by Cindy Kirk
“Time for all good ninjas to get to bed.”
“Aw, Mom,” Callum began, but Max simply looked at him and he grew silent.
“Okay.” Callum jumped to his feet. Without warning, the boy sprinted the few short feet to Prim, wrapping his arms tightly around her. “You were brave, too.”
“You’re smart, too,” Connor added, joining the group hug.
To Max’s utter astonishment, the boys released the hold on their mother and flung their arms around him.
Max was hit with a surge of love so strong it nearly toppled him. “Good night, boys.”
They raced down the hall, turtles held high.
“Thank you, Mr. Brody,” they called over their shoulders in unison.
“I’ll see you get those back,” Prim told him.
“What? No.” Max shook his head. “They belong to them now. They earned them tonight.”
Prim took a step forward. “Max. I—”
Len stepped into the room. “Primrose, I’ve placed a deputy out front. He’ll remain there until we have Gourley in custody.”
Prim inhaled sharply. “You think Clint will come back?”
Len shook his head. “The chances of that happening are minimal. Unless he wants to even the score with your neighbor, I don’t believe you’ll see him again.”
“I’m staying over tonight.” Max’s gaze remained steady on Prim’s face.
Prim lifted her chin, the gesture more weary than stubborn. “I appreciate the offer, Max, but it isn’t necessary. The officer will be outside and you’ve already done so much.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
An odd look filled her eyes.
“We’ll let you two work that out.” Len motioned to Cade.
Max stood silent while Prim showed the men out. The crime scene techs soon followed. Prim locked and bolted the door behind them.
“The boys and I will be perfectly safe.” She ran a hand through her hair, and he remembered how soft those silky strands of red and gold had felt between his fingers. “Really, there’s no need for you to stay.”
“If Clint does come back, it’s because he’s looking for me.” Max gestured toward the sofa. “I slept on plenty of those in my college days.”
“I hate to make you sleep on the couch.”
“With the boys in the house, it’s my only choice.” He grinned, let his tone turn teasing in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere. “You’ve got that big bed, but we both know that isn’t an option. You’d be all over me in a heartbeat.”
The tenseness in her shoulders eased as she swatted him with the back of her hand. “Stop it.”
“Just telling it like it is.” He pointed to himself, settled into a cocky stance. “You see me, you want me.”
Max didn’t know what to think when she stepped close and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“And you don’t want me?” she asked.
God, yes, he wanted her. He wanted to kiss her, make love to her, and protect her from any and all harm.
“When I saw Clint come out of your house . . .” Max’s voice sounded rough, choked, and foreign to his ears.
“We’re all fine.”
Max linked his arms around her waist and pulled her tight. No one, especially not some creep like Clint Gourley, was going to hurt her.
With a start Max realized she was stroking the back of his neck, twining her fingers in his hair.
Leaning over, he kissed the base of her jaw, then stepped back and cleared his throat. He glanced toward the bedrooms. “Nonnegotiable?”
After the tiniest hesitation, she sighed. “Nonnegotiable.”
“Then I need some, ah, distance.” Max pulled her hands down. Giving them a squeeze, he stepped back. “Good night, Prim.”
Without a word, Prim disappeared down the hall. She returned moments later and shoved a blanket and a pillow into his arms. “Thank you, Max. For everything.”
“No thanks necessary.” He touched her lips with his, a brief contact that he knew would keep him awake for hours. “Just remember I’m here for you. Always.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Hey, Prim,” an all-too-familiar feminine voice called out. “Who’s this handsome hunk on your couch?”
Prim lifted her head up from the French toast mixture, a smile already on her lips. Her baby sister stood next to the sofa where Max slept. Or, rather, where he’d been sleeping.
Max had bolted upright. His hair was a rumpled mass that brushed the collar of his shirt. “Marigold?”
The petite pixie with the mane of golden curls leaned over and brushed her lips against his cheek. “Morning, sleeping beauty.”
Tamping down a surge of jealousy, Prim set aside the bowl and hurried to greet her baby sister.
The twins had come running, skidding to a stop beside the sofa. They giggled.
“That’s not Sleeping Beauty,” Connor told his aunt, his freckled face serious. “That’s Mr. Brody.”
Max swung his legs to the side of the couch, then stood. He turned to Prim. “How long have you been up?”
“Long enough to make coffee and start the French toast.” Prim shifted her attention to her sister and stepped forward to give her a hug. “I didn’t expect you until the night before the Fourth.”
“Change of plans.” Marigold’s tone was light, but Prim knew her sister and heard the edge.
“Well, after I get you some coffee and food, you can tell me all about it.”
“I’m going to head home and grab a shower.” Max rubbed his jaw, his cheeks covered in golden stubble. His gaze settled on Marigold. His brows pulled together. “How did you get inside?”
Marigold looked at him as if he’d spoken a language she didn’t understand. “I, ah, opened the door and walked inside.”
Max glanced at Prim.
Prim felt her face warm. “I must have left the door unlocked when I got the newspaper off the porch.”
A muscle in Max’s jaw jumped. “The doors have to be kept locked until he’s caught.”
“You’re right,” Prim agreed. “My error.”
