“You… you need to hang the pictures,” I snuffled into his neck, hiding my face from view.

“Later.”

“No, I’m okay,” I lied, wiping my hand along my cheek and then letting out a hiccoughing sob.

“Later.”

My head came up and I protested, “Max.”

My head went right back into his neck when his hand cupped the back of it and forced it there.

“Duchess, I said later.”

Max was obviously determined and I knew what that meant.

“Oh all right,” I gave in tearfully but also grumpily.

Max made no response.

I slipped my arms around him and let his warm, solid body cradle mine.

Never said this, Nina, never thought I’d have the chance, Charlie whispered into my head and the only response I could give was to hold Max tighter, I’m so sorry, sweetheart.

A new sob slid from my throat and Max held me closer.

* * * * *

After the pictures were up (yes, pictures for Mom, Steve and Cotton all demanded that mine be hung between the two doors under the loft, no one let me get a word in edgewise and Max sure as heck didn’t intervene, not to mention, once up, they looked amazing); after Mexican casserole which was even better than I remembered and Max, who had two helpings, obviously thought so too; after three beers (for Max) and two (for me); and after coffee and yellow cake with fudgy, chocolaty frosting from a tub and a scoop of ice cream that Mom, Steve and Cotton got from the store, Max and I stood at the front door saying good-bye to our guests.

“Where are you staying?” I asked Mom as I gave her a hug.

“Steve found a last minute deal on a condo someone cancelled. It’s on the other side of town. We got it for a song. We’re here all week!” Mom declared, my gaze slid to Max and I watched his eyes close slowly before he shook his head.

“That’s great, Mom,” I said pulling away but holding onto her hands and I actually did think it was great, mostly because I missed my Mom and I didn’t get to see her that often.

I hugged Steve next and then Cotton, who Mom and Steve were driving home. Snow flurries were falling as was night and Cotton had walked there because, I’d found out, he was Max’s neighbor.

“I’ll walk ‘em to their car,” Max told me then his eyes going to my stocking feet, he ordered, “You stay here.”

I didn’t argue, I’d had a tough day, instead I said, “Okay.”

“’Night, Neenee Bean, see you in the morning,” Mom waved, bouncing on her sandals and then she turned to Max and declared, “I expect to be carried to the car by my daughter’s mountain man hunk, seeing as I might break a heel in this snow.”

“Mom,” I snapped, “none of it has actually stuck yet.”

“Don’t spoil my fun!” she snapped back and then she screeched with delight when Max obliged her demands.

Steve grinned at me and shook his head. Cotton stared at Mom and Max and also shook his head, though for different reasons than Steve.

I watched through the windowed door for awhile then I wandered to the armchair, plopped into it and stared at the roaring fire, thinking Max was good at building fires.

Then again, he seemed good at everything.

I waved through the window when I heard the honking car drive by and then watched Max walk through the door.

“Max, you shouldn’t give into her nuttiness, trust me, it only makes her more nutty,” I called.

“Your Mom wants to be carried to her car, I can carry her to her car, I’ll carry her to her car. Not a big deal,” Max replied, bending and pulling off his boots.

“Whatever,” I muttered and turned back to the fire.

I felt him come to me rather than heard him and then I scrunched to the side as he sat in the chair beside me and propped his feet up on the ottoman.

I was about to open my mouth to say something, what I had no idea, when Max slid an arm around my shoulders and spoke.

“Two miracles occurred today. My woman saved the girl I think of as a sister’s life and it’s eight o’clock, we’re alone and you’re not sick, drunk or asleep.”

“Max,” I whispered and he turned from gazing at the fire to look at me.

“Never, Nina, never in my f**kin’ life will I forget you racin’ down that incline, jumpin’ in the goddamned river and bent over, breathin’ life into Mindy.”

I closed my eyes but opened them again when Max’s hand came to my face and his mouth touched mine.

He pulled back an inch and murmured, “Thank you, baby.”

“Max –” I started softly and he cut me off.

“But, you ever even think of jumpin’ into a river again, I’ll tan your ass.”

I felt my brows snap together just as I felt my body jerk. “I’m sorry?”

Max’s arm dropped across my lap, his hand at my hip and he stated, “You scared the f**kin’ shit outta me.”

“Max –”

“Seriously, Nina, swear to God, I watched you go into that river, you didn’t f**kin’ hesitate, and my goddamned stomach dropped. I thought you’d both go.”

“Max –”

“There’d be nothin’ I could do, that river took you, it wanted you, it’d have you and I’d lose you both.”

“That didn’t happen,” I reminded him, trying to keep my patience.

“No, thank f**k, it didn’t. Coulda, but it didn’t.”

“I had to get to her.”

“I know you did.”

“So I got to her.”

“Yeah, you did, nearly lost your life doin’ it.”

“That isn’t true.”

“A river’s unpredictable, babe, you don’t know that but I do. Especially in spring. You shoulda waited for me.”

“Waiting wasn’t an option.”

“Not worth talkin’ about now, it’s done and thankfully everyone’s all right.”

“You brought it up.”

“I brought it up in case you get a wild hair which you seem to do a lot.”

I pulled back as far as I could which wasn’t very far and glared at him. “I’m not going to jump into rivers willy nilly, Max, I didn’t even jump in today. I just, kind of, walked in.” His brows went up and I gave an inch. “Okay, ran in.”