Revved to the Maxx

by Melanie Moreland

  “You won’t regret it,” he assured me.

  And to this day, I hadn’t. In the year he’d been with us, I’d seen the changes in him. He’d worked hard to fit in, and now he was simply one of us. Meals weren’t boring—I never knew who was going to be at the dinner table anymore, and the bottom line was, it didn’t matter. He had proven himself to me and everyone else. Brett had started teaching him how to work on cars, and the kid was a natural.

  As usual, my wife had been right.

  Not that I admitted it. Charly already had enough power over me.

  I shook my head and returned to the present. I was looking for Charly. She wasn’t in the garage much these days, although she snuck in more than she was supposed to.

  I headed out the side door and toward the side of the house, smiling at the sight of the gazebo I had built in the yard. We had gotten married in it, one bright fall day. It was simple and perfect. A few friends, Red in a pretty dress and me in a suit. Vows that meant something were exchanged—rich and special to each of us. Food prepared by Stefano’s family, who had taken us into their fold and treated us like their own. Our wedding cake was a pie. Lots of pies. It was a day of laughter and happiness.

  And at the end of it, Charly was my wife.

  It was all I needed.

  I entered the house, grinning at the smell. It was pie day. Fillings were bubbling away on the top of the stove, and I knew Mary would be here shortly. Soon, an abundance of pies would appear. It was one of my favorite days of them all. I hadn’t been sure it was going to happen this month, given Charly’s condition, but she had insisted.

  She was seated at the table, a glass of water in front of her, her feet propped up on a chair. I crossed the room and bent over, kissing her head. She looked tired.

  “Why the hell are you not resting?” I demanded.

  She opened her eyes, smiling as she rubbed her hand over her swollen belly. “Someone is far too active for me to do that.”

  I dropped to my knees and pressed a kiss to her tummy. “Hey, little man, give Mommy a break.”

  She patted her belly. “I think he wants pie as much as you do.”

  I shook my head. “You’re eight months pregnant, Red. You shouldn’t be doing a pie marathon day.”

  “Mary will be here soon. I did everything slowly. Once I roll out the crusts, she’ll fill and bake them. I won’t do any lifting or bending.”

  “Stubborn woman,” I grumbled.

  “Fussy husband.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her and growled. She chuckled and fanned herself.

  “Don’t go getting all growly and sexy, Maxx. You know what happens when you do that.” She rubbed her stomach again. “I end up pregnant.”

  I had to chuckle. “It was your outfit that caused that to happen if I recall right.”

  She sighed. “My leather vest didn’t last long.”

  “Neither did your skirt.”

  The day we were opening the new restoration area, she came downstairs and asked my opinion about her outfit. She had been sex on legs, wearing a tight leather vest with nothing else under it and a matching skirt. Leather boots completed the look.

  “I thought it was perfect for the opening. Biker-chick-ish.” She smiled widely, already knowing what my reaction would be. I gaped at her, unable to believe she really thought I would allow her out in public wearing next to nothing, when it dawned on me. I had been so busy with all the details, I had been neglecting her. Stressing over other things. It had been days since I had made love to her. She wanted me back in the moment.

  And I was right there with her.

  I stalked toward her, shaking my head. “I don’t think so, Red.”

  The sexy, no-one-is-ever-seeing-that-outfit ended up on the dining room floor a few moments later, torn to shreds. I chased her into the living room and took her over the sofa, growling and showing her exactly what my opinion was on the subject. The leather boots stayed on, though.

  A few weeks later, the morning sickness started, and I found out I was going to be a dad. She’d handed me a little wrench, tied with a yellow ribbon. It took a moment to sink in before I reacted. I was dumbfounded, excited, and scared all at once. Then I kissed her until she was breathless. Until she knew how much her news meant to me. How much she meant to me.

  She had given me yet another dream I’d never thought I would have.

  The wrench now hung over my workbench, framed and displayed proudly.

  Next to my wedding day, it was the greatest day of my life.

  “You still shouldn’t be doing this. You look tired.”

  She waved her hand. “It will pass. My back was a little achy, but it feels better now.”

  I heard the sound of Mary’s truck, and I stood, going to the door. Mary waved as I opened it, but before I could step out to help Mary carry a box she was holding, the sound of Charly’s panicked voice made me turn my head.

  “Maxx?”

  She was standing, holding her stomach. A puddle of water was at her feet. She met my shocked eyes.

  “Not an ache. A contraction.”

  “Holy moly,” I muttered.

  “No pies,” she said in a shaky voice. “Today is now baby day.”

  Thomas Sean Reynolds arrived only four hours later, apparently anxious to make his presence known. At eight pounds, he was a good-sized baby, especially given he was early. He also possessed a great pair of lungs, which he liked to use to show his displeasure. Named after my dad and her brother, he was long and healthy, with a head full of hair that looked suspiciously dark red. He liked to hold my finger from the moment they put him in my arms. The first time he did that and blinked up at me with his wide eyes, I fell more in love than I had thought possible. The intense feelings I’d had all through Charly’s pregnancy seemed insignificant to the massive emotion that now swelled through my body.