Marigold’s suspicious gaze shifted from Max to Prim. “What’s going on here?”
“Someone broke into our house last night,” Connor said eagerly. Before he could say more, his brother pushed him aside.
“I’ll tell her.” Callum waved his brother silent. “A bad man broke into the house and Boris didn’t bark, but Mommy heard him and she locked us in our bedroom. Mr. Brody tackled the man and pulled off his mask and the sheriff came and Mr. Brody gave us ninjas because we were brave.”
Marigold’s dazed expression made Prim grin.
“I’ll show you my ninja.” Connor raced from the room.
“She wants to see mine, too.” Callum whirled and took off after his brother.
Obviously intrigued, Marigold angled her head. “I’m not sure I caught all that, but did someone really break into your house?”
“Let’s get the boys some breakfast first. Then we’ll eat and I’ll tell you all about it.” Though her sons didn’t appear traumatized, Prim preferred not to recount the night’s incident in front of them.
The twins returned, ninjas in hand, just as a knock sounded.
“I’ll get it,” Callum called out and turned toward the door.
“Stop,” Max ordered. “I’ll get it.”
To Prim’s surprise, both of her sons came to an abrupt halt.
Prim would have a talk with her sons after breakfast. She’d make it very clear that, until Clint was caught, the doors would remain locked. Not only that, only an adult would open the door.
“Be right back.” Curious who’d come calling at this early hour, Prim gave Marigold’s arm a squeeze and hurried after Max.
Sheriff Swarts and Cade—Prim had already forgotten his last name—stood on the porch.
Len smiled warmly. “Do you have a few minutes?”
“Of course.” Prim motioned them inside. “May I get you some coffee?
”
“We’re fine,” Len replied smoothly. “Thank you.”
“Have a seat.” Prim gestured to the living room, then turned to her sons. “Mommy needs to speak with the sheriff for a few minutes. I’d like you boys to play in your room while we’re talking.”
For a second Prim thought they were going to argue, but they clomped down the hall with their ninjas in hand, the dog trailing after them.
Marigold’s gaze was fixed on Cade. That’s when Prim recalled that the two had met.
“Sheriff, you remember Marigold.” Prim then turned to Cade. “I believe you are also acquainted with my sister.”
“Cade.” Mischief, along with an unmistakable flash of interest, glittered in Marigold’s eyes. “What a nice surprise. I thought you’d be in Detroit.”
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. “I thought you’d be in Chicago.”
“I’m just visiting over the Fourth.” Marigold tilted her head.
There was a beat of silence.
“I’m the new interim sheriff in Good Hope.”
Marigold arched a brow. “Is that so?”
“It’s true.” There was a lazy awareness in the lawman’s eyes when his gaze settled on Marigold that told Prim her sister and this man were even more intimately acquainted than she’d first suspected.
“If we could get down to business.” Len’s tone was brisk.
Once Marigold and Prim were seated on the sofa, Len and Cade took their places in the two chairs. Max stood behind Prim and she felt his silent support.
“We caught him,” Len announced without preamble. “Clint Gourley is in custody.”
Relief flooded her. Prim closed her eyes and exhaled a ragged breath.
Marigold reached over and took her sister’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “I take it Clint is the bad man who broke into the house last night.”
“Yes,” Len confirmed. “He broke into not only this house, but a lot of other homes as well.”
“We wanted you to know.” Cade may have spoken to Prim but his intense gaze remained on Marigold. After a moment, his mouth relaxed into a slight smile.
“I appreciate both of you taking the time to come by.” Prim’s voice shook with emotion. “It’s a huge relief to know Clint is in jail.”
After a few more minutes, Prim walked them to the door.
Once the door closed behind them, she wearily massaged her brow. “Appears the crisis is over.”
Max’s comforting hand settled on her shoulder. “Would you like me to tell the boys?”
“I’ll tell them.” Prim reached up and covered his hand with hers. “Thanks for everything, Max.”
“My pleasure,” he murmured, twining strands of her hair loosely around his fingers.
“It probably would have been more of a pleasure if he’d slept in your bed rather than on the sofa,” Marigold pointed out, clearly enjoying herself.
Prim shot her sister a warning look.
Marigold lifted her hands. A tiny smile played at the corner of her lips. “Just making an observation.”
“I should get going.” Max hesitated, his gaze shifting from Prim to Marigold, then back again.
Marigold rolled her eyes. “Sheesh, if you want to kiss my sister, just kiss her.”
Instead of a kiss, Max pulled Prim close. She squeezed her eyes closed briefly and released a long breath. When she was in his arms, she felt like she could handle anything.
He kissed her on the top of her head and was gone.
Prim sighed and watched him go.
“Stellar ass,” Marigold commented and made her sister laugh.
Marigold and Prim had just finished cleaning up the kitchen when they heard a car pull into the driveway.
The sisters exchanged glances as Boris sounded the alert.
“Ami?” Marigold asked.
“I don’t think so.” Prim frowned. “She’s at the bake shop. Or the café.”
The boys were playing on the living room floor, happily slamming two big dump trucks together while making loud crashing noises. All good there, Prim thought as she passed them.
