More to Love

by Alison Bliss

  Max’s throat tightened. “I feel the same way about you, Pops. No one has ever supported me like you have. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I’ll never forget it for as long as I live.”

  Pops smiled at him and then glanced toward the kitchen. “Well, I guess I should go find something to do while I wait for Sam to show up for lunch. In the meantime, you sit here and eat while you start thinking about how you’re going to resolve your issue.”

  Max nodded in agreement. “I’ll do that. Thanks for the advice.”

  “You’re welcome.” Pops headed for the kitchen door.

  “Hey, Pops?”

  The old man stopped and glanced back. “Yeah?”

  “We haven’t been fishing in a while. You want to go next weekend?”

  “You bet, son.”

  * * *

  Max headed directly for Jessa’s truck.

  It was weird. He’d never felt all that guilty about lying to people in the past. Like when he’d told Sam that he needed a wingman and had hooked him up with Leah. Or when he’d lied to Logan about buying the bar with Valerie’s money. Or the countless times he’d lied to cover up his issues with food.

  But this was different. The more time he spent with Jessa, the more he longed to tell her the truth and not have this issue hanging over their heads. Yeah, he did something shady to her in order to help Pops. But damn it, he had a good reason.

  Then again, was there any good excuse to lie? Would she even consider that he’d done so for the right reasons? The last thing he wanted was to lose her.

  And that in itself was a huge problem. Because whether she forgave him or not, if Jessa stayed in town, he wasn’t sure where that left Pops and his café. Maybe once he explained the problem to Jessa though, the three of them could work together to find a solution. Well, if she was still talking to him by then.

  He had no doubt she would be pissed at him. At least at first. But maybe once she cooled off, she would realize that he’d only lied to help out a friend and that he hadn’t meant to cause her any real harm. He just wanted her to move her truck. It’s not like he wanted her to be permanently out of business. Surely that counted for something, didn’t it?

  Either way, he would soon be finding out.

  Max knocked on the door and waited for her to open it. It was lunchtime, and they were busy, but since she usually had the other women working with her, he was hoping Jessa could spare a few minutes for the two of them to talk. And he didn’t really have to worry about anyone recognizing him since he planned on taking her away from the truck to have this conversation.

  But it was the older woman with short gray hair who cracked open the door. “Yes? Can I help you with something?”

  He tried to peer around her. “Maybe. Is Jess here today?”

  “Yes,” she said, opening the door a little wider. “But right now she’s eating lunch with Harry.”

  Max’s spine straightened, and his stomach twisted into a knot. Who the hell was Harry? Jessa hadn’t at all mentioned that she was still dating other people. Not that he’d asked. But since he’d been sleeping in her fucking bed the last couple nights, he basically figured he didn’t have to.

  What kind of shit is that? “Who’s Harry?”

  The older woman gestured to the other side of the park. “Harry is the homeless man who’s been camping out behind that rusty old Dumpster for the past few weeks.”

  Max stared off in the direction the woman had gestured to, and sure enough, he spotted Jessa sitting on the edge of a broken concrete curb with a big, bearded man…by the Dumpster…near a wooded area. Because that was real fucking safe.

  Jesus. What the hell was she thinking?

  The woman smiled politely. “Do you want me to tell her you stopped by?”

  “No, that’s okay. I think I’ll just go over and say hello. I could use the walk.” Because he damn well needed to burn off some of the steam that was filling his head and about to blow out of his ears.

  Max headed off in the direction of the trash receptacle, keeping both eyes on Jessa at all times while a persistent vein throbbed in his temple. Why would she put herself in a possibly dangerous situation like that? The guy could be a serial killer. The woman shouldn’t be hanging out with some strange man that she didn’t know.

  Then he almost laughed at the thought. It dawned on him that that was exactly what she’d been doing with him…though they’d been doing a hell of a lot more than just hanging out by a Dumpster ever since the other night. But that was different though, wasn’t it? Max had credentials as the city health inspector. Sure, they were fake and all, but it wasn’t like Jessa knew that.

  Fuck. That only proved his point. You never knew who you could trust nowadays.

  Even more worried than he’d been seconds ago, Max marched across the park a little faster. He thought it would be too obvious if he ran toward her waving his arms and telling her to run for safety. So he kept the pace steady so that he didn’t look like a lunatic.

  But it was too late. The moment the two of them caught a glimpse of Max heading in their direction, they both rose instantly to their feet. Before he even made it over to them, Jessa began moving toward him while Harry headed off in the opposite direction on an old rusty bicycle.

  As Max approached her, he said, “Everything okay?”

  Jessa stopped and shielded her eyes from the sun’s glare. “Sure, why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Your…friend left awfully fast. Did I scare him off by coming over here?” Damn serial killers.

  “Not at all. Harry just likes to keep to himself most of the time.”

  Yeah, except for when he’s planning some innocent woman’s murder.

  “We had just finished eating when I saw you walking toward us so quickly. I thought maybe Mary or Lisa asked you to come and get me. They like to boss people around,” she said with a giggle. “I think it’s the mother persona in them.”

