Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Max?”

“He looked up from unbuckling Bouncer’s girth to see Phoebe coming toward him. He took a moment to appreciate her beautiful face and her warm smile. He still couldn’t believe she wasn’t furious with him for leaving her for so long, but he guessed she’d needed him for her own nefarious schemes so maybe they were square.

“Did you have a good time in town?” He removed the saddle, slung it over one shoulder and walked toward the tack room.

“Yes, we met Bernie, and I took Sky for a stroll.”

“Nice.” He placed the saddle over the wooden stand and checked to see if it needed cleaning. “Did Bernie give you my doughnuts?”

“I left them in the kitchen.” Phoebe smiled. “Noah was telling me that she’s expanding her business.”

“Yeah, she’s a smart cookie.”

“Max . . .”

“What’s up?” He dusted off his hands and turned to face her.

“Would you mind if I took a photo of you and sent it to my family?”

“Sort of like proof of life?” Max asked. “Sure, or even better let’s do a selfie together so they can see how happily married we are.”

She blushed, which made him want to smile. “I’m terrible at taking those.”

“I’m not. Bailey, Noah’s sister is a media genius and has taught me how to do it properly.” He held out his hand. “Let’s put Bouncer away and then we can go outside and find a good spot.”

She entwined her fingers with his. “Bouncer’s the name of your horse?”

“Yup.”

“I’ve owned several horses over the years and I’ve loved every one of them.”

He returned to the yard, checked Bouncer’s hooves, and led him back to his stall where he removed the halter. Phoebe attended to the water bucket and hay while he chatted away to his horse who always liked a nice rubdown after a ride.

When he emerged from the stall, Phoebe was standing at the entrance to the barn staring out over the forest. She looked over her shoulder as he approached.

“I can’t get used to the vastness of everything here.”

“It’s something, isn’t it?” He agreed as he joined her. “I like it.”

“After what you’ve been through, I can understand that.” She smiled. “I’m just so glad you have a home and people who love you.”

Max thought about that.

“Yeah, I’m lucky.” He half-smiled. “I’m not sure I deserve it, though. I tend to make life difficult for everyone who tries to be nice to me.”

“Why’s that?”

He shrugged. “My naturally suspicious nature? Sometimes it’s hard for me to work out whether someone is really on my side or just messing with my head.”

She nodded. “I feel like that about my family sometimes. People who insist they care for me and are only doing things in my best interest sometimes aren’t.”

Max considered all the information that hadn’t gotten from Reno to Phoebe in the UK. He’d have to have a conversation about that soon. He wasn’t looking forward to it. He shook off the tension and grinned at Phoebe.

“Ready for your close-up, Mrs. Romero?”

“I usually prefer to hyphenate us.”

“Like I’m Mr. Romero-Creighton-Smith now?”

Phoebe handed him her phone and followed him out into the pasture where some of the ranch horses were grazing. “I think it sounds nicer the other way around.”

“Max Creighton-Smith-Romero.” He tried it out. “Yeah, it definitely has a better ring to it.”

“Then that’s settled. Where do you think we should take our photo?” Phoebe asked.

Max clasped her hand and spun her around. “Right here. We’ll do some with the forest behind us and the rest with the ranch and barn.”

He gathered her close against his side and wrapped one arm around her. “Here’s the secret. Hold the phone high, go for a slight profile angle, and pretend to set your chin on a ledge.”

“What?”

Max demonstrated and Phoebe gurgled with laughter.

“That looks silly.”

“But it works.” He grinned back at her. “Try it.”

He took a lot of pictures because Bailey maintained that even if someone was crap at taking them, the sheer number would produce at least a couple of good ones.

“Want to take a look?” Max suggested, aware that he still had his arm around her and that she fitted just right against his side.

“If I must.” Phoebe pretended to shudder as he fired up the photo app. “Oh.”

“See? You look awesome!” Max thumbed through the first dozen or so. “And we look super happily married.”

“You’re so pretty,” Phoebe mused. “My family will never believe someone like you would take an interest in me.”

