by Jenny Siegel
I am halfway down when Max appears in the doorway to the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe with a broad smile gracing his lips. His eyes slide down the length of my body, stopping at the pertinent areas and paying them slightly more attention. Over the swell of my breasts, the curve of my waist, and down my bare legs before they snap back up to meet my eyes.
“Is that what constitutes pajamas in your book?” He arches his eyebrow and I flash him a sarcastic smile.
“You’re a wise ass.” I cross the living room and brush past him into the kitchen, and he follows me muttering.
“Fucking hell, Leigh. Do you have to walk around dressed like that?”
I flick on the coffeepot and start pulling mugs out of the cabinet while he plates up the bacon and pulls out a chair to sit at the table. Long legs stretch underneath as he leans back in the chair.
I pick up a piece of bacon. “When did you start working for my dad?” I ask and turn around, resting against the counter, and cross my legs at the ankles. His eyes sweep up my legs again and the blatant appraisal brings the heat to my cheeks.
Leaning forward, he rests his forearms on the table. “I can’t get the image of your legs wrapped around my waist.” His seductive tone causes my stomach to flip violently; I’ll revisit that comment, but for now, I’m not letting him distract me.
“Focus.” I click my fingers to get his attention. “My dad.”
“Yeah, he found me one night up at the quarter mile, long after everyone had gone home. I was drunk. I think he felt sorry for me because he took me home and the next day he offered me a job. That was four years ago.” He pushes up from the table and stalks toward me. Taking the cup from my hand, he sets it down beside me and lifts me onto the counter and nudges my legs apart. Strong tattooed arms wrap around my waist.
“What are we doin' today?” Not sure when it was assumed that we were spending the day together, but it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do.
“I need to go into the garage.”
“Seriously? Do you have to go into work today? There are better things that we could be doing.” His voice drops, along with my stomach.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Anything that involves me taking you upstairs and getting you out of those sorry excuse for shorts.”
“Uh-huh. I need to collect something.” His face falls and I tap his nose. “But, it will be worth your while.” I lean closer. “I promise.” And with those breathy words, his eyes glaze over. My lips press against his, hesitant at first, but when he drags me closer to the edge of the counter, my confidence grows. Heat sweeps through my body now that his muscular body is nestled between my legs. My hands skim down his chest, feeling the ripple of his muscles through the material of his t-shirt and hook over the top of his jeans. His muscles tense when my knuckles brush against his warm skin.
He lowers his head. “You should get dressed now,” he warns in a low voice, and I don’t know if he’s joking or not. I slide down off the counter and try to squeeze past him, but his arms trap me. I look up and it’s not just his arms I’m trapped in. Hungry eyes search my face, and I swallow thickly.
“I’m giving you five minutes, and if you’re not fully dressed, it’s all coming off.” Without waiting for an answer, his hand grasps the back of my head and his lips crash into mine. Then, just as abruptly, he steps back, and with one last look, I run up the stairs.
My mind has gone blank, and I am half panicked and half intrigued about what he’ll do if I’m not ready. Should I just sit and twiddle my thumbs until my five minutes are up.
The lines of our relationship are blurring and I am still trying to get my head around the idea of Max and me being anything other than enemies. He wants me to take a chance on him, but I’m not quite sure what he means or what that involves. Since the night after the movies, I am thinking of him in a totally different way and after last night… well. We have a shared history, yeah; much of it was based on mutual annoyance and irritation, but our one sexual encounter was anything but. He says I got under his skin, what the hell does he think he did to me.
I’m not planning on hanging around for long so maybe I should enjoy it while I can. Then once I go, I’ll hopefully have gotten him out my system, as long as he doesn’t end up buried further under my skin.
Quickly, I pull out shorts and a striped tank top and slide my feet into my sneakers before I bound down the stairs. Max waits at the bottom; his hungry eyes watch me until I stop in front of him.
“Ready?”
