She didn’t remember getting undressed or much else about last night. Her head throbbed and she laid it back on Merrick’s chest.
“Good morning, Mrs. Foster,” he said.
A feeling of giddiness swept over her. “Where was I?”
“Right beside me,” he whispered against her skin.
“Omigod!” Willa fell back against him. “The last thing I recall is eating at a great seafood place, and then your friends...” She rolled onto her back, covering her face with her hands, trying to remember the events of the previous evening.
“My sailing buddies drove us to Mexico.” Merrick kissed her shoulder. “Don’t you remember that we danced and partied from bar to bar. You especially enjoyed shooting Water Moccasins.”
She groaned. “What’s that?”
“Crown, peach schnapps and pineapple juice.”
“Omigod,” she whimpered.
“I woke up the Juez de la Paz and he married us.”
“Justice of the Peace. Very nice man.”
“Omigod! Max is going to kill me. We’ve been planning weddings since I got my Barbie bride doll. We promised that we’d be each others Maids of Honor.”
“I know,” he said.
“You knew?” She rose up on one elbow to find Merrick grinning at her.
“Yeah, I knew you two would get together and plan something that would take a year to pull off. I thought we should just get married.”
Willa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Didn’t you think you should let me know?” Her voice was an octave higher than usual.
“Actually, I bought the rings from a reputable Houston jewelry store a week ago.” He pressed his lips against her neck. “If you don’t like them we can trade them in.” His voice resonated against her skin, making goose flesh appear.
Willa sighed. “No, they’re beautiful. I love them.”
“Do you love me?” He nuzzled her shoulder.
“I love you,” she said. “I can’t believe you planned all this.”
“Surprise, we’re married.” He gave her an ingenuous grin.
“Legally?”
“You are my lawfully wedded and bedded wife.” A wide grin spread across Merrick’s face. “You’re my wife and we’re on our honeymoon.” He snuggled her back against him.
“Max is going to kill us.” Willa giggled as she stared at the ring that had to be at least three flawless carats.
“You missed a spot.” Jon leaned against the doorjamb.
Something hot sparked in the depths of his gaze. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I didn’t know.” A break in her voice gave away the strong emotion she was trying to keep bottled up. Jon reached out, but she turned away, well aware that he’d spent the past few weeks in the arms of another woman.
Max cleared her suddenly husky throat. “Let me show you around.” She led him to the office and service area in back of the space. “I used to do some photography and I thought we could squeeze in a darkroom here as well as an office.”
“I guess the clean-up crew hasn’t been in here yet,” she said.
“This will be a great commercial space.” Jon walked around the periphery, picking his way through the debris.
“I hope so.” She stayed by the door as he explored.
She led him up the stairs, well aware of the man trailing in her wake. They walked through the empty lofts on the other floors, winding up their tour on the third floor. They paused outside her loft. “Of course, you’ve seen my place.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked, his eyes devouring her.
She blushed, confused as to what her answer should be. “I...the door’s open.” Her legs felt rubbery. “Go on in.”
“After you.”
“Yes, thank you,” she said. “It was too generous. I love the bed but you shouldn’t have spent so much.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I got it wholesale.”
“That makes me feel a little less guilty,” she said.
Yes, I should feel guilty. Max swallowed. Well, so should you.
“Merrick installed the chandelier for you?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Good old Merrick.” A muscle in Jon’s jaw twitched.
“Merrick’s a great guy,” she said. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to know him under better circumstances.”
“Do you mind if I ask you what happened at the gallery between the two of you?”
He turned on her, his temper flaring. “What happened?” He lifted her chin roughly, leaning close to her face. Something dangerous flickered in his dark gaze.
His teeth gritted together and he drew in a breath before speaking. “I thought he was your lover. When I walked in on him with Willa, I was outraged that he’d cheat on you. That’s how much I loved you.”
Loved me. A squeezing sensation in her chest threatened to cut off her airway.
She pulled away, catching the grim set of his mouth.
“I...I can’t. Not after...” Cherise. Not after you’ve been with Cherise.
Her pulses throbbed in her ears. She wanted him more than she wanted to breathe, but stubborn pride kept her from admitting it.
He slid her jeans down her hips, his fingers caressing her curves as he wordlessly stripped off her garments.
She stepped out of the last remnants of clothing, her dignity lying in a pile at her feet.
Jon’s eyes hungrily roamed over her body. Circling her waist, he lifted her onto the swan bed.