A sharp rap sounded against the front door a second before she pulled it open. Boris skidded to a stop. Prim’s smile froze. “Deb. Mike. What a wonderful surprise.”
She stepped back, motioned her in-laws inside.
“Who was at the door?” Marigold stepped into the room, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Did Ami—?”
Her sister halted, smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Delaney. How nice to see you.”
The boys jumped to their feet and ran straight into their grandparents’ waiting arms.
The pleasure on Deb’s and Mike’s faces at such an exuberant welcome warred with Prim’s sense of unease. “I thought you’d be on your way to Appleton by now. Come and sit down. Can I get you a cup of coffee? Or something to eat?”
With each grandparent now holding a boy’s hand, Mike and Deb moved to the sofa.
Marigold started to back out of the room, but Prim wasn’t about to let her sister get away. She pointed to a chair, and when Marigold chose the one farthest from the Delaneys, Prim took the other.
“We have wonderful news.” Looking pretty and relaxed in blue capris and a white top with blue piping, Deb smiled brightly. “Or at least we think it’s wonderful.”
Deb cast a glance at her husband as if seeking his support. He offered an indulgent smile.
“We’ve decided to spend a few more days here in Door County. Catch up with a few old friends.” Deb tightened her arms around Callum and Connor. “Spend time with our grandsons.”
The boys cheered so loudly Prim had to lift a hand to silence them.
Marigold’s smile remained fixed. Prim knew she’d get no help from her, nor could she expect it. This was her battle, er, situation, to handle.
“That is wonderful news.” Prim tried to push some enthusiasm into her voice but wasn’t sure she’d succeeded. “If you haven’t already secured a place to stay, there are several nearby. But then, you probably know that yourself.”
Prim realized she was rambling and clamped her lips tightly together.
When Mike shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, Prim felt a stab of unease.
“Actually, all the rooms on the entire peninsula—or all the ones we’d consider—are booked.” Deb waved a dismissive hand. “We reserved the B and B in Ephraim months in advance. But we’re not interested in staying in a motel. We’d much rather stay with you. That way, we can spend more time with these two cuties.”
She gave the boys a tickle and they laughed.
“We won’t be a bother,” she added when Prim didn’t immediately respond. “I’ll help you.” Deb glanced around the cluttered-with-toys living area. “Do some cleaning. Organizing a messy home is a specialty of mine.”
“That’s . . .” Prim took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “So kind, but I’m afraid my sister”—Prim gestured with her head toward Marigold—“will be staying with me for a while.”
“Oh,” Deb said.
Rory’s parents, Prim told herself. Be kind.
“I could check with Ami. The furnished apartment over her bakery is open. It was Ami’s home before she got married. It’s a great location.”
The fact that it wasn’t within walking distance of her house was an extra bonus.
“That’s so thoughtful,” Mike began.
“It won’t do.” Deb shook her head. “Mike has been having issues with his knee. Stairs are a problem. He has an orthopedic consult scheduled for next week.”
Prim wanted to ask how Mike had been able to manage the steps at the B and B last night but kept her mouth shut.
“I could stay at the apartment.” Marigold’s offer earned her a smile from Deb and a sharp glance from Prim.
“That is so sweet of you.” Deb hugged each boy. “Grandpa and I are going to be right down the hall from you. Won’t that be fun?”
Prim rubbed the back of her neck and tried not to scowl. To think, a secon
d before she’d opened the door, her day had been bright and sunny.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Deb looked up from the book she was reading aloud and zeroed in on Prim. “Where are you going at this hour?”
Callum and Connor were nestled beside their grandmother on the sofa, with Mike reading the paper in a nearby chair.
“It’s only seven.” Prim waved a careless hand. “I’m just going next door to speak with Max. We need to iron out a couple of last-minute parade details.”
The twins straightened, their attention instantly diverted from the book.
“Can I go with you?” Callum asked.
“I want to see Mr. Brody,” Connor announced.
When the boys started to rise from the sofa, Deb pulled them back down.
“Not this time.” Prim’s tone brooked no argument. “Stay here with Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Couldn’t you simply call and ask your questions?” Deb called out when Prim turned to go. “Or text him?”
Prim turned back, resisting the urge to sigh. Of course she could call or text Max. But the fact was, she wanted to see him, and without her in-law chaperones present.
“I won’t be long.” Prim shifted her attention to the twins. “Be good.”
Deb said nothing further but Prim clearly read her expression. Deb suspected this wasn’t a business meeting and she didn’t like it one bit.
Max answered after the first knock. His eyes lit when he saw her and a slow smile widened his mouth.
“My Christmas wish has come true,” he announced, in a tone worthy of a showman.
Prim laughed. “As this is July, you’ve had to wait a—”
Before she could finish, Max enfolded her in his arms and began kissing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the stored-up passion inside her.
When they came up for air, her knees felt like jelly.
“Oh, wow,” she said, her heart hammering. “That was quite a welcome.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Max lowered his head and scattered kisses along her jawline.
She arched her neck back and let him nibble, but when she was seized with an overwhelming urge to rip off his clothes, Prim forced herself to step back. “I can’t stay. I need to get back.”
