LITMIR.BIZ

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he needed to be strong, and being thrown off by seeing Raine couldn’t hinder his plans. His mother had to take top priority right now.... God knows his dad wouldn’t man up in this situation.

      The sprawling two-story colonial-style home always dominated the flat acreage surrounded by tall evergreens. Max loved growing up here and had been fortunate to have been adopted by Thomas and Elise Ford. He never knew his biological parents, and, even though he’d rarely seen eye to eye with his father, he knew there were much worse scenarios he could’ve entered into as an orphaned baby.

      Max pulled in front of the house and killed the engine. “Why don’t I take your diaper bag and gift?” he offered. “I’m not comfortable with that carrier...unless you can’t maneuver it in the snow.”

      Raine glanced over at him and laughed. “I’ve been doing just fine for a few months now, Max. Longer than that before Abby came along.”

      She got out and closed the door. Her quick jab wasn’t lost on him, but he had no idea why she was bitter. She was the one who’d dissed him when he’d gone to L.A. Destroyed any hope of sharing his life with her. And in his rage, after realizing she didn’t want him, he had nearly got himself killed.

      When he stepped from the vehicle, he noticed she was getting the carrier out, and also had the gift tote and her diaper bag dangling from her arm. Apparently this Raine was a bit more independent and stubborn than the old Raine. Who was he to argue?

      He followed her up the steps, careful to stay close in case she slipped. By the time they reached the wide porch, they were stomping the snow off their feet. Max moved forward and opened the door for her, gesturing her in ahead of him.

      If she was going to insist on carrying everything even though he’d offered, the least he could do is get the door and be somewhat gentlemanly.

      The grand foyer looked exactly the same as when he had left home at eighteen. There was never a need for him to return to this home, because, as soon as he’d left for L.A., his parents had hightailed it to Boston.

      His father had always loved the Boston area and thought it would make good business sense to branch out his pubs by starting a second in a larger city. Now his father had a chain of restaurants, and Max still wanted no part of the family business.

      The wide, curvaceous staircase dominated the expansive entryway, allowing visitors to see all the way up to the second-floor balcony that ran the width of the entryway. A vast chandelier suspended down from the ceiling of the second floor, the lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the pale marble flooring.

      Raine was just unzipping the blanket mechanism covering the carrier when his mother came into the foyer. Max didn’t know what to expect when they finally came face-to-face after her major, life-altering surgery, but relief quickly settled in when Elise Ford rushed forward and launched her petite little frame into his arms.

      “Max,” she said, looking up at him with beautiful blue eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here. I hate to pull you away from your work, though.”

      He was careful how he returned her embrace, knowing the left side of her body was tender from surgery.

      “I would drop anything for you, Mom. Besides, I don’t start another movie for a couple of months, so I’m all yours.” He smiled down at her, soaking in the fact that his mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but, had not only fought it, she’d beaten the odds and won. “I can’t believe how great you look.”

      She laughed, swatting his chest. “What were you expecting? I’m sore, and I definitely have my moments where I’m feeling run-down and tired, but today is a good day. Not only is my son home, he brought a beautiful girl and a baby with him.”

      Max turned to see Raine directly behind him, cradling a swaddled, sleeping baby. While his eyes were drawn to Raine, his curiosity made him look down at the child, wondering what life his ex was leading now. Apparently she’d gotten all she’d wanted out of life: husband, baby, probably that farm of her grandmother’s she’d always loved.

      “Oh...” Elise moved past Max and sighed. “Look how precious she is. Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.”

      How were babies always instant magnets for women? What exactly was the draw? Baby powder? Slobber? What?

      As Max watched the maternal love that settled into Raine’s eyes, the softness of her features, the tender smile, he couldn’t help but be jealous of this baby.

      Perhaps that thread of jealousy stemmed from his lack of being that loved at such a young age...but he didn’t think so. Max knew his jealousy had sparked because he once had that same unconditional love from Raine...until she’d broken his heart. So why was he upset? Had he seriously not learned his lesson the first time he got entangled with this woman?

      “May I hold her?” his mother asked.

      “Are you sure you’re up to it?” Raine replied. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

      Elegant as always, his mother waved a hand through the air and smiled. “I’m perfectly fine to hold a little baby. My surgery was two weeks ago. Take your coat off and stay a while, anyway. It’s too cold to be out on a day like this.”

      Raine handed over the baby and made work of removing her coat. Max should’ve done the same, but he was too busy watching Raine shed her scarf and gloves. When she pulled the crocheted purple hat off her head, she ran a hand over her auburn curls, as if she could tame them. He missed seeing that hair. He remembered running his fingers through it and feeling its silky softness. Truth was, he didn’t know he’d longed for such minute things about her at all until just now.

      “I need to call my friend to come get me,” Raine told his mother. “My car is in a ditch about a mile away.”

      Elise gasped. “Oh, honey. Are you all right?”

      Raine nodded. “I’m fine. Abby’s fine. Just scared me, but I was getting ready to call someone when Max pulled up.”

      His mother turned to him. “Good timing.”

      Wasn’t it just? Fate hated him. He was positive of that. Otherwise he wouldn’t be here in his childhood home, with his high school sweetheart and his mother, who had not exactly fought to keep them apart but had expressed her opinion that their teenage relationship wasn’t the best move.

      Max didn’t know what had happened between these two women over the years, but apparently his mother and Raine had made some sort of truce. Hell, he really had no clue what was going on. Even in the times he’d visited his parents in Boston, his mother hadn’t mentioned Raine after his first few visits.

      Max pulled off his coat, hung it by the door then crossed to Raine. The last thing he wanted to do was get close enough to smell her sweet floral scent or, God forbid, touch her. But, being the gentleman his mother had raised him to be, Max reached for her bag and helped her out of her ratty coat.

      “Oh, thanks,” she said, not quite meeting his eyes. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll make that call.”

      Raine slipped to the other room, pulling her cell from her pocket. Max turned to his mother who was making some silly faces and equally goofy noises for the baby.

      “What on earth is going on?” he asked in a strained whisper.

      Elise glanced over and smiled. “I’m holding a baby and visiting with my son.”

      “You know what I mean, Mom. Why is Raine so welcomed here now, and why are you holding her baby like she’s your very own grandchild or something?”

      Okay, poor, poor choice of words there, but he was damn confused.

      “Raine called me and asked if she could drop something off,” his mother explained. “Of course, I knew she had had a baby, and I’ve visited with Raine several times over the years when your father and I would come back to Lenox. Trust me when I say, Raine isn’t the girl she used to be.”

      But he liked the girl

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