Chloe near skipped beside him to the three men. After Chloe signed up for her trial membership, the five of them made their way to the free weights room. Rico and Mark slid two-hundred and seventy-five pounds on the bar. Max took the first turn on the bench press, lifting the weighted bar with relative ease.
He heard a gasp and soft moan from Chloe as he worked his reps. As he sat up and stood from the bench, he winked at her. “Impressed?”
Her face flushed pink.
“All right, Chloe girl. Your turn,” Rico announced. The other three chuckled at the thought.
Chloe glanced uneasily from the bar to her boyfriend. “I can’t lift that much.”
“Have you tried?”
“Rico, that’s over twice what I weigh!”
Rico grinned at her. “Come on, Supergirl. You can do it.”
Chloe’s forehead scrunched. Rico laughed as he walked over to the bench press beside them. He slipped a five-pound weight on either end. “Better?”
“Very much. Thank you.”
Chloe settled herself on the bench and laid back. She was met by a beautiful pair of blue eyes looking down at her. Max smiled. “I kicked Rico out to spot for you.”
Chloe laughed as she lifted the bar. Bending her elbows, she lowered it to her chest. Max corrected her form in a couple of places. He glanced up at the loud laughter and teasing among their three friends.
The talking continued between Chloe and the guys for the next couple hours while they mulled around the free weights room. As they picked up their discarded items, Dan jogged down the hall to the basketball court. He returned with a ball tucked under his arm. “Court’s ours. Let’s go.”
As they walked down the corridor, Mark spoke up. “How are we breaking up teams?”
“I can sit out,” Chloe volunteered.
“No,” Rico concluded. “We’ll go two against three. Max and Mark versus Dan, Chloe, and me.”
“Chloe’s on your team?” Max inquired.
“Yes, Max. Chloe’s on my team.” Rico gave Max a knowing look as he grinned. “We have no intentions of playing fair.”
They warmed up on the empty court by shooting baskets. Rico called Dan and Chloe over to him for a mock huddle.
Max glanced over to Mark. “What’s our game plan?” he laughed.
“I throw you the ball. You shoot. And vice versa.”
Rico approached them, with Dan and Chloe following. “Since there are two of you, you guys can go first.”
Max took the ball out of bounds and tossed it into Mark. He jogged down court to receive it as Mark tossed it over Dan’s head. He grinned when he found Chloe guarding him.
“Chloe, get aggressive!” Rico ordered.
Chloe didn’t raise her arms to block him. With a sly smile of her own, she wrapped her arms tight around his waist and dug her little feet into the court for traction. Max stared down at her as she held on for all she was worth.
Chloe. His Chloe. The timid girl who used to flinch when he touched her now had him wrapped in a commanding bear hug. His reaction was instinctive. He laughed. Between the sight of her digging in her heels to stop him and the joy of her trust, all he could do was laugh.
He tossed the ball in Mark’s general direction. The big man’s size was the only thing that won Mark the ball. He made the shot, glaring at Max the whole while. Chloe let go and ran to the other end of the court. Max jogged after her. Two could play at this game.
Dan tossed the ball to Rico, and the two passed it back and forth as they dribbled it down court. Chloe raised her arms, waving them to get their attention. Max chuckled as he snaked his arms around her and drew her to him.
“Hey! No fair! Foul!” she protested.
“It wasn’t a foul when you did it to me,” he returned, his voice deep and smooth.
She struggled to get free. “It’s different. You’re bigger and better at basketball.”
He felt her relax in his arms, suddenly aware of their position. Inside, Max cringed. “Are you all right?”
“I’m just fine. Why?”
“Because I think we stopped playing basketball. It seems we transitioned to cuddling on a basketball court.”
“I was told I was being aggressive in my defense.”
“Seems like cuddling to me.”
“If you think so.”
He was startled back to reality by the sensation of a soft kiss pressed against his stubbled jaw. Chloe nestled against him contently.