  I was fascinated by him. Infatuated. I could barely put him down. I held him in one arm, and grasped Charly’s hand, staring between the two people I loved the most in the world.

  She had been amazing. Labor had progressed so fast there was no time for an epidural, and watching her bring my son into the world was one of the most profound experiences of my life. She amazed me before—now I was in complete awe of her strength.

  The hospital was quiet, Charly finally resting. Tomorrow, visitors would come, and I knew the room would be buzzing with people and gifts for the new arrival. I wondered if it was rude to refuse to let anyone else hold my son. I could probably glower enough that they wouldn’t ask. Charly might have something to say on the matter, though.

  Stefano texted me to tell me his mother and sisters had been to the house, finished the pies and filled the freezer with enough food, we were set for weeks. Kelly had texted, saying she would arrive home next week and would be making a trip out to see Charly. She still flitted around the globe, taking her photographs, but she and Charly saw each other when they could and remained close.

  Then the next day, I could take my family home. My feisty, beautiful wife and my son.

  How my life had changed.

  All because of the sleeping redhead who still kept me on my toes and loved me with a fiery passion that amazed me. She made my world brighter. Her spirit filled our home and the garage. She was adored by many, and her funny little expressions were now commonplace by all who knew her. Easy peasy, holy moly, chap my ass, were bandied about as normal parts of conversation. But they still made me smile hardest when she used them—especially thrown at me.

  Her sassy mouth made me fall for her. The way she handled my grumpy ass and never backed down. The way she demanded that I never change. That she loved me exactly the way she found me.

  My Red.

  She stirred, and I leaned over and kissed her. “Love you,” I murmured.

  That sassy mouth curved into a smile before she drifted back into sleep.

  “I know.”

  Thank you so much for reading REVVED TO THE MAXX. If you are so incline
d, reviews are always welcome by me at your eretailer.

  This was a fun story to write. Charly was just the type of heroine I love - gives the hero just enough of a hard time.

  If you love a growly hero, Richard and Katy VanRyan’s story begins with my series The Contract. You meet an arrogant hero in Richard, which makes his story much sweeter when he falls.

  If romantic comedy is your favorite trope, Liam and Shelby, from my novel Changing Roles, would be a recommended standalone to read next. It is a story of friends to lovers set in the bright lights of Hollywood.

  If you’d like another glimpse into Maxx and Charly’s future, click below to grab a little more time with them - Extended Epilogue Revved To The Maxx available at Bookfunnel: https://BookHip.com/MZJSX

  Enjoy reading! Melanie

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I have some people to thank. The ones behind the words that encourage and support. The people who make my books possible for so many reasons.

  Lisa, the owner of the mighty red pen and the lover of your commas, hater of mine.

  Good job.

  LOL

  Many thanks for your continued efforts. One day I shall learn—but it is not this day.

  Beth, Trina, Melissa, Peggy, and Deb—thank you for your feedback and support.

  Your comments make the story better—always.

  Karen, my faithful sidekick and keeper of passwords. You rock my world, keep me on my toes, and chap my ass on a regular basis. I would be lost without you.

  I claim you for the next fifty years.

  Mine.

  To all the bloggers, readers, and especially my promo team. Thank you for everything you do. Shouting your love of books—of my work, posting, sharing—your recommendations keep my TBR list full, and the support you have shown me is deeply appreciated.

  To my fellow authors who have shown me such kindness, thank you. I will follow your example and pay it forward.

  Stephanie Rose—your kind words and support have meant so much to me lately. Thank you.

  My reader group, Melanie’s Minions—love you all.

  Also by Melanie Moreland

  Vested Interest Series

  BAM - The Beginning (Prequel)

  Bentley (Vested Interest #1)

  Aiden (Vested Interest #2)

  Maddox (Vested Interest #3)

  Reid (Vested Interest #4)

  Van (Vested Interest #5)

  Halton (Vested Interest #6)

  Sandy (Vested Interest #7)

  Insta-Spark Collection

  It Started with a Kiss

  Christmas Sugar

  An Instant Connection

  An Unexpected Gift

  The Contract Series

  The Contract (The Contract #1)

  The Baby Clause (The Contract #2)

  The Amendment (The Contract #3)

  Mission Cove

  The Summer of Us Book 1

  Standalones

  Into the Storm

  Beneath the Scars

  Over the Fence

  My Image of You (Random House/Loveswept)

  Happily Ever After Collection

  Revved to the Maxx

  Heart Strings

  The Boss

  About the Author

  NYT/WSJ/USAT international bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

  While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

  Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

  Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com

  Connect with Melanie

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