Chapter Eight
Two weeks later—
Max stood at the front window of Brothers Ink, sipping a cup of coffee. He stared past the cheesy Halloween decorations—that Ava had insisted they put up on the glass—to the street beyond. The holiday was a week away, but with the snap in the air, it already felt like November.
Max eyed the sky. It was early yet. The shop didn’t open for another hour, but Jameson had taken Ava to her obstetrician’s appointment, and Max had promised to open up. He’d left the farmhouse right after the two of them. His brother was a nervous wreck the closer she got to her due date, and Max found that hilarious. Jameson was totally out of his depth.
And he wasn’t the only one. Ever since Max had met Malee, he couldn’t get her out of his mind; it kept straying back to the way she had felt when he’d pulled her up against him in his truck, the way her lips had felt under his. Hell, it had been almost a month, and he still couldn’t forget the delicate, sweet taste of that innocent mouth.
“Max!” He turned at the sound of Liam’s sharp voice.
“What?” he snapped, pissed to be shaken from his sweet thoughts.
“Jesus, dude. I called your name like three times. Are you spacing out again over that chick?” Liam came to stand beside him.
“Just trying to enjoy my fucking coffee. That okay with you?”
Liam huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, right.” He folded his arms and leaned against the window frame. “When’s Rory due back in town?”
“Fuck if I know. Call him and ask.”
“He’s not answering.”
“Typical. Whenever he’s on the road with his band, he’s notoriously hard to reach. Text him. You might get a reply in a day or two.”
“I bet if Jameson called him, he’d fucking answer.”
“Yup. He’s smart enough to know better than to piss off big brother.”
At ten in the morning, Main Street already had a lot of foot traffic. Maxwell sipped his coffee and watched absently as people moved past on the sidewalk.
“Look, there’s Steffy,” Liam pointed out. Maxwell’s eyes swung to the coffee shop across the street and two doors down, spotting Ava’s sister. She came out juggling a tray of coffees and a bakery bag. But it wasn’t her that had him straightening; it was the person on the street she bumped into, sending the coffees spilling and crashing to the pavement.
Malee!
“Whoa, shit! Did you see that?” Liam shouldered away from the door.
Malee was shaking her hand like the hot drinks had burned it.
“Come on!” Max snapped, and both brothers went out the door and dashed across the street.
Steffy was apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Miss. I didn’t see you. It was my fault entirely. Are you okay?”
Max’s voice was calm as he said, “She can’t hear you, Stef.”
Steffy frowned. “What?”
“She’s deaf,” Liam informed her and began signing to Malee. She apologizes and wants to know if you’re okay.
Malee nodded, but she was holding her hand tucked to her waist and there were tears in her eyes.
Max knelt before her and reached for her hand. “Liam, tell her I want to see her hand.”
Liam signed the words, knowing that was not in the list of phrases he’d taught Max.
She shook her head.
Max looked directly into her eyes and mouthed, please.
Reluctantly she let him pull her hand free and held it out. It trembled with pain and was bright red.
His eyes lifted to her. I’ll fix it. I promise. Okay?
She nodded, a tear rolling down her face.
Max rolled back her long sleeves. The burn appeared to be only the back of her hand and wrist. “We need to get this tended to. Tell her to come to the shop, and I’ll take care of her, Liam.”
Liam signed and pointed across the street.
“Maybe she should go to the hospital,” Steffy suggested nervously. “I’m so sorry.”
There were fresh fruits and vegetables scattered around their feet, and Max realized, with a glance at the bag, that Malee had just come from the Asian grocer. He stood and pulled her toward the curb, ordering Liam, “Get her things and bring them, okay?”
“Yeah, sure thing.”
Max led Malee across the street and up into Brothers Ink, but she pulled back. He could tell by one look at her face, that besides the pain, she was very nervous about being in the shop.
It’s okay, he signed.
She shook her head, but he ignored her, knowing time was of the essence. He pulled her to the back, led her into the room they used for piercings and straight to the sink. He turned on the cool water and put her hand under it.
She tried to pull it out, but he held it firm, trying to sign with the other hand. It will help.
Liam stuck his head in the door. “She okay?”
“Tell her she has to keep her hand under the cool water for twenty minutes.”
Liam signed to her, and she nodded. He set her bag of groceries down on the padded table. “I’ll get her some Ibuprofen.
When they were alone again, Max grabbed a tissue and wiped Malee’s tears. He nodded to the water running over her hand and signed, Better?
She nodded and slowly said, “I wasn’t looking.”
