I always wanted a big family. I have an older brother, Jesse, who I never see. I haven’t heard from him in over a year, and we were never especially close to begin with.
Being in the middle of a family like this fills my cup.
“Mom, I think I’m the oldest kid here,” Alex whispers up to me, looking mortified.
“Seth is older than you,” Max says, pointing to the tall, lanky boy currently playing a video game with his dad.
But Alex is right. He’s at an awkward age, with Seth being way older, and the others being way younger than him.
“Hey, Alex,” Noah says with a smile. “I want to go sledding. How about you?”
“I guess.” My son glances around nervously, and I suddenly wish I’d thought to invite Pierce to come along so Alex would have someone his own age with him.
“I want to go, too,” Max says. “I’ll go out and get the gear out of the car.”
“Same,” Seth says, tossing his controller onto the coffee table. “Alex, you can ride on my four-wheeler if you want.”
Alex’s face whips up to mine, his eyes big and hopeful, and I immediately know that today is going to be just fine.
“Can I, Mom?”
“I don’t—”
“I have a helmet for him,” Seth assures me, giving me a smile that must have every girl in the high school losing their damn minds. “And I won’t go too fast.”
“Can I? Can I?”
“Yes, but please be careful.”
“You bet,” Seth replies and leads Alex out back.
“Alex is safe with Seth,” Cara assures me with a serene smile. She’s a petite blonde, with curves in all the right places. She’s happy and welcoming.
“We got Seth a new four-wheeler for Christmas because he outgrew the last one,” Jillian adds. Where Cara is fair, Jillian is dark. The two women are yin and yang, and the best of friends. “He’s in an adult size now.”
“He’s tall,” I agree, nodding. “I’d say he’s almost as tall as his dad.”
“It kills me,” Jillian says, shaking her head. “My boy is growing up.”
“And he’s a good kid,” Cara adds as she shifts a child from her hip to a high chair. “We’re going to hang out in here with the little ones, but you’re welcome to go out with everyone else. Enjoy the sledding for a bit, then come back in here for a hot toddy.”
“That actually sounds really good. I never get to play outside. But I bet I’ll be tired of it in fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll have something hot to drink ready for you,” Cara assures me. I follow where the guys went, out behind the house where about eight four-wheelers are parked along a fence-line as if they’re cars parked at the mall.
“This is interesting.”
“In the summer, those are horses,” Zack says with a wink.
“You’re with me,” Max says as he swings a leg over one of the vehicles. “Ready?”
“Hell, yes,” I murmur as I climb on behind him and hold on as he drives us through the snow, following the others. The ski hill for today is about a mile from the house, nestled in the trees. The mountains are beautiful, covered in fresh snow.
Noah and Gray have already developed a pull-system, using two of the four-wheelers to pull the kids on their sleds up the hill so they can sled down without having to hike up.
“Seems like cheating,” I say to Max, who just shrugs and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“I don’t want to hike up that thing.”
“Good point.”
“Mom!” Alex calls, waving at me as he’s towed up the hill. “Watch me, okay?”
“I’m watching!” I call back. Seth is at the top of the hill and gives Alex instructions before giving him a gentle push down.
“Yeah!” Alex yells as he sails down the hill, but just as he reaches the bottom, he topples off the sled. Assuming he’ll pop up with a laugh, we wait.
But he doesn’t.
He pops up, gasping for breath, and Max and I run to him. Noah’s already there.
“Hey, buddy,” Max says, taking Alex by the shoulders. “Calm down and take a deep breath.”
“What’s going on?” I demand.
“Just got the wind knocked out of him,” Noah says with a wink.
“You’re okay, Alex,” Max croons. “Take another breath.”
Finally, Alex breaks down and cries and clings to Max’s jacket.
“I know it’s scary,” Max says and kisses Alex’s head, making me swoon. “It totally sucks, but you’ll feel better in just a minute.”
