Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Of course, saying that they’d talk about what was going on between them was easier than finding the time to do it because the wedding was approaching fast. Phoebe was busy with her flowers and helping Sally with a million little details. She’d even driven Max’s truck and braved the journey into town to pick up a bunch of stuff from the post office when Sally had to attend the clinic.

Noah spent most of his time out on the ranch, which meant he took Max and Luke with him for long, hard, arduous days. The only person who didn’t seem affected by all the fuss was Jen, but she’d worked through many disaster scenarios on her medical ship and insisted it took a lot to get her flustered.

Phoebe, having run countless events at her family home, was almost as calm as Jen and actively enjoyed using her skill set to make things move swiftly along. Jen found her at the kitchen table on the evening before the wedding with a cup of tea next to her elbow, going through her notebook.

“Everything okay?” Jen refreshed her tea for her and sat down. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I can’t think of anything.” Phoebe looked up from her list checking. “I’m just making sure that all is in order for tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe we made it this far without Noah taking over,” Jen said. “If it hadn’t been for you calming him down and constantly reassuring him everything was on track, I don’t know what he would’ve done.” She smiled at Phoebe. “You’re really good at this.”

“I’ve had lots of practice,” Phoebe said. “My family home is rather large and has high maintenance costs. The only way to keep it going is to rent out parts of it for various reasons. We’ve had film crews, advertisers, weddings, conferences, book festivals . . . you name it, we’ve hosted it.”

“That’s amazing.” Jen sipped her tea. “We could do with someone like that out here.”

“I did wonder about that,” Phoebe said. “But I’m still not sure . . .” It was her friend’s wedding day tomorrow. The last thing she wanted was to make everything about her.

“Hasn’t Max asked you what your plans are?”

“We haven’t really discussed it.”

Jen frowned at her. “If you’re waiting for Max to broach the subject, you’ll have to wait a very long time.”

“This is his home. Surely, he gets to decide whether he wants me to stay or not?”

“I’m not sure Max knows how to ask for anything for himself,” Jen said thoughtfully. “I don’t think he’s ever felt safe enough.”

A pang of sympathy shot through Phoebe.

“I didn’t see a lot of my family when I was growing up. I get the same vibe from Max sometimes—that he can’t quite believe anyone really wants him around,” Jen smiled. “Obviously, I’m getting better at that, but it took Noah a lot of persuading to get me to start believing I was loved and wanted.”

“So, you think I should reach out to Max?” Phoebe asked.

Jen held her gaze. “Only if you truly want to stay here with him.”

“Once the wedding is over, I’ll talk to him.”

“Promise?”

Phoebe nodded.

“And even if I am on my honeymoon in Hawaii, I still expect to be kept informed of any progress. I want you both to be as happy as I am.” Jen stood up. “I’m heading over to the snowmobile barn to check that everything is in order for Noah’s family and then I’m going to put Sky to bed.”

Phoebe consulted her notes. “I’ll check in with Lucy at the BB to see if the other guests have arrived, and make sure the cabins are ready for Maria and the two guys from Noah’s former unit.”

After Jen had gone, Phoebe stayed at the table, thinking through what Jen had said about Max. Phoebe had always sensed there was a distance within him—wrapped within a laughing, funny, barrier to stop anyone really getting to know him. Could she make him understand that she was with him for good?

And when had she decided that? Had she been in love with him all along? How was she going to reconcile her fierce desire to get her rightful inheritance in England with the wonderful complications of falling in love with a California cowboy?

“Feebs?”

She jumped as if she’d been shot as the object of her desire came in from the mudroom.

“You okay?” He stopped and stared at her.

“You . . . scared me.”

“Sorry.” He grinned at her. “I do that to a lot of people. How’s the wedding planning going?”

“Great!” Phoebe said brightly, her voice sounded weird even to her. “All in hand.”

“I’m picking Maria up from the bus station downtown at five.” Max went into the kitchen, washed his hands, and looked in the refrigerator. “I offered to drive to Reno, but she said she’d be fine on the bus.”

“It will be nice to see her again,” Phoebe spoke to his wrangler-clad arse as he reached farther into the back of the refrigerator. “She was very kind to me.”

Max emerged with a huge block of cheese and a jar of Sally’s pickles in his hands. “Do you want a snack, Feebs? I’m going to be late for dinner after I pick up Maria and get her settled in the cabin.”

“No, thank you. I must get on.”

