Chapter Twenty-Four
Maxwell climbed from the warmth of the sleeping bag he’d spread out in the bed of his truck and jumped to the ground. He stretched, taking in the horizon. He took in a deep breath of the chilly air, watched his foggy breath as he exhaled, and looked down over the sleepy town spread out before him with a renewed purpose in life. He needed to have something to move forward toward, and he’d decided what that was.
He rolled up the sleeping bag, slammed the tailgate closed, and slid behind the wheel to head back to the farmhouse.
A few minutes later, he jogged up the back porch stairs and entered through the kitchen. The thought of a hot cup of coffee had him bee-lining for the coffee maker to start a pot.
While it brewed, he headed quietly to the desk next to the stairs and dug through the drawer where he kept his bank statements, tax returns, and bills. He gathered them up and returned to the kitchen to pour himself a steaming mug of coffee and then spread his finances out on the kitchen table.
He went over his savings, income, and expenses as he sipped his coffee, scratching out figures on a yellow legal pad. When he looked up from it in frowning concentration, he saw Ava leaning against the door jam in her fuzzy robe, studying him. He set his mug down. “Sorry, honey. Did I wake you?”
As if on cue, she yawned, then smiled and moved to the coffeemaker. “No, it was the smell of this brewing that drew me down the stairs.” She poured a cup and moved to stand behind him, resting her free hand on his shoulder as she peered over it to the paperwork spread over the table. “What’s all this?”
He twisted his head to look up at her. “I’ve been thinking about something for a long time, and I think I can swing it.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m gonna buy the Fourth Street Gym.”
Her brows rose. “Pops’ place?”
He nodded.
“Well, I know you love working with the kids…”
“I do.”
“But what about the shop?”
“I’ll still work there. Brothers Ink is the family business. I’ll always work there. But Pops is going to close his place up and move to Florida. Without it, the young kids will have no place to go.”
“Why is he closing down?”
“His wife is getting worse. He wants to be closer to family.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“The kids need that place. I’ve been going over my finances, and I think I can swing it.”
“But if you’re at Brothers Ink, who will run the gym?”
“I’ll hire someone. The place practically runs itself. I know I can do this. I need to do this, Ava.”
Her blue eyes sparkled down at him. “Believing in yourself is half the battle, Max. And I believe you can do this, too. And I have no doubt about you being the perfect person for those kids. Kids seem to like you.” She stroked her hand down his cheek. “You’re going to make an amazing uncle.”
He twisted in his seat, put one arm around her waist, and patted her belly with the other hand. “You pick a name for this little angel yet?”
“Lila Rose.”
He spoke to her belly. “Well, Lila Rose, you’re going to have an awesome mommy.”
“You hittin’ on my woman?” a masculine voice said from the doorway.
Max turned to see Jameson scratching his bare chest, his pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips, and a bad case of bedhead. He squinted with sleepy eyes toward the two of them.
Max grinned at his brother and tugged Ava closer. “Yup. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Jameson moved to the coffee pot without another word.
Ava and Max exchanged a look, Ava rolling her eyes.
“Well, you’re a romantic bastard, Jamie. Aren’t you gonna come fight me for her?”
Jameson yawned as he poured himself a cup. “Maybe later.”
“Did I wake you when I got out of bed?” Ava asked her husband.
He turned and leaned back against the counter, raising the mug to his mouth. “I suddenly had the whole bed. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
She put her hand on her hip. “Are you saying your wife is a big fat cow who takes up the entire bed?”
Jameson realized he’d just stepped in a pile of it, and Max burst out laughing at his brother’s sudden unease.
“Baby, did I say that? No! I just meant I missed your beautiful sexy body pressed up against me.” He took a sip and continued, “I love hanging off the edge of the bed. Really.”
Ava grabbed a dishtowel off the counter and swatted him with it. “Jameson O’Rourke, you apologize to me right now.”
He pulled the cup down from his mouth, fending off the towel with the other forearm. “I thought that’s what I just did.”
Max laughed harder. “Jamie, you don’t know shit about women.”
“You shut up,” Jameson growled, grabbed the towel with his free hand, and tugged his wife to him, hooking his forearm around her waist. He gazed down into her face. “Settle down, woman. You know I love you.”
She smiled up at him. “You’d better.”
He kissed her, and then peered down into her mug. “You’re not supposed to be drinking that.”
She winced. “I know. But it’s so hard!”
Jameson grinned and tightened his arm. “Come here, my little caffeine addict, and I’ll show you what’s hard.”
She giggled as he tickled her, and she almost spilled the mug.
“Hey, take it upstairs, you two,” Max growled with a grin.
Jameson wrestled the mug from his wife’s hand and dumped it out in the sink, then he looped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her with him to the table, peering down at the paperwork. “What’s all this?”
Ava smiled up at him, taking pleasure in spilling the beans. “He’s buying Pops’ Gym.”
Jameson’s brows shot up, his eyes pinning his brother’s. “You’re what?”
“Don’t look so worried, Jamie. I’m not putting in my notice. Just… expanding the family holdings.”
“Pops’ Gym, huh?” He nodded, contemplating. “It’s a good investment. You need some capital, let me know, I’ll go in on it with you.”
Maxwell looked up at his brother. “I appreciate it. And I may have to take you up on it, but I’d like to try and swing it on my own if I can.”
“Understood. Just remember the offer stands if you need it.”
Maxwell swore he saw a new respect shining in his brother’s eyes. He glanced from Jameson to Ava, who was hugging her husband’s waist and looking up adoringly at him.
Max was happy his brother had found someone so right for him. They could rail and rib each other, and then a moment later be cuddled together like now, just the two of them against the world.
Max had thought he’d found that with Malee. At the reminder, a new wave of loneliness hit him.
He turned back to his paperwork and gathered it up, swallowing down the emotion. He’d survive and somehow he’d get over the hurt. But right now he needed to get a shower and make a trip to see a banker about a loan.