That was Monday night. For the next two days I took her to that place every morning at five and brought her home from the restaurant after midnight. Can you say pissed way the fuck off?

By Wednesday it was pretty well known around the club that we were an item. As these things go I didn’t have to say anything, people just drew their own conclusions.

The fact that I’d been hanging around until closing and had had her wait in my office at the end of her shifts until I was ready to leave was also a dead giveaway.

I’m not sure if anyone had said anything to her, but I was pretty sure Tony had passed on the word through Celeste the bartender that that shit was a sure fired way to get their ass canned.

Thursday morning after she finished at the coffee shop I picked her up. I went inside for the first time to make sure things were cool, since this was the day she was supposed to quit.

There was no yelling and screaming, so I guessed everything had gone well and she confirmed it as I walked her to the car where her brother was waiting.

Today was the day he was going to check out the school. For the past few days I’d been taking him to the park to train with him and keep his arm from getting rusty. The kid is good.

I’d made contact with his scout who dealt with things on his end, but didn’t give us a hard time because hey, Max fucking Carrington here. I might’ve been sidelined but I’m still the shit.

Mom and Mrs. Astor had taken care of almost everything, so by the time we showed up at the school all that was needed were some signatures and his transcripts which we took care of right then and there.

He met with the coach and had a tour of the school and the field of course, and once again my presence made things there go smoothly.

Next it was off to mom’s house where Travis would be staying unless I came up with a better idea. I was leaning more towards getting the kid a car to drive in every morning so he could stay with his sister.

He took one look at mom’s setup and all but deserted us at the door. Mom’s place has it all. Pool, tennis court, basketball ring. Everything a young boy would enjoy. Us guys hung together out back after mom dragged Anna off to the kitchen for some girl talk.

I’d given her a heads up about the dance school fiasco and as usual she’d told me to leave it to her. By the time we were ready to leave later in the afternoon it was obvious she’d given my girl a lot to think about.

I’d made her take the day off from the restaurant since she’d made some big decisions that day. Leaving her job and enrolling her brother in a school where he might have to live with my mom.

She hadn’t said much in the car on the way home but I know her well enough by now to know she was secretly freaking the hell out. She had that look in her eyes.

Once back at the apartment the three of us sat down and had a serious talk. Travis, who’s that cool mix of kid and almost adult, led the conversation with all the reasons he thought it was a good idea for him to stay at mom’s place for the four months of his last semester of high school after the upcoming winter break, and spend weekends with us.

It made sense to me but I know my girl, it’ll take her about a year to not worry about it. I talked her into getting some rest for once while Travis and I sat in the kitchen. The boy eats like ten times a day.

I too was having serious second thoughts about splitting them up now that we’d come down to it, so I wanted to make sure that the kid was really down with the decision.

A nap sounded really good, but I was way too wound up to comply with Max’s orders. Am I doing the right thing? Everything seems to be going too fast.

When I look back, we’d only known each other for less than two months. What am I doing? I was starting to feel that pressure on my chest again, like I was about to pass out.

My mind wouldn’t settle because I couldn’t see around the corner to what might be waiting for me next. I can take care of myself but it’s not just me. My brother is the only family I have left…

Panic had me jumping from the bed and heading back out of the room headed for the kitchen where the guys were hanging out. I’ll look into his eyes and know if he’s telling me the truth. That this is what he really wants to do.

I came up short outside the door when I heard Max’s voice. I wasn’t sure what I was about to hear but something told me to listen in. My heart raced in that sickening way it does when you think something bad is about to happen.

“Are you sure you want to stay at my mom’s place? I remember you saying you came here to be with your sister. We can get you a car and you can drive in and back each day.”

“It’s true I came to look out for my sister, but that’s before I knew she had you. Besides, I think you two need your space.”

“What? Is that the reason you’re staying with mom? You think I’d separate you two so I can have time alone with your sister? What do you take me for? If that’s what you have on your mind you can forget it. You’ll stay here with us.”

“What are you smiling about?”

“I’m glad you feel that way, I just wanted to be sure.”

“Sure about what?”

“You! I watched you the last week or so and I have a pretty good idea how you feel about my sister, I just wanted to be sure.”

“So you’ve been watching me huh.”

“Yep! Like you said, I came here to look out for her, but you’re doing a good job so I can relax. At least at your mom’s I’m only an hour away by car or two by train. If I go back to Ohio it’ll take me much longer to get to her if she needs me.”

“Are you being straight with me? Because you leaving to give us our space is not acceptable. I know no matter how close you are she’s still going to worry about you.”

“That’s a given, she’s always going to worry because that’s what big sisters do, but this way I’m closer. Just promise me that you won’t hurt her.”

“Hey, you have my word as a man, I will never hurt her.”

I was holding my breath so hard it hurt my chest. I fought back the tears as the conversation in the other room continued, wishing it was as easy for me to accept as it seemed to be for my little brother.

“How can you be so sure?”

“You sound like her. Let me see if I can explain this so you understand. For as long as I can remember there were two people who lived in a special place in my heart. Tony and mom.”

“No one else has ever been able to enter that place in all these years, except your sister. The people who enter this place can never be removed by anyone or anything.”

“How do you know that it’s real though? That it won’t pass in a few months or a year?” The

question and the hint of insecurity reminded me that my brother may have the body of a man but he was still a child. A child who was trying to protect his sister.

I’d been so focused on taking care of him that it never entered my mind that he would be just as worried about me as well. The boy might not know all of what had happened with mom, but he’d suffered the same things I had. I too was his only family. The reminder was humbling as I listened for Max’s answer.

“I knew the first moment I saw her. More than knowing there was a feeling that I can’t explain. It felt better than the first time I threw a touchdown in a professional game.”

“Wow really, is that how it happens? Is that how love works?”

