Page 75 of The Ruthless and the Strong

He looked down. “Okay, Momma. I sorry.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Now what do you say to Max for doing all this for you?”

“Thank you!” He looked up and smiled widely at Max, showing off his one missing tooth.

Max smiled back at him, ruffling his hair. It didn’t look like Hunter minded that much. I think it was only me he didn’t like messing up his hair. Give it a few weeks, Max would be his best friend in the whole wide world.

I grinned at the thought, and when I looked back at them Max was watching me, with that intense look in his eyes.

“Do I have something on my face?” I asked, moving my hand to my cheeks.

He shook his head. “No. Nothing. You’re absolutely perfect.”

And it must have been the way he said it, or the fact that he was looking at me as if he could read me as well as he could read his favorite book, but I found myself blushing.

“Thank you,” I said awkwardly, reaching down for the basket and pulling out the food.

We worked quietly, and it wasn’t long before we had everything all ready. Hunter took a seat next to Max, even when I tried to get him to sit near me so I could help him prepare his food.

“It’s okay. I can help him.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

He tweaked my nose. “Positive.”

I smiled a little and watched as Max prepared Hunter’s meal. He listened carefully to what Hunter said were his favorites and got him extra. By the time he was done, Hunter’s plate was piled with fruits and cheese, a handful of Cheez-It crackers, and half a turkey sandwich.

I laughed. “You know he won’t finish this all, right?”

“It’s okay. He’ll eat what he can, and if he gets hungry later, he can have it.”

Max winked at Hunter, earning himself another grin.

I grabbed the turkey sandwich and took a bite. “This is good. When did you find the time to make it?”

A sheepish look entered his eyes. “I didn’t. I ordered the sandwiches from a sub shop nearby. The only thing I did was wash the fruit.”

“Well, I love it. It's awesome.”

“Good. Then eat more.” He shoved a plate of grapes and strawberries near me, and I plopped a green grape into my mouth, chewing around the smile.

For the next thirty minutes or so, we just ate and talked and laughed. It was the most fun I’d had in a very long time. I leaned back on a sigh and rubbed my belly, keeping an eye on Hunter, who was off playing by himself nearby.

“I don’t think I can take another bite,” I said.

“Even for dessert?” Max asked.

I perked up at that. “What dessert?”

I watched him dig around in the basket and pull out a plate of strawberry cheesecake. My mouth watered. “I suppose I have room for a few more bites,” I muttered.

Max laughed. “You always did have a sweet tooth.”

I grinned at him and waited impatiently as he unwrapped it from the plastic wrap. He grabbed a clean fork nearby and scooped some up. “Open,” he said.

I did and he fed it to me, our eyes holding as I chewed. Max moved his thumb over my bottom lip, and I stopped mid-chew.

“Sorry, you had a little crumb here,” he said quietly. He moved his thumb to his mouth and sucked. “There. All better again.”

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