Turn It Up

Chapter Ten

It was official. Maxwell Junior was officially head-over-heels in love.

He’d done his best to hide it from Tasha, and so far, he thought he had done a damn fine job. The shirt in his hands hung forgotten for a second as he wasted a moment regretting he wasn’t simply allowed to let her know how he felt. Still, she accepted his attention and seemed to be enjoying his company—all good things that boded well for the future, right?

The drawer in front of him was finally empty and he moved to the next. Clothing and collected bits of junk got sorted, some tossed into the garbage, some into the box he was packing.

“You want me to save any of these dishes?” Tasha called from the other room. “Anything sentimental in here?”

You. You’re the only thing in this house I need. He poked his head out of the bedroom and let the pleasure of seeing her wash over him again. “I picked most of them up at the thrift store when I finished college. Box them up and we can take them back there.”

Tasha leaned on the table and raised a brow as she eyed him up and down. “Interesting packing attire. I’m not sure I want to know.”

Max glanced down at himself and let out a snort. He was down to his boxers, and nothing else. “Yeah, unconventional, but it works. I figured if I was getting rid of old clothes, I should start with the T-shirt I was wearing. Then I realized that with all the dirt and dust bunnies I was unearthing, my shorts would just get messy—”

“The T-shirt you were wearing? There was nothing wrong with it. You didn’t throw it out, did you?”

She crossed her arms and gave him this look that he totally couldn’t interpret. He scrambled to explain. “It’s got a tear under the arm. It’s just one of my college shirts.”

Tasha marched past him, brushing his body as she slipped into his room and grabbed the discarded garment from the edge of the box where it had caught when he threw it earlier. “There’s nothing wrong with this shirt. You can’t throw it out.”

He laughed. “Okay, fine. You can have my ripped shirt.” It would look far better on her than on him anyway. Especially if she wore it with nothing underneath, her long legs bare, her breasts pressing the front of the fabric—

Oh boy. He shook his head and willed his cock to behave. They needed to get the packing done sometime this century. The pile of his belongings grew smaller as he prepared to move in with her. He swallowed hard. Even the thought was enough to re-engage his cock. It was really happening, not only the sex with his dream girl, but the whole relationship and moving-in and establishing-a-family thing. For him, the most important thing in his world. Screw it if some people thought he was crazy, he’d been looking for this all his life.

She shook the shirt in his face. “Thank you, it’s mine. You obviously haven’t had as much practice as I have in making things last as long as possible. Since we’re going to be roommates, you’re going to have to make a few adjustments. Hey, do you think there’s enough left in the fridge for lunch, or do we need to pick something up on the way to the lawyer’s?”

“I’m easy.” Max tried to make his shrug look nonchalant even as the roommates comment hit him hard. That’s what she still thought of them as? Damn. He obviously needed to turn the romancing up a whole lot harder. Of course it hadn’t been all that long since their first time together—two weeks in fact. Leaping forward into moving together had been Tasha’s suggestion, and it still floored him.

He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her against him. “Thanks for letting me move in with you so quick. The thought makes my head spin.”

“I’ll admit it’s a little weird to think about. I haven’t shared a place with anyone for years. But it makes sense, even if the entire Turner family is ready and waiting to ask us all sorts of questions.” She hesitated, then rested her arms around his shoulders as she played with the hair at the back of his neck. “Besides, you had a standing offer for this place, and my apartment is only a rental. Once the new house is officially done, we’ll be moving again.”

“You don’t want to have to move twice, admit it.”

He rolled his neck slightly, loving the glide of her fingers against his skin. She didn’t seem to mind physical contact with him outside the bedroom, but there was still something missing. The spontaneity wasn’t there yet, not on her part. Was it just the years she’d refused to see him as more than a friend? Had she gotten so good at turning him down she was now turning down what could be?

“Oh, I’m guilty of not wanting to move more than necessary. Hate it with a passion. In fact, I think I’ll hire that part of the job to some of the Turner clan. That will get me back in their good books, right?”

“You’re not in their bad books. It’s going to take time for them all to catch up. Just because news travels through the extended family like wildfire, doesn’t mean they take it in that fast. Look at my folks—they’re totally fine with the whole situation.”

“Your parents are incredible. I was sure they would at least give me a few dirty looks when they found out we were moving in together.”