  One of his brows rose. “Do they order you around?”

  She waved her hand through the air, as if she were brushing something away. “Only in a sweet way that shows they care. Nothing ever mean spirited, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  That only proved how naive and gullible Jessa truly was. Her own workers apparently tell her what to do while she made excuses for them. Great. Apparently she needed protection from them as well.

  “So if Lisa or Mary didn’t send you, then what were you doing here?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” He glanced in the direction Harry had gone, but he didn’t see him anymore. “I was worried.”

  Jessa followed his gaze, and one corner of her mouth drooped. “You mean because Harry is homeless?”

  Max gave her a yeah, right look and shook his head. “No, I mean because he’s a strange man that you don’t know very well. It has nothing to do with him being homeless. Whether or not a person has a home isn’t a requirement in order for someone to drag you behind a Dumpster and kill you.”

  Her eyes widened. “Jeez, morbid much?”

  “It happens all the time, Jess. You need to be more careful.”

  “I appreciate your concern, Max, but it’s unnecessary. It’s broad daylight, and there are people all over the park. What did you think Harry was going to do to me—stab me to death with a plastic fork?”

  Okay, maybe it did sound stupid when she put it like that. “Of course not. I just want you to remember to be careful, that’s all. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  She smiled. “Always watching out for someone’s health and safety, aren’t you, inspector?”

  His jaw tightened. “Something like that.”

  “Well, then I should probably forewarn you that I try to eat lunch with Harry several times a week. It’s sort of our thing.”

  Max gazed at the ugly black trash container. “This may be a silly question, but when you say you eat lunch with him every day, you mean…”

  Jessa smiled, as if the idea of her Dum
pster diving for a meal humored her. “I make us both a lunch and sit with him while we’re eating. Harry seems to enjoy the company.”

  Thank God. That was what he was hoping she’d say.

  “Well, I don’t like that the guy took off so fast when he saw another man approaching. Seems odd. I’d like to check him out just to be on the safe side.”

  She giggled. “That’s funny. He said the same thing about you.”

  Max’s head snapped up. “What do you mean? You were talking about me to that guy?”

  Jessa gave a nonchalant shrug. “A little.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he asked me if I was seeing anyone.”

  So the old guy had been hitting on her? That sonofabitch.

  A muscle in Max’s neck twitched, and his eyes narrowed. “And just what the hell did you tell him about us?” His tone came out way more hostile sounding than he meant for it to, damn it.

  She apparently noticed because her brow rose instantly. “I only told him that I was dating you.” She stared at him blankly. “But clearly that bothers you, so I’m sorry I said anything. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.” She started past him.

  Shit. He hadn’t handled that well at all. “Jess, wait.”

  She turned back and crossed her arms. “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that we weren’t—”

  “It’s fine,” she said, holding up a neutral hand although her frosty tone very clearly stated otherwise. “It’s not like I thought you were my boyfriend or anything. I only told Harry we were somewhat involved because I thought it was more polite than telling him that we were…just…just screwing.”

  Max cringed. He had no doubt she’d only used the crude language to make a point. But really? “We’re not ‘just screwing,’ Jess, and you know it.”

  “Then what are we doing?”

  He paused. Good question.

  Max had never meant for anything to happen between them. But he liked Jessa a lot. Actually, he probably liked her more than he should, seeing how every minute he spent with her was one of betrayal. Not only to Jessa because of his lies, but also to his friend Pops who only recently found out that Max had been sleeping with the enemy. Unsure of what to say, he sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, great. Glad we cleared that up. If you’ll excuse me now…”

  He reached for her hand, stopping her from walking away. “Look, I don’t know what this thing is between us probably any more than you do. It’s new. It’s attraction. It’s fun. And it’s…well, complicated. Maybe all of that rolled up in one.”

  She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t seem all that complicated to me. But it’s fine, Max. We never set any rules or limitations. I guess I’m just the kind of person who wants to have those boundaries in place before getting in over my head.” She smiled. “Just goes to show that we don’t really know each other all that well. It’s okay though. Forget I said anything. Let’s just keep things simple and uncomplicated.”

  “You’re wrong about that. I do know you, Jess. You’re adorable and kind. Funny and sexy as hell. Brave and ambitious too. Do you want me to go on?”

  She giggled. “You’re sweet, Max, but throwing out a bunch of adjectives that could describe almost anyone doesn’t mean you truly know me.”

  Why the hell did this crazy woman keep saying that? Sure, he didn’t know everything about her, but they’d only just met less than two weeks ago. That was what time was for, wasn’t it? Getting to know the person you’re with.

  Frustrated beyond belief, he curled his hand around her neck and drew her closer, her lips a breath away from his. “I know you, all right. Every damn inch of you, in fact. For the past two nights, I’ve been doing nothing but studying your lovely expressions, learning the curves of your gorgeous body, and figuring out all of your wants, needs, and desires. And trust me when I say that I do pay attention.”

