“Wow.” I whispered the word. My suitcase had been set on a small bench near a closet.
“You like it?” Max’s deep voice was quiet.
“I do.” I nodded my head. “Very much. You guys might have to kick me out.”
“You’re welcome as long as you like.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and nodded his head toward my suitcase. “If there is anything you need steamed or pressed for tomorrow, just hang it on the door.”
“Thank you.” I had already picked out my outfit for the funeral, thank goodness, so it had been waiting on me when I was packing to leave.
“We wanted you to be comfortable.” He frowned. “I wanted you to be comfortable.”
“I appreciate what you’ve done, but I really wish you had gone about it in another way.” I turned to look at him.
“If I had suggested you stay here before your father blew his top this morning, would you have come?” Max stood up straight. “Meredith, you’re a strong person to have put up with all of that. Stronger than I am. I couldn’t leave you there while he drank himself into oblivion.”
“Sometimes it’s easier when he’s completely wasted. He passes out somewhere and I have nothing to worry about.” I sighed and sat down on the bed. “Really, I haven’t lived with him in years. I came to Lilaria with Granddad. How could I not? It meant a better life for Marty. But I found a way to get us out of the house with my father as soon as I could. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the program in England. I left and only came back for short visits.”
“And now you’re just waiting on the will.” Max took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I got involved, but when I saw him try to hit you that day . . .” He shook his head.
“It’s not always that bad. I mean, it’s not great, but usually he leaves me alone.” I frowned. “Says I remind him of my mom too much.”
“What happened to your mom?”
“She left. When I was little.” I shrugged. “No clue where she is or why she left—though I can guess it was because of my father.”
His jaw tensed and without him saying anything, I knew what he was thinking. That it was deplorable for a parent to leave a child in such a situation. I agreed with him, which was why I didn’t mourn the loss.
“What about . . . what about Marty’s father?” He looked down at the ground. “Do you share custody with him?”
“No.” I guess we were going to air out all of my dirty secrets. “Jared disappeared as soon as I told him I was pregnant.”
“You must have been young.” He watched me with thoughtful eyes. “That would have been hard.”
“I’ve done easier things.”
“You’re a really great mother.” His eyes were sincere.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him. “I try.”
“It shows.”
My heart felt a little lighter with that simple sentence. “I never wanted Marty to want for anything.”
“It would seem like you’ve given him everything that he needs.” He pulled out the chair from the desk and sat down. “He’s a great kid.”
“I think so.” I smiled at him.
We sat there for a minute, just looking at each other, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that an artist thing?”
“What?” His eyebrows furrowed.
“Staring at people.” I shook my head. “You were staring at me.”
“Well, you’re beautiful.” He said the words as if it should be obvious.
I looked away from him and laughed.
“What?” He smiled.
“I’m not even wearing any makeup.” I shook my head. “And yet you saying that made me feel more beautiful than I ever have.”
His smile took on a hint of pride. “Do you remember dancing with me at Alex’s wedding?”
“I do. You looked rather grumpy when you asked me to dance.” It had been one of those pure moments of deliciousness. Something I thought I’d look back on with fondness. The night a prince flirted with me and asked me to dance. That wasn’t something that most people could claim.
“Well, I hate being paraded around.” He shrugged. “That many people get to me.”
“Then why’d you ask me to dance?”
“You were gorgeous that night, but I like you like this just as much.” His eyes watched me closely and I tried to hide my smile.
“Do they teach princes to say things like that when you’re growing up? How to Melt a Woman’s Heart 101?”
“Actually the class is called Panty-Dropping 101.” He raised one eyebrow.
I looked down at my feet. “Nope. They’re still in place. Maybe you need a refresher course.”
“I’ll have to get the ol’ schoolbooks back out.” His eyes twinkled.
We were flirting. I was in a room in his house, my son was playing outside with a princess, and we were flirting.
“You realize that my father kicked you out of his house earlier and now you’re flirting with me.” I shook my head. “I thought you didn’t like drama.”
“Well, I would have flirted with you there, but that option was taken away.” He stood up and held his hand out to me. “C’mon.”
“Where are we going?” I let him take my hand.
“I figured I’d give you the grand tour.” His fingers twined with mine and my heart raced like a schoolgirl’s. “Unless you have something else to do.”