“They are cool—but you gotta realize they’ve learned there’s no use arguing with me. I’m a grown-up, and I’ve proved enough times I can take care of myself. Besides, they like you. Always have.”

He swayed from side to side, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. They’d been making love daily for the past couple weeks, and he couldn’t get enough of touching her. They’d talked a ton as well, figuring out the details of the prenatal arrangement. He’d been careful to avoid anything like making a promise to keep things nonemotional, and nothing but “friends only forever”. He wasn’t about to lie, but he wasn’t about to scare her away.

He’d practice the fine art of the slow seduction of her heart and cross his fingers that no matter how much she said she only wanted a friend, that eventually she’d accept him as much more.

“We still need to let everyone know we’re getting hitched. What time did the ceremony finally get set for?”

She stiffened for a split second before returning to cuddle against him. “Sorry, that still freaks me out. We’ve got an appointment for a week from Friday, at two.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Freaks me out a bit as well, if it makes you feel better.”

“We could wait until—”

“We’re not waiting, Tasha. This is important to me. We’re having sex and you could be pregnant already. I want to be married before I hear I’m going to become a father. Maybe that makes me some kind of weird toss-back, but you’ll just have to put up with my old-fashioned ways.”

She stretched up on her toes and kissed his nose. “You know what? That’s very sweet, and I promised I would marry you, but I’m saying there’s no rush because I don’t feel like I’m pregnant.”

Oh? “You have some mystical crystal ball you’re consulting, or did you get your period?”

A gasp escaped her. “Umm, that’s blunt.”

He snickered softly. “I thought you were used to it.”

Her cheeks flushed to bright red, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m not talking about my period with you.”

“Bullshit. We’ve been over this. You want to get pregnant, we need to talk about it. I thought you were going to make me a chart? I know you’ve got one. You’ve probably been tracking for months.”

“Jesus, do you know how weird this is? To talk about my period with a guy? Yes, I’ve got a chart, but you don’t need to be studying it or anything. Just…have sex with me. That’s enough.”

Max debated which way to take this. She’d been fighting to maintain control in the strangest of areas. Maybe straight-out logic would be best. “Is your cycle twenty-four days? Longer? Shorter?”

“Max!”

Of course, teasing was good as well. “Hey, I’m up on basal temperature and all that stuff as well. I’ll take your temperature every day if that will help.”

She shook with her laughter now. “You, Maxwell Turner, are not a normal male.”

“So I’ve been told. But since we’re trying to get preggo, I figured I should do some research. For example, in the book What to Expect When You’re—”

She peeled out of his arms and sat on the edge of the bed, holding her stomach and laughing. “You’ve started reading baby books? Oh my God, you’re a brave man.”

“No, brave is when I ask if you’ve got PMS and don’t run to hide the knives.”

A loud shout burst from her. “Now you’re looking for trouble.”

“I think I found it.” He stepped on either side of her legs.

Tasha stared up at him. “You confuse me.”

He grinned back. “You make me hot.”

Neither of them seemed to be able to stop smiling and inside, he cheered. She seemed to have forgotten temporarily that she wasn’t interested in being more than friends. “You ass, is that going to be your standard answer when you want to win a fight?”

“Don’t see why not. It’s true, and it works.” Besides, it made her flush slightly every time he said it, and he was willing to use every weapon in his arsenal to get the upper hand. After flicking a glance at his watch, a happy idea overtook him. He pressed her back on his bed and buried his face between her breasts. In spite of having spent the morning packing, she smelled wonderful, a hint of jasmine rising on the air.

They’d been apart for far too long, at least twelve hours. “So…”

She wiggled under his touch. “So…what?”

“Are you, or aren’t you? Because we totally have enough time for a quickie, if you’re not having your period…”

She wasn’t, and they did, and he’d never been happier. Rolling with her on the bed in the midst of his college paraphernalia, it was like a homecoming and a hint at the future. Tasha seemed very willing to acknowledge the physical chemistry between them. Max wanted much more. The much more he was determined to achieve, one step at time, and luckily for both of them, each step was turning out to be very pleasurable.

“You’ve got to be kidding. I swear this is some kind of elaborate hoax you two have concocted.”