“I’m done,” Alex says, angrily swiping at the alligator tears. “I want to go home.”
“You just got here,” Seth says as he joins us.
“I’m done,” Alex repeats, standing and walking in the direction of the house.
“Alex—” I begin to chastise him, but Max holds up a hand as if to say, “give me a minute.”
“That’s not how we do this, buddy,” Max says, making Alex stop in his tracks. “When you fall, you have to get back up and do it again. Otherwise, you’ve let the scary thing beat you, and I know you’re not a quitter.”
Alex frowns, looking down at his boots and then back up at Max.
“Do you think if my dad didn’t die, he would have gotten back on the skis?”
I hold my breath, surprised by the question.
No, not surprised.
Shocked.
“Yes, I do,” Max says. “He would have gotten right back up and skied down the hill.”
Alex thinks about it for a second, then walks back to Noah.
“Okay, I’m ready to go again.”
“Let’s go, then,” Noah says, but looks at both Max and me with sober eyes. He starts the four-wheeler and pulls Alex behind him.
“Well, damn,” Zack mutters when Alex is out of earshot.
“He’s never asked about his dad like that,” I say softly so only Josh, Zack, Ty, and Max can hear me. “Never.”
“He’s growing up, and he’s curious,” Josh says.
“And he’s around Max more,” Ty adds. “Maybe that’s making him think more about his dad.”
Max and I share a look.
“Just when I thought I had this parenthood thing in the bag,” I say, shaking my head.
“It’s never in the bag,” Zack says with a wink. “Trust me on that.”
Chapter Twelve
~Max~
I’M PRETTY SURE I just swallowed my tongue.
Had a heart attack.
Stroke.
Something.
Because, my God, just look at her.
“Are you okay?” Willa asks from inside the door, smiling at me with uncertainty in her brown eyes. “Is this dress not appropriate?”
“It’s appropriate for many things,” I reply, finally finding my voice and following her into the house and closing the door. “Like lying in a heap around your ankles after I rip it off of you.”
“Hey, this was an expensive dress,” she says, scowling at me as if she’s scolding a child.
Which only turns me on more.
The fabric is ice-blue and shiny, falling in thick, floating cascades, shimmering from her chest to the floor. It molds to her breasts but hides the rest of her, flowing as she walks. Sapphires twinkle at her ears and around her wrist as she reaches for a white fur wrap.
I take it from her and slip it around her shoulders, leaning in to press my lips against her neck, just below a sparkling sapphire.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” I whisper against her skin. “You take my fucking breath away.”
“That’s better.” She smiles up at me, then turns to adjust my already straight tie. I think it’s a woman thing to adjust a man’s tie whether it’s straight or not. “You’re handsome yourself.”
“He’s in the bath,” Debbie says as she comes out of Alex’s bathroom. “Oh, hi, Max.”
“Hello.”
“My goodness, you two look like you should be in a magazin
e. Here, Willa, give me your phone, and I’ll take a picture.”
She arranges us in front of the fireplace and snaps a few photos.
“We might be late,” Willa warns her, but Debbie just shakes her head and smiles.
“Take all the time you want. The kiddo will be in bed soon. In fact, stay out all night if you like.”
“Oh, I don’t—” Willa begins, but I cut her off.
“That would be great, if you’re sure.”
Debbie winks at me. “You got it.”
“Ready?” I ask Willa as she grabs her clutch and checks her lipstick in the mirror by the front door.
“Looks like it,” she says with a nod.
“Oh, Max,” Debbie says before I shut the door behind us. “I think that what you’ve done for the hospital is just wonderful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I nod and close the door, then help Willa down the stairs. “Those shoes aren’t really appropriate for snow.”
“I’m not wearing boots under my dress,” she says, holding onto me as she maneuvers her way into the vehicle. “Besides, they’ll look fantastic around your shoulders later.”
“I—” I swallow hard and try again. “I think we’ll skip this fucking party and go straight to my house.”