“Max,” Mark barked. “Do you two need a room? Or can we play basketball?”
It nearly killed him to let her out of his arms to continue playing. Who knew when she would let him hold her like that again?
They played until the gym closed, switching partners frequently. Max took a second to stop and watch the others. When he first met Chloe, she had only trusted her mother. It had taken a long time for her to trust him. Now, she opened her heart to Dan, Mark, and Rico too, treating the three men like the brothers she never had. He was so proud of her. He didn’t think he could love her more.
As they walked to their cars, Mark spoke up. “Should we head to the diner?”
Max looked at Chloe, smiling encouragingly. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished,” she answered.
They followed each other into the building, ordering before they sat down. They slid into the booth of the almost empty restaurant. Instantly, the chatter started again.
“Chloe, how was guys’ night out?” Rico asked.
“It was wonderful. Thanks for inviting me.” She snuggled under Max’s arm outstretched behind her along the back of the booth. He swallowed back a sigh as he watched her cuddle close to him.
It didn’t take long for the food to be served. Eating didn’t stop the talking. Chloe didn’t get through half her meal before she was nestled against Max again, her eyes drowsy with sleep.
“Max, I think you’re going to lose her,” Dan remarked. Chloe just moaned sleepily.
“I’m getting tired too.” Max handed the waitress his credit card. Once he signed the slip, he nudged Chloe from the booth. They said their goodbyes then made their way to the Mustang.
Chloe watched the lights of Minneapolis twinkle past her window. “That was really fun. But I think you should go out with the guys alone.”
“The guys wanted you there,” Max insisted.
“I know. But sometimes you just need time to be a guy without the girlfriend hanging on you. I can spend the evening with Mom.”
“Your mom has been spending nearly every night with Al.”
“Then I can hang with a good book.”
“You still have to come once in a while.”
She smiled. “All right.”
Chloe’s eyes wandered to the window again. Max took her hand in his. “I’m going to New Ulm tomorrow for my nephew’s birthday party.”
“That’ll be fun.”
“I want you to come with me.”
She frowned. “To meet your family?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know, Max.”
“I’ve told them all about you. Everything.”
“And they still want to meet me?”
Max smiled at her. “Absolutely.”
Chloe thought for a moment. “Sure. It sounds like fun.”
Max grinned as Chloe stared out the window. It wasn’t long before she dozed off.
Chapter Nine
“Thank you for coming with me.” Max slipped the car keys into his pocket as he gave her the sweetest, largest smile she had ever seen. “I can’t wait to introduce you to my family.”
Chloe trotted beside him as they walked along the sidewalk. “It’s only fair. You’ve met my mom.”
He laughed. “Chloe, sweetheart. I live with you and your mom.”
“That’s true.”
As they strolled along, she glanced around at downtown New Ulm. It was a far cry from Minneapolis. There were department stores most people in metropolitan areas hadn’t seen
since the late 1970s. There were small town gift shops full of quilting supplies, old books, beautiful Christmas decorations, and German knick-knacks. There was a stately, formal concrete building that housed the local bank. The storefronts were dotted with family restaurants and corner bars, each with windows leading to apartments built on top.
She jolted to a stop as Max pulled open the glass door to the hardware store. She felt her face flush in embarrassment as she stepped inside. Max let the door shut behind him.
“Max!” An older man who looked almost exactly like Max stood behind the counter, wiping his hands on a rag.
“Hey, Dad. How are you?”
“Doing well, big city boy. How was your drive?”
“Beautiful day for it.” Max gently pressed his fingers into the small of Chloe’s back. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Chloe.”
Max’s dad extended his palm to Chloe and shook her hand. “Hi, Chloe. Nice to meet you. Max has told us a lot about you.”
Chloe glanced up at Max. What exactly did he tell his family about me? “All good I hope,” she squeaked.
“Of course. My boy is pretty smitten with you. Thinks you’re the best thing he ever laid eyes on.”
