Summer in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 2)

by Cindy Kirk

  Even as Max asked the question, he knew the answer. They’d been a gift from his mother. While he thought the deck, each individual card containing a specific question, was ridiculous, Vanessa Eden was convinced they were a great relationship builder between her and her son. She often insisted on pulling out the deck and discussing a question or two when she stopped over.

  Prim must not have heard him. She’d slipped several cards from the deck and was flipping through them. A broad smile lifted her lips as she looked up. “This looks like a lot more fun than a movie.”

  Max surrendered to the inevitable. If Prim wanted to play, they’d play. He took solace in the fact he’d make sure she was sitting next to him on the sofa while they bared their souls.

  If he could convince her to take off an article of clothing or two during the course of the evening, all the pain of playing that ridiculous card game would be worth it.

  Prim dropped down on the sofa and kicked off her flip-flops. As this was her first time in Max’s home, it would be understandable if she felt a little awkward.

  The funny thing was, the only thing she felt was relaxed.

  It had to be the sex. It was as if all the stress and tension inside her had been pummeled out of her.

  “What’s that little smile about?” Max sat down beside her, rested an arm above her shoulders on the back of the sofa. “Plotting what deep, dark secrets you’re going to get me to reveal?”

  Prim arched a brow. “Do you have deep, dark secrets?”

  “Nope.” He grinned and she felt warm all over.

  “Actually.” She placed the cards in her lap. “I was thinking how comfortable I am with you.”

  His fingers toyed with her hair. “Same here.”

  When those blue eyes met hers, Prim experienced the connection all over again. She didn’t want to think about what would happen after this weekend. For now she’d just go with the flow.

  Prim dropped her gaze to the cards and flipped through the deck.

  “Since the Fourth is coming up, we could watch Independence Day,” Max suggested.

  It was obvious this was a last-ditch effort on his part to avoid the cards. Which, after seeing several of the questions, she fully understood.

  “We’re doing the cards.” Then, because that sounded so self-serving, Prim added, “If we’re going to be good neighbors, we should know each other.”

  He trailed a finger up her arm. “I’d say we know each other pretty well.”

  The simple touch sent heat coursing up her arm. Impulsively she leaned over and kissed him, warm and long and sweet.

  He smiled. “What was that for?”

  “For being such a good host.”

  The look in his eyes said her comment had pleased him. Though being spontaneous usually came hard for her, she vowed to make an effort this weekend. She didn’t think it was going to be a problem. With Max she felt safe, comfortable, and cherished.

  “I can’t believe you played this game with your mother. Listen to this one.” She held up a card and read aloud, “What’s your favorite body part of the opposite sex?”

  “Your mouth.”

  Prim blinked. She lifted her fingers to her lips. “My mouth?”

  “I love how you smile. The way you kiss.” Max leaned forward, his lips warm against hers.

  Fueled by desire, her blood began to thrum. She gazed up at him through lowered lashes. “Me? I like your ass.”

  He sat back, his eyes wide.

  Prim continued. “Puh-leeze, like you aren’t aware that you really rock a pair of jeans.”

  She resisted the urge to laugh when he flushed.

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Even as the teasing words left her lips, Prim wondered what had gotten into her. She felt as young and carefree as a college girl. “Just say you’ll show it to me later.”

  “That’s an easy promise to keep.” He glanced down. “My ass, huh?”

  “It’s stellar.” Prim snuggled close. She was so happy she’d returned to Good Hope instead of staying in Appleton. “Ohmigoodness.”

  She straightened up so quickly she nearly clipped Max in the jaw. “I promised to call Deb and Mike as soon as I got home.”

  Without a word, Max rose. Crossing the room, he scooped up the phone she’d left on the kitchen table, then tossed it to her.

  She glanced at him as he dropped back on the sofa beside her. “Sorry.”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “I’m still basking in the glow. Max Brody and stellar ass in the same sentence. Who’d have thunk it?”

  Any woman who’d seen him, that’s who. Prim immediately banished the disturbing thought of other women ogling him and located her in-laws’ contact number.

  “Hi, Deb.” Prim infused her voice with a friendly warmth when the woman answered. “I’m sorry I forgot to call. I made it home safely. How are the boys?”

  She listened as Deb relayed every minute detail of the twins’ evening, including the fact that Mike and the boys were currently at the park.

  “That’s sounds like fun.” Prim batted at Max’s hand, which kept trying to snake under her shirt. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with them.”

  “We’ve got a big day planned tomorrow. Which meant I had to get my chores done around the house this evening.” Under all that sugary sweetness, Deb’s tone held a decided bite. “If you’d have stayed, we could have gotten them done in half the time.”

  Prim didn’t take the bait. “I know the boys will have loads of fun with you and Mike. Is there a good time for me to call this evening to say good night?”

  She listened for what seemed an eternity.

  “I understand,” she said when Deb paused to take a breath. “Please let Callum and Connor know I called, and tell them I love them very much.”

  Less than a minute later, she placed the phone nearby on the coffee table just in case Deb changed her mind. Then she rested her head against Max’s shoulder.

  “Everything okay?” Gently, he stroked her hair, his voice as warm and soothing as the gesture.

