Page 11 of Max Bannon

“Either that or he’s chewing through the drywall,” I whispered.

He chuckled, then turned a little on the couch to face me more fully, one arm stretched across the back, his mug resting on his thigh.

The firelight played across his face, softening the hard edges and throwing little gold flecks into his eyes. My stomach did a thing.

“Alright,” he said, sipping his tea. “Now that the goat’s not interrupting, where were we?”

I glanced at his mouth. Then back up at his eyes.

“I think you were going to kiss me,” I said quietly.

“Was I?”

“You said it yourself.”

“Hmm,” Max leaned in just a little, not touching me, not rushing it. “I guess the question is… do you want me to?”

I paused. Not because I didn’t know the answer, but because it hit me howdifferentthis was. Max wasn’t playing a game. He wasn’t rushing or assuming or pushing.

He was justthere—solid, warm, steady.

And I wanted him.

I nodded, just once. “Yes.”

That’s all it took.

He leaned in slowly, giving me every chance to change my mind. I didn’t.

When his lips finally touched mine, everything else fell away. The bee stings, the awkward hospital gown, the goat, wherever he was—none of it mattered. His hand cupped my cheek, and I melted into him like I’d been waiting to do this since the moment I met him.

He kissed me like a man who wasn’t in a rush—like he planned to take his time.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both quiet for a beat, just breathing the same air.

“Well,” I whispered, “I’m glad the goat fell asleep.”

Max rested his forehead against mine. “I’m glad you showed up on the mountain.”

“I’m glad you didn’t die from bee venom.”

He laughed, low and rough. “Yeah. That would’ve been a real mood killer.”

We sat like that for a while, close and quiet. Not saying much. Just existing in the kind of silence that feels safe. Easy.

Eventually, I curled up next to him, resting my head on his shoulder. He didn’t move away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You’re not what I expected, Max,” I murmured, my eyes growing heavy.

“What did you expect?”

“Someone less...”

“Charming? Ruggedly handsome?”

I smiled against his T-shirt. “Complicated.”

He didn’t respond for a long moment. Then he said, “Yeah. Me too.”

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