“Dad…” Max groaned. Chloe noticed his perfect, chiseled cheeks tinge pink. Max’s dad patted him on the shoulder as they continued talking.
After a few more minutes, they said goodbye. Stepping outside, they began their trek back to the car. As they passed an antique store, Chloe stopped and peered in the window. Her eyes caught an old, brightly-painted, metal fire truck. “Max, wait. I haven’t bought your nephew a gift yet.” She pointed at the toy. “Will he like that?”
Max smiled at her choice. “Absolutely.”
They stepped inside the small store filled with all sorts of ancient trinkets. The room was cast in a soft, golden glow. Chloe carefully picked up the fire truck and carried it to the counter. As the small, rotund woman wrapped it, Chloe turned to Max.
“I always wondered. Why did Jack constantly pursue you to work for Hard Drive? Did he know about your experience with mixed martial arts.”
“He was there when I used to compete.” Max sighed. “Right off the bat and literally when I stepped out of the cage.”
“When did you start fighting?”
“In college. I was going to be the next Rico, the next up and coming star. But I tore my ACL apart in a match. After three grueling surgeries, I gave up.” He gently brushed a lock of her hair from her shoulder. “That’s why I admire you. You have gone through so much with your CVS, been hospitalized so many times. It makes my little injury look pathetic. And you still get up and live your life after it all. You’re so strong to go through it all and still smile.”
Chloe felt her face flush pink at Max’s compliment as she accepted the bag from the shopkeeper. He took her other hand in his. After thanking the woman, they walked hand in hand back to the Mustang.
Chloe thought to herself as she paced beside Max. “That explains why you compete against Rico. Why you are so good and keep up with him so well. You’re better than him, actually. I just thought you figured out how to match him.”
She heard Max sigh. “I thought you would be terrified of me when you found out.”
“There’s nothing for me to be worried about. You’re a good man. The best I’ve ever met.”
She met his loving smile with one of her own. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “I love you, Chloe. You’re beautiful.”
“I love you too, Max.” Her grin turned devious. “What about the other reason you stopped fighting?”
Max chuckled. “Her name was Tori. She was only with me because I fought. When I was recovering from my injury she dumped me for my best friend.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. But like I said I’m glad she did. I have you. I want you. She doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
“You’re so sweet.”
Max unlocked the door of his car and helped her inside. After sliding into the driver’s seat, he maneuvered through the small town streets of New Ulm to his parents’ house. The couple barely stepped out of the vehicle before they were accosted by the women of Max’s family. The ladies hugged each of them, pressing excited kisses to their cheeks long before Chloe knew who they were.
She saw the look of concern on Max’s face. He worried too much about her. But she had to admit that she loved her big, sweet, sexy protector. She smiled as an older woman with blonde hair and Max’s beautiful, blue eyes hugged her once again.
Chloe glanced back across the yard to Max. In his arms, he swung a little boy about the age of four. He had dark hair and blue eyes just the same as Max. Both of them smiled excitedly.
Max set the boy on his hip and approached the group of women. “Hey, Chloe. Let me introduce to you my mom, Lucy.” He indicated to the woman who had just hugged her to death. He motioned to the two younger women beside her. “These are my two sisters, Jenny and Tami. Behind them is my Aunt Marge. And this,” he bounced the boy on his hip, “Is my nephew, Tyson.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you all,” Chloe gushed.
“We’re so happy to meet you too, Chloe,” Lucy greeted. “Max has told us so much about you. Dad should be home from the store in just a few minutes, and the guests will arrive in a half hour. Max, I need your help in the backyard setting up tables.”
“Of course, Mom. Lead the way.” Max set Tyson down beside him. He took the little boy’s hand in his and followed his mom. Chloe accompanied Max’s sisters into the house to finish with the food.