Max looked at her. “You don’t look like you’re going anywhere right now, and you sound kind of dazed. Are you sure you’re, okay?”

“I’m absolutely fine.”

“It’s never good when a woman says they’re fine.” Max got some bread out of the pantry and started fixing himself a sandwich. “But I don’t think this one is on me seeing as you haven’t set eyes on me all day.”

Phoebe shot to her feet. “I really do have to go. There’s still a lot to do.”

Max put down the knife and came across to her, his expression full of concern. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re shaking.”

She found a smile somewhere. “It’s just adrenaline because I’m so busy. I’ll feel much better once I tick all the boxes on my to-do list.”

“When’s the last time you ate?” Max asked.

“I’m . . . not sure.”

“Then let me make you a sandwich.” Max strode back into the kitchen. “Hell, have mine.”

Phoebe grabbed half the sandwich off the plate, took a large bite, and turned on her heel.

“Thanks so much.” A bit of pickle shot out of her mouth as she hurried through to the mudroom and put on her wellies. “I’ll see you later.”

“Phoebe . . .”

She ran.

* * *

Max checked the time, got out of his truck, and watched the bus come around the corner at the end of the street. It was a warm evening and sunlight glinted off the windows and heat rose in shimmering waves from the metal. The bus slowed to a stop in front of him and the doors opened with a loud flourish, releasing a waft of stale air and the first couple of passengers. Maria was the last to get off. She waved at Max and tipped the driver when he extracted her case from the luggage bay beneath the coach.

“Max!”

He made sure her bag was on the sidewalk and then bent to give her a hug. She was petite like their mother, her skin a shade darker than his because his father was second-generation American and half-white.

She hugged him hard and patted his face. “It’s so lovely to see you!”

He appreciated her making the effort to speak to him in English. He barely spoke any Spanish, even though he could understand it pretty well, but it was Maria’s preferred language.

“You ready to go or do you need anything in town?” Max asked as he took control of her wheeled case, which was surprisingly heavy.

“I think I packed enough for a month’s stay,” Maria made a face. “I couldn’t decide what to bring.”

“Always good to have plenty of choices,” Max was just glad he’d parked the truck close.

“And I brought food. I wasn’t sure if that was included with the cabin.”

“It’s all included. You’ll be eating with us in the main house,” Max reassured her as he unlocked his truck and manhandled the suitcase into the back. “Why don’t you hop up in here and I’ll take you back to the ranch.”

He gave her a boost up into the seat, which made her laugh, and she settled in beside him.

“Is it far?”

“Fifteen minutes max at this time of year. When it’s snowing? Maybe not at all.” He turned on the A/C, eased out of the parking space, and onto the county road. “We were completely cut off last winter.”

Maria shuddered. “I don’t think I could live in such a cold place.”

“I kind of like the variety,” Max said. “You never know whether you’ll be shoveling snow or putting a fire out.”

Maria turned her attention to the scenery and Max focused on getting out of town and onto the quieter road up into the forest.

“How is Phoebe?”

“She’s good.” Max paused to look both ways before crossing the logging track. “She’s been riding the range like a real cowboy.”

Maria laughed. “I can’t imagine. She seemed to be such a lady.”

“She is, but she rides better than me.”

“I cannot believe it. Your father made sure you were a very good rider.”

Max remembered his father’s voice in his ear, holding him tight and close, telling him everything would be okay as he settled him on the back of his horse. He’d liked it even more when his dad had gotten up behind him and ridden around the field. There hadn’t been a safer place in his world . . .

Maria was pointing at the distant mountains. “I see snow.”

“Yeah, it usually disappears by the end of June, but sometimes it doesn’t go at all.” He shook off the memories and concentrated on his driving. “The weather’s set to be fine tomorrow for the wedding, not too hot, or too cold.”

“That’s great,” Maria said. “I can’t wait to meet your friends, Max.”

“They’re looking forward to meeting you.” Max hesitated. “I got a lot of crap for not mentioning you earlier, so don’t be surprised if they go on about it.”

“You didn’t tell them you had a big sister?” She turned to look at him, her expression so like their mom’s that he almost did a double take.

“I didn’t tell them I had any family at all,” Max admitted. “I guess I thought once I told them about the one person I love and who looked out for me, they’d want to know about the rest of them.”

She went quiet for a while and looked out of the window again.

“They still exist, Max.”

“I get that.” He cleared his throat. “Can we talk about something else? How’s work?”

