forlornly. ‘Great. That’s all I need. You causing chaos. A plant graveyard. And now a flood. It’s Armageddon. Save me from the plague of...’ She paused. ‘Oh, yes. Of course, I know…’
Arms dripping with water, she shook her fist skywards, tipped her head back and giggled. ‘Nonna! That’s enough now. Stop it. Leave me alone.’
‘You don’t believe all that, do you? She’s not really got it in for you.’
Gabby smiled. For some reason, even though he was causing chaos in her home and her heart, she felt freer than she’d ever been in her life. So phooey to Nonna. ‘No. But it’s always good to have someone else to blame, right?’ Shoving a towel at him, she said, ‘Now, give me a hand clearing up.’
Starting at the edge of the room she knelt and pressed a towel into the water, then squeezed it out into the kitchen bowl. Max knelt next to her and together they worked through to the middle of the room. Every time he dragged the towel back towards him his arm brushed against hers. Every time their skin touched she felt the same jolt of electricity she’d had the first day they’d met. Seemed nothing had changed, certainly hadn’t dimmed. If anything, her feelings for him had deepened.
When he caught her eye she captured his gaze. I love you.
The words were there, threatening to trip off her tongue, but then his little speech before the flood began to sink in. She knelt up and pulled him round to face her, the tight knot in her throat threatening to choke her. ‘Hold on. Hey, Maitland One. You love me?’
‘Finally. Yes, Gabby. I love you.’
‘Well, wow. That’s a surprise.’ She balled the towel into her fist and screwed it tighter, not knowing how to deal with the sudden lightness in her chest. And trying at the same time to be strong when tears were springing in her eyes.
‘Yeah, well, it was news to me too.’ He took the towel from her hands and dropped it to the floor. Then took her hands in his and held them against his chest. Water seeped up through her pyjamas. But she didn’t care. All she wanted to do was look into those eyes and listen to his voice. Soft and gentle, yet solid and strong.
‘But it’s the best kind of news. I’m not good at this, Gabby. You make me happy. That’s all. From the minute I saw you in the pub I’ve been lost. In you. You’ve shaken me up, changed my life and I didn’t want you to do that at first. I fought against it, I didn’t want to love you. I lost my parents and Mitchell and I’ve been too afraid I’d lose you too. But now I have the love thing cooking well. And I’m working on the trust.’ Was this what she thought it was? Was this what she even wanted? This could be a chance for them both, a second chance at grasping the life they both wanted. ‘What are you saying? The commitment-phobe wants to commit now? Somehow?’
He grinned. ‘Yes. Yes, I do, Gabby. I know I have a long way to go, but I reckon that together we can put the hard times behind us.’ She’d never believed it could be possible. But seeing the devotion on Max’s face challenged her beliefs. She could be loved. She was lovable. She could love. She just needed to let it in, and allow herself to give love too. To Max.
Just one thing stood in the way. ‘But what about babies? You know I can’t have any now, and I don’t want you to hold that against me sometime in the future. You have to be honest with me. And I understand if you want to walk away.’ She held her breath, her pulse racing as he looked deep into her eyes.
‘I know, Gabby, and I’m so very sorry. You’d make a wonderful mum. Maybe we can get help, and we can certainly look at options. Whatever you want. And if it doesn’t happen for us then we’ll be stronger for it.’ Cupping her chin, he tilted her face to his. ‘Trust me, there are enough Maitlands in the world.’
How could there ever be? She laughed. ‘But I want you to have everything you deserve, and that includes a family.’
‘I have one right here. That’s enough for me.’ At her frown he pressed a kiss on her forehead. ‘Honestly.’
‘Are you sure? Because I don’t want