attending two classes that afternoon, despite still not feeling quite well, which meant Grace was blissfully on her own. She still had a few body aches and a nasty nasal infection, but she’d managed to brush her teeth and take a shower, which made her feel much more human.
Her phone buzzed, indicating a Skype call from Charlotte.
“Hey there!”
“Hi,” Charlotte said. “How are you feeling? Your mom said you were hella sick when I called yesterday.”
“Better,” Grace said. “Probably better than I look.”
Charlotte laughed. “Whatever. You look just fine, which is why I hate you. Good lord, you can puke your guts out for two days and look like a model.”
“Oh, I’m sure. I did shower, though, so that probably helps.”
“Usually. So, fill me in on Max. I’ve got a little time.”
Grace sighed. “I love him...like, stupid love him.”
Charlotte giggled. “Well, duh. I’ve known that for a while now. What I want to know is why you’re waffling.”
Grace let out a groan. “Because I’m a woman.”
“Try again.” Charlotte smiled. “Look, you send me these cryptic texts, which is fine, I speak “Grace-ese,” but you have these extreme love him or hate him moments, so let’s delve into that, shall we?”
Grace giggled. “Okay, doctor Whitmore, let’s delve into that.”
“So what’s bugging you the most?”
“I don’t know. I guess I just feel like people don’t change like that overnight, you know?”
“Do you want him to change?”
“No, not really. I want him to change how he treats other people, but he’s wonderful to me.”
“Well, that’s good, right? I mean, he can still work on treating other people well...”
“Yes.” Grace smiled. “Sometimes I feel so happy I’m about to burst, and then other times, I realize I know nothing about the guy and should be wary, because his reputation bites. I mean, how do I know he hasn’t done this with a million other girls?”
Charlotte giggled. “Dating is so freakin’ complicated. I wish you could just meet the person you’re going to be with forever and never question it.”
“Ohmigod, right?”
Charlotte giggled. “You’re taking on your sister’s vocab.”
Grace sighed. “I know. It’s becoming a problem.”
The doorbell rang and Grace wrinkled her nose.
“Do you have to go?” Charlotte asked.
“No, it’s probably just a delivery.” Grace cocked her head. “What are you wearing, by the way? Is that a wig?”
Charlotte leaned away from the camera so Grace could get a better view. “I’m keeping the Cinderella wig on in case I have to go back out there. What do you think?”
“I can honestly say, I have never seen Cinderella in jeans and a T-shirt.”
Charlotte nodded. “I know. It’s a new style I’m trying out.”
The doorbell pealed again and Grace rolled her eyes.
“Hey, I should go,” Charlotte said. “And it sounds like you should too. I’ll call you later in the week, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
“Love ya, Gary.”
Grace giggled. “Love you too, Chuck. ’Bye.”
Grace hung up just as the doorbell rang again. She ignored it and sipped her peppermint tea while flipping through channels on the television. Whoever they were they could leave the delivery on the porch.
Unfortunately for her, whoever was at the door wasn’t going away. They rang twice more before she forced herself off the sofa. Pulling the door open, she was met with sunflowers. A lot of them.
“Delivery,” the gruff voice said from behind the plumage.
“Oh, um, okay,” she said. “What do I owe you?”
“A kiss.”
“Excuse me?” she asked in irritation.
The flowers moved and Max stood behind them with a goofy grin. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hi!” Grace gasped and then frowned. “Wait. What are you doing here? Why didn’t you give me any warning? I would have done something with myself.”
She glanced just beyond him to see Bruce tip his hat. She gave him a wave.
“May I come in?” Max asked.
“Oh, right. Yes, sorry, come in.”
He stepped inside and set the vase on the foyer table, then wrapped his arms around her. “You look perfect. You’re gorgeous.”
“I’m a mess,” she argued. “I should change out of this robe and sweats. I’m all stuffy and gross.”
“I happen to think you look adorable with a red Rudolph nose.”
She wrinkled said red Rudolph nose and st
roked his cheek. “How do you manage to look like you’ve just walked off the pages of a GQ magazine every time I see you?”
He shrugged. “Do I?”
Grace nodded. “Yes, and it’s extremely annoying.”
Max chuckled and leaned down to kiss her. She broke the kiss with a sigh and laid her cheek on his chest. “I have missed you so much.”
He stroked her back. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.”
“Are you okay?” She stared up at him. “How did everything go after the funeral?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it. I just want to hug you for a bit.”
Grace sighed. “Okay. I can handle that.”
As she stood in the foyer and let Max hold her, Grace realized that her body aches were gone and her nose seemed perfectly fine. She smiled up at him. “Why is it that when I’m feeling a little out of sorts, you make everything magically better?”
He grinned. “Because that’s my job.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I’m here to serve you.”
“Nice.” Grace giggled. “I’ll remind you of that when you go all diva on me.”
He kissed her again. “Where do you want the flowers?”
“I’ll take them upstairs later. I don’t want to share them.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I just made tea, do you want some?”
“No thanks, love.”
She smiled. “Come on. I want to hear about everything.”
“Where’s your family?”
“Blissfully, somewhere else,” Grace said, as she led him back to the family room.
“Strange question,” Max said. “What’s your heater set at?”
“Colder than a penguin’s asshole,” she retorted.
Max laughed. “I’m sorry?”
“My dad insists the temperature be kept at sixty-five even when it’s cold outside,” she said. “His philosophy is that we can always put more clothes on.”
“He has a point.”
Grace sat on the sofa and tucked her feet under her. “So? How did everything go?”
“It was fine.” Max sat beside her, turning to face her.
“Just fine?”
Max nodded. “Just fine.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Yes.”
Grace cupped his chin. “At some point, you’re going to have to trust me, or this relationship will never work.”
Bound by Song (Cauld Ane Series, #4) Page 15