“The same as ever. Casinos will always need accountants, so I doubt I’ll ever be out of a job.”

“Smart woman,” Max commented as he slowed the truck and indicated that he was about to turn left.

He reached over his head to activate the gate clicker and barely had to pause to get the truck through.

“It’s bumpier down here,” he warned Maria. “You might want to hang onto something.”

He eased the truck down the driveway, past the snowmobile barn where a minivan was now parked and up toward the main ranch house. The cabins were to the right of the house, so he parked near them and got out to help Maria descend the step.

“First one on the left,” he called out to her as he struggled with her suitcase. “Door’s open.”

“Gracias,” Maria headed up the path and he followed behind.

“Oh my . . .” She stopped just inside the door. “It’s lovely!”

Luke had converted the old bunkhouse into three separate cabins with a bedroom, a bathroom, and an open plan kitchen and living space. The floors were wood, the walls a creamy white and the furniture simple and modern. Someone, probably Phoebe, had placed a vase of fresh flowers on the small kitchen table along with a basket full of provisions.

Maria set her backpack on the couch and went into the kitchen. She picked up the card and read out the words.

“Welcome, Maria! We are all so glad that you could come to the wedding!”

She pressed the card to her chest, her eyes shining, then turned to Max. “Is there a refrigerator?”

Max studied the row of cabinets. “I’m sure there is. Why, what’s up?”

“Because I have food to put in there.” She directed him to lay her case on its back on her bed so that she could open it. “And I don’t want it to spoil.”

* * *

When a beaming Maria came into the kitchen with Max, Phoebe rushed over to give her a hug.

“It’s lovely to see you again!”

Maria patted her cheek. “You look very well, querida. Max tells me Luke’s been putting you to work.”

“Yeah, free labor’s awesome.” Max grinned at Phoebe.

“I think I should be paying Luke, actually, I’ve had so much fun,” Phoebe said. “How was your trip?”

“It all went very smoothly,” Maria said. “Max was there to pick me up at the bus stop, so I didn’t have to worry about a thing.”

Sally and Luke came over to be introduced and Phoebe stepped back to let Max make the introductions. Noah and Jen had taken Sky to the new house and were having a barbecue with Noah’s family who had arrived from San Diego earlier. The two guys who would be occupying the other cabins were due in the morning of the wedding and would only need them for the night.

Phoebe had spent most of the day double-checking everything and was beginning to believe the wedding would be a resounding success. She planned to get up at four to finish the flower arrangements, which needed to be as fresh as she could make them. She had forgotten to eat since Max’s half-sandwich and the sight of Sally putting a huge lasagna on the table made her stomach grumble.

“You hungry, Feebs?” Max asked.

“Starving.” She smiled at him. “I’ve been rushing around like a blue-arsed fly.”

“That’s a descriptive phrase,” Sally said. “I’ll have to try and remember it.”

Phoebe blushed. “I’m sorry.”

“What for? No one here knows you were saying ass.” Max cut into the lasagna.

“They do now,” Luke murmured. “Thanks for the clarification.”

He turned to Phoebe. “Did Bernie mention what time she’s arriving tomorrow when you saw her?”

“Six, I believe. She said she had a lot to do to get her temporary kitchen ready.”

“I’ve set her up under an awning to the back of the house so she can have access to the main kitchen, as well,” Luke said. “And there’s a whole nother structure for the sit-down buffet, which is already up.”

“Noah’s mom and stepdad have arrived at the BB and his sisters are here at the snowmobile barn,” Sally added. “I spoke to them earlier.”

“I saw the minivan when I came down the drive,” Max said. “Are they partying with Noah and Jen?”

“I think that was the idea,” Luke said. He glanced over at the empty space at the head of the table. “It’s weird not having Sky here.”

“Better get used to it,” Sally said. “He’ll be moving out in a couple of weeks. I’m going to miss seeing his little face.”

“He’s only going to be a few hundred yards down the road,” Luke reminded her. “I’m sure Jen won’t mind if you pop round.”

Phoebe ate two platefuls of the lasagna and helped clear up afterward while Max took Maria on a stroll around the ranch. When they returned, Phoebe was just making herself a cup of tea and offered one to Maria who shook her head.

“Gracias, Phoebe, but I think I am ready for bed. It has been a long day.” She looked up at Max. “I am so happy for you, hermano. Your life here is beautiful. You are truly blessed.”

