Grand Passion

right, Cleo. I'm here.”
    “Oh, God.” She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, just as she did when she was meditating. “Sorry. I don't get the dreams very often, but when I do, they make me a little wild.”
    “What dreams?” Max released his grip on her shoulders, but he did not move away from her. He remained where he was, half covering her with his warm, comforting weight.
    “I don't like to talk about them. I tried that with the therapist. But talking about them only makes them seem worse.” Cleo shuddered beneath Max's weight. The heat and strength of him enfolded her in a snug, secure haven. She was not alone tonight. Max was with her.
    She made a soft little sound and closed her arms around his neck. Then she turned her face into his bare shoulder and let the tears fall.
    Max said nothing. He simply held her close and let her cry until the storm had passed. When it was all over, he kept her cradled against him. His hand moved slowly along her arm.
    “Your parents?” he asked at last.
    “Yes.” Cleo hesitated. “I was the one who found them. Sometimes I dream about it.”
    “Jesus, Cleo.” Max continued to stroke her gently. “I'm so damned sorry.”
    “It's been four years. But the dreams, when they come, are just as bad as ever. My therapist said I might have them occasionally for the rest of my life, especially if I'm under stress.”
    “Which you are right now, thanks to whoever is leaving those notes around.” Max's voice was gritty with suppressed anger. “I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the bastard.”
    “Max?”
    “Yes?”
    “Thanks for coming after me this afternoon.”
    “Next time you get into the car, check the gas gauge.”
    Cleo smiled wryly. “My father used to do that.”
    “What? Check the gas gauge?”
    “No, lecture me or my mother after the crisis was past. It was as if he was angry at us for having gotten into trouble in the first place. I remember my mother had her purse snatched once. Afterward Dad chewed her out something fierce for not being more careful.”
    “He was mad at himself, not her,” Max said quietly. “He hadn't been able to protect her, and it scared him.”
    “That's what Mom said.”
    “When men get scared, they usually get mad,” Max said.
    “A male thing?”
    Max smiled faintly into the shadows. “Probably.”
    Cleo snuggled closer. “Max, there's something I've been wanting to ask you.”
    “I hope this is not about my relationship with Kimberly,” he warned. “Because I really don't want to talk about that anymore.”
    “It's not about that.” Cleo wrinkled her nose. “I told you, Kimberly and I have already had a long discussion on that subject.”
    “Why do women always have to get together and talk about their relationships with men?” Max asked, disgusted.
    “Who knows? It's a female thing, I guess. Are you going to lie there and tell me men never talk about their relationships with women?”
    “Never,” Max said. “I think it's against the code or something.”
    “Like heck it is. Never mind. What I want to know is, why did you pack your things and put them in your car before you left to find Ben yesterday?”
    Max was very still. “I didn't think I'd be staying here unless I brought Ben back with me.”
    That was not the answer Cleo had been expecting. She turned on her side and levered herself up on her elbow to look down at Max. In the shadows it was difficult to read his expression. “What do you mean? What did Ben have to do with whether or not you stayed with us?”
    Max looked up at her, his gaze shuttered. “Coming back without Ben meant I'd failed.”
    “So?”
    Max threaded his fingers lightly through her hair. “I knew how much everyone had counted on my being able to convince Ben to come back. I knew the odds were against it, even if the rest of you didn't. I figured I'd never pull it off.”
    “So?”
    Max shrugged. “I wasn't sure how you and the rest of the family would feel about me if I screwed up that badly.”
    Cleo was horrified. “Are you telling me you thought we wouldn't want you to stay with us just because you weren't able to bring Ben back?”
    Max gave her an unreadable look. “It's been my experience that people only want you around as long as you can do something for them.”
    “Of all the ridiculous things to say.” Cleo was stricken by a sudden thought. “Is that how things worked at Curzon International?”
    “That's how things have worked most of