“Maybe they’ll see you in a different light—like a real femme fatale.” He fluttered his eyelashes at her wanting to take the doubt from her face. She obviously had no idea how adorable she was and he hated them for not seeing it.

“One can only hope,” she murmured and looked up at him. “Thank you, Max.”

“You’re welcome, sweet pea.” He bent and kissed her nose and then, because he couldn’t resist it, her mouth. “You taste like Bernie’s coffee and cinnamon rolls” He licked her lips. “Sweet.”

Her hand came around the back of his neck, holding him close and for a moment she just stared at him.

“Bernie’s cakes are perfection, but not as addictive as you are, Max. When you kiss me, I forget all the completely valid reasons I have for keeping my distance from you.”

“There’s an easy solution to that,” Max said.

“What?”

“Kiss me back.”

* * *

Oh, goodness, he was as tempting as the devil.... All she had to do was walk away. She knew he wouldn’t stop her. He was too much of a gentleman. But she didn’t want to. Being with him, being away from her family, and her commitments for the first time in years was remarkably freeing. And why shouldn’t she kiss her own bloody husband? She wasn’t hurting anyone, and no one would know.

She pressed her lips against his and his arm came around her hips holding her against him from knee to shoulder.

“That’s my girl.”

He kissed like a dream, and she kissed him with all the enthusiasm in the world because he deserved it.

Behind her someone loudly cleared their throat and she stiffened.

“Hey, you’re scaring the horses.”

“Go away, Nilsen.” Max continued to hold her close even as he spoke to Luke. “Nothing to see here.”

“Except I need to get through this field to the next one and I’m not creeping around my own ranch.” Luke sounded as if he was trying not to laugh.

“Then tippy toe along the fence line and keep your eyes front and center,” Max said.

Phoebe started to chuckle, and Max looked down at her, his dimples deepening. “Or we could just go in and have some of those doughnuts and leave the boss to get on with his work.”

“That’s a marvelous idea.” Phoebe realized she was the one holding onto Max and instantly stepped back. “Bernie said they were your favorite.”

She didn’t look directly at Luke who was grinning like a fool as they went past him hand in hand.

“I’ll talk to you later, Max,” Luke said.

“Not if I see you first.” Max looked down at Phoebe. “We’ll have to get him one of those cowbells to hang around his neck so we can hear him coming a mile away.”

There was a snort from Luke as he headed for the far gate. “Bernie’s coming for dinner. She’s looking forward to meeting Phoebe properly.”

“There’s a surprise,” Max said as they walked away. “I bet she nearly bit her tongue off trying not to ask you a million questions when she met you.”

“She was very pleasant and welcoming.”

“Bernie’s a good person. You’ll like her.” Max was still holding her hand and he squeezed her fingers. “How long do you think we’ll have to stay married to convince your family we’re the real deal?”

“That’s a very good question.” Phoebe sighed as they mounted the steps to the house. “The thing is—if I ask them that, they’ll wonder why I want to know.”

“Yeah, that’s tricky.” Max held the screen door open for her. “I guess we’ll find out more at the wedding. We can talk to those lawyers of yours.”

Phoebe stepped out of her wellies and took off her coat. “I’d better send those pictures to my family. Thanks so much for helping me, Max.”

“My pleasure, sweet pea.” He swept her a bow. “Nothing’s too good for my wife.”

“You’re being very nice about all of this,” Phoebe said in a rush. “I don’t deserve it.”

He shrugged. “We’re not harming anyone are we?”

“Not at all.”

“Then we’re okay.” He winked at her. “It’s my turn to cook for everyone. If you want to help, come and lend a hand when you’re ready.”

“I’d love to.” Phoebe smiled up at him and he bent to kiss her again. “I’ll just send the pictures to George and Grandmother, and I’ll be right back.”

* * *

She rushed away leaving him standing alone, his smile fading. He liked kissing her and she seemed to like it, too, but was she just being kind, or did she feel the same spark he had? She was kind of addictive, like Bernie’s coffee. He walked into the kitchen and pulled up short when he saw Noah sitting at the kitchen table.

“Hey.”

