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“Not at all,” she smiled painfully – and he paused.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Her voice was tight, and her face looked pinched.
“Elana, kitten, what’s wrong… because I can see it in your face, and I don’t think it would be a good start to our marriage if I have a nervous breakdown before I say ‘I do,’” he admitted softly, taking both of her hands in his. “I’m trying to look all smooth, but I’m nervous you are going to change your mind or ditch me.”
Her stunning eyes widened as she looked at him in surprise and wonder before pulling her hand away to touch his cheek.
“Max, not every family is close like you and your brother,” she murmured. “I wish I had someone to reach out to like that, but I don’t. I called my father, who didn’t answer his phone, and my mother is getting her nails done – and it’s my fault I didn’t give her enough notice.”
He felt his breath escape him as his blood pressure surged in defense of his sweet girl – and cursed fluently enough to cause her eyes to widen in shock.
“Sorry,” he spat hotly. “I’m gonna be your family – until we make our own, and to heck with people that don’t put family first as a priority. I mean, really? Her nails?”
“Max…”
“Dang it, that just pisses me off. My brother volunteered to come because he knew this was important to me – and my sister-in-law is off in a rolling ‘Weeee-Wooo-mobile’ doing chest compressions or some other fancy-schmancy medical thingy… by the way, we are having dinner with them as an apology to her because she couldn’t get out of her shift… but…”
“Max!” Elana said firmly, causing him to stop his rant as he looked at her.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Is that gonna be a problem if I really couldn’t care less about going to Thanksgiving or Christmas at your parents’ houses?”
“No,” she chuckled – and unbelievably stepped into his arms, hugging him. “We’ll do our own thing.”
This was the first time Elana had truly reached for him – and he was here for it! He wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes in sheer joy at the feeling of holding her close, marveling at the miracle that brought him here. He breathed in her perfume, heard her sigh, and felt her start to pull back from him and he tugged her close again, hearing her chuckle of amusement.
“I’m not done,” he whispered to her, smiling as he stood there with his eyes closed, savoring this. “Snooze. Five more minutes…”
“You’re not asleep,” she laughed.
“I like you holding me…”
“This is pretty nice…”
“Can you just imagine what it would be like if…”
“Don’t blow it, Inferno.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed contritely, causing the both of them to laugh softly as they hugged each other once more, only to hear Reese’s voice nearby.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” Max replied succinctly and heard Elana laugh as she pulled away from him, turning toward his brother – but strangely, her arm remained around his waist. Oh gosh, I’m gonna be putty in her hands, he thought wildly as he smiled at his brother.
“Eileen’s on her way if you don’t mind waiting five minutes.”
“It will probably take us that long to get through security.”
“Miss Cole, good to see you again…”
“Elana – and I think we should use first names since we’re going to be related shortly, Reese.”
Max watched Elana shake his brother’s hand politely and couldn’t help the flare of pride that made him stand a little taller, his chest puff up a little more, and some of the indigestion started to fade, looking up to the sky and whispering under his breath ‘Thank You.’
“Ah!” Reese smiled and held out his hand as Eileen came jogging up the steps, smiling.
