Max stood and helped her slip the coat on. “The lady in the store said this would fit.”
“Jeannie comes in the diner all the time.” She ran her hands over the coat again. “It’s so soft. And warm, too.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it, Max. Thank you.” She hesitated. “But it’s too much. I know what it cost.”
It was his turn to be embarrassed. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is to me.”
“Max gave you a really good surprise, didn’t he, Mama?”
“Yes. He did.”
Maddie faced him, azure eyes sparkling with happiness. “That’s the best surprise, ever, Max. Mama really needed a new coat, but we haven’t been to the Goodwill yet. Now she doesn’t have to go.”
Max saw the red flush on Sky’s face and changed the subject. “How about we get out of the way and let your mom finish getting supper ready?”
“Do you like puzzles, Max? I love puzzles. I have one in the living room I’m working on.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Half an hour later, Sky called them back to the kitchen.
Leftovers from the scrumptious meal yesterday were on the table. She could have served him cardboard covered in ketchup, and he would have happily consumed every bite. “I didn’t mean for you to cook for me. Again.”
Her light laugh lifted his spirits.
“Warming up leftovers is hardly cooking.”
“Max is really good at puzzles, Mom.” Maddie slurped her milk. “He got all the end pieces on the new one Miss Gail gave me.”
Dinner was an amiable affair, filled with laughter and Maddie’s usual chatter. Afterwards, the three of them worked on the puzzle again, racing to see who could find the most pieces.
Maddie protested, of course, when Sky said it was bedtime but obeyed her mother’s directive.
Sky returned from tucking her daughter in and resumed her seat beside Max on the couch. “Would you like more coffee?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Suddenly nervous, he dug for something to talk about. “Um, I heard you were thinking about getting back into nursing.”
Her surprised expression suggested maybe that was not a good topic to start on.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
She visibly relaxed and leaned back. “Doc wants me to go to work for her at the clinic while we work at getting my license reinstated.”
“You don’t seem too excited about the prospect.”
“It’s not that. I’d love to get back into nursing.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
She rested her head on the back of the couch, eyes focused upward. “I don’t know what all’s involved in the process. I’m sure I’ll probably have to take some CEUs, maybe even some kind of refresher classes. The closest place is Tyler or maybe Texarkana. Will have to check and see. Both are well over an hour away.”
“What about online classes?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Doc said she’d look into it and let me know what she finds.” Voice lowered, she turned her head toward him. “What if I can’t do it?”
“You can do anything you set your mind to,” Max said firmly. “Just look at what you’ve done up to now.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “I really want to do this, Max. But what if I can’t? What if I’ve waited too long?”
One finger under her chin, he tilted her face up. “I repeat. You can do whatever you put your mind to.”
“How can you be so sure? You hardly know me.”
He caressed her chin with his finger. “I know the stuff that matters. You’re smart. Beautiful. A wonderful mom. And a great human being.” He paused, his thumb caressing her lower lip. “And I’d like very much to kiss you right now.”
Her throat moved as she swallowed, followed by a light shiver. “I’d like that.”
His lips feather-touched hers with tantalizing persuasion, once, twice, then he gently covered her mouth.
Shock waves of desire coursed through his body. Urgent and exploratory, he deepened the kiss, smothering her lips with commanding mastery. She tasted of coffee and pumpkin pie, and he couldn’t get enough.
Her arms slid up his chest and around his neck, pulling him closer and returning his kiss with reckless abandon.
When her tongue slid into his mouth and touched his, he couldn’t stop the explosion of need it elicited. Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. “You’re very special to me, Sky. I don’t want to do something to mess that up.”
“You’re special to me, too.” Her hands slid down his chest, one resting over his pounding heart. “I…haven’t been with anyone since, well, a long time. Haven’t wanted to.”