Chloe watched out the kitchen window. Max had an incredible relationship with his mom, talking with her while he set up the tables where she indicated. Tyson adored his uncle, chattering away to Max. Max stopped working for a moment to toss a football with the little boy. Tyson caught it and tossed it back. She sighed as she smiled. Max would make such a great father someday.
The guests arrived, and the party started. Max’s family went to great lengths to make Chloe feel like she belonged. She watched them together. All she had ever known of family was her mom. She had never known a family like this one, a family that was so close. The sisters loved to tease their only brother. Max could dish out as well as he could receive. And their extended family had driven from all over Minnesota to celebrate Tyson’s birthday. There had to be at least fifty people there. Chloe had never seen anything like it.
Once the lawn chairs were set out, and Tyson had staked a spot on the grass to play with his new gifts and his second cousins, Max wrapped his hand around Chloe’s. “Let’s get away for a little bit.”
She nodded. They wove through the mass of family toward the front yard, stopping briefly to tell Max’s dad they would be right back. They climbed into the car. Max drove a short distance to the state park in the town, weaving past the campgrounds and picnic tables to park in the lot outside the shelter.
Max and Chloe walked along the trail. She looked up at the towering trees, the blue sky that stretched above the lofty canopy of green leaves. In the distance, she could hear the rush of water.
They stepped off the path onto a beach alongside a slow running river. Buried deep into the course sand was the footing of a rickety, rough wood bridge that stretched across the water to the other side. Max took Chloe’s hand and tugged her toward it. Once they ascended the steps, he nudged his leather sandals off. Chloe did the same as she followed him.
Max leaned his bent arms against the rail. Chloe watched him with a smile. “Did you used to come here often?” she asked.
“All the time. I used to daydream on this bridge,” he answered.
“About what?”
“Oh, lots of things. Going to college, my MMA career. Most of the time, I imagined kissing the girl I loved.”
“So, how many girls have you kissed here?” Chloe pried with a big smile.
“None. I’ve never been this in love before.”
“Oh.” Chloe gazed at the wate
r rushing under the bridge.
“The ironic thing is that I’m now on this bridge with the girl I love, and I can’t kiss her.”
She studied him in the summer sun. Max had been her hero. He had protected her. He had always been there to take care of her after her CVS episodes. He had saved her life. She loved him with all her heart. Suddenly, she wanted to kiss him badly.
Plunging her hand into her shorts pocket, her fingers wrapped around the lip-gloss. I can do this.
She pulled the tube out and held it up to him with a smile. The wide grin on Max’s face made her heart race. “Really? You’re all right if I kiss you?”
“Yes.”
Max closed the gap between them with a few strides. He cupped her face in his hands, gazing into her eyes. Her eyes fluttered shut as she felt his mouth gently brush against hers. Her belly clenched for a brief moment then quivered with excitement. Her lips opened obediently as his kiss roamed deeper. The sensation of his soft ones made her tremble. She didn’t realize she had wrapped her arms around him until she felt the hard planes of his biceps against her fingertips.
As they broke apart, she could hear the hint of fear in his voice. “Chloe, are you all right?”
“Don’t stop,” she moaned.
His arms drew her tighter to him. Her plea was answered with another deep, warm kiss that left her quaking. She whimpered as his tongue gently caressed hers, tasting her like a fine piece of chocolate. No man had ever kissed her like this in her life. Ever. The only man she ever wanted to kiss her like this was the one holding her now. She never wanted him to let her go.
She didn’t know how long they stood on the bridge kissing. Her breath shuddered as they parted. Max laid his forehead against hers as he still held her in his arms. She could feel him shaking too.
“I don’t have much experience in the kissing field,” Chloe admitted.
“Chloe, baby. That was incredible,” Max sighed. “Please, I’m begging you. Tell me that’s not a one-time deal.”
“Oh, no. I don’t think I could survive without you kissing me. I didn’t know what I was missing.”
Max grinned at her before kissing her forehead. “We should get back. I hope you don’t mind my family.”
Breaking the Cycle Page 11
