Page 41 of No One But You
BAILEY
The moment Max strode into the living room, I flung myself into his arms, ignoring the twinge in my sore muscles and the full-body ache that hinted that maybe I’d overdone things just a little.
It wouldn’t matter if I’d pushed too much too soon, because I’d spend the next few days resting and planning future content, and I’d be fine by next weekend.
Hopefully.
Max squeezed me back but loosened his hold when I winced.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” he said, his eyebrow flicking up as if to silently confirm whether I was, in fact, all right.
I nodded.I was tired and sore, but I’d be fine soon.What concerned me more was how I ought to feel about the fact that the hike had been completely uninterrupted.
Had they left me alone because they were no longer in town?
Much as I might want that to be the case, I was also worried because without any firm answer, the questions would hang over my head.
Nate wandered in behind Max and removed his cap.I let go of Max and turned toward him, about to ask for his opinion of what, if anything, ought to be done next.Before I opened my mouth, Eugene emerged from the kitchen with a tray of drinks.
“I have tea for Bailey and coffee for everyone else,” he said, setting the tray down and passing out mugs.
“Cookies too?”I picked up a cookie with oats in it and took a bite.A sweet, mapley taste filled my mouth.“Yum.Thank you.”
Eugene patted my shoulder.“No problem.Have as many as you like.There are more in the kitchen.We know how fast you lot go through baked goods.”
Once we all had drinks and cookies, we sat around the dining table.
“What do you think it means that no one took the bait?”I asked Nate.
He shrugged.“Perhaps they’ve moved on, or maybe they somehow figured out it was a trap.”
“So, what next?”This came from Heather.
Nate just grimaced.“Can’t say I know.I guess we’ll just keep investigating.My request for a sketch artist has been added to a waiting list.We might be able to get someone here in a couple of weeks.”
Max reached for my hand, and I took his, grateful for the support.I really didn’t like the thought of carrying on without answers.My freaking anxiety would never leave if we didn’t get any.
Heather’s eyebrows shot up.“What’s going on here?”
My cheeks warmed, and I scrunched up my face, uncertain how much Max would want them to know when we hadn’t officially had a “where is this going?”conversation yet.
But Max just looked at his mother and smiled.“We have feelings for each other, and we’ll be going on our first proper date as soon as I can get a booking at that restaurant at the ski resort.”
Aww.Now my cheeks weren’t the only part of me that was warm.The ski resort had the only fancy restaurant in the area.People could eat bar food at Drunken Destiny or have lunch at the cafe, but the ski resort was romantic.It meant he wanted to woo me properly, and I was all for that.
Heather straightened, her eyes glittering.“That’s wonderful!”
Eugene got up and clapped Max on the shoulder, then gave mine a gentle squeeze.“I always thought you two would be good together.Haven’t I said that, Heather?”
She rolled her eyes.“Yes, dear.But just because they’re both lovely people, that doesn’t always mean romantic compatibility.”
Eugene sidled around the table, motioning to us as if to say, “But look, it clearly does,” and I giggled.He was such a goof sometimes.
“How did it happen?”Heather asked.
I exchanged a glance with Max.I didn’t really want to admit that I’d crawled into his bed because I was scared and ended up kissing him.
“Go on,” she urged.“Tell us.”
