CHAPTER 14
Saylor focused on the class and capturing the shadows and sharp edges of the willowy co-ed who’d volunteered to model for the next class. While she wanted to glare at the gorgeous model every time Max studied her pose, Saylor reminded herself that he was not lusting after the beautiful woman. At least he better not be!
Relax, baby girl.
After staring at the message on her phone for a second, Saylor glanced up to meet Max’s gaze. Of course, he’d figured out she was struggling with him looking at another woman. Saylor wanted to shake herself for being so insecure, but deep inside, she wasn’t sure that he could be as into her as she treasured their time together.
Her phone buzzed again. A red heart emoji showed up on her screen before it exploded into a hundred bouncing hearts that covered her screen. She looked up quickly, meeting his gaze again. He didn’t mean…
Max nodded and returned to his drawing. He shifted slightly, raising his sketchpad to let her see his artwork. The image he’d captured was of her in the middle, with the model much smaller in the background. He’d accomplished the assignment, but focused on her. Her gaze jumped back to him, and Max gave her a slow wink.
Smiling, Saylor played it cool when she really wanted to get up and dance around the desk where she sat. Maybe go sit on his lap. Leave it to her daddy to understand how her mind worked. He took such amazing care of her.
After staying home with her for a couple of days while she recovered and the university was closed, Max had sternly enforced naptimes, hydration, and rest. The medicine had helped quickly. Within those first forty-eight hours, she’d recovered most of her energy and voice. Zale was an excellent medic.
The sound of keys rattling pulled Saylor from her thoughts. She looked up to see Max standing next to her desk. “Koa is picking me up outside. We’re headed out. Walk with me?”
“No one leaves the room during class, so we don’t expose the model,” Saylor said, thinking fast. “If you don’t mind heading through the storeroom, I can let you out that way.”
Max nodded.
“Class. Max has an emergency and has to leave. He’ll go out the side door so we don’t open the classroom door into the hall. Chantal, I’ll make sure no one looks in.”
The model nodded appreciatively, relaxing back into her pose. “Be safe, Max,” Chantal called.
Everyone else in the room echoed that sentiment as Max led the way to the private door. Saylor slid inside first and made sure the coast was clear in the storeroom before waving Max inside to join her. Max pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.
“Sorry, baby. This one will go for sure. Finish your medicine. Every single dose!”
She nodded, unable to think about that now. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, baby. I’ve got every reason to come back home. The entire team does. We’ll make sure everyone is safe. I love you,” he said and kissed her fiercely once again. “Be good. I’ll use the door code on the truck to grab my go-bag. Use my vehicle to get home and for anything else you need. We haven’t talked about this, but I want you to move in permanently with me. I need to know you’re safe in my bed each night. Think about that while I’m gone.” With that direction, he kissed her one last time and left through the door to the hallway.
Home.She knew in that instant that her condo was no longer the place she wanted to be. She’d stay at Max’s place until he returned and hopefully long after that. Staring at the door where he’d disappeared, Saylor tried to gather herself. Her heart had left with him. She should have told him she loved him, too.
She returned to the class, blinking away the tears that filled her eyes. The rest of the students couldn’t know she was involved with Max. His keys and backpack sat on her desk. She picked up the keys and tucked them in her pocket, glad to have something of his.
The last twenty minutes of the class working time flew by. When Chantal stood and redressed, Saylor addressed theclass, providing the model with a distraction. “Hey, everyone! We missed a class period last week. The university doesn’t extend the semester, of course. I wanted to offer everyone an opportunity to get that practice and share more information about perspective. How many of you would be interested in a class on Sunday afternoon at three p.m.?”
All the hands rose. Saylor smiled. The class had eagerly attended each session and participated. She enjoyed teaching dedicated students and would be glad to give up part of a Sunday afternoon to share knowledge with them. “Looks like we have a plan. I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Thanks, Saylor!” several students called as they gathered their things.
“Is Max okay?” Sara called.
“I bet he was deployed,” a male student suggested. “I heard his phone go off.”
“Send safe thoughts to all our soldiers,” Saylor suggested, neither confirming nor denying the suggestion. She didn’t know how secretive she needed to be.
“In my prayers,” Sara answered.
When the room had emptied and Saylor had gathered her things, she slung Max’s backpack over her shoulder and headed out to his truck. Saylor pushed away her discomfort in walking alone in the dark. Lots of students still roamed around campus, putting her slightly at ease. She wasn’t the only one in the parking lot.
When she got to the truck, Saylor quickly slid inside and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d made it. After adjusting all themirrors, Saylor started the large vehicle. Driving this tank was going to be an experience.
She backed out carefully. Thank goodness for the cameras around the truck to guide her. The vantage point of being higher in the seat helped her see things more clearly. Combining that enhanced view with the room in the cab helped Saylor understand why Max drove a truck. If she didn’t have to park the massive vehicle, she might choose to drive it again.
A blaring honk convinced her not to take the truck out again. She adjusted her steering to make sure she was in her lane and drove home carefully. She definitely didn’t want to get a scratch, or worse.
