Mr. August

by Romes, Jan

  To top things off, for the last hour he had to pee. Now that he was home, he had to pry his fingers from the steering wheel.

  Rory had curled up in soft, furry-type afghan that was kept in the car just for him and waited patiently while Max had made a flying trip up to visit Libby in her hospital room. As soon as Max returned he jumped from the car, took care of his business and had kept his nose buried in Max’s thigh the entire trip back to the cabin. The fur ball whimpered every time Max let a cuss word fly, which was every minute or two. Now that the car was no longer moving, he lifted his head and looked around.

  “Come on, boy.”

  Max opened the door, held onto the handle, and tried to get his footing so he wouldn’t fall on his ass. He was almost to the porch when his feet kicked out from under him and he hurtled forward, breaking most of the fall with his forearms. “Shit!”

  Rory’s tail wagged and he licked Max’s hand.

  “I’m okay.” Max was thankful he’d let the pint-size mongrel follow instead of carrying him. If he had fallen on the pooch the poor thing would’ve been crushed by his weight.

  Max didn’t take any chances; he scooted the remaining five feet to the porch and grabbed hold of the railing. After he got the front door open, he made a beeline to the bathroom. If the trip had taken five minutes more, his driveway would’ve been decorated with yellow snow.

  Tugging off his wet clothes, he stepped into a scalding hot shower. He dropped his head back, letting the water pummel his tense muscles while his thoughts pummeled everything else. He cursed himself for the way he mishandled things with Libby. Words were his life so he should’ve been able to convey his thoughts without making a bigger mess. Somehow he managed to take something dear to Libby’s heart and make a shambles of it. But the issue of not being able to have kids wasn’t hers alone. He wanted kids too, in the worst way.

  Max was angry with himself, but he was pissed at Libby too. When she suggested he was looking for perfection just like Shari was, he saw red. Thinking about it now, made him mad all over again. He hit the shower door so hard it was a wonder it didn’t shatter. Libby couldn’t have been more wrong. He wasn’t looking for perfect. Perfect didn’t exist. And if it did, it would suck.

  Max traipsed naked to the loft and slipped into his favorite ragged thermal shirt and matching long underwear. He ran his hand over his face. How could Libby think he was so shallow? Didn’t she know him at all? He kicked the bed frame and let out a yowl when his foot connected with a bolt.

  He needed a freaking cup of coffee before he hurt something, broke something, or engaged in some other type of destruction.

  After filling the coffee pot reservoir with water, he lined the basket and put in five scoops of grounds instead of the usual three. He needed something strong to match his mood; it might as well be coffee.

  Max braced himself against the counter. What happened to his grand plan to block out the world and write? If he’d stuck to that arrangement he wouldn’t be in such a foul mood. Then again, he wouldn’t have met the woman who drove him crazy and made his heart skip a beat.

  The coffeepot stopped gurgling and Max couldn’t pour a cup fast enough. He took a few careful sips and sat the cup aside.

  The whole point of going to Columbus was to fix things. “Dammit, woman, I told you I loved you. Doesn’t that count for something?” The f-bomb slid from his lips and Rory scolded him with a bark. Max let the word slide out again. He was head over heels in love with Libby and he should’ve called her bluff by staying at the hospital instead of driving all the way back to Celina. Eventually, she would’ve gotten it through her thick head how he really felt.

  A blast of awareness hit him like a runaway freight train. Libby pissed him off on purpose so he would leave. It was her way of giving him space to dig deep. She wanted him to mull over the information that she couldn’t give him the family he so dearly wanted. And she didn’t want his love until it was unconditional. “She loves me, Rory.” Another light bulb went off over his head. “Son of a…” His eyes widened and his heart rate spiked. He raced upstairs, threw some clothes on over his thermal underwear, and grabbed his keys from the counter. Bad roads or not, he had to make a trip to town.

  Chapter Twelve

  “This is payback, isn’t it?” Amanda moved back and forth in the driver’s seat trying to find a spot she could see through the windshield. The wipers weren’t keeping up with the half-ice, half-snow mixture that suddenly decided to stick to the glass.