Max’s gaze fastened on Phoebe. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Would you walk me back to my cabin, please, Phoebe?” Maria asked. “I’m sure Max has lots to do having spent so much time with me.”

“I suspect he’d much rather be with you than mucking out the stables,” Phoebe said as she followed Maria to the door of the cabin through the balmy night air. “He was so pleased you were able to come.”

“I am very glad that I did.” Maria went into the cabin and shut the door behind Phoebe. “It makes me feel much better about what I have done.”

She turned to face Phoebe, her hands clasped together at her waist. “Has Max told you about his family?”

With a feeling of unease, Phoebe sat on the couch. “He mentioned he has no contact with anyone but you.”

“He was a very bad boy. Our parents were at their wits end.”

“So I understand.”

Maria sat opposite her. “He got in trouble with the police and ended up in court. The best solution seemed to send him away to military school to avoid the possibility of prison, and that’s what they did, but it was very hard for them.”

“Forgive me, Maria, if they were truly conflicted, why didn’t they resume contact with Max after he straightened himself out and enlisted?”

“I believe they tried, but Max wanted nothing to do with them.”

Phoebe didn’t contest that, even though Max had implied something very different.

“From what they told me, Max refused to apologize for his behavior, or even meet them on their terms,” Maria continued. “I told my mother he would not respond well to what he would see as an ultimatum, but she refused to change her mind about how to deal with him.”

“And I assume that means they didn’t speak at all.”

Maria nodded. “Max and our mama are both very stubborn. Over the years, I passed on basic information about Max just so they knew he was alive. They were very grateful to me for doing that, but recently my mother has been asking for more.”

“More information about Max?” Phoebe asked. “Have you told him that?”

“Of course not. That is why I am talking to you.”

“I don’t quite follow.”

“I told them Max was married!” Maria threw her hands in the air. “I thought that might be enough to stop Mama from bothering me, but she was thrilled.”

“You really need to talk to Max about this, Maria. I can’t—”

“She wants to talk to you.” Maria looked pleadingly at Phoebe. “I have told her how wonderful you are and what an excellent influence you have been on Max.”

Phoebe shot to her feet. “I can’t do that without Max knowing all about it, Maria, so talk to him, and he can let me know what he wants me to do.”

Maria sighed, “As you wish, querida. I hoped to keep it amongst us women. I will tell Mama that I need to speak to Max first.”

“I think that would be for the best,” Phoebe assured her and went toward the door. She paused before leaving. “Do you think there is any particular reason why your parents are suddenly interested in getting to know Max? Has anything changed in their lives?”

Maria smiled at her. “I think they are just getting older, and I suspect Mama has some regrets about how she dealt with Max when he was just a teenager.” She winked. “And maybe she is thinking about her future grandchildren.”

For a fleeting second, Phoebe remembered her nanny admonishing her about lying, and how the lies mounted up until they buried you, and bitterly regretted her impulsive decision to involve Max in her schemes to inherit her rightful property.

“Then perhaps the person she should be reaching out to is the one she hurt,” Phoebe said. “Goodnight, Maria. We’ll be serving breakfast in the main house from seven until nine tomorrow morning.”

“Goodnight, Phoebe. Thank you for listening to me.”

Phoebe was halfway back to the house when she stopped, gulped in some much-needed air, and changed direction. She made her way down to the barn and leaned against the fence staring into the darkness over the horse pasture. If she went back in and Max asked about Maria, she was afraid he’d read her face too easily, and start asking some awkward questions she really didn’t want to answer.

At some level, she understood why Maria had come to her. It was a tradition in her own family for her and Eugenie to share secrets and support each other against their brothers. But she couldn’t do that to Max.

“Phoebe.”

She turned her head to see Luke coming out of the barn. He joined her at the railing, one booted foot on the first railing and his chin resting on his crossed arms as he stared at the horizon.

“You look stressed.”

“I’m fine, Luke.” Phoebe continued to look out at nothing. “I just needed a moment.”

“You’ve been amazing. I’m not sure we would’ve pulled this off if you hadn’t been there to corral all the pieces together.”

“You would’ve managed just fine without me.”

“Yeah, if we’d let Noah take over.” Luke paused for a beat. “Bernie was saying we could do with a good wedding planner around here and that she’d be your first customer.”

“That’s very sweet of her.”

“She’s right on both counts, though. We need it and you’re good at it.”

“A match made in heaven.” Phoebe tried to laugh it off.

“Just making sure you know there’s a place and a way to make your living out here even if you ditched Max.”