Tasha sighed into her teacup. Of all the people to have trouble with her situation, she didn’t expect Lila to be the one to freak so hard. Yeah, there had been a few warning grumbles when Tasha had shared that she and Max were dating, but she’d thought that was just from the initial surprise. Heaven knew Lila had heard her complain often enough over the past year that having a man in her life was a low priority.

Now that Saturday had rolled around it was less than a week before she and Max were supposed to make it official. She’d finally got up the courage to drop by Lila’s place and tell her their plans. “No, I’m not kidding. Max and I are getting married.”

“You can’t marry him!”

She raised a brow at her friend’s bold declaration. “I can’t? Why? Is he married already, with a passel of kids I don’t know about?”

Lila growled at her, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms. “If you’re not going to be serious about this…”

“I am being serious. Max and I have decided to get married. I want you to come and be one of our witnesses. It’s at two o’clock. Are you free?”

“You’ve been turning the boy down for dates for years, and now you’re not only dating, you’re getting married? Jumping the gun or what?”

Tasha sighed. Yeah, the tough questions were starting already, and she had only a few options. Either she told the plain and simple truth to Lila, or she lied her head off and pretended to be madly in love. She didn’t want to confess about the baby making to anyone—not even Lila. That topic was something that down the road neither she nor Max wanted trotted out at a Turner gathering. A bold-faced lie was also out of the question. Lila would never in a million years believe her to have fallen head over heels so fast.

Max had suggested a middle ground, and she’d thought it was a good idea. Unfortunately, Lila wasn’t buying.

“He’s not a boy anymore, as he very eloquently pointed out. When I finally agreed to date him, I realized we clicked. It doesn’t make any sense to wait around and make it a long drawn-out engagement and stuff. We’ve known each other for ten years.”

Lila wrinkled her nose. “Please, he was underage for most of that time.”

“You know nothing sexual happened back then.”

Her friend shook her head. “I don’t understand you. From wanting nothing to do with the Y chromosome to committing to marriage?” Lila narrowed her eyes. “You’re up to something, and I’m not sure why you’re not telling me the truth. You’ve had your damn head in the clouds for months. I figured it was stuff with your work or the house-building project. Now you want me to believe you’ve fallen in love with my cousin and that’s it?”

“Why is it so hard to believe?” Tasha scrambled a bit. Having to convince Lila was not on her list of things to do. She’d known it was a stretch—to hope for a quiet coffee break, a congratulatory hug, and then back on her way into a full day that included way too much work. While she and Max were keeping the wedding small and strictly businesslike, there still seemed to be a million things to do.

The fact she’d gotten her period that morning hadn’t added any joy to the day either. The complication of having to win over her friend seemed a little too much to take at the moment. “It’s happening. It’s real. I just want you to be happy for me.”

“I can’t condone this.” Lila glared at her. “He’s my freaking younger cousin, barely out of his teens.”

Tasha covered her wince as best she could. This was not going to be easy, not with Lila shooting back all the concerns she thought she’d finally convinced herself weren’t issues. Now she got to try saying her responses out loud, like she meant them. She hoped they sounded as convincing this time around as they had when she’d jumped into the relationship with Max.

“Oh, bullshit, you know he’s not a teen. He’s twenty-four, and he’s more mature than most of the thirty-year-olds we’ve been dating. If you pull off the blinders, you’d have to admit that he’s an adult, and a great guy.”

“There’s no way I’m admitting anything. This is simply way too weird.”

Damn it all. “Look, we’re not asking for your permission, I’m asking if you want to be my witness—”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t see why you’re doing this. Unless you guys had sex and you got knocked up or something, I see no reason for you to get married. Hell, even if that’s the case, I still see no reason for you to get married.”

The streak of pain that flashed through Tasha was real, and made her angry all over again. There was no way someone who wasn’t longing for a child could understand how much it hurt to have to spit out the words. “I’m not pregnant.”

“What the hell is going on then? And why aren’t you telling me the truth? I mean, one minute you’re sworn off guys and the next you’re getting married? How come I didn’t hear a word about your change of heart before now?”

Shit. “I just…”

“Just what? Didn’t think you could tell me? Didn’t think you should talk to someone before you made a life-changing decision?”

Tasha froze, her fingers clutching the edge of her cup. It was true. She hadn’t told Lila, not a word, about her plans for artificial insemination. All through the debating and questions, she’d clutched the idea tightly to herself and kept it a secret. Why hadn’t she disclosed her thoughts to Lila? The question had bothered her until she’d realized she didn’t want to tell out of fear Lila would try to talk her out of it.