  “I guess it’s my turn to say I’m sorry. Had I taken the time to watch The Weather Channel before we sneaked out of the hospital we never would have left Columbus.” The alarm on the IV had beeped signaling that it was time to switch over to a new bag of saline. The shift nurse came in, set Libby free from the needle, and grumbled that the shift before hers didn’t get a new bag ready. She left the room to get one. When the coast was clear, Libby and Amanda made a mad dash for the elevator.

  “Aww hell, Libby, don’t worry about it,” Amanda cackled. “This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.” She used the back of her hand to swat Libby on the shoulder.

  You need to get out more was on the tip of Libby’s tongue but she rolled it back. Amanda hadn’t said it, but she most likely had kept a low profile over the past two months too. It was a normal reaction after a crushing blow. Libby had done it. Max…was doing it. Libby swore without making a sound. Sometimes she needed a swift kick in the butt. Max had his heart broken by Shari, and she’d broken off a chunk of it too.

  The need to get to Celina came at Libby fast. She fidgeted in the seat. Messed with the seat belt. Cursed under her breath. Of course, Mother Nature wasn’t about to make things easy. She was throwing everything she could at them to delay their arrival to the cabin—snow, ice, wind, and near zero visibility. All right, all ready. I get it. Please just get us there safely.

  Libby lowered the window and stuck her head out to gauge their whereabouts. She squinted to keep the icy pellets from hitting her eyes. “Slow down. We’re almost to the exit.”

  “Slow down? If I go any slower, Thelma, it will be spring when we get there.”

  “Veer right, Louise.” The reference to the movie, Thelma and Louise, made Libby chuckle. She and Amanda had killed two bottles of blackberry Merlot one Friday night while watching that movie. For a week or so afterward, they called each other Thelma and Louise. She was happy that Amanda remembered.

  The back end of the Cadillac fishtailed. Luckily, Amanda knew to steer in the direction of the skid and the car straightened out.

  “Aye yi yi.” Libby straight-armed the dashboard and mentally berated herself for putting their lives in danger.

  “I know,” Amanda replied. “My whole body just puckered.”

  Libby touched Amanda’s shoulder. “Pull into the nearest gas station. We’re going to get a cup of coffee and wait this thing out.”

  Amanda shook her head. “If I’m going to get stuck in Timbuktu it’s going to involve a fireplace and your computer. I want to see your LibbyMax collection. Besides, I’m dying to meet the guy that finally made you go off the deep end.”

  “I haven’t gone off the deep end.”

  Amanda slanted Libby a grin. “Nothing says deep-end more than breaking out of a hospital.”

  “Just pay attention to the road, Louise, before we find the deep-end of a ditch.” Libby’s cell phone rang and she practically flung her purse at Amanda trying to get to it.

  ****

  Uh-oh, she was in big trouble! “Hi, Mom.”

  “What are you doing? You’re scaring the heck out of me, Libby. This isn’t normal behavior,” her mother said. “Constantly throwing up. Leaving the hospital without being discharged. Heading to Celina in a snowstorm. Who does those kinds of things?”

  Hearing her mom put it like that did make her sound like a loon. “I should’ve talked to you before I left. I’m sorry I didn’t, and I’m really sorry about all the other drama.” She ran her hand over her f
ace. “Mom, love makes you do things you wouldn’t usually do.”

  “Love?” There was a moment of dead airspace. “You’re in love?” A joyful nuance replaced her mother’s hysterics. “I didn’t even know you were dating anyone. Who are you in love with?”

  Libby chewed on her bottom lip and recognized her mother rubbing off on her. “Remember Maxwell August? The guy who dropped by to see me a little while ago?”

  “You know, I sensed something between you. I had no idea it was love. Oh my gosh, Libby, are you serious?”

  “Completely serious. I’m head-over-heels-can’t-think-straight in love with this guy, Mom.”

  Regina Griffin sounded like she was going to cry. “I’m so happy for you, daughter. This is so unexpected and wonderful! I can’t wait to tell Dad.”