She’s still laughing when I climb into the car next to her. “We can’t skip a party being thrown in your honor,” she says.
“I could say I came down with a case of something.”
“Nope.” She grins over at me. “I’m dressed for a fancy party, and that’s what I want.”
“Then a fancy party the lady shall have.”
***
“I guess it didn’t occur to me that I’d know just about everyone here,” Willa says an hour later after saying hello to half of the town. “Then again, I’m not the only one who loves a fancy shindig.”
“Didn’t you sell a bunch of formal dresses this winter?” Abby, Hannah’s cousin, asks.
“I did, actually. I just didn’t put two and two together. Math isn’t my strong suit.”
“I love your dress, Abby,” Hannah says, making her cousin blush. “What did I say?”
“This was my backup dress,” Abby says, giving her date, Dr. Drake Merritt, the side-eye.
“What happened to the other one? Is it defective? Should I send it back?” Willa asks.
“No, nothing like that,” Abby says.
“I ripped the first one off of her,” Drake says calmly as if he’s discussing the weather.
“Drake!” Abby says.
“What? It’s the truth.”
“Well, at least you had a backup plan,” Willa says with a laugh, glancing at me because I had the same exact thought when I saw her earlier.
We’re at a table with Brad and Hannah, Abby and Drake, and Jacob and Grace, who are currently across the room chatting with the medical director of the hospital.
“Oh, my phone is ringing.” Willa frowns and pulls the cell out of her clutch. “It’s not my mom.”
“Who is it?” I ask.
“Unknown number. Must be Jesse. Hello?” Her face lights up, confirming that it’s her brother. “You have the worst timing. Well, get a regular phone, and I could text you. …I know. I’m at a party with some friends, but Mom’s at my place with Alex. You should call them. …Okay, love you, too. Bye.”
“How is Jesse?” Brad asks. He and Jesse were in the same grade in school. Jesse went into the military after graduation and has rarely come home since.
“Fine, I think,” Willa says as she tucks her phone into her bag. “I don’t hear from him much.”
“Top-secret maneuvers,” Hannah says with a wink. “That’s what happens when your brother is 007.”
“I don’t know what he is, honestly,” Willa replies. “He doesn’t tell us anything. But he sounded good.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.” A local celebrity, a radio DJ who has been around for a long time, is the master of ceremonies tonight. In addition to the large donation that Jacob and I made, there’s a silent auction happening, and he will reveal the winners after the announcement of the donation. “Before we begin with the silent auction winners—I really hope I won that trip to Maui for my wife and myself—I’d like to invite two men to come up and join me.
“Please give Max Hull and Jacob Berkley a round of applause.”
Jacob and I stand, buttoning our coats, and walk through the ballroom to the podium. We decided beforehand that I would be the one to speak on behalf of both of us.
“Good evening,” I begin and wait for the room to quiet. “Jacob and I are honored to be with you tonight. As you know, the money collected from the silent auction benefits the hospital, going toward the new cancer facility set to break ground in the spring.
“It is my distinct privilege to announce that Jacob and I have each donated one million dollars toward this worthy cause.”
The room erupts into applause, and I step back to shake Jacob’s hand, then look out across the crowd to find Willa, who is beaming proudly. She knew that I was making a donation tonight, but I hadn’t told her how much.
Jacob and I smile and pose for a round of photos, then return to our seats with our friends.
“I had no idea,” Willa whispers in my ear.
“I know.” I take her hand in mine and kiss it, ignoring the looks from those seated near us. Tonight is the first time we’ve been outwardly affectionate in public, and it already has the rumor mill buzzing.
Let it buzz. I don’t give a shit.
Willa’s mine. I’d gladly take out a full-page ad in the newspaper if that’s what it takes to let everyone know that I’m completely gone over her. Hell, I never stopped loving her for the girl she was, and I can’t resist the amazing woman she is now. I’m damn proud to have her by my side.