Noah looked up at him. “Why’s Phoebe feeling so grateful toward you?”

Max stiffened. “Why are you listening to other people’s private conversations?”

“Like you never do that. I was just sitting here minding my own business when you two came in and started talking.” Noah shrugged. “If you don’t want to be overheard maybe keep your private stuff to your bedroom.”

“In the future I’ll do that.” Max walked over to the sink and washed his hands. “Where’s Sky?”

“Taking a nap before dinner.” Noah sipped his coffee. “Phoebe’s not your usual type.”

Max slowly wiped his hands on the towel and set it back on the rack.

“You used to go for big, blond, and flashy.”

Max contemplated the knife block. What would it take to make Noah shut up? There was no way he’d take him down with just a punch because Noah was built like the backside of a bus.

“But now that I think about it—you didn’t mess around in the last few years of our military service. You just suddenly stopped. We all thought you’d caught something nasty, but maybe it was for a different reason.”

“I was married.” Max finally swung around to face Noah.

“Yeah.” Noah looked at him steadily, a hint of surprise on his face. “So, you were.”

Phoebe came back into the kitchen and abruptly stopped. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”

“Nope.” Noah slowly stood and took his mug over to the sink. “You’re good. What’s for dinner, Max?”

“I’ve got a chicken to roast and Phoebe’s going to prep the veg.”

She came to stand beside him, her very presence calming him down. “I’m an excellent sous-chef.”

Noah nodded and headed for the door. “Sky likes chicken. Jen and Sally will be back at six.”

“That’s when I’m aiming for,” Max said, aware that he didn’t appreciate Noah asking him personal questions and that he’d have to control his temper to protect Phoebe. He wasn’t used to being the one on the defensive and he wasn’t sure he liked it one bit.

Phoebe went over to the sink and washed her hands.

“Is everything all right, Max?”

“Yeah, Noah’s just being his usual salty self.”

“I don’t want to cause problems for you.” She looked at him. “If you want me to leave—”

“Definitely not. This is as much your home as it is mine.” He walked over and gave her a hug. “Noah’s just a pain in the ass about everything.”

“He’s very good with Sky.”

“I’ll give him that,” Max said. “But don’t let him rile you, okay? I’ll deal with him.”

“I’m quite capable of standing up for myself,” Phoebe raised her chin.

“I know.” He risked a quick kiss on her nose. “You tracked me down.”

She cupped his chin. “I’m glad I succeeded.”

“Me too. Now how about we start cooking this food? The chicken’s going to need at least an hour and a half.”

* * *

“So, come on, Phoebe. Tell us how you and Max met.”

Bernie looked expectantly across the table. They’d eaten the excellent roast chicken, finished off an apple pie and were on the coffee and tea part of the evening. Jen was putting Sky to bed, but everyone else was still gathered around the table.

Phoebe glanced over at Max, a hint of panic in her eyes. “You tell them, you make it sound much more exciting.”

“Sure!” Max grinned at her. “Well, I was sitting at the bar and this beautiful British woman asked if she could talk to me, and the next thing I knew, we were getting married at a wedding chapel.”

Bernie looked skeptical. “There must be more to it than that. I mean even for you; Max, that’s fast work, and Phoebe seems quite sane.”

“No, that’s exactly how it happened,” Phoebe said.

“Were you drunk?” Luke asked.

“Me or Feebs?” Max grinned. “She was stone-cold sober, and I’d had a couple of whiskys. It wasn’t even lunchtime.”

“So, why did you agree to marry each other?” Bernie asked, looking from Max to Phoebe.

Max held Phoebe’s gaze as he replied. “Because we wanted to? We’ve stayed married for four years so we obviously made a good decision.”

“You’re only still married because you haven’t been in the same country for four years,” Noah piped up. “You’ve hardly had the chance to experience married life.”

“How do you know?” Max winked at Phoebe. “Maybe my darling wife has been flying out to see me once a year and you didn’t even know about it.”

Phoebe’s lips pursed, fighting a smile as everyone around the table suddenly looked intrigued.

“Maybe you should check out her passport stamps.” Max sat back with the air of a confident man. “She’s a well-traveled woman.”

