Grand Passion

“No way, man. Max isn't messin' around with your wife. He and Cleo are like a couple, y'know?”
    “Is that right?” Roarke asked with cold disbelief.
    “Damn right,” Ben said authoritatively. “In fact they're going to get married.”
    “Uh, Ben,” Cleo began carefully.
    Ben ignored her. “Isn't that right, Max?”
    Max knew a turning point when he saw one “Right.”

Chapter

12

    O kay, so maybe we jumped the gun a little,” Ben said.
    “We?” Max eyed the pipe joint that was less than four inches above his head. He was not in a good mood, and his bad attitude this morning had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that he was sprawled on his back beneath the bathroom sink in room one-oh-one.
    “So I kind of rushed the announcement,” Ben admitted.
    “You think so?” A drop of water from the leaking pipe fitting hit Max on the forehead. “Dammit.”
    “Give me a break, Max, I had to think fast last night. That guy Winston was really pissed. He looked like he was going to take the place apart.”
    “Hand me the other wrench.”
    “Look, I know you got clipped, but you weren't really hurt.” Ben stooped down and thrust a wrench into Max's hand. “Besides, I'll bet you walked right into Winston's punch.”
    “I did not walk into it. Hand me a rag.”
    “You sure?” Ben crouched down on his haunches and handed Max a scrap of an old inn towel that was frayed and torn. “He's no fighter. He's too soft. You can't tell me he took you with a sucker punch.”
    “I was unable to duck because I was too busy trying to shove Cleo out of the way,” Max said with great dignity. He wiped the dripping joint with the rag and adjusted the new wrench.
    “Yeah? Is that how it happened?” Ben frowned at the pipe joint. “I thought maybe you deliberately took the punch so Cleo would feel sorry for you and fuss and stuff. Which she did.”
    “Not for long.” Max took a grip on the wrench handle and tightened the pipe fitting with ruthless force.
    The fact that Cleo had not hovered very long last night after discovering that he was unhurt was one of the chief reasons for Max's foul temper this morning.
    She had not only failed to play the ministering angel for more than a few brief minutes, she had not returned to his room after the uproar had died down. Nor had she invited him to hers.
    Cleo had recovered her professional innkeeper aplomb almost immediately. She had risen from Max's fallen body, checked the confused Winston into one of the inn's best rooms, and sent everyone back to bed. She had then retired to her own bedroom without so much as a good-night kiss for Max.
    “Take it easy or you'll strip the threads,” Ben warned.
    “You want to take over?”
    “No, that's okay. I've fixed a lot of leaking pipes. I know how it's done. You're supposed to be getting experience, remember?”
    “You're supposed to be giving helpful advice, remember?”
    “Hey, you're doin' okay, man. A real natural. Anyhow, about last night.”
    “What about it?” Max surveyed the pipe fitting. Another drop of water oozed out of the metal joint.
    “Well, I know we all kind of rushed things by making that big announcement about you and Cleo getting married.”
    “Yes.” Max gave the wrench another twist. “You did.”
    “But it's not like you aren't planning to marry her, or anything like that,” Ben pointed out earnestly.
    “Is that right?”
    Ben scowled. “What the hell's that supposed to mean?”
    “Maybe it means I want to take off for a few days and go work in a gas station while I think things over.” Max wiped the joint again. It looked dry.
    “Come on, Max, that was a cheap shot. We both know you aren't going to take off the way I did. You aren't spooked.”
    “No, but I think Cleo is. Turn on the water.”
    “Huh?”
    “I said, turn on the water.”
    “I heard that.” Ben got to his feet and turned on the faucet. Water gushed into the sink. “What did you mean about Cleo being spooked?”
    “You saw her last night.” Max watched to see if the joint was going to start dripping again. “After she figured out that I wasn't dying, she did a damn good job of pretending I didn't exist. She couldn't wait to send everyone, including me, off to bed.”
    “I guess she was a little embarrassed.” Ben turned off the faucet. “You guys hadn't announced anything yet.”
    “We hadn't announced anything because there wasn't anything to announce. I think this thing is fixed. For your information,