Lila had always acted like she was the voice of reason, stilling many of the exciting new adventures Tasha wanted to try. Coaxing her back to far more ordinary paths. Some of the time Tasha was grateful, but there were times that she’d wondered if the safe route Lila insisted on was really the one to take.

Like she was trying to talk her out of this now.

Was she correct in this circumstance? Maybe, but it was still Tasha’s decision. Somehow, she needed to get that across.

She blew out a long slow breath. “I’m sorry. I have been keeping secrets, but I think this is what I need to do.”

“How can it be the right thing? Tash—you’re way older than him. You’re settled in your life. You’ve got everything you need. Why throw it away and make this kind of radical change?”

Tasha frowned. What the hell? “At thirty-four I’m settled? I’m not supposed to change or grow from here on? That doesn’t make any sense. There’s a whole lot of life in front of us still, Lila, and I never planned on staying stagnant. I know it seems like a stretch, but can you trust me? I’ve given it a ton of thought and—”

Lila rose to her feet, disgust written on her face. “Jesus, I didn’t know you were so desperate for a guy that you had to go cradle robbing. Don’t do this. You’re making a huge mistake.”

Tasha fought the tears that threatened. “Never in a million years did I expect you to respond like this.”

“Never in a million years did I expect you to go trolling through my family to find—”

“Enough!” Holy shit, where had this gone so wrong, so fast? Tasha stood and grabbed her purse, swinging it over her shoulder and stiffening her spine. “I’m sorry this upset you. That wasn’t my intention.”

Lila shook her head. “Then stop what you’re doing and listen for a minute. You don’t need to go racing off into marriage. Just…put it on the back burner for a while. Tell Max you need more time. You and I can take a holiday. Plan some fun things to do together. I don’t know, maybe some retail therapy. A bunch of girls’ time out and you’ll be able to see things in a clearer light.”

Fuck. She wasn’t getting it. “What light is that, Lila?”

Her friend rounded the table, as if coming in for a hug. “You need something to get you back to normal.”

A laugh burst out, shaky around the edges. Tasha backed away. Lila didn’t understand, and she was talking crazy-talk. Shopping was supposed to be an alternative to getting married? “Normal? What’s normal? Hanging out with you and—?”

“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with how things were going in our lives before you decided you needed a guy around again. It’s not worth it, Tasha. Just give up trying to find that kind of happiness, okay?”

Tasha closed her eyes for a second and prayed for strength. “You don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t, and if you insist on going ahead with this stupidity, you’re on your own. I won’t be a party to it.” Lila’s arms were folded again, red flushing her cheeks.

“I take that as a no to witnessing then.”

“Damn straight.”

She waited for one more second, hoping that there would be some sign of weakening. Something that she could say to redeem this fuck-fest of a conversation. Nothing. Lila turned her back and slipped into the kitchen.

Tasha forced herself to walk calmly away, wondering if this was indicative of what she could expect in the days to come. So much for the entire Turner family being supportive and welcoming. Her friend had not only dismissed her and Max as a couple, but reawakened everything she’d worried about in terms of a long-term relationship with him.

What the hell had she done?

She escaped into her car before she gave into her tears, indulging for a moment. There wasn’t anything more she could do about Lila, but it hurt.

Damn hormones anyway. Getting her period hadn’t helped the situation either.

Her phone rang and she cleared her throat carefully before answering it.

“Hey, Max, what’s up?”

His voice sounded light and happy on the line. “I was wondering how it went with Lila. Does she need a ride or anything to the office for Friday?”

So much for having a clear throat. Her response stuck. “She’s not coming.”

“Damn, that’s too bad. I was worried with it being short notice people might have trouble. Did she already have a commitment?”

Tasha leaned her head on the cool glass of her side window. “She thinks I’m an idiot and cradle-robber. She does not approve of us getting married, and I think she hates me a little right now.”

“No way. Are you kidding? Lila would never hate you.”

“Yeah, well, she’s not coming.”

“Oh, Tasha, I’m so sorry.”

“Me too.” They sat in silence for a minute.

He coughed, his voice gentle when he spoke again. “I’m not sure if this is the right time, but I actually called because someone had something they wanted to say to you. Are you okay if I put them on? I think…you might like to hear this.”

