Page 39 of Written with Love

Chapter Twelve

Over the course of the next days, they stayed so busy, there was no chance of a repeat of that first night together.

His mother had called him that next morning and filled him in on how the appointment had gone for Faye.

“Nothing but another disappointment,” his mother had claimed. “This doctor wants to remove the cochlear implant. He thinks it may be the cause of her headaches and the reason her vision is starting to blur.”

“Then do it,” he suggested.

“It’s not that simple. Faye has gotten used to having that part of her hearing back. If they remove the implant, then she goes back to hearing…”

“Nothing,” he finished for his mother.

“It’s a price she’s unwilling to pay at this point.” His mother finished with a deep sigh. “We’re in a holding pattern until she decides.”

“Keep me posted,” he had said before hanging up.

That conversation played over in his mind while he kept himself busy. The conversation he and Juliette had had on the beach also replayed. He told himself it was good that neither of them were ready to commit to anything long term, but in truth, he kept dreaming about it. About what life would be like if she moved in with him. If they committed to one another longer than, well, short term.

Since his kitchen was almost completely put together now, he’d gone shopping and had filled his fridge and new cupboards. He was planning on asking Juliette over for a proper date and cooking for her that weekend.

He’d picked up some fresh salmon and locally grown vegetables for the occasion, hoping to impress her with his cooking skills. His bedroom now held a newly delivered king-size bed complete with new sheets, pillows, and a comforter.

Today, the men were finishing up on the deck that now sat off his bedroom as well as working in the bathrooms.

They had finished his dining room, which sat empty because he had yet to purchase a table and chairs for the space.

His shower now had marble tile walls, a newly built bench, and even a niche that would hold his shampoo bottles. They were still waiting on the glass wall and doors to be installed, but he’d used the thing last night and was thankful he no longer had to shower outside with the hose.

Max stood at the edge of the new deck, staring out at the view he hadn’t quite let himself appreciate from this spot yet. The ocean stretched out endlessly before him, the rhythmic crash of the waves below blending with the sound of hammers and drills behind him. The men were hard at work, moving in and out of the house as they finished the bathrooms and put the final touches on the deck.

Juliette was in full work mode, setting up her cameras in different spots to capture time-lapse footage of the construction. He watched as she adjusted the angle on one of the tripods, her bottom lip caught between her teeth in concentration. Damn, she was sexy when she got like this—completely lost in her work, oblivious to everything else around her.

She must have felt him staring because she glanced up, catching his eye with a smirk. “You’re supposed to be working,” she teased.

Max chuckled and crossed his arms. “I am working. I’m supervising.”

She snorted. “Supervising? Is that what we’re calling standing around and looking pretty?”

“Absolutely.” He leaned against the new railing. “Gotta make sure everything’s up to my very high standards.”

Juliette rolled her eyes but grinned. She gave her camera one last check before moving closer to him. “Okay, so tell me what’s on the agenda today.”

He gestured behind them. “The guys are finishing up the bathrooms, and the deck is just about done—just need to seal it and make sure everything’s solid. And your favorite—plumbing work.”

She groaned dramatically. “I swear, every time I come here, there’s something to do with plumbing. I should start charging extra to crawl around under cupboards with Palmer’s workers.”

Max smirked. “I’ll give you a bonus this weekend.”

Juliette raised an eyebrow. “What kind of bonus?”

“How about a home-cooked meal prepared in a new kitchen?”

“Tempting.” She smiled and leaned closer. “We never discussed if you could cook.”

“I can.” He straightened, suddenly feeling a little nervous, which was ridiculous. “I’ve had zero complaints. Both of my sisters claim I’m the best in the family.”

She tilted her head slightly. “I’m better than my brother but my mom is by far the best.”