Buried in Secrets (Carly Moore #4) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,94
watchin’ sportin’ events at night. He figured it would flop.”
“Maybe he needs to rethink that.” I made a face. “Speaking of Max, I should probably check in with him and see if he needs me for anything.” I let my hand slide down to rest on his pec, noticing the two top buttons of his shirt were undone. “Have you eaten?”
He grinned. “Is that some sort of come-on?”
I laughed and looked up into his dancing eyes. “It’s a legitimate question.” I gave him a sultry stare. “I’m worried about your stamina for later.”
He laughed too, lifting me up, and I released an involuntary squeal as he swung me around in a circle. “Don’t you be worryin’ about my stamina.”
“I’m gonna take that as a no about eating already,” I said. “Let’s go get you some dinner.”
I led him over to the food table. Ruth had abandoned the serving table, but there were still a few foil-wrapped hot dogs and burgers in the warming dishes. I handed him a paper plate, and he grabbed a hamburger, then glanced over at me.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No, but Max probably still needs me to work.”
He grabbed another hamburger and put it on his plate.
I shook my head with a grin. “I’m going to go find Max. Find a place to sit, and I’ll be over when I can.”
He leaned over and kissed me. “I’ll save you a seat.”
Max was over at the bar, refilling beer cups by himself. Had Wyatt left while Marco and I were dancing?
“Sorry I abandoned my post,” I said as I motioned to the dance area. “But Ruth pushed me out there.”
“I’m not sorry,” Max said, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s the best thing I’ve seen all night. As far as I’m concerned, you’re officially off the clock.”
I made a face. “That doesn’t seem right.”
“Don’t you worry, Ruth is too. I had her put the food table on the honor system. In fact, as soon as some of these rowdy teens take off, the bar will be too.” He winked. “But for now, I’ve got to make sure those kids don’t sneak some cups of beer.” He gestured to a group of boys, which included Ricky Crimshaw.
I was surprised Rob had let him out of his watchful eye, but then I realized I didn’t see Rob anywhere.
Max grabbed a cup and started to fill it. “As soon as I hand you these beers, I’m gonna need you to walk away. You and Marco were on fire out there, and I don’t want anyone thinkin’ you’re hittin’ on me. All the Marly lovers will have my hide.”
“Excuse me?” I asked with a laugh.
“That’s what they call you two,” he said. “There were bets on when you’d finally go public. Pickle won, by the way, so you might make him buy you a drink later with his winnings.”
I stared at him in shock, then laughed. “I’ll do that.”
He held out the full cup and reached for an empty one.
“Just a water for me. You might need me later.”
“Come on, Carly,” he said, filling it anyway. “You’re off for the night, and even if you do help with something, one beer’s not gonna make you drunk.”
“Okay,” I relented, because a beer did sound good. “But I want a bottle of water too.”
He finished filling the cup, then handed me the water, which I tucked under my arm, and the beer. “Well, look who just showed up.”
I turned around and caught a glimpse. “Bingham?”
“Him and Lula. It looks like they left the baby at home. Greta and her new boyfriend are with them.” He gestured to a table in the farthest corner of the set-up, in the dark area on the street.
Bingham and Lula were sitting at one of the church-borrowed tables with plates of food, eating. Lula and Greta seemed deep in conversation while Bingham’s gaze was slowly sweeping the area.
“Bingham hasn’t been around all that much,” Max said quietly.
Now that Marco mentioned it, he hadn’t. I shrugged. “I think marrying Lula and having a baby changed him.”
“Maybe so,” Max said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
I turned around to find Marco. He’d chosen a church table on the street too, although it was in the opposite corner from Bingham. Selena was sitting with him. As I approached, I could hear them discussing Marco’s glory days in high school.
“Hello, Miss Selena,” I said as I set down the beers and the water. “I’m so happy you came.”