He nods. “You made it. Just.”
“Next time you’ll need to give me less time.” I push past him and wait outside until he pushes off the banister and stalks out the door.
• • •
Without a word, he drives to the garage but keeps glancing sideways at my legs and then at me. His scrutiny is making me a little hot under the collar, but I keep my head facing forward and hum along to the music. The shop is all locked up when we pull up outside, which it should be, but I point to the side to another smaller storage shed.
“Just there.” He looks at me quizzically but draws to a halt a little ways from the door. I jump out of the car and pull a key ring from my pocket and make my way over to the door. Unlocking the padlock, I swing open one door and then the other before I disappear inside. Behind me, I hear the car door open and then slam. When I peer over my shoulder, I see Max sitting on the hood of his car, arms folded over his chest, watching me with interest.
I bend to unhook the tarp at the front, and I can practically feel Max’s hot gaze burning into my legs and backside. Working my way around the car, I pull off the cover to reveal my Charger. I chance a glance over at Max; his mouth has dropped open, and he pushes off his car to stride over to me.
“Your ’67 Charger,” he breathes out.
“That’s her. She’s a bit dusty but otherwise in mint condition.” I run my hand over the bodywork and walk slowly around her, almost forgetting that Max is standing there.
“Does it run?”
“She better; my dad promised he would look after her.”
Max jogs over to the shop and disappears inside. He returns minutes later with a canister of fuel.
“Get in,” he orders and opens the fuel cap and starts to pour it in. Once he’s closed it and climbed into the passenger seat, I slide the key in the ignition and turn her over. It takes a few tries, but eventually, it catches and a huge smile spreads across both our faces.
“You wanna go for a drive?” I turn to look at him and can’t keep the smile off my face.
“Sure.” He gives a slow nod and my heart double beats. Whether it’s because I’m behind the wheel or because Max is with me, either way I feel the adrenaline rush through my system.
Slowly, I crawl out of the lot and turn onto the street, getting used to the feel of this car. It’s been at least a year since I drove it and I take it easy until we pass the town limits. I cast a quick sidelong glance at Max and speed up, pressing the accelerator further down, and the car responds immediately. Air rushes in the open window, swirling my hair around my face, and I can’t fight the joy that I feel.
“That’s the girl I remember,” Max says cryptically, and I wait for him to elaborate. “The ballsy girl who wasn’t afraid of anything.” I flash him a self-conscious smile, unaware that he saw me like that. He looks out the window at the scenery passing at speed and realizes where we’re going. The quarter mile.
“Thought you didn’t race?”
“I’m not racing; no one else is here. I’m just driving.”
“Whatever you tell yourself at night.” He gives a deep chuckle, and my stomach clenches painfully.
When I reach the start of the quarter mile, I line my car up and look at Max to check that he’s ready.
“You set?” I ask, and he nods.
“Go,” he commands, and I floor it, pulling away and slamming through the gears as I fly along the strip of road, pushing my Charger as hard as
I can. Once I cross the spray-painted finish line, I ease off the gas but turn up the winding road that climbs up to the bluff overlooking the town.
Max is silent the whole way, and he doesn’t appear fazed at the speed I take on the corners. It is nowhere near as fast as he drives, but I’ve not had the practice he’s had. When I reach the top, I slow down and skid to a halt, angling the car to look down over the quarry. The engine dies when I turn the key, and my slightly accelerated breathing is all that can be heard in the silent car.
“Enjoy that?” Max speaks up.
“Yeah.”
“Still won’t date a racer?” He arches an eyebrow, challenging me. I see it for what it is, but that isn’t what makes me reconsider.
“I suppose I could make an exception for you.”
His lips part a fraction. “I think you should.” His arm reaches out and rests on my shoulder, and he pulls me a little closer.
“And why’s that?” I turn to look up at him.
“You remember how good we were together.”