I could imagine his eyes wide with wonder. Those football references might go right over my head but for Travis they’re like the Holy Grail or something.

“I don’t know how it works for anyone else, but that’s how it worked out for me. So you don’t have to worry kid. Just do me one favor. If you ever see me hurting your sister in anyway I want you to call me on it.”

“I don’t mean cheating or any of that assholish bullshit, that’s not gonna happen. But if she ever seems down or like something’s bothering her that she doesn’t want to tell me, I’ma need you to keep me posted.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that, Max. She’s been hurt enough. Now I can go off to college next fall without worrying about her.”

“I’ll take care of her and we’ll both take care of you.”

“You have my permission to kick my ass if I ever hurt her. Of course you’d have to stand in line behind Tony and mom because they’re on her side too.”

“I like momma Sophie, she gives the best talks.” Momma Sophie? When did he start calling her that? I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but he was right, she did give the best talks.

“I know she does, I wanted you to have that, you and your sister. She’d never steer you wrong and she’d never let me hurt Annabelle, not in a million

years so you can stop worrying.”

‘Thanks Max.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m gonna go check on your sister. Be right back.”

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. I tiptoed back down the hallway as quietly as I could and jumped into bed. I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes just as I heard him in the doorway.

I felt and sensed him come to stand over me and it was all I could do not to open my eyes. There was so much going on inside me and I knew any minute now I was going to start bawling.

He didn’t stay long, which was a good thing because the hand he brushed over my hair and the sweet kiss he planted on my forehead were my undoing.

I opened my eyes as soon as I felt him leave and the tears just started flowing. My chest had been tight in one way or another since my parents’ divorce. Today for the first time in almost two years that tightness began to ease.

There was still a sense of standing at the edge of a cliff in a high wind, but now there was also that sense of impending joy. For once I chose to push the worry and fear to the side and grab ahold of that little glimmer of joy and hope.

His words still rang in my ears, words that pierced my heart in the sweetest way. Could I really trust in him? I want to, am almost compelled to.

He’d spoken so easily about the things he’d felt that first night, things I myself had been shying away from. Things I’d refused to trust, my own feelings that first time.

I took out all the things he’s said and done since we met and reevaluated them over and over again looking for any kind of deceit, but I kept coming away with the same thing. He was for real.

I’d already been swaying after this morning’s talk with his mom. She had some very convincing arguments, things that made sense when heard from someone else. Someone who for whatever reason I seem to trust without question.

I wish it was as easy as taking a deep breath and diving in the way I used to when I was learning to swim in the deep end, which this felt like, but there was so much at stake how can I?

Travis seems to believe in him one hundred percent and I know my brother to be a good judge of character. Plus knowing how protective he is of me, I don’t think he’d approve of any relationship that he didn’t think was good for me.

So the only thing standing in my way was my own fear. Without the fear, Max would be the ideal man for any woman, let alone someone as undeserving as I.

In the past week I’ve been tempted more than once to just give in, but something always held me back. But now, now I know his heart and there’s no longer any reason for me not to give this thing a try.

When I look back at the things he’s done it’s almost too much to believe. No wonder it was so hard for me to accept. In less than two months he’s given me a job, moved my brother and I into his luxury apartment, all things that I’d long learned not expect.

But now that I’d heard him, the emotion and ring of truth in the words, how could I not at least think about it? The fact that he was willing to let Travis stay makes all the difference to me.

I’d been straddling the fence even after his mother’s counsel, but those words have given me that last little push I needed.

I wanted to run back down the hallway and jump into his arms, that’s how happy I am. But I don’t want him to know that I know, let him sweat it out for a little while longer. He’s too damn sure of himself. I smiled at the thought.

Now that my mind was clear I felt light, free, happy, almost giddy in fact. Seen through new eyes everything he did that was once suspect is now mind blowing and very flattering.

“To hell with this!” I jumped out of bed and made my way down the hallway. I made sure my footsteps were loud enough that they’d hear me coming.

“Hi guys, what you been up to?” I ignored their confused looks and walked towards the cupboards looking for ingredients. I love baking when I’m happy.

They were still watching me silently when I turned from the cupboard. “We need to go to the store, I need stuff to bake.” I hid my smile when Max looked at Travis questioningly before getting to his feet.

The three of us headed downstairs and walked past the two seat Spyder to a Hummer. “What’s this?” I asked as he walked me around to the passenger side.

“Travis can’t fit in the Lamborghini, this is my backup.”

“Wait that’s yours?” Travis pointed to the sports car with a crestfallen look on his face that he wasn’t going to get to ride in it.

“I’ll bring it out to mom’s one of these weekends and let you take it for a spin.” My brother almost fell on his face. That’s all we heard as we drove the few blocks to the supermarket.

It was amusing to listen to the back and forth between the two of them on the ride. Max was trying to be a father figure it was obvious, and Travis was being a usual teenager who would do anything to have his way.

When Max put his foot down about him driving the car in the city and even threatened him with an ass whipping if he ever snuck the keys I relaxed a

little bit more.

I went for maybe four things and ended up with two carts. Between the two of them, I’m not sure who was worst. “What? It’s been a while since I’ve been in one of these places, I forgot how much fun it is.”

That was Max’s explanation when I gave him a look after he placed another bag of chips in the cart. The two of them carried the million and one packages to the truck when we were through and I can’t remember the last time something as simple as a trip to the store gave me so much life.

Back at the apartment, I sent them out of the kitchen after planting a kiss on Max that left him all kinds of confused if the look he gave me as he left was any indication.

I spent the next two hours making brownies which are Travis’ favorite and my special German chocolate cake. They descended on it like starving wolves. And when Max picked me up and spun me around after his first taste of my cake, I felt my heart open up just a little bit more.