  “Mike took the boys to Memorial Park. I’m sure they’re having a great time.”

  “Do you want to pick them up? Bring them home?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “You’re worried about them.”

  “I’m frustrated.” She blew out a breath. “I wanted to say good night, but Deb claims they’ll be too busy to talk on the phone once they get home.”

  “Call anyway.”

  “It’ll be fine.” Prim sighed. “I know they’re safe. If there are any issues, Deb will be on the phone in seconds.”

  “This is nice.”

  She lifted her head from his warm shoulder. “What’s nice?”

  “Sitting here, like this, with you.” He pointed to the card sitting on top of the deck. “What’s your idea of romance? This is my idea: sitting on the sofa, relaxing after a busy day. Oh, and after having the best sex of my life.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re easy to please.”

  His slow smile made her forget anything else except him. “Tell me your idea of romance.”

  She didn’t immediately answer.

  “I know what it isn’t. It’s not about candy or flowers or trips,” she said after a long moment, thinking of Rory’s way. “For me it’s sitting around the dinner table sharing the events of the day. It’s having my guy take my hand when we walk down the street. It’s having him there at night to hold me when it’s time to go to bed and being there when I wake up.”

  “That’s what you deserve and so much more.” He kissed her temple. “You can have all that. Just say the word. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

  A longing for what could never be rose like a tidal wave inside her. Fighting to retain control over her rioting emotions, Prim blinked rapidly and concentrated on the next card. “What one thing would you like to change about me?”

  With careful deliberateness, Max took the card from her hand. He laid it an
d the deck aside, then pulled her tightly against him. For several seconds they simply sat there, the only sound the gentle whir of the ceiling fan.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” he said finally. “How about I order a pizza?”

  “Green and black olives? Extra cheese?” On the trip to Milwaukee eons ago, all the other mathletes they’d hung around with had been into boring hamburger or equally boring pepperoni. Which meant they’d had a whole pie to themselves.

  Max grinned. “Is there any other combination?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was nearly nine o’clock on Saturday morning before Prim and Max rolled out of bed. After a long shower, where Prim got an up-close-and-personal look at Max’s ass as well as another favorite body part, he made breakfast.

  She’d been prepared to cook. After all, it was something she’d done daily for the past ten years. But Max insisted she sit, enjoy her coffee, and admire his stellar ass.

  The last part made her chuckle. With coffee cup in hand and clad only in one of his shirts, Prim called and spoke with her sons. After ending the call, she watched him expertly flip a pancake.

  “You’ll make a wonderful husband someday.” The second the words left her mouth, Prim wished she could call them back.

  Max simply smiled and flipped another cake.

  Perhaps this wasn’t a particularly sensitive subject, after all. “I’m surprised some pretty young thing hasn’t snatched you up.”

  “My mother thinks I’m too particular.” He chuckled. “Considering she’s never found a man who comes close to her memories of my father, it’s a strange thing for her to say.”

  Prim, as well as most of the other people in Good Hope, was aware of Vanessa Eden’s history. She’d married Brian Brody at nineteen. Max had been born a year later when Brian, who’d enlisted in the military, was overseas. Max had been only four when his father was killed in Bosnia.

  “Is that why you don’t want children?”

  Max paused, spatula in hand. “I want kids.”

  Prim frowned. “You said you didn’t date women with children.”

  “The missing word is casually date.” He returned his attention to the bacon. “I never wanted to be the guy who is in and out of a child’s life. I know, from personal experience, how hard that can be on a kid.”

  Prim’s admiration for him inched up another notch. She’d watched many of her divorced friends in Milwaukee deal with their heartbroken children as well as their own heartache when a relationship ended.

  “That’s one of the reasons I’d vowed not to date until the boys were grown,” Prim told him.

  Max turned off the griddle and the frying pan. He slipped the pancakes onto two plates, his gaze focused on the food. “A serious relationship between two people well suited would be different.”

  His tone was nonchalant as he placed the plate of eggs, bacon, and several pancakes in front of her.

  Prim waited until he’d taken the seat across the table from her before she reached over and took his hand. “I agree with that, too.”

  When his fingers curved around hers and his thumb caressed her palm, Prim let out the breath she’d been holding.

  As if he was finding as much comfort in the touch as she was, Max didn’t immediately release her hand . . . and she didn’t pull back. They’d made love this morning in the shower and late last night again before they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. For some reason, this felt as intimate as when their bodies were fully joined.

  Finally, he gave her hand a squeeze and released it. “We better eat before it gets cold.”

  “Talk to me, Max.” Prim lifted a crisp slice of bacon to her mouth but kept her eyes on him. “Are you interested in dating me?”

  He met her gaze. “Naw, I just want to have sex with you.”

  Her lids flew wide and her fork fell from her numb fingers into the syrup-drenched pancakes.

  “Just kidding.” Max grinned and rose to get her another fork. His smile had already faded by the time he held it out. “You’ve made it clear how you feel about dating before the boys are out of high school.”

  Prim took the fork from his hand with fingers that trembled slightly. Setting the utensil down, she laced her fingers tightly together. “That’s how I felt when I moved here. I thought that was best for the twins and for me.” She’d spoken in the past tense, and a slight flicker of his lashes told her he’d noticed.