Noah looked directly at Phoebe. “So, you’re not planning on divorcing him?”

“Noah, that’s just plain rude,” Sally said gently. “Even if she was, it’s none of your concern.”

“It just seems odd to me.” Noah shrugged. “Seeing as Max didn’t even give her his address here.”

“I found him anyway.” Phoebe was definitely holding up her side of things. “The paperwork I received must have been outdated.”

Noah’s gaze returned to Max. “Yeah, what’s that about you having a Reno address?”

Max did a quick risk assessment and realized that if he wanted to draw Noah’s fire away from Phoebe, he’d have to make a concession on something else.

“It’s a family address.”

Luke sat up straight. “You have family in Reno?”

“Yeah, my half sister, Maria, lives there.”

Silence fell around the table.

“You have a sister?” Luke asked.

“News to me,” murmured Noah. “But what the hell do I know about anything these days.”

“Half sister. She’s a lot older than me. She works at one of the casinos,” Max elaborated. “She was originally listed as my next of kin. I guess when I changed the paperwork to add Phoebe some of it didn’t get altered.”

“Sounds about right for the military,” Luke nodded.

“Which is why it took me a while to find out all the details of where Max was currently living,” Phoebe added.

“Then how did you know how to find him when you came over before?” Noah asked, his fingers drumming on the kitchen table.

Max held up his phone. “Ever heard of one of these, buddy?”

“Still, you never discussed all the other stuff, like where you actually lived?”

“We weren’t exactly thinking about it when we met.” Max kissed Phoebe’s hand. “We had better things to do.”

Damn, Noah was persistent. Max should have made sure he and Phoebe had concocted a decent cover story the second she’d arrived. He’d been stupid and she was paying the price for it.

“But—”

“Noah . . .” Sally said gently. “This isn’t an interrogation. Max and Phoebe look very happy together and that’s enough for me.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Max said. “I appreciate that.”

She’d always been in his corner from the very first day they’d met, as if sensing that despite his loudmouth bravado he needed her support the most.

“Sorry.” Noah looked at Phoebe and then at Max. “I’ll shut up.”

“Mom’s right as usual.” Luke held up his mug. “Congrats, Max, and welcome to the family, Phoebe.”

“Thank you,” Phoebe said. “You have all been wonderful.”

“As are you for taking Max on.” Bernie grinned at her. “He’s going to need a firm hand.”

“Oh, I think I can manage that.”

Max winked. “Seriously, all she has to do is talk to me in that posh accent, and I’m already on my knees. I call it the Mary Poppins effect.”

Bernie burst out laughing. “Oh, my goodness I love it, and I can totally see that. All you needed, Max, was a strong woman to tell you what to do all along.”

“Maybe.” Max grinned.

“Did Max get you an engagement ring or did it all happen too fast?” Jen, who had returned to the kitchen, sat down beside Noah.

For the first time, Phoebe hesitated. “We didn’t really have time to shop, but I’ve been wearing this betrothal ring that came from my great-grandmother.”

She held out her left hand. Max couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed the ruby and diamond ring on her third finger.

He whistled. “I did good.”

“You mean Phoebe did,” Noah murmured.

Bernie and Jen were too busy oohing and aahing over the ring to notice that Noah was once again giving him the third degree. Max fixed his friend with a hard stare.

“Can you just lay off for five minutes and let the ladies admire the ring I didn’t buy?”

“Yeah, stop it, Noah,” Luke added. “This isn’t the right time or place.”

“Are the stones real?” Jen asked as she slipped the ring on her own finger and admired it under the lights. “That central ruby is lovely.”

“I have no idea,” Phoebe said. “I just inherited the thing.” She squinted at it. “It definitely needs a bit of a clean.”

Max noticed again how Phoebe never made a big deal out of anything. He’d bet his horse that the diamonds and rubies were one hundred percent genuine and probably worth more than he’d ever make in his life.

Bernie tried on the ring as well and glanced over at Luke, her expression dreamy before she handed it back to Phoebe. “I like that it’s not just a diamond. Everyone has one of those. This is far more interesting.”

