“You’re gorgeous, Meredith.” He lifted his head and looked into my eyes. “Every single inch of you is perfect. I could spend an eternity studying every nook and cranny.”
“Well, I think you’ve gotten a good head start.” I lifted myself off him and lay down on the bed. Feigning nonchalance, I stretched and watched as his eyes traveled over my body.
“So I have.” He chuckled. Lying down on his side next to me, he trailed his fingers along my stomach and over the curve of my hip. “But there’s a lot more I still want to do to you.”
My heart sped up at that thought. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’d rather show you than tell you.” His deep, masculine chuckle sent a wave of goose bumps over my body. “Hm. Looks like you approve of that idea.”
“I’m not opposed—”
“Mom!” Marty’s voice sounded from the hallway and I sat up straight, grabbing for the blankets.
Max hopped out of the bed and tossed me my dress. I pulled it on over my head and almost jumped out of my skin when I felt Max’s fingers sliding the zipper up.
“Just a minute!” I called to stall Marty.
“Are you in Max’s room?” Marty knocked on the door.
I glanced over my shoulder and shoved my hair out of my face. Max was pulling on his pants, his shirt already in place, and nodded at me.
“I’m here.” I opened the door and looked down at my son.
“I couldn’t find you.” His eyes were accusing.
“I’m sorry.” I looked back at Max. “I was talking with Max and we didn’t want to wake you up.”
I cringed. I never lied to Marty. Well, except about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, but those didn’t count. And technically there had been some talking. Some very . . . interesting talking.
“Oh.” Marty’s gaze shifted past me toward Max. “Were you sleeping?”
“Yes.” Max nodded his head decisively. “We were sleeping.”
“I thought you were talking.” Marty narrowed his eyes.
“We fell asleep while talking,” I rushed to clarify.
“Okay.” He wasn’t convinced. I didn’t blame him. Max and I looked guiltier than a couple of kids found at make-out point.
“What did you need, sweetie?” Out of the corner of my eye I noticed my panties on the floor next to the desk and kicked them out of sight.
“I wanted to know if I could go feed the birds, but Alex said I had to let you know where I was first.” He looked up at me with big eyes. “Can I go? I’ll be fast so we won’t be late for dinner. Please?”
I scanned the room, searching for a clock. It was late afternoon and almost time for dinner.
“Have you eaten anything?”
“I had some fruit.” He smiled up at me.
“Grab your jacket. It’s getting cold at night right now.”
“Woo-hoo!” He tore out of the room.
“Your brother will take good care of him, right?” I looked back over at where Max was sitting on the bed. “He’s not going to have his eyeballs pecked out or anything, right?”
Max chuckled and stood up. “Marty is in the safest of hands.”
“Has he ever watched kids Marty’s age?” I let my hands fall to my sides as he walked toward me.
“Alex is the favorite of all the cousins.” He tilted my face up toward his. “We have a very large family. Lots of little ones running around all the time.”
“Why aren’t you the favorite?” He had such an affinity with Marty, I couldn’t imagine him not getting along with all of his cousins.
He shrugged uncomfortably. “I suppose I never really tried.”
“Were you scared of them?” I laughed, but his frown stopped me. “But you’re so good with Marty.”
“Alex has always wanted kids.” His eyebrows drew together. “And they just gravitated to him.”
“Huh.” I studied his face. “So you don’t want kids.”
“No.” He frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
I cringed inwardly. He didn’t want children? I was a single mother. Marty was my world. But he wasn’t sure. Had something happened to change his mind? Had we changed his mind?
“Don’t look at me like that.” He reached out and tugged on my hair.
“What has you waffling?” I knew better than to put on an act. Somehow Max saw right through me. Instead I chewed on my lip.
He opened his mouth and then closed it. Mr. Confident looked nervous. “I don’t know.”
“Huh.”
“Don’t do that.” He stroked my cheek.
“What?”