***
“I’m drowning,” Willa says the next morning. She’s at the shop, and Alex is out of school. Her mom is helping her, along with the two girls Willa hired as part-time help, but they’re barely keeping up.
“Did you make everything free?” I ask, looking around in awe.
“Almost. It’s a winter sale so I can make room for the spring inventory I have coming in. Everything’s fifty-percent off. Apparently, the advertising I did worked.”
“You’re a walking advertisement,” I remind her, watching as a woman in her early twenties squeals with delight when she finds the pair of jeans she’s been looking for. “You always look fantastic, Wills. They just want to look like you.”
“They just want a killer deal on a pair of jeans,” she says, but boosts herself up on her tiptoes and offers me a kiss. “But thank you for saying sweet things.”
“They’re true.” I kiss her plump lips. “How can I help?”
“I was hoping Alex could spend the day with Ken, but he caught the flu. Ken, not Alex. And I need Mom here—”
“I got this,” I say easily as Alex joins us. “I’ll take Alex for the day.”
“Yes!” Alex exclaims, holding his hand up for a high-five.
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do that.”
“I’m totally sure.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We’ll figure it out,” I reply with a shrug.
“Yeah, Mom,” Alex says, shrugging the same way I just did. “We’ll figure it out.”
She sighs, looking back and forth between us, and then shrugs herself. “Okay. Thank you. And, Alexander Cary Monroe, you behave and do as you’re told. You’ve had a crappy attitude lately.”
“Wow, your full name, dude.”
“Yeah,” Alex says, staring at the floor. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll be good.”
She squats in front of him and pulls him in for a hug. “I love you so much. You hurt my feelings when you sass me.”
“I’m sorry,” he says and kisses her cheek. “I’ll be good. Honest.”
“Okay, then.” She smiles up at me as if I hung the moon. I enjoy the kid. If spending t
ime with him earns me looks like that, I’ll take him every day. “Have fun.”
“We will.” I kiss her lips once more, then follow Alex to her office so we can gather his jacket. “Where’s Rocky?”
“At Grandma and Grandpa’s,” he says, moping. “I couldn’t go because Grandpa’s sick, but Rocky got to go.”
“I bet he’s good company for your grandpa,” I say as he shoves his arms into his coat. “I know that it would help me feel better to have a puppy to snuggle.”
“Oh.” He considers that for a minute, then nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
We walk out the back door to avoid the crowded showroom and climb into my car.
“What should we do today?” I ask. “Ice skating? Movie?”
“I want to go skiing,” Alex announces proudly. “Can we go?”
“I don’t know, Alex.” I turn toward my house, expecting to spend the day in the theater with movies for the kiddo and my laptop. “I don’t know if your mom would be okay with that.”
In fact, I’d be shocked if she was okay with it after what happened to Cary.
“She’s totally fine with it,” he replies easily. “I was supposed to take skiing lessons this year, but we didn’t have time. In fact, you’ll be doing her a favor if you take me ’cause then she won’t have to.”
I glance over at him, and he looks so sincere and excited, how can I tell him no?
“We don’t have your snow pants with you.”
“They’re in my backpack,” he replies. “See? It’s like we were supposed to go skiing today.”
“Now you’re laying it on a little thick.”
“Does this mean we get to go?” he asks hopefully.
“Yes, but... You have to stay close to me at all times and do exactly what I say so you don’t get hurt. This is important, Alex.”
“I will do that,” he says, nodding. “Honest. I’ll listen.”
“If you don’t, we’ll stop and go home.”
“I understand.” He’s solemn and earnest, so I decide to take the day off with him and spend it doing what I love the most: skiing.
It’s crazy that I’m taking my best friend’s son skiing for the first time. I wish Cary were here with us. He’d be so excited.
But he’s not. I’ll keep Alex safe and show him the ropes on the bunny hill today.
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