His gray eyes beseeched her while she sat open-mouthed trying to process everything he’d said about their relationship, about Sierra’s treachery. Still, Lance had presumed too much, booking her a ticket without consulting her. She couldn’t leave her mother yet. Not with so much up in the air.
Maxi pulled her hand free and lurched to her feet. “I’m sorry, but leaving right now is not an option.” Before he could reply, she jumped down the stairs toward the driveway, knowing he would follow.
She turned to face him beside the rental car. His grim features told her he was less than happy with her. “Look, I appreciate your concern, Lance, I really do. And I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing—”
“Not for nothing. I also came for this.”
Without warning, he pulled her against him and clamped his mouth down over hers. Maxi froze at the unexpected assault. They’d only ever shared the briefest of kisses, mainly because Maxi hadn’t been ready for anything more. But Lance’s frustration now came through loud and clear. In that instant, Maxi knew there could never be anything between them but friendship. Her heart and her kisses belonged to Jason. She planted her palms against his chest and pushed him away. “Please don’t.”
He took a step back and gave a harsh laugh. “Well, I guess that answers my question, doesn’t it?”
Heat stung her cheeks. “I’m sorry, but I’m not ready for this.”
Lance pulled his sunglasses out of his breast pocket and jabbed them on. “You’d better figure out what it is you want, Maxi. Maybe you’re sabotaging your shot at this partnership because you’d rather be somewhere else.” He lifted his face toward the upper portion of the house. “With someone else.”
She followed his gaze upward to the second story window where Jason stood staring down at them. Her stomach sank to her feet.
Great. He must’ve seen the kiss. Could this day get any worse?
“Good-bye, Maxi.”
As Lance got in the car, she tried to think of something to say to help the situation, but nothing could. “Good-bye, Lance.”
He backed out, and with a spray of gravel, he was gone.
****
Jason picked up the broken pieces of the pencil he’d snapped in two, like he wanted to snap the neck of Lance What’s-his-name. So much for Maxi not being serious about the guy. Not after a lip lock like that one.
That’s what you get for spying, Hanley.
Jason grabbed the hammer and began to swing, hitting nails already firmly in place. Dents formed in the wood before he realized what he was doing.
“Hey.”
Maxi’s voice from the doorway startled him. He hadn’t even heard her come up the stairs. Afraid his emotions would be evident on his face, he bent to retrieve a new pencil from his toolbox.
“Where’s Lance?” he asked, trying to appear casual.
“Probably headed back to the airport.”
Jason rose and turned to face her. She stood small and quiet in the doorway.
“You going with him?”
“No.”
He schooled his face to hide his relief but curiosity got the better of him. “Why’d he come all this way just to turn around and go back?”
She took a step inside and leaned against the wall as if afraid to come too close. “He wanted me to go with him. But I can’t leave yet.”
Her eyes were wide and vulnerable, locked on his, causing his hands to sweat. He watched her for a minute and then nodded. “So let’s get to work then.” He handed her a hammer and bent to pick up the measuring tape.
“I broke up with him.”
Jason’s hand stilled on the tape measure, his heart pounding double time in his chest. It seemed like she was trying to tell him something. Something he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear. He swallowed. “Good. Seemed like a lightweight to me.”
Her face remained blank for a minute until she broke out in a long laugh. “You never change, Hanley.”
“Shut up and hold the tape for me.”
16
At Logan House the next day, Maxi laid the last styling device on the coffee table, and took a sip from her mug while waiting for Dora Lee to come downstairs. Anticipation buzzed through her system along with the caffeine. She hadn’t felt this eager about hairstyling since taking classes herself. Just knowing she could help Dora Lee change the course of her life for the better gave Maxi an immense sense of satisfaction.
Don’t get too attached, an inner voice warned. Dora Lee and little Robbie would be moving away from Rainbow Falls as soon as arrangements could be made for their safe integration into a nearby community. And she would be heading back to her job soon anyway.
