Raging Heart On (Lucas Brothers #2)(108)

“We need to go topside and start heading towards town,” I tell her with regret. She turns to me, and our eyes lock and the sadness in hers lets me know she understands exactly, what that means. “Tess…”

“It’s okay, Max. I get it,” she answers, pasting a fake smile on her face before coming over and letting her lips claim mine. It’s a sweet kiss, full of flavor—her flavor, which is fast becoming the only one I would ever need.

We enjoy a long leisurely kiss, my fingers absently combing through the ends of her hair. It’s not a kiss to stir excitement, instead it feels more like a vow between us, one that seals our fates and makes sure we stay connected. Jesus, I’m starting to sound like a Hallmark card.

“We should get moving. Find more of that breakfast crap,” she says against my lips, her eyes still closed.

“Breakfast crap?” I ask through a smile.

“I’d die for a cinnamon roll right now, or heck, even a candy bar.”

“How about oatmeal instead? I might be able to find some chocolate chips to put in it?” I offer.

“Anything chocolate would be greatly appreciated, kind sir,” she quips as I stand up and give her one last hug. I hate it, but she’s right; we need to get moving.

The rest of the morning is filled with breakfast and searching through the bunker’s supplies for items we can take with us for our trek. The way I have it figured; we will have to travel one more night to get farther away from Ormond. Then, I can take Tess back into civilization. Taking her back into Ormond would be suicide, and suddenly I’m finding I might have a reason to live, at least a little longer. Until I’m forced to give her up.





13


Tess


We’ve been walking for a couple of hours. Max found me a pair of his Uncle’s old hunting boots and some thick wool socks. They’re big, but they sure don’t hurt my feet like my shoes did. I’m still wearing his flannel shirt along with my dress pants. I know I look insane, but after the morning I’ve had, I feel beautiful. After months of dreaming about Max, having a taste of the reality exceeded my wildest dreams. For the hundredth time this morning alone, I wish that mine and Max’s circumstances were different. I don’t even know how to explain that deep down inside I feel like the two of us were made for each other. I have since hearing his name. It doesn’t make any sense but as time goes by, I just don’t care. That’s how it is, and I don’t want to waste what precious minutes I have left with him. I’d rather experience him.

“You’re not very talkative today, Max.”

“I’m not the talkative one in this duo, Kitten.”

“Well I need conversation if you expect me to walk anymore, ‘cause I’m getting really tired of walking. When I get back to civilization, I may never walk again.”

“Might make getting around difficult.”

“Yeah. I need to win the lottery, and then I can hire people to come and carry me wherever I need to go.”

“Carry you?”

“Yeah, I need minions. That’s definitely going to take winning the lottery.”

“Money doesn’t always solve all your problems, Tess.”

“Yeah well, it sure would be better than dodging phone calls,” I tell him before I catch myself. It’s not that I mind him hearing about my student loans, I just rather not talk about it at all.

“Is that why you’re working for the lawyer and his pill of a wife?”

I shrug, starting to feel uncomfortable, in the grand scheme of things my problems are small. Max is the one who faces real danger.

“Tell me, Tess,” he orders and I almost do it, before I catch myself.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me something in exchange.”

“In exchange?”

“Surely the concept isn’t that Greek to you Max; it’s called compromise.”

“I believe I’ve heard of it once or twice.”

“So, my turn first, since you already have your question for me. Tell me, Max. Bugs Bunny or Yosemite Sam.”

He stops walking, and I nearly plow into him. He turns to look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What on Earth are you talking about?” he asks.

“You know, cartoons. Oh good Lord, Max! Please tell me you know what a cartoon is?”

He exhales loudly like he’s so put out with me he can’t take another step, and then grins. “The Smurfs.”

I stop in my tracks. I look up at this buff, muscled, god of a man, and hear him say The Smurfs. I lose it and laugh so hard, I have tears. He reaches out his hand to help me step over a large fallen tree that’s on our pathway before I finally gain control.

“I don’t find it that funny,” he grumbles good-naturedly.

“The Smurfs are just so…well, they’re not very manly, Max.”

“The Smurfs are the manliest cartoon around; I can’t believe you don’t see that, Tess.”

“How do you figure?” I question, trying to act like I’m taking him seriously.

“One lone girl in an entire village of men? C’mon now that’s the script to a seventies porn movie if ever there was one.”

“Oh my god!” I exclaim, because words kind of fail me.