“It was probably made just for her.” Phoebe looked down fondly at the ring. “My great-grandfather was a bit of a perfectionist.”

“I hope it’s insured,” Noah said.

Phoebe looked over at him. “It is, and I’m very careful with it. I don’t wear it when I’m out in the barn.” She paused. “But I promise I’ll take extra care when I’m here.”

Noah cleared his throat and Max tensed, wondering what his friend was going to come out with next.

“Seeing as we’re talking about weddings, Jen has something to say.”

“Thank you, Noah.” Jen looked around the table. “As we’re all here for once I wanted to go over the wedding plans.”

“Cool.” Max was relieved to be moving away from the subject of him and Phoebe. “How’s it all coming together?”

“Well, Bernie’s doing the catering.”

“Well, of course.” Bernie bowed. “We’ve decided to go all-day buffet style with the food rotating in and out as needed. We’ll also deal with the beverage service. Rob’s on that.”

Sally put up her hand. “I’m organizing the setup here at the ranch, including decorations, chairs, a dance floor, and a big tent in case it rains.”

“I’d love to help with that.” Phoebe looked at Sally and Jen. “If that’s okay?”

“We’d love to have you.” Sally beamed at her. “I’m also expecting Luke and Max to act as my muscle when needed.”

“I’m all yours, ma’am.” Max posed and flexed his biceps and Luke groaned.

“Which leaves Noah to set up the sound system and organize the parking.” Jen looked out from the list on her phone. “What have I missed?”

“Bridal flowers?” Phoebe asked.

“Oh.” Jen frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that. Seeing as it’s only me.”

“I could make you a bouquet,” Phoebe offered. “I spent a year at finishing school in the Alps learning all sorts of useless skills and flower arranging was one of them.”

“What’s a finishing school?” Luke asked.

“You’re so adorable.” Bernie patted his arm. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“If you’d like to help with the flowers that would be great.” Jen smiled at her and tapped something into her phone. “You’re officially on my list now.”

Phoebe blushed and Max realized how important it was for her to feel as if she was contributing and fitting in. He liked that about her so much and she was doing it just for him, which was astounding.

“We all good, then?” Noah looked around the table and everyone nodded. “Then I’ll check on Sky.”

Jen waited until he was out the door before she looked at Bernie.

“How much is he trying to interfere in the planning?”

“Just a tad, but I’ve been super impressed by his restraint, especially when I tell him to butt out,” Bernie said. “This is a good learning experience for him.”

Jen sat back. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist building his own spreadsheets and making sure I’m keeping to the deadlines, but he’s been relatively low-key about it so far.”

“Then I guess we’ll all just keep pretending we don’t know what he’s doing.” Bernie looked around the table. “Unless he loses it completely and attempts a coup or something.”

“Or I could just tell him to stop,” Max offered.

“No,” Bernie and Jen said together.

Max tried not to grin. “You sure?”

Luke gave him the eye. “Max . . .”

Max held up both hands. “It’s okay. I promise I’ll keep out of it. Are we doing a bachelor party, Luke?”

“Noah doesn’t want one.”

“So what?” Max shrugged. “We can’t let him get away with being a grump over this. It’s a big rite of passage.”

Luke fixed him with a stare. “If you can think of something relatively low-key that we could do, then go for it. Note the words low-key, Max. No kidnapping Noah stripping him naked and taking him on a plane to Vegas, okay?”

“We’ve already got Jen’s party worked out,” Bernie said happily. “We’re all going to the spa at Watermill Creek and then dinner and dancing afterward.”

“Sounds good.” Max looked at Phoebe. “Did you bring your dancing shoes?”

“I’m a terrible dancer,” Phoebe confessed.

“But you’ll still come, right?” Bernie asked. “You’re part of the family now.”

“And we can make up for missing your big day and party for two,” Jen added.

“That’s very sweet of you, but I certainly don’t want to intrude on your special day.” Phoebe smiled. “I’m happy just to be invited.”

Max stared at her. She was a genuinely good person. He’d hit the jackpot when he’d met her in Reno.

