Only His (Fool's Gold #6)(40)

“I’m not wrong.”

The mayor shook her head. “No, you’re not. There is a reason.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

She picked up her purse and walked toward the door. “No. It’s not my secret to share.”

“So, there’s a secret.”

“Everyone has secrets, Mr. Janack. Even you.”

CHAPTER NINE

MAX LEANED IN and kissed Denise on the mouth. They were lying in bed, where they spent a good part of their time together. She found it kind of nice to know that, even at her age, the hormones were alive and well. Being around Max made her feel all tingly and happy.

“My kids really liked you,” she said, staring into his blue eyes and smiling.

“Did they have a choice?”

She laughed. “They could have been difficult, not that I expected them to be. You’d already won over Montana. She loves her job.”

“She’s great to have around. She’s responsible and inventive. A combination that’s hard to find. Nevada avoided looking at me all evening.”

“Can you blame her?”

“No. We really need to start locking the doors.”

“I agree.” She snuggled close, her legs tangling with his.

She’d spent the first few years after Ralph’s death wondering how she was going to survive. Even though her kids were grown, she’d kept busy. Recently, she’d thought it would be nice to start dating again. She’d hoped to find someone who interested her. She’d never thought she would be lucky enough to fall so completely for a man as amazing as Max.

“I never stopped thinking about you,” he told her. “Wondering how you were, what you were doing.”

“I thought about you, too.” She had, fleetingly. After all, she’d been taking care of Ralph and their six kids. There hadn’t been a lot of time for speculation.

“Not the same,” he told her lightly. “You were married to someone else.”

“You never married?”

He shook his head. “Didn’t want to. There were women,” he added.

She smiled. “Dozens. Hundreds.”

“At least.”

He kissed her.

She felt a twinge and pushed the jealousy away. She had no right. She’d been off being happy and she should want the same for Max. Thirty-five years was a long time.

“I wanted to come back when I first heard about Ralph,” he admitted. “But I knew that would be a mistake.”

“You’re right. It would have been. I wasn’t ready. I grieved for him for a long time. Plus with the kids…”

He kissed her again. “I wasn’t ready, either. I knew I had to change, to be the man you deserved. Grow up, I guess. But it’s different now. I can be that guy.”

She traced the shape of his jaw, then rested her hand on his bare shoulder. “You were always that guy.”

“No, but I had potential. I love you, Denise. I want to marry you.”

She heard the words, followed by a rushing sound. The room tilted, then seemed to spin out of control. All she could think about was when she’d married Ralph. How proud he’d been when the minister had introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix. How she’d known then she would love him forever.

“No,” she said involuntarily, sitting up and pulling the sheet with her. She scrambled out of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her. “I’m sorry. But no.” Her breath came in short gasps as her lungs constricted.

She stared at him, strong and handsome and naked in her bed. In her bedroom. What had she been thinking?

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, giving in to the panic.

Max got to his feet and came around the bed. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

She touched her face and was surprised to feel tears. “You’re a good person. No, a wonderful person. But this would be all wrong.” She knew she wasn’t making any sense, but couldn’t stop herself from speaking.

“Getting married would ruin everything,” she said, backing away from him. “There’s more to a relationship than great sex. More to marriage. Haven’t you figured that out by now? We’re having fun. Just two people having fun.”

He looked concerned rather than angry. “Are you feeling all right?”

“No.”

She ran into the bathroom and closed the door. “I’m not feeling very well,” she yelled to him, through the door. “I think you should go.”

“Denise, you’re not making any sense. We have to talk about this.”

“We don’t. Please, just go away.”

She sank onto the floor and started to cry. Guilt attacked her as she realized she’d betrayed the man she truly loved. She’d cheated on Ralph. She’d allowed herself to believe she could be with someone else.

She heard noises from the bedroom, followed by silence. Seconds later, the front door closed. Max was gone.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She was cold. And alone.

NEVADA WATCHED all the equipment being off-loaded.

“Makes your heart beat a little faster, doesn’t it?” Charlie asked.

The fire department engineer stood next to her, at the job site.