  Her mouth dropped open slightly, but she didn’t speak at first. Only blinked in rapid-fire succession. Then finally, she swallowed and said, “Go on.”

  He grinned. “I know you, Jess. Intimately. I know where and how you like to be touched in all of those secret, special places of yours. I recognize the scent of your arousal and can tell exactly when you’re soaking wet and ready for me. I can recall every sound you’ve ever made when I’m sliding my cock into you. Every. Single. One. And I’ve memorized the flavor of your orgasms every time you’ve allowed me to capture that sweet essence on my tongue.” He leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. “I can still taste you on my lips even now,” he whispered, his voice low but insistent.

  She swallowed audibly.

  Max backed away and gazed into her eyes, making sure she understood him completely. “But most of all, Jess, I know your heart.” He punctuated his words by flattening a hand on her chest, feeling the thudding organ beating beneath his palm. “And this is what matters the most.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next night, Jessa sanitized the stainless steel countertops as she wiggled her butt to the tune of a song she was singing. It wasn’t like she could sing well, but it sure beat listening to the sound of crickets outside that had started their nightly chorus since it was almost dark.

  “Ahem.”

  She spun toward the sound to find Max standing in the doorway. “Oh, hey.”

  “What are you doing?”

  Crap. “Um, singing. Got any requests?”

  “Yeah,” he said, grinning in amusement. “That you turn on a radio.”

  She laughed. “I would, but my radio isn’t working.” She bumped his hip with hers. “Besides, you love my horrible singing.”

  “I can fix it,” he said.

  “My singing?”

  He grinned. “No, sorry. Some things can never be fixed. But I can take care of the radio.”

  “Jerk,” she said playfully. “Knock yourself out with the radio.” She nodded to it sitting on a shelf directly over the refrigerator. “There’s a screwdriver over there already from earlier where I was trying to get it to work. As you can plainly see, that didn’t happen.”

  He headed straight for the small silver radio, rolled up his sleeves, and started tinkering with it. “Busy day?” he asked, not bothering to look up from the task at hand.

  She went back to wiping the counters. “Yeah. I’m thinking I’m going to start having to prep and load more product before heading out in the mornings. Thank goodness it didn’t happen until later in the day, but we ran out of almost everything on the truck.”

  “That’s good,” he said absently, still checking over the radio.

  “Do you know what you’re doing over there?”

  He shrugged. “Well, I once burned myself on a plug that threw sparks and left blisters on my hands for almost a week. But I mostly know what I’m doing.”

  “Eh, maybe we should leave the radio to a professional? Or I could actually just buy a new one. They’re cheap enough. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  He laughed. “I’m not going to hurt myself, I promise. I will need to run out to my truck though. I think I figured out your problem. There’s a loose wire in the back, and I have something in my toolbox that should fix it. Be right back.”

  “Okay,” she said, noticing that he was taking the electronic device with him. “Just don’t steal my broken radio. Because, believe it or not, I will call the cops on you.” She grinned wide to show him she was teasing.

  He chuckled as he stepped out the door. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Jessa continued to work on cleaning up the truck while Max went out to his. By the time he returned, she was just finishing up. “I’m almost done. Just need to throw the cleaning supplies inside the kitchen and lock up the truck for the night.”

  “Good. I’m done here too.” He plugged the radio in and turned it on. Rock music blasted from it briefly before he shut it off again. “I was right. It was just a loose wire.”

  �
��I can’t believe you repaired that so easily. You’re really good with electronics.”

  “Uh, yeah. I get by.” He didn’t look like he took that as a compliment. “By the way, is that a new screen door on the truck? I never noticed it before.”

  Jessa glanced to the doorway. “Yep. The weather has been nice and cool with all of these fall breezes so I’m hoping to take advantage. With the metal door completely shut, we have to run the air conditioner in here, but it’s an older one. It doesn’t always keep up with the heat coming off the grill.”

  “Who put on the screen door?”

  “Oh, Valerie gave me the number to a contractor she trusted, and he came over and put it on the same day. Really nice guy.”

  “Was his name Sam?”

  She blinked at him. “How did you know that?”

  “Sam is my best friend. I’m pretty sure I mentioned him before to you. I’ve been buddies with that guy for a few years now. Ever since we started working together.”

  Huh? “Working together? You’re in two completely different job fields. Why would the two of you work together?”

  Max paused. “Oh, um…well, Sam had a job to do working in a restaurant and I had to inspect the place once he was done.”

  “Ah, gotcha. That makes sense.” She smiled. “For a second there, I thought I had misunderstood what you were talking about.”

  He nodded. “I just meant that Sam and I have history, that’s all.”

  “Well, he seems like a good friend to have. He did a great job on the screen door. Makes it a lot cooler in here now.”

  “You know, I could’ve done it for you if you would’ve asked. I’m pretty good with my hands.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  She smiled. “Mmm. I agree. I definitely wouldn’t report you to the Better Business Bureau.”

  Max let loose a boisterous chuckle. “You better not or your backside is going to meet my hand.”

  “Promises, promises.”