I give an involuntary shiver as a still of our joined bodies flits across my brain. “It was only one night.”
“True, but it left its mark; you left your mark.”
“But you would always wind me up.”
“That was me trying to impress you. I was young and being a dick. What the fuck did I know? I wanted you, but you were out of my league and I didn’t know how to show you. So I used to piss you off instead.”
My eyes bug out as I continue to stare at him. Now he has totally blown me away with that admission. I had no idea.
“What are you saying?”
“Take a chance on me, on us. Yeah, I like racing, just like you, but it’s not like it’s an occupation. I won’t do it forever. In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s fuck all to do in this town.”
“But…”
“Maybe if I had a different kind of distraction…” He cocks his eyebrow suggestively, and I chew my lip, impressed by his argument.
“I’m not sticking around.” I experience a flicker of fear as I say it. Do I really want to leave again?
Seemingly unfazed, his hand cups my chin. “Maybe you just need a reason to stay,” he says ominously and brushes his lips over mine. All other arguments shrivel up in my brain and die on my lips.
“I’m not your dad, and you’re certainly not your mom. Just stick around and see what happens.” His forehead presses against mine, impossibly dark eyes bore into me, and I nod my acceptance.
“I’ll think about it.” I make the same promise I made my dad.
“You free tonight?”
“I can’t. I’m babysitting for Sugar. It was supposed to be Beth, but I said I’d do it. Shit, what time is it? I need to get to the hospital first.” I glance at the clock on the dash; it’s time to go.
With reluctance, we part, and I start the engine, driving back down the way we came but taking it slower this time. I drive Max back to the garage so he can pick up his car. He climbs out and walks around to lean in the open driver’s side window. Resting his hand on the back of my hair, he moves closer and his lips seal over mine, his hot tongue running along my bottom lip. My mouth opens to let his tongue inside, and it slides along mine. Max growls and pulls away.
“I’ll see you soon.” He winks and jogs over to his GTO but waits until I pull out of the lot and follows me home, driving off once I park outside.
He is going to be the death of me. What with promising both him and my dad that I’d think about sticking around, I suppose I should give it some thought. It didn’t occur to me on my mad dash back here that I would seriously be contemplating moving back. But it is home and I’ve missed everyone, including Max. Perhaps especially Max.
Chapter Sixteen
It is six o’clock when I pull up outside Sugar and Causey’s house. It seems silly to still be calling them by their nicknames.
“Hi, Leigh; thanks for agreeing to this.” Sugar greets me when she opens the door. “The girls are all ready for bed, but I said they could watch some TV before bedtime.”
“No problem. You look lovely.” Sugar is dressed in red capri pants and a white sleeveless top and flat shoes. Her blond hair is teased, with a red scarf tied around her head.
“It’s date night.” She winks at me and ushers me through to a big sitting room where two little girls are watching SpongeBob on a huge flat-screen TV that hangs on the wall.
Causey wanders into the room and slings an arm around Sugar’s shoulders. “You ready?” She nods and rushes over to the girls.
“You be good for Leigh now and I’ll see you in the morning.” They both mumble a good-bye, never taking their eyes off the TV and the annoying screech of SpongeBob.
“We won’t be late. Make yourself at home.” Sugar squeezes my hand and picks up her purse.
“Good to see you, Leigh.” Causey smiles warmly and follows his wife out the door.
I turn to the girls to ask if they want anything when I hear the door open. Thinking that they must have forgotten something, I turn back and my jaw drops as I watch Max saunter into the house like he owns the place.
Rushing over to him, I hiss, “What are you doing here? I’m babysitting; you can’t be here.” He presses a quick kiss on my stunned face and walks past me.
“Sure, I can. Sugar won’t mind and neither will the kids.” He stops behind the sofa. “Hi, girls.”
With a squeal, the girls scramble over the back of the sofa and launch themselves at Max.
“Uncle Max.” He catches them just in time as they both hang from his neck, one in each arm.
