Page 18 of Craving You

A bit tongue-tied, she motioned to the seat Billie just vacated.

“I know we’re all supposed to have dinner together tonight, but I was out running a few errands and stopped to grab some coffee, and Jade told me you were here.” Leaning back in the chair, he continued to smile. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?”

“I’m good. I’m good. Um…yeah. Good,” she murmured, quickly taking a sip of her tea and silently cursing how ridiculous she sounded.

“That’s good!” he teased. “And before you ask, I’m good too.” With a wink, he went on. “I’m not arrogant enough to think you’re back in Sweetbriar Ridge because of me, but I’m hoping that maybe I’m a little part of it and that we can get together for dinner, just the two of us. Would that be okay?”

Nodding, she quietly replied, “I’d like that. Thank you.”

Ugh…why am I being this way? This man has seen me naked! He licked hot fudge off of me! Stop acting like a polite stranger!

His smile fell a little as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “If you’d rather not, it’s fine. I just thought…”

“No, I really want to,” she blurted out. “I’m just…I’m a little tired from flying out so early.”

Liar. Liar. Liar.

Forcing herself to smile at him, she hoped to put his mind at ease. “It would be nice to go out with you, Max. And you are definitely part of the reason I’m here.”

Or the entire part. Whatever.

“Obviously we’re all having dinner together tonight, but maybe we can talk after that and make some plans?”

“That works,” she agreed, even though she knew they were going to be talking much sooner than that and he might not be interested in going out anywhere with her after they did. “So, how are things going? I hear you’re living in the apartment over…”

“The garage,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I know it sounds bad, but it’s not. Not really.”

Laughing softly, she teased, “Then you might want to tell your face that because it’s saying something completely different.”

That made him laugh too. “The phrase ‘apartment over the garage’ just conjures up images of some dank little space, but honestly, it’s really nice and spacious. The whole thing was newly renovated.”

“I thought you were living with your dad.”

He made another face. “That’s almost as bad as the apartment over the garage.” He groaned. “The plan was to stay with my father until I found a place of my own. Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything that I really like. I had no idea I was this fussy,” he joked. “After staying at Billie and Marcus’s place while they were on their honeymoon, they offered me the apartment. It’s just temporary, but I’m almost desperate to find a house.”

“I get that. You shouldn’t have to settle for something you don’t want, especially if you’re going to be paying a lot of money for it. It seems like the real estate here in the area is kind of booming—lots of new construction and whatnot. I was talking to my cousin Patrick at the wedding and he and his wife Marissa seemed really involved in it. Maybe you should talk to them?”

“I have, and I think I frustrated the hell out of them.” He winked again, and she kind of loved that little gesture. “Marcus bought his and Billie’s house without her input—some big romantic gesture or whatever—and it’s way too big for just the two of them. But they plan on having kids and obviously there are a lot of Donovans that come to visit.”

She giggled. “Lucky for me they have a guest room.”

“Exactly. I don’t have a big family, I’m not married, I don’t have kids, and I’m very practical. I don’t think I should buy a sprawling house when it’s just me.”

“What about a townhouse or condo? I thought I saw some of those on my way into town.”

“I had a house up until a few months ago. I enjoy having my own space and no shared walls. Plus, I kind of enjoy doing yardwork. Who knew?”

“Hey, you two!” Billie said as she sauntered over. “Max, what are you even doing here? I told you I’d bring you home some brownies.”

“Yes, you did, but I’ve been meeting with several businesses all morning and was in need of caffeine.” He laughed. “Didn’t mean to rhyme!”

But they all laughed with him.

“Well, then you can grab your own box of goodies, and I’m going to take Hailey home. We’ll see you at dinner tonight, right?”

He nodded. “Absolutely. And what am I bringing?”

“Just yourself,” Billie told him before looking at Hailey. “You ready?”

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