Unaccustomed tears choked Phoebe’s throat. “Thank you, Luke. That means a lot to me.”

Luke nodded and continued to look out over the pasture. “One thing I’ve learned about relationships recently, Phoebe, is that you have to try and be honest with the other person even if it might be a painful conversation.”

Phoebe considered what to say. “But what if the information you’ve just been given isn’t yours to share?”

He glanced over at her. “That’s very specific.”

“I don’t want to be put in the middle of a . . . family issue.”

“Then don’t be. Step out of the firing line and tell them to sort it out themselves.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She sighed. “But now I know stuff I didn’t want to know, and I don’t have the right kind of face to hide that I know it.”

Luke reached out and patted her shoulder. “You sound just like Bernie.”

“What does she do in these situations?” Phoebe asked.

“Blurts it all out, usually.” Luke grinned.

“I can’t do that.” Phoebe shuddered. “I’m already in trouble for laying down the law with my own family.”

“So, I’ve heard. Max doesn’t have a high opinion of how they’ve treated you.”

“Max is . . .” Phoebe paused. “Wonderful.”

“He’s something all right.” Luke smiled. “I just want him to be happy.”

“So do I.”

“Then we’re on the same page.” He straightened up and gave her a friendly nod. “I’d better turn in. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.”

Phoebe turned to face him. “Thank you for making me feel so at home, Luke.”

“That was easy, Phoebe.” He smiled. “You just fit right in.”

He walked back up to the house, leaving her in the shadowed light coming from the barn and the vast expanse of the redwood forest at her back. It was the first time in her life anyone had told her she wasn’t the odd one out, the one who wouldn’t conform, or do what was expected, and it was surprisingly moving.

Could she do it? Could she leave her home and come and live on the ranch with Max and his newfound family? The very idea seemed preposterous, especially as she was currently engaged in a fight to release property from the estate and was about to take her family to court over it.

And Max hadn’t asked her to stay or even whether she planned on coming back after her trip to England. . .

She checked the time and started back toward the house. After the wedding, she’d have to stop being such a coward and have what would probably be a difficult conversation with Max. He’d been nothing but generous by agreeing to marry her and supporting her through the lies that had now engulfed his own family. He deserved her honesty for that alone.

She stopped walking. The thought of not being with him made her heart clench, but he’d never tried to make her fall in love with him. That was on her.

The house was quiet, the scent of coffee and Bernie’s cinnamon rolls lingering in the kitchen. Phoebe drank some milk, used the bathroom, and tiptoed into Max’s bedroom. She knew he was there because he was gently snoring, which often happened when he slept on his back. She didn’t bother with her nightie, just stripped, and got into bed.

Max immediately rolled over and cuddled in, one hand around her waist, his chin in the hollow of her neck.

“Feebs . . .” he murmured. “I missed you.”

She bit down hard on her lip. She’d miss him so much. Why had she refused to take him to England? What if he’d liked it enough to want to stay there with her? She tried to picture him with her family and failed miserably. They wouldn’t understand him, or even try to, and they’d treat him accordingly.

He moved closer, his hand drifting downward to cup her between the legs and she immediately wanted him. It had been like that from the day they’d met and there was nothing she could do about it. He flexed his fingers, and she arched her back, her body already anticipating his next touch as his cock hardened against her bottom.

He shifted slightly behind her, bringing his right arm underneath her, pulling her hip wide and her body higher into the shelter of his torso. Phoebe leaned her head back and let him play her like a violin, his fingers parting and entering her, his thumb insistent and then rough on her clit.

“Okay like this?” He sounded half-aroused, half-asleep and very turned on, and she didn’t want him to ever stop touching her.

“Yes. Don’t stop.”

He slid his cock into her, making her gasp at the unfamiliar angle and the new sensations he was arousing in her. He rocked his hips anchoring her firmly against his working body and she caught his rhythm and went with it. One of his hands closed around her breast and his fingers squeezed her nipple in time to his thrusts making her come so hard she saw stars.

He growled and bit her neck, which set her off again. He thrust harder and she forgot words and just hung on and wallowed in sensation as he pushed her through two more climaxes before he finally joined her with a guttural roar that left them both shaking. It took her a long while to breathe normally and longer to open her eyes because she simply didn’t want the feelings to end.

His gentle snore made her smile. Even though she knew she was a coward, she was glad she could put off talking to him and simply enjoy being with him for one more precious night . . .