  Libby felt her mother’s excitement. “It really was unexpected. I went to the cabin to design clothes, not fall in love. But there he was. And now, I’m doing crazy stuff and well, I just love him so much. I’ll explain everything to you and Dad soon, I promise. By the way, I’m with Amanda. She’s my chauffeur.”

  “You’re with Amanda?” It was more of a statement than a question.

  “She showed up after Max left. We’ve mended our fences. She and I are going to be partners instead of employer-employee.”

  Amanda made big eyes at this new information.

  Libby shrugged and continued to smooth things over with her mom. There were going to be a lot of changes where her job and her heart were concerned. But she wasn’t going to detail them to anyone until she talked to Max.

  “We just passed the sign for Mercer County,” Libby felt her pulse quicken, “which means we’re almost to the cabin.” Her phone beeped with another call. “I have to go, Mom. I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  One phone call taken care of. On to the next. “Hello, Steph.” Libby nodded up and down. “I know I’m not in my hospital bed, I’m on my way to Celina.” She held the phone away from her ear because she was about to get blasted. As predicted, Steph went on a long-winded spiel about the weather, men, and how happy she was to not be single.

  “Falling in love is madness,” Steph said. “Been there. Done that.”

  “You enjoy the insanity; you just don’t want to experience it firsthand.” Libby laughed. “Just so you know, I’m going back to Slayte Designs. Amanda and I worked things out. She’s with me right now.”

  “Say what?”

  Libby gave Steph the short version of how things played out.

  “I ought to smack you upside the head, Libby. That woman is the devil.”

  “Calm down. I’ve forgiven her. You should too. And Steph, things are going to be different this time around.”

  “Are you trying to convince me or you?” Steph asked. “Tell your boss that if she makes one false move I still have those pliers and it’s going to hurt like hell when I use them to tweeze her eyebrows.” She snorted. “I’m serious. I’ll do it.”

  “I know you will. Love you, Steph.”

  “I love you too, Libby. I’ll get off my bandwagon about Amanda for now. But so help me, God, I’m itching to use those pliers.” She giggled. “Now go get your man. But be careful.”

  Be careful getting her man? Or be careful getting to Celina? Both were a danger—one to her heart, the other to the rest of her.

  Amanda’s Cadillac surprisingly plowed through the drifts encompassing the campground. She threw it in park, sagged against the seat, and exhaled. “We made it.”

  Libby hugged her friend and business partner. “I had faith. Thank you, Amanda.” She squeezed her hand. “I owe you big.”

  “No you don’t. Give me the keys to your cabin and I’ll make myself at home.” Amanda nodded to Max’s place. “Now do what Steph told you to do, go get your man.” She issued Libby a mischievous grin. “I don’t want to see your ugly mug for a day or so.”

  Libby’s pulse hadn’t stabilized from seeing the county sign. With Max’s car now in her line of vision, it sped up even more. If she didn’t get out of the car and into his cabin soon, she was going to have a heart attack. She opened the door and sunk into a drift up to her knees. She gave Amanda a toothy smile. “Wish me luck.”

  “You don’t need luck, Libby. You need to get your butt in there and tell him how you feel.”

  “I know.” Libby took a deep breath and tried to run in the snow. The ton of emotion that had been building inside since Max left the hospital tried to escape in the form of tears. She held them off and fell into a drift. Libby picked herself up, brushed the snow from her coat and trudged onward. By the time she got to Max’s door, she was trembling. She loved Max. He’d said he loved her too. There was nothing to be afraid of, yet she was a mass of nerves. She rapped lightly on the solid oak door.

  ****

  Rory barked, turned in a circle, and skirted to the door.

  Max shook his head at the mongrel that was only too happy to have visitors. “Some watchdog you are.” He grabbed his coat. Whoever was at the door probably had their car stuck in the snow. He could try to pull them out with the station wagon but realistically it would take a tow truck. The only real assistance he could render would be a hot cup of coffee and a place to roost until help arrived.

  The peek hole in the door was covered with snow. He unlocked the dead bolt and gave the door a push against the drift piled against it.