Against her will, her thoughts drifted to Jason and the amazing kiss they’d shared a few days before at the falls. She knew her rejection of his affection had hurt his pride, but it’d been for the best. For both of them. Jason’s cool acceptance of her breakup with Lance only reinforced her decision.
Footsteps on the stairs alerted Maxi to Dora Lee’s approach. She entered the living room with little Robbie glued to her shoulder. She looked exasperated.
“Sorry,” she shrugged. “He won’t go down for his nap.”
Maxi smiled at the boy. His white blond hair with a huge cowlick in the middle of his forehead made him incredibly endearing. “I guess Robbie doesn’t want to miss the fun. How about we put a movie on for you while I teach your mommy to cut hair?”
The little boy stared at her with his big blue eyes. Then he nodded. “Fish” he demanded and popped his thumb back in his mouth.
“Fish it is,” she agreed. If only she had a clue who or what Fish was, she’d be golden. She held out her hand. “Come and help me find it.”
The boy wriggled down from his mother and ran to the pile of movies. At first grab, he came up with a case with a cartoon fish on it.
“Ah, Fish. Looks like fun.” Maxi popped the DVD in the machine and turned on the TV. Soon Robbie was settled in a chair, his attention riveted to the screen.
“I bet he’s asleep in five minutes,” she told Dora Lee.
“Thank you. I run out of patience with him sometimes.”
“All mothers run out of patience sometimes, don’t they? Isn’t it part of the job?” Maxi smiled and took another quick sip of her coffee. “Ready to get started?”
Dora Lee’s fatigue seemed to vanish. “You bet.”
The woman picked up the techniques Maxi showed her with amazing aptitude. Even though they were using a dummy head for practice, Maxi was confident Dora Lee would be working with live models very soon. As soon as Maxi could convince her to take some real classes.
When they were almost finished, Leslie came in carrying her son. She paused to chat for a minute and then continued back to the kitchen to make the boy a snack. At the sound of footsteps in the hallway a few minutes later, Maxi looked up, expecting to see Leslie again.
“Hello, Dora Lee.”
The deep masculine voice made the hairs on Maxi’s arms rise. No men were allowed inside the house, except Nick or supervised workmen. A burly stranger, badly in need of a shave and some clean clothes, stepped into the room.
The comb fell from Dora Lee’s fingers and bounced on the floor. “Dennis,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
The terror in Dora Lee’s eyes kicked Maxi’s instincts into high gear. Her pulse sprinted as she searched for a plan of escape.
The man curled his lip into a sneer. “What do you think, darlin’? I’m here to get my son.” The foul stench of alcohol permeated the air around him.
Anger mixed with the fear and adrenaline in Maxi’s system. She would not allow anyone to harm that precious boy. With shaking fingers, she picked up the long scissors from the table in front of her and stepped in front of Dora Lee and the boy sleeping on the couch behind them, prepared to defend her new friends if necessary.
Dennis turned his bloodshot eyes to her and, without blinking, pulled a gun from his pocket. “I’d put those dow
n if I were you.”
17
Maxi’s glance darted from Dora Lee to the gun in Dennis’ hand. “You’re not touching him.” She prayed she sounded more confident than she felt—that the man wouldn’t notice her knees shaking.
Dennis waved the gun and clicked off the safety. “I’m taking my son one way or another. Even if I have to kill the both of you to do it.”
Maxi’s mind whirled, adrenaline singing through her veins like a surge of electricity. She had to stop this now.
Dora Lee stepped out from behind Maxi. “Dennis, no. You can visit him whenever you want. I swear. Just don’t take my baby.”
In that instant, while Dennis shifted his focus to Dora Lee, Maxi leapt forward. She knocked his hand down and struggled to wrest the gun from him, but she was no match for his size or strength.
Grunting with exertion, the man flailed out his hand, hitting Maxi and sending her to the ground with a heavy thud. Pain shot through her forehead as she connected with the edge of the coffee table. Before Dennis could aim the weapon, Dora Lee attacked him, hitting him over the head with a lamp she pulled from a table. The man crashed to the ground, moaning. The gun skittered across the floor under the couch.