  With a sober expression, he leaned forward, his gaze firmly fixed on hers. “I guess the question is, what do you want now?”

  Max had placed the decision regarding their future at her feet. Whatever she decided would not only reflect her intelligent assessment of the situation but her guts. Prim knew it took just as strong an intestinal fortitude to walk away from a situation as it did to stay.

  She wondered briefly if Rory had ever gotten this feeling when he was ready to rappel off a high peak. A moment of terror mixed with heady anticipation.

  Still, she wasn’t impulsive. When she’d initially decided not to date, it was so she could give her full attention to her sons. The question was, would the boys suffer if she had a relationship with Max? They liked him, wanted to be around him, and all indications were those positive feeling went both ways.

  For Prim, being around Deb recently had brought the woman’s overinvolvement in her son’s life front and center. That kind of helicopter parenting hadn’t been healthy for Deb or for Rory. Such a relationship wouldn’t be healthy for Callum and Connor, either.

  Watching her intently, Max took a long sip of coffee.

  “I’d like to date you,” Prim blurted out as if she’d just decided to throw caution to the winds instead of making a logical, rational decision. “I’d like to give it, give us, a chance.”

  “What about the boys?” The smile that had begun to slowly spread didn’t hide the worry in his eyes.

  “Callum and Connor like you. You’re their neighbor, their coach, their grandfather’s friend. For now, it doesn’t have to be more complicated for them than that.”

  He reached across the table to cover her hand with his. “I won’t let them be hurt.”

  “We won’t let them be hurt,” Prim said firmly. “We’ll take this dating thing slow and easy.”

  “Slow and easy can be fun.” There was a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

  Prim only rolled her eyes.

  Max shoveled in some eggs, chewed thoughtfully, then chuckled. “Do you realize we just made a major decision without utilizing a spreadsheet and reviewing all the data?”

  Stabbing a bite of pancake, Prim couldn’t stop a grin. “We didn’t even negotiate terms.”

  His expression turned serious. “Do you have any nonnegotiables?”

  Prim chewed, considered. “Ah, no sleeping together when the boys are in the house.”

  He waited several heartbeats.

  “Let me make sure I have this straight.” He took a sip of coffee. “We’ll keep having sex but we’ll refrain from tearing off each other’s clothing when there are children in the house?”

  “That’s the nonnegotiable.”

  “Makes sense.” He paused. “Ah, I’m not sure if you noticed, but they’re not in the house now.”

  When a hungry look filled his eyes that had nothing to do with food, Prim knew once again they were on the same wavelength.

  “I was thinking of starting the day with a card game.”

  Max groaned. “I’m going to kill my mother.”

  “No. No. No.” Prim waved an airy hand in the air. “This game is one I know you’ll like.”

  He lifted a brow.

  “Poker.”

  His eyes lit up. “I like—”

  “Strip poker.”

  His grin was broad and wide. “Now you’re talking.”

  Max rose.

  She motioned him down. “After breakfast.”

  He dropped into his chair with a disappointed thunk. Picking up his fork, he gazed across
the table at her. “Do you even know how to play?”

  “You’ll soon find out.” This time it was her turn to grin. “Now I have a question for you.”

  “Fire away.”

  She pointed with her fork. “Do you want that last piece of bacon?”

  Over the next hour, Max saw a different side of Primrose Bloom. This crazy, fun-loving side was one he’d caught only brief glimpses of in the past.

  The first time had been when she was ten and someone—he couldn’t even remember who—had brought a bag of chocolate-covered crickets to school. None of the girls would try them . . . except for Prim. She’d eaten one, pronounced it delicious, then eaten several more. When she’d caught him staring, she’d given him a saucy smile and eaten another.

  At that moment he’d fallen hopelessly in love. Hopeless because, even back then, she’d been Rory’s girl.

  “Your play, Brody.”

  Max glanced at the cards in his hand. He was down to his boxer shorts. She still wore all her clothes, including one of his jackets, zipped up to her chin.

  Max had been confident that jacket would be off by now and he’d be working hard on getting her to take off whatever was underneath.

  “Four of a kind.” He spread the cards on the table, showing four kings.

  Her lips quirked up in a half smile.

  Darn. She’d beaten him again.

  She showed him her hand, tilted her head. “Remind me. Does that”—she pointed to his cards, then to her own—“beat this?”

  “Thank you, God.”

  Prim’s brows drew together. “What did you say?”

  “I said, four of a kind beats a full house.”

  “Oh.” She smiled brightly. “Does that mean it’s time for me to take something off?”

  “That’s exactly what it means. Take off the jacket,” Max suggested. “You have to be warm.”

  “Good suggestion.” As she fumbled with the zipper, Max wondered how many layers would be revealed underneath.

  Two or three, he decided. At least two.

  Though the fastener didn’t appear to be stuck, she raised her hands and looked beseechingly at him. “Can you help me?”

  Pushing back his chair, Max rose and rounded the table. By the time he reached her, she was on her feet and waiting for him. “Thank you, Max.”