Max grinned and shook his head, mouthing, nope.
That had a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.
He lifted his chin to the grocery bag. Shopping?
She nodded. “Every Tuesday and Friday morning.”
Max nodded, thinking he’d start making it a point to be standing outside twice a week, just to get to watch her walk past.
Her sorrowful eyes met his. “I’m sorry about what my brother said to you.”
Liam came back in with a small bottle of water and two caplets in his palm. He held them out to her. She popped the pills on her tongue and then took the bottle, swallowing them down.
Max motioned for her to drink more, so she turned the bottle up again with a roll of her eyes.
“Tell her I saw that,” he said to Liam.
Liam chuckled and signed it to her.
That got him a smile and another eye roll.
Max waved his finger in front of her face, teasing her that she’d better not do that again.
Liam signed something to her that had Malee laughing. Max didn’t know what it was, but he assumed it was some joke about him. He didn’t mind, for once. As long as it distracted her from the pain, she could laugh at him all day.
Liam glanced at his watch. “I think that’s been long enough.”
Max nodded and turned off the faucet.
She reached for a paper towel from the dispenser, but he grabbed it out of her hand and tossed it aside. Before she could respond, he grabbed her waist and in one quick motion he hefted her up onto the padded table.
Her eyes got big.
“Tell her it’s better to air dry,” Max said.
Liam signed the explanation to her.
She sat facing him, her legs dangling as he rolled over a stool and sat in front of her, then gently took her hand in his, examining it. Lifting his eyes to hers, he swore he could get lost in those beautiful soulful depths. He winked. “Tell her she’ll be okay, but to keep it uncovered and not to put any ointment on it.”
Liam signed to her, and then asked Max, “Anything else you want me to tell her, Dr. Max?”
“I’ve got it from here, smartass.” He twisted to give Liam a look that told him to give him the room. Liam took the hint with a grin and closed the door quietly as he left. Max signed to her.
I’ve missed you.
“Me, too.” She took note of the fact he was no longer using the alphabet to sign. “You’re learning sign language?”
He nodded. I’ve been practicing some phrases.
She seemed pleased and pointed to herself in question.
Yes, for you.
Her face brightened.
I want to see you again. Can you meet me?
“I don’t know.”
Please.
“Maybe.”
I wish you had a cell phone so I could text you. Maybe I’ll buy you one.
Her eyes got big, and she shook her head. “It wouldn’t be right to accept it.”
Can you come here to the shop, just to talk sometimes?
She shook her head. “The restaurant is down the street. Someone might see me.”
He was tempted to ask her to come in the back door, but even as he thought it, it sounded wrong. She didn’t deserve to be relegated to coming in a back door like she wasn’t worthy of the front. After the gym closes, could you meet me there?
She bit her lower lip and hell if he didn’t want to kiss it. “Maybe. If I can sneak out.”
What time?
“I don’t know.” She searched his eyes. “How will I know if you’re there?”
I’ll leave the outside light on, the one over the red door. If it’s on, I’m there.
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”
If the light’s not on, don’t come. I don’t want you wandering the streets. It’s not safe.
“Okay. I can see the door from my room.”
How will I know you’re coming?
“I’ll put a small lamp in the window.”
He nodded, happiness flooding through him for the first time in a week.
“I better go. They’ll wonder what’s taking so long.”
He nodded, the smile fading. Then before she could hop down off the table, he stood, planting both his hands on either side of her hips, leaned in, and kissed her. She was only surprised for a second, before her mouth opened under his, and he swept inside, and it was just as sweet as he remembered. He pulled back a fraction to search her eyes.
She grinned, reached up, and tugged the bottom of his beard, pulling him back to her mouth for another kiss.
Max kept his hands locked in place on that padded vinyl. Determined not to scare her by doing what he wanted—which was to wrap his fists in her hair and pull her body flush against his, pushing his hips between her knees to spread them wide. It all flashed through his mind, every move he wanted to make, and his fingers curled into the padding in absolute control of the urge, fighting it back with every ounce of willpower.
He broke away, his breathing heavy, and pressed his forehead to hers. She was breathing hard, too. Her delicate uninjured hand came up to cup his beard-covered cheek.
“I should go, Max.”
He straightened and helped her down, but paused to sign. Tonight.
She nodded, grabbed her bag, and walked out.
He stood in the room, knowing if he followed her to the door, he wouldn’t be able to resist hauling her back into his arms for one more kiss.
He’d see her tonight. He could wait that long.