Page 28 of A Love So Sweet
Max studied his face for a long moment, her brow knitted, as if she was considering what he’d said. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Forgiveness is crucial for your spirit, don’t you think? I’m thankful you don’t hold grudges, or we wouldn’t be here right now.”
She lowered her gaze to his chest, her smile fading just enough for him to notice. He found her doing that a lot when she was thinking about things, looking anywhere but into his eyes. This time he didn’t lift her chin, curious to see if she trusted him enough to share whatever it was she was mulling over.
She moved beside him against the stall, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater, and a pained expression settled over her face. “I’m not so sure I don’t hold grudges.”
His gut seized. He thought they’d moved beyond what happened in Nassau. “What are you saying?”
“That there’s something I haven’t told you, and I want to be completely honest with you. We got so close in Nassau, and even after just a few dates I think we both know that whatever this is between us, it’s bigger than both of us. I want to keep seeing you, and…I want to seemoreof you. Alotmore.”
Her innuendo hit him right in the heart. “I want that, too.”
“Then you need to know why I got so nervous the other night. I should have told you then, but I couldn’t. I was too embarrassed. And the truth is, I was also scared about how strongly I feel for you.”
“Max, it’s overwhelming for me, too.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad I didn’t misread that.” She looked around the barn and said, “Can we sit here? Is that okay?”
“Would you rather go for a walk?”
She shook her head. “No. I feel safe here.”
She glanced up at Hope, and Treat swore Hope’s big brown eyes were saying,Sit down. Hold her. She needs you.They settled onto the floor, their backs against the rough wood, and Treat pulled her against his side, wanting her to feel safe. He watched her struggling to climb out from the shadow of whatever was haunting her, and he ached to fix whatever it was.
Max inhaled a shaky breath and stared at her hands in her lap as she spoke. “When I was a senior in college, I dated this guy. Ryan. He was smart and funny, the kind of guy everyone loves. Things were fine for a long time, and we eventually moved in together. But as we got closer to graduation, he changed. I’ve never understood what caused him to change, but he did. He became verbally abusive and withdrawn.”
Treat’s protective juices were flowing, and he did his best to rein them in. “Go on,” he said.If he hurt you, I’ll kill him.
“It became a way of life on and off for several weeks. I’m not proud of the fact that I took it. In all honesty, I was weak.” She met his gaze. “You look like you’re ready to explode. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything else.”
“No. Continue, please.” The thought of someone being abusive to Max pushed every button in his body. The anger coursing through him was stronger than any fury he’d ever felt, but for her sake, he fought to tether the rage. Max needed him to hear this. She trusted him, and going off about the guy would only scare her.
“My parents are great,” she said softly. “But my mother and I have never really talked about relationships. We lost my grandmother about ten years ago, but before she passed away, she told me that the secret to a lasting relationship was to always speak my mind. I should have listened, but I think watching my parents for so long had already convinced me that I shouldn’t complain or try to change things.”
Her brow furrowed, and Treat wondered if she was thinking about her grandmother, or like him, was thinking about how not speaking her mind was the wrong tactic to take in any aspect of life.
“But now,” she said, “I wonder if my grandmother told me thatbecauseof my parents’ relationship. My mother is very submissive. Not that my father is abusive or anything like that. He’s a good, quiet, kind man. But my mom has never really spoken her mind about anything as far back as I can remember.”
Treat pulled her closer, wanting to protect her from the past he couldn’t control. He thought about Savannah. If any man had ever mistreated her, Treat and his brothers would have broken down the door and wrung his neck. Max didn’t have anyone to protect her.
“Anyway, he’d grabbed my arm and—Treat, you’re holding me too tight.”
He unclenched his jaw and eased his grip. “I’m sorry, Max. I don’t want to scare you, but I’d like to kill this lowlife.”
“There’s more, but I’ll stop—”
“No, please don’t. I’m not going to track him down like an animal and hurt him. But I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t mad enough towantto do those things.”
She climbed onto his lap, sitting sideways, and put an arm around his neck. Their closeness brought his anger down a notch.She’s here. She’s safe.
“This next part is worse,” she said. “You’re not going to like it.”
“Is that why you’re on my lap? To keep me from getting up, tracking him down, and beating the tar out of him?”
She didn’t manage a smile, though she tried. “No. It’s because I need to be here while I tell you.”
“Baby, you’re safe with me. I’ll never hurt you again, and I’ll sure as heck never let anyone else hurt you.”