  For a long suspended second, his heart stopped. Wrapped in a black, fringed scarf with only those magnificent hazel eyes visible was…Libby!

  “Libby?” His emotions whirled and skidded. “Oh, God! Libby!”

  Rory went crazy when he heard Libby’s name. He jumped around, barked and jumped some more.

  Max pulled Libby into the cabin, gave his coat a toss, and draped his arms around her. Before she could speak, he pushed the scarf away, swooped to her mouth and caressed it with a tender kiss.

  They parted just enough to stare into each other’s eyes.

  Libby put her lips to her hand and bent down to place the kiss on the waiting terrier. “I’ve missed you so much, Rory.”

  Max was filled with so many emotions at once. “You’re here! The roads are awful.” He couldn’t think straight and repeated, “You’re here!”

  Libby’s voice splintered. “I had to come, Max. I’m so sorry I sent you away.” Tears cracked the plane of her bottom lids and he felt her tremble. He trembled too, differently. He was shaken to the core. While he was filled with joy that Libby came to him the reality that she risked life and limb to do it, jarred him with a fear unlike any he had ever known. His pulse went haywire and the air hitched in his lungs. If anything had happened to her…

  Libby smoothed her hands across the back of his head, her voice still quivered. “Forgive me, please.”

  Her soft plea pulled him together. “Shh, sweetheart.” Max laid a finger across her lips. “It’s okay,” he said gently. “We’re okay. Everything between us is great, if you want it to be. The things that happened and the things we said are all part of finding out if this relationship has staying power.” He wanted to crash her mouth with a strong kiss that would reveal everything in his heart, but he’d been short on words before and she needed to actually hear how he felt so there would be no mistake or confusion. “I want you, Libby, and I’m in it for the long haul, if you are.”

  Libby nodded and pulled her lips in as though she was holding back tears. “Yes. Yes. I want us to be okay. I want the long haul too.”

  A dozen questions fired through his brain but only one mattered. “Do you love me, Libby?”

  “I do, Max, with my whole heart and soul.” Tears made her eyes sparkle.

  Max ran his thumb softly across her cheek. “I love you too, Libby.” He tightened his embrace. “We’re so different, but so right for each other, ya know?”

  “We’re not so different. We’re both right-brainers. You like the lake. I like the lake. We both love Rory. And when we make love there’s nothing better.” She sighed
with a smile. “There’s a lot more but your mouth is distracting me. Kiss me again?”

  “Gladly.” Max was going to kiss every inch of her. He started with the top of her head and leisurely worked his way to her mouth where he grazed it with his lips on the way to the hollow of her throat. He reared up with a smile. “We both like your choker necklaces.” He gave the thin leather band a small tug. Libby giggled. She held up her hand and took a half step away. Off came her coat, scarf, and boots.

  “I’ll bet you were expecting a hospital gown,” she teased, and began unbuttoning her simple, blue plaid shirt.

  Max put his hand to his mouth and watched with fascination as each article of clothing fell to the floor. He swallowed hard. “You’re an amazing woman, Libby Griffin. A sexy, mouthwatering woman that I can’t live without.”

  Libby came to him completely naked and entered his arms. “Make love to me, Max.”

  Max clutched her like his very existence depended on Libby. She was considerably thinner and there were dark circles under her eyes. “Sweetheart, you’ve been sick. Maybe we should wait.”

  She shook her head. “I’m on the mend. And I just traveled three hours in a hellacious snowstorm. I need your tenderness. I need your arms, your mouth, everything. I need you, Max.”

  How could he refuse? In ten seconds flat, he was out of his clothes and Libby curled into the curve of his body. Max could feel her heartbeat beating erratically against his chest. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the loft, whispering into her hair how much he loved her and that she was the one he’d been waiting for forever.

  He stood Libby by the bed and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He ran a hand down the contour of her body and rested it on her hip while he cupped a breast with the other.

  A delicious heat flowed through Libby like liquid fire, radiating pleasure at a fast pace, making her vocalize her joy against his mouth.