“Max?”

He looked over at Jen. “Yeah?”

“You look all goofy when you smile at Phoebe.”

“That’s because she’s awesome.”

Bernie and Jen gave a giddy sigh and then smiled at him and Phoebe.

“I told you it was true love,” Jen said. “I’ve never seen Max like this before.”

“Me neither,” Luke said. “It’s weird.” He stood up. “How about we clear the table, Max, and let the ladies talk?”

“We certainly have a lot to chat about.” Jen’s gaze went around the table. “I can’t believe I’ll be a married woman in less than four weeks.”

Max stacked some plates and rose to his feet. “Are we inviting Dave?”

“Hell no!” Luke said as he ran the water into the sink and started rinsing off the dishes. “That’s the last thing we need.”

“He’s settled down with whatshername now, hasn’t he?” Max asked.

“For now,” Jen said, frowning. “And I did invite him. He is Sky’s dad after all.” She glanced over at Luke. “And your friend.”

“Ex-friend since he acted like such a jerk,” Luke muttered.

“Still a Marine, though,” Max said.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t deserve to be at this wedding. You know what Dave’s like. He’ll try to make it all about him, and Noah might murder him, which isn’t a good look on your wedding day.”

“It’s okay, he’s not coming,” Jen said. “He’s off skiing in Aspen or something.”

“Well, thank God for that,” Max declared. “Now, would you like more coffee? I can bring you some after I clean up.”

“I think we’re good for now.” Jen pointed at the family room. “Let’s go in there so we can pick out the treatments we want to have at the spa.”

Max watched the ladies walk away. Phoebe was chatting amicably with Sally who was nodding at whatever she was saying. He hoped she’d be able to hold her own when the other women bombarded her with questions about their relationship. He suddenly remembered her elaborate fabrications to her family and was pretty sure she’d be okay.

“She fits in good,” Luke said from behind him.

“Yeah . . . she does.” Max didn’t turn around. “I wasn’t sure how it would go, but she’s been awesome.”

“I like her.”

“So do I.” Max picked the mugs off the table and brought them over to the dishwasher.

“I’m still not buying the how-you-met story, bro.”

Max shrugged. “It’s the truth. We met in a bar and got married.”

“Who popped the question?”

“Ah, now that would be telling.” Max went back to the table to get Phoebe’s teacup and saucer. “I think it was a mutual decision.”

“Sure, it was.” Luke rolled his eyes. “I know it was you, dude. What I can’t understand is why Phoebe was willing to go along with it.”

* * *

Phoebe settled into the corner of the couch and let the spirited discussion about Jen’s party roll over her. She wasn’t quite sure how a traditional American bachelorette party went but she was more than willing to learn.

“Didn’t you say your sister was getting married soon?” Jen asked.

“Yes, in about six weeks, why?”

“What is she doing for her party?”

“Her Hen Do?” Phoebe frowned. “She wanted an adventure weekend so we’re going to be hiking, camping, riding horses, and scaling rocks.”

“So, pretty much the everyday activities on this ranch,” Sally said. “You don’t sound very keen.”

“I’d much rather be at the spa with Jen,” Phoebe confessed. “I had to do all that outdoorsy stuff when I was at boarding school in Scotland and it’s not my idea of a relaxing time. But Eugenie is horse mad just like me, so I’ll enjoy every minute of that particular activity, which is good enough for me.”

Jen passed her tablet over. “Do you want to pick your spa treatments? We’ve got the whole day booked out.”

“I’d love to.” Phoebe started to scroll through the delights on offer. “I’ve always wanted to try a proper mud bath.”

“Trust me, I had one and it wasn’t as much fun as I expected,” Bernie said. “The mud was cold! My dad said I might as well have saved my money, gone into one of the muddy fields at home and rolled around for free.”

Phoebe grinned. “Then perhaps I’ll try the hot stones instead. And a facial, and a manicure.” She checked the boxes and handed the tablet back to Jen.

“Sounds good,” Bernie said. “And now that Max can’t hear us, what really went down in Reno?”