Maxi scrambled to her feet and grabbed a blow dryer from the table.
Dora Lee squatted beside her as Maxi bound the semi-conscious man’s hands together. The reek of alcohol became so strong she had to hold her breath while she repeated the process on his feet. Once they were sure he couldn’t move, Dora Lee picked up her terrified son, clutching the now awake and wailing boy to her chest.
Relief trickled through Maxi’s muscles as she gave silent thanks for her self-defense training in New York. She pulled out her cell phone and punched in 9-1-1.
****
Jason found driving to be his best time for thinking. Today, as he guided his truck along Main Street, his mind mulled over the situation with his father. Deep down he knew Maxi had a valid point. He’d been given the chance to get to the bottom of his father’s rejection, and he should take it. If, for no other reason, than to let Clint Hanley know just what his leaving had done to him and his mother. The toll it had taken on both their lives.
Now that he’d made up his mind, he would wait for Clint to approach him again. He didn’t want to seem too eager. And Clint needed to suffer a bit in the process.
As he turned onto Hickory Lane, the beautiful Johnson manor came into view and Jason thought of his encounter with Gloria Johnson the other day. The mention of her father and the bank loan didn’t sit well with him. Was it his imagination or did her comment contain a thinly disguised threat?
He shook his head. Gloria Johnson was one big heap of trouble. Lucky for him, he’d come to his senses sooner rather than later and ended their relationship when he did.
Looking back now, he could see that he’d gone out with Gloria because he was so ticked at Maxi for ignoring him. What better way to get back at her than to date one of her worst enemies?
Real mature, Hanley.
Jason’s phone vibrated as he slowed for a red light.
“Hey, Nick. What’s up?”
“Jason. Thank God. Can you get over to the shelter right away? I’ve got the baby right now and can’t leave.” Nick sounded panicky.
Jason frowned, keeping an eye on the traffic light. “Is something wrong?”
“Chief Hillier called to let me know there’s been some trouble there. One of women’s boyfriends showed up…with a gun.”
Jason blew out a long breath. “Geesh. What do you want me to do?”
“The situation’s under control, but the women are pretty shook up.” Nick paused and Jason’s pulse thudded. “Jace, Maxi’s there.”
His heart leapt in his chest like a wire had short-circuited. “I’m on my way.”
With a grunt, he tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, and as the light turned green, he peeled through the intersection. His mind flew in a hundred directions as he pushed the truck to its limit. Nick hadn’t said anything about anyone being hurt, so she must be OK.
Please God, let her be OK.
Five minutes later, Jason pulled up in front of Logan House. Maxi’s car sat in the driveway with the chief’s cruiser parked behind. His stomach tightened. What would he find inside?
Jason knocked on the door, surprised to be greeted by a dark-skinned woman with a young boy on her hip. Her face bore several newly-healing cuts.
“Hi. I’m Jason. Nick asked me to come and make sure everyone’s OK.”
She nodded, her chocolate brown eyes solemn. “We’re all fine, praise God. If it weren’t for Maxi, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
Jason frowned. “Why? What did Maxi do?”
“She jumped on the man with the gun.”
Jason snaked a hand through his hair. “Where are they?”
“In the living room. If you’ll excuse me, I need to put my son down for a nap.” She gave a timid smile before sliding off to the stairs.
Jason strode through to the living room and peered inside.
Chief Hillier stood in full uniform, scratching something on a pad of paper. Maxi and a young blonde woman with a child in her arms sat on the sofa. Officer Joe Connell pushed a slimy looking man in handcuffs toward the doorway.
“Hey, Joe. Everything under control?”
“It is now. Excuse me while I take this one to the car.” He gave the guy in cuffs a shove.