“Uncle?” Confusion furrows my brow.
“Yeah, did you not know Sugar was my sister?”
“No. I don’t even know if Sugar is her real name.”
He sets both the girls down on the sofa, and they resume watching TV.
“It’s not. Her name is Meghan.”
“Ah, so how did she get Sugar?”
“Causey thought her hair looked like spun sugar.”
I think on that for a second, and I get it. “Makes sense, I guess.”
One of the girls leans over the back of the sofa and watches the two of us with interest, resting her head on her crossed arms.
“Is this your girlfriend?” She looks adoringly at her uncle. He seems to have that effect on all females. He reaches over and ruffles her hair.
“Yup.” He looks at me and dares me to contradict him, and for the first time ever, I don’t argue. Instead, contentment fills me as he lays an arm across my shoulders, pulling me into his body, and presses a kiss to my temple.
Now both girls are watching us. “Eww yuck,” they scream and run away. Max just laughs and pulls me into the kitchen where he proceeds to take leftovers from the fridge and put them all on a plate.
“You want some?” he asks, and I shake my head, unable to look away at the amount of food he’s shoveling onto his plate.
“Have you not eaten?”
He shakes his head. “I normally come here for my dinner.”
“Where do you live?” Not for the first time, it occurs to me that I don’t know very much about Max or his life. How it escaped my knowledge that Sugar was his sister, I don’t know.
“Come here.” He holds out my hand and ignores the look of confusion on my face. I take it and he guides me over to the French windows looking over the back garden. “Over there.” I follow his finger to where it points at a big double garage with an apartment above it. “That’s where I stay.”
“Handy.”
“It is. When we came here, it was just Sugar and me. We lived in the apartment above the diner. Causey’s mom owns it, and that’s how they met. Sugar worked at the diner, and his family helped us. When they got married and built this house, it made sense for me to live nearby because I’ve never known any different. Plus, I don’t like to be too far from her.” I hear the pain in his voice and when reach out to touch him, it jerks him out of his reverie.
“What happened?” I ask quietly and he looks down at me with a tired smile, wrapping his arms around me and curling me into his chest.
“Another time.” He places a kiss on the top of my head, and at that moment, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. All this time I’ve been fighting Max and fighting against my feelings for him; I left when really I should have stayed and not been so afraid.
“Right. I think it’s bedtime for two little girls.” Muffled giggling comes from the other side of the kitchen and Max tiptoes over to the table, pulling up the vinyl tablecloth and bends down with a roar. The girls squeal and crawl out from under the table, half laughing and half screaming as he chases them around the kitchen. This all new to me, and I double over with laughter as he runs after them.
The girls seem to decide that I’m a safe bet because they run over and hide behind me, each one clinging to a leg as Max approaches, taking slow exaggerated steps.
“Don’t think she’ll save you.” His eyes hold mine with a twinkle of mischief that causes my stomach to flip violently. The girls grip tighter and the three of us start to edge out of the room. We almost make it when Max makes a run for us and grabs me, surprising the girls so that they let go of their grip on my legs. Hoisting me over his shoulder, he runs toward the sitting room.
I squeal with laughter as the two girls chase after us, although how he can run and carry me is slightly worrying. When he reaches the sofa, he drops me down and lies on top of me, bracing most of his weight on his forearms. We are nose to nose and he bends to kiss me, his tongue delving into my mouth. My hands grip his shoulders, wanting him closer. But before we can get too carried away one girl and then the other jumps on top of Max until all three of them are lying on top of me.
“Human blanket,” they scream, and Max laughs against my lips. “Eww yuck, you’re kissing again,” Maisy shouts and jumps off.
“Gross,” shouts Cassidy and jumps off, too. Max laughs harder, his whole body shaking, making me shake, too. I try hard not to get distracted by how close his body is to mine and how much I like it. He bends his head for another kiss and that sets the girls off again.