Silently, he embraced her, pushing her onto her back. He kissed her neck, following the line of her shoulder down to her breast. She shivered as he teased her with his tongue, his fingers stroking her thighs.
Max touched the dark shadow of his beard with her fingertips and kissed him gently.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice breaking. “Just tell me who you are.”
“Waited?” Her tone had a sharp edge to it.
He pulled farther back, his hand pressed against his cheek. “Are you crazy?”
“Cherise Gilman!” A riptide of anger surged through Max’s gut. How could he say he waited?
“I’m talking about your more recent history. The night of the opening she told me that you two were still together. She called you a player.”
“Not true.”
“I saw your car parked in front of her gallery Thursday evening. How do you explain that?”
A wide grin spread across Jon’s face. “I like this jealousy thing. Now you know how I felt when I thought you were having an affair with the illusive ‘Max’.”
He kissed her and she kissed him in return.
Jon pulled back, looking into her eyes, his expression serious. “Listen to me, Max. I would never lie to you.”
“You haven’t been jumping on Cherise?” Max grinned as she said it but needed to hear him deny it.
“Of course not,” he said. “I’m only jumping on you.”
“I went to my parent’s ranch. I spent some time helping my dad. I needed to work some things out; to cool off.”
“Your parents?” A wave of relief washed over her. The tension in her body melted away.
He nodded, raining little kisses down on her face. “I was with my parent’s, listening to them tell me to come back to Houston and make up with you. All that time I was chopping wood and mending fences, I was thinking about making love to you.”
He pressed his knee between her legs and she yielded, encircling him with her thighs, giving possession of her body over to him.
His face changed before her eyes, the anger gone, his defensive guard down. He looked vulnerable, exposing the pain he’d suffered.
“I’m sorry, Jon.”
“Do you love me, Max?”
“Say it,” he insisted. “Say the words.”
“You are not allowed to break my heart anymore.”
Their love making was less tender than in the past, almost fierce, but exciting in its desperation. She didn’t want him to stop; didn’t want to end the union of their bodies; the moment when they were one being.
Hot and damp, they gripped each other long after they were done. Jon lay within the circle of her legs and arms, gazing down at her. She couldn’t bear to release him, but he didn’t appear to be anxious to get away.
Jon brushed her hair back from her temples. “Just tell me...why did you lie to me?”
“No,” she said. “I was entirely to blame. I’m sorry, Jon. I was going to tell you. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Really?” She gave him a wry grin. “Because I have to open another can of worms.
“Max, we’re making a completely fresh start. No more lies between us, ever. Is there anything else you need to tell me? ”
“Don’t tell me.” He did an exaggerated eye roll. “You’ve had a sex change operation and used to be a man named Max.”
“It seems that we created a child together.” She held her breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “How do you feel?”
She laughed. “I’m pregnant, not ill.”
He smiled and then frowned. “When were you planning on telling me?” He looked into her eyes.
She took a deep breath. “If you were still involved with Cherise Gilman, I’d never have told you. I’d have gone to Austin and painted there. Merrick could have had my half of this place.”
“You’d leave me?” he asked. “With our child?”
“I thought you’d left me. I didn’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Obligated? You are an idiot, Max.” He held her curled against him. “You’ve had me hog-tied with a bow since I first met you. Every time you laughed or even looked at me, I fell more deeply in love with you. I’ve never asked anything of you, but I expected you to be truthful.” His brows drew together into a frown. “You’re the one who has an obligation to me.”
He made a guttural sound in the back of his throat. “Not that kind of obligation.” He looked serious. “You’re obligated to love me back, remember?”
She smiled, dimples flashing. “I do love you.”
“That carries an obligation to be honest and not hold anything back.”
“There’s nothing else, Jon.
You know all my secrets now.” She snuggled against him.
He kissed the top of her head. “Get to sleep,” he said. “We’re
going to Austin tomorrow.”
“What?” She jerked her head up.
“I have to talk to your father. Maybe I can make a better impression before I ask for your hand.”
“Ask me, not my father,” she said.
“You’re sure you don’t want me to jump through any more hoops?”
“Ask me,” she said.
“Yes, I’ll marry you as soon as possible.”
She lay awake long after he had fallen asleep. He looked peaceful and relaxed. She realized she’d hurt him, far more than she’d hurt herself. Losing Jon was the worst thing she’d ever experienced.
He was the love of her life and the father of the life growing within her. She knew there was a lifetime’s worth of love between them and all she had to do was be honest and love him back.