Right now? All she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and pull the covers over her head. “Fine.”

“Hey,” he whispered, “it’s going to be okay, all right?”

She sighed.

Suddenly her ear was filled with a long, loud squeal of delight. “Oh my word, Tasha, are you guys serious? You’re getting married? That is so fantastic, I swear I’m shaking.”

If a phone could produce bubbles, she’d have been buried in a flash, the sheer enthusiasm and excitement pouring over the line sending tiny smacks of refreshment against her weary soul. “Maxine?”

“I’m sorry, I should have said it was me. Junior just told me, and asked if I’d come and witness, along with Mom and Dad, and I’m so excited for you guys. This is perfect. I’ve been telling Max for years to get his butt in gear and stop farting around, and ask you out again, and now you’re not just dating, you’re getting married? I’m so happy for you.”

Tasha clung to the phone, not sure what to say. Which didn’t seem to matter because Max’s sister seemed to have enough to say for the both of them.

“I know you want to keep it pretty low-key and all, and I guess I can see that. I mean, a Turner wedding? Insanity times ten. But can I at least convince you to take some spa time with me on Thursday? Did you pick out what you’re going to wear yet? Oh my, what about some flowers—let me take care of that, okay? And if you’d like, I’ll ask Maxamin to come and take a few pictures. He’ll be happy to, and that way you can still have something to flash for the clan when they all ask.”

Tasha forced herself to cut in before the bubbly outburst continued for too long. “So…you’re okay with the idea of Max and I getting married?”

“Are you crazy? I think it’s awesome. Tasha, you’ve been around forever, and you guys fit perfect, really. Only I’m a little choked that I didn’t notice that you were dating. He only told me the night of Gramma’s party, and I thought that was like your first date. You guys have been sneaky, but I don’t care too much. It’s your life, and again, that whole Turner thing… Secrets can be a good thing.”

A short laugh escaped Tasha, the tightness in her chest easing. “Maxy, I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I’m touched.”

“You’re touched? I’m going to have a sister! I’m over the moon. It may seem like I’ve got people around all the time, what with the clan and everyone, but you’re special. You’ve always been special.”

Damn it, the girl was going to have her in tears again without even trying. “I’m very glad you’re pleased. Thank you for being willing to witness for us. And the pictures sound like a great idea. The spa as well.”

“Do you have a dress picked out? Can I help with that?”

A dress? Pictures, a spa trip? She’d planned to wear a nice suit she had and figured that would be enough. Suddenly, it wasn’t, and all of Maxine’s enthusiasm helped to ease the pain of Lila’s rejection. It didn’t wipe it away completely, but it was certainly a step in the right direction.

“I don’t want anything too fancy, but yeah, if you’d like to go shopping with me, we can do that. Monday?”

Maxine gushed a bit more before setting up a time and place to meet, and passing the phone back to her brother. Tasha’s thoughts spun as she considered what to say to him. Somehow in one move he’d accomplished the impossible, without even trying.

“Tasha?”

“You have the sweetest sister in the world, you know that?”

He chuckled. “I seem to have told her that a few times. She argues with me, but the proof is all there.” His voice dropped a notch. “You all right? I’ll be done my to-do list in about an hour, then I can join you.”

“You’re nearly done already? How the hell did you do that?” They’d split the list of things they had to accomplish, and she’d done…none of hers, since number one had been to get her witness lined up.

“Efficient task planning, and a whole lot of bullying my relatives into favors. Tell you what. Go home. I’ll meet you there. If I help you with your stuff, we’ll be done in no time. Also, if you’re okay with it, my parents wanted to have us over for a celebratory dinner.”

“That sounds…like just what I needed to hear.” She paused for a second. “Hey, Max?”

“Yeah?”

She could picture him, that flirty smile on his face, his eyes attentive and bright as he waited for her. “Thanks. I’m going to be okay.”

“We’re going to be more than okay, but it will take time. I’ll catch you in a bit.”

She hung up and stared out the window. There were a few clouds floating against the brilliant blue sky, but for the most part, it was clear and bright. She wasn’t crazy, she had to trust that the situation with Lila was merely a cloud passing in front of the sun for a brief moment.

She turned and headed home, surprised, but pleased to be looking forward to Maxwell’s company for the rest of the day. It made the bitter a little easier to deal with.