Jason stepped aside and let them pass. The man kept his gaze glued to the floor. He was at least six feet tall and husky, maybe two-hundred-and-twenty pounds. How had Maxi gotten the best of him?
Jason stepped farther into the room, his eyes trained on Maxi as she answered the chief’s questions, trying not to think how easily the situation could have gone horribly wrong. That Maxi could have been shot, or even killed. The vision of her body lying bleeding on the floor filled his imagination. He shook his head to clear the picture.
At last, Mike Hillier flipped his notebook closed. “Thanks for your help, ladies. We’ll do our best to make sure he won’t bother you again.” Mike tipped his police cap to the blonde woman. “I’m going to get some extra security cameras and an alarm system installed here. Nick’s a great guy but a bit too trusting in this instance.”
The woman rose, her son in her arms. “Thank you, Chief. I appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome. But the real thanks go to both of you. Your quick actions averted a potentially deadly situation.” He adjusted his belt. “I’ll be in touch.”
Mike turned and nodded to Jason on his way out of the room.
Maxi hugged her arms around her torso, her eyebrows rising as she noticed Jason. “Jason, what are you doing here?”
He forced himself not to rush to her side. “Nick asked me to make sure everything was OK after the chief called him.” The boy squirmed in his mother’s arms. Jason fought back a surge of anger at a man who would expose his child to this type of violence. “Are you both OK?”
Maxi nodded. “We’re fine. Just shaken up.”
The woman shifted the boy on her shoulder. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to get Robbie a drink and see if he’ll go down for another nap.”
“Sure.” Maxi stuffed her hand in the pockets of her jeans. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
The blonde nodded and hugged her son as she exited the room.
Maxi turned her full attention to Jason. “Nick must feel terrible about what happened. He wants this to be a place of refuge, free of violence.” She pushed her bangs off her face, revealing a smear of blood on her forehead.
In an instant, Jason moved to her side. “You’re bleeding. Let me see.” He took hold of her chin and brushed her hair aside to find a gash on the left side of her temple.
“It’s nothing.” She tried to move away. “I hit the corner of the coffee table when I fell.”
He plucked a tissue from the box on the table and dabbed it to the wound. The need to lash out burned in his chest.
“What were you thinking, jumping the guy like that?”
Her hazel eyes blazed in response as she pushed his hand aside. “I had to do something. I couldn’t let him take the baby.”
The fear he’d felt driving over, not knowing what he’d find, came rushing back. He let it swirl in his gut until it turned into something he felt more comfortable with. Hot anger. “Who let him in anyway? I thought this was supposed to be a safe house.”
She raked her hand through her red mop. “I don’t know. He showed up out of nowhere…” Her voice broke. She turned and charged down the hall to the kitchen.
Banking his frustration, he followed her. She lifted a pitcher of water from the fridge. Without a word, he took the container from her unsteady fingers, set it on the counter, and pulled her into his arms.
“You could’ve been killed.”
It took all his concentration not to crush her in a fierce embrace. Instead, he willed his arms to be gentle. Maxi’s frame trembled, telling him she was far more shaken than she’d ever admit. She leaned against him for only a moment before pulling away. “I should see if Dora Lee and Leslie are all right.”
“They’re fine. But you’re not.” He tugged her back against him and absorbed her tremors. They remained there locked together in silence for several minutes. It took every ounce of willpower not to kiss her. But she’d made it clear she wanted nothing more than friendship. Deep down, he knew she was right.
When she seemed steadier, he made her sit at the table and poured her a glass of water. After she’d finished the last drop, he helped her to her feet.
“Come on. I’ll follow you over to Nick’s. He won’t stop worrying until he sees for himself you’re in one piece.”
18
“It’s your father, isn’t it?”
Jason wished his mother would leave him to his eggs in peace. At 5:00 AM, with a sleepless night behind him and an early shift ahead at the fire station, he was in no mood for his mother’s badgering. He’d wanted to grab a coffee and go, but Ma had insisted on making him a hot breakfast.
Wayward Hearts Page 12