Page 12 of Written with Love

Chapter Four

Someone somewhere was banging on something way too loud. Max wanted to yell for them to stop, but he was afraid his head would explode if he spoke at the moment.

Groaning, he shifted to pull the throw blanket further over his head. In the process, he took a deep breath and stilled. His body was being attacked with a new sense. Smell overruled sound suddenly.

The scent was sweet. A hint of spring flowers mixed with sweet caramel, honey, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

“Is that bacon?” he mumbled but kept his eyes closed for fear of pain resurfacing again.

The flower scent he knew very well. He’d dreamed of it for weeks since he’d first run into Juliette at the restaurant. Just the hint of it had his body reacting instantly. The other sweeter smells had his stomach instantly desiring.

“And coffee,” Juliette practically hummed. “All you have to do is open your eyes,” she added sweetly.

He assessed his physical health and then slowly opened his eyes. His head did not explode like he assumed it would as his vision came into focus.

Juliette was hovering above him, holding a mug and a plate with a smile on her lips. He could tell that she had run her eyes over his head before he’d opened his eyes, as there was a look of concern in them.

The banging noises continued outside. Instead of asking her how and why she was there, he sat up slowly and took the mug from her and downed half of the cup in one gulp.

“Your forehead looks better,” she said, sitting beside him as she set the plate of food in his lap. There were a couple of pieces of bacon on it and a cinnamon roll the size of his fist. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.” He took a bite of bacon. “Much better. Did you make this?”

“No.” She chuckled. “I stopped at Sara’s Nook before coming over here. I also grabbed some donuts and coffee for the workers outside.” She leaned closer. “Parker let me in.” She got up and disappeared into the kitchen, and came back with another plate for herself and cup of coffee.

“I’m thankful he did,” he said after finishing the cinnamon roll.

“I was going to bring lunch, but I figured you’d be hurting this morning, and Sophia told me that you’re a coffee snob. So I asked the ladies down at Sara’s Nook, and they hooked me up with your jam.”

He smiled and somehow felt even better. “I’m sorry that I pretty much passed out on you last night.”

She shrugged and took another bite of her roll. “It’s understandable. How is the pain level this morning?”

“About a two,” he said, remembering that Dr. Stevens had asked him to rate his pain on a scale of one to ten the night before. Before he’d gotten the pain pills, it had been an eight. Last night, when he’d walked Juliette up to the top of the lighthouse, he’d been at a four.

“That’s good.” She smiled. “Nothing a few aspirin or Tylenol can’t handle.” She sighed and then glanced at him sideways. “They’re really making a mess of your yard out there.”

He chuckled and then winced slightly at the spike of pain. “You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s just the recent rains have made your driveway almost impassable. I parked down the hill a ways and walked for fear of getting stuck.”

“I plan to pave it when they’re done.” He set the empty plate on the coffee table.

“That’s good.” She set her plate down too.

“Did you just come here to feed me or for that tour?” he asked.

She surprised him by laughing instead of being offended. “To be honest, I already snuck around while I was heating the cinnamon rolls in your oven. But I really came to check up on you.” Her eyes landed on the bandage on his forehead. “I’d like to take a look under that. If you’re okay with it.”

He nodded and then sat still while she leaned closer and gently removed the tape and gauze Dr. Stevens had put on the bump the night before.

“There’s a smaller bandage now,” she said after removing the large white square.

“Go ahead. I have more Band-Aids I can put on it.” Once she removed it, she hissed. “Is it that bad?” he asked.

“No, honestly, it’s just bruised. I think Dr. Stevens was right. You won’t have much of a scar.” He relaxed slightly and noticed she did as well.

She really was worried about him. That made a wave of heat rush through him.