BK 5 - Chapter 40 - Family Connections
Buddy noticed how upset Maxie became when she realized who he was, and it concerned him. He was worried she was someone who didn't like actors. Would she tell him to leave her alone? Despite what was in the tabloids, Buddy actually led a very quiet life. He didn't party or even date. He'd always wanted to find a woman that made him feel the way his dad felt about his mom.
His parents were killed in a helicopter crash in the Bahamas. They were doing a tour while he was filming, and the helicopter had engine trouble. Everyone was killed when it crashed to the ground and exploded. Buddy was eighteen then, and the movie he was filming was his third one. He started working as an actor when he was discovered at fourteen.
Buddy was an only child, and his extended family wasn't close. So, it had always been just him and his parents. When they died, it devastated him. That was five years ago, and he still felt the pain from their deaths. He kept their house in Granite Bay because it was his childhood home, and he would return there when he needed a break. That's why he was there now. He had been planning to spend the holidays alone at home.
"You can just drop me off somewhere. You don't have to spend any time with me." Maxie said, still looking out the window. Buddy's heart broke at her sadness. He reached over and took her hand as he pulled into the parking lot of Mel's Diner. It was one of the few places that stayed open all night, and he planned to spend as much time with Maxie as possible.
"Look at me," Buddy said as he parked the car. Maxie turned toward him but kept her eyes down. "I'm not here with you because I feel obligated. I'm here because I want to spend time with you. I know it's crazy, but I feel a connection to you that I've never felt with anyone else. I want to be here with you."
Maxie slowly raised her head and looked into his blue eyes. She was surprised to see that he was telling her the truth. How could a man like him want anything to do with someone like her? She knew he was most likely feeling the mate bond, but it seemed like more than that.
"Don't you have a girlfriend or girlfriends?" Maxie asked, looking away. Buddy raised her hand to his lips and kissed it before smiling.
"This may surprise you, but you can't believe everything you read. I'm not much for going out with different women, and I've never been in a relationship. I rarely go out at all. Sometimes, I'll take a woman with me to an awards show or a gala, but it's completely platonic." Maxie relaxed slightly. He was human and a big star, so she didn't expect him to be so down to earth. He seemed more like the boy next door.
"After we go in here and talk, then what? Are you going to take me home and forget about me?" Maxie asked. Buddy was still holding her hand, and he squeezed it.
"That's up to you. My parents were killed five years ago, so I'm here alone in our house in Granite Bay. It's too big just for me. You could stay in one of the guest rooms if you don't want to be alone tonight. If you're not comfortable with that, I can take you home, but I don't want tonight to be the last time I see you." Buddy hoped she didn't laugh in his face. She smiled slightly and bit her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry about your parents. Today was a really shit day that started with my grandmother's one-hundredth birthday. She died on her birthday. Can you believe that? Then my tire blew out, and I crashed into a damn tree. The only good thing that happened was when I was at my lowest, you showed up. If you hadn't, I'd still be lying on the ground crying. I only have one favor to ask." Maxie said softly. She kept her eyes on his, and he leaned toward her slightly.
"What's that?" Buddy asked. He really wanted to kiss her but was scared of what her reaction would be.
"If you're going to tell me that you never want to see me again, please don't do it tonight. I just couldn't take it if you did." Maxie was nervous he would laugh at her, but he didn't. Buddy raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek, running his thumb over her bottom lip.
"That's not going to happen. I promise." Maxie's eyes widened when he moved closer. When his lips were almost touching hers, he stopped. "Can I kiss you?"
She couldn't speak, so all she did was nod. Buddy smiled and gently placed his mouth on hers. The sparks that ran through them felt like an electric shock. Maxie melted into him and moved her mouth against his. Buddy wrapped his arms around her and held her the best he could in the car.
Maxie had never kissed anyone before but assumed Buddy had kissed many women. However, she wasn't so sure based on the uncertainty she felt in his kiss. When he pulled away, he kept his arms around her, putting his forehead against hers.
"Thank you," Buddy said breathlessly. Maxie chuckled lightly.
"You're thanking me for letting you kiss me?" She asked. Her heart was racing, but she didn't want to get her hopes up that he would accept her. Buddy may want her right now, but he may change his mind once she tells him what she is.
"Yes. I know what people think, but other than in movies, I don't have much experience in this department. Kissing an actress playing a part isn't the same as kissing someone you're attracted to." Buddy smiled as he kissed her again lightly.
"How about we go to my house instead of going in here? I promise I'm not going to try anything. I would just rather be alone with you to talk than have a bunch of people staring at us." Buddy glanced out the window, and Maxie did the same. Her face turned bright red when she saw everyone staring back at them. She didn't like all the attention either, but she was scared to get attached to him if he was only going to break her heart. However, it would be better for them to be alone when she tells him she's a werelion.
"Sure. I have a few things I need to tell you." Maxie nervously raised her hand to stroke his cheek. Buddy leaned into her touch and smiled.
"Let's go. I just got groceries this morning, so I can make you something to eat if you're hungry." He said, pulling out of the parking lot, much to the disappointment of those in the diner. Maxie sat back in the seat and relaxed. Her heart still ached from the loss of Grandma Valerie, but Buddy was helping her feel something more than grief.
"You can cook?" She asked in disbelief. Buddy shrugged and reached over to take her hand. He felt he needed to keep touching her.
"My mom taught me. She said no son of hers was going to expect a woman to do all the cooking and cleaning." Maxie giggled.
"I would have liked to have met her," She said as she looked out the window in confusion.
"You live in this neighborhood?" Maxie asked as they turned down the road to the house she'd just left. When they were approaching the gate, tears stung her eyes.
"Yeah. I've lived here my whole life. The people that live in that house are amazing. They have group homes for abused children." Maxie smiled as they passed the house.
"Yes, I know. That's my family. My Grandma Valerie is the one who died tonight." Buddy suddenly came to a stop in the middle of the road.
"You're related to Roger and Emma? Grandma Valerie is gone?" Buddy tried to stop his tears from falling, but he couldn't. Grandma Valerie and Grandma Cat were the ones who helped him when his parents died.
"Yes to both of those questions. Roger and Emma are my cousins." Maxie squeezed his hand when she realized he was crying. "Do you know them?"
"I'm a couple of years older than Roger and Emma, but I still knew them, and we played together when we were younger. Grandma Valerie and Grandma Cat helped me when I lost my parents. They took turns staying with me and helped me get things sorted out so I could keep the house maintained while I was working. I would have been lost without the two of them. I can't believe I didn't get to tell her goodbye." Buddy felt the loss of Grandma Valerie as deeply as though she were his grandmother.
"I'm sorry." Maxie hugged him. He cried against her shoulder and felt foolish.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm crying on you when you lost your grandmother." Buddy wiped his face and continued driving to his house just a little down the road.
"I think we both know that all my grandparents are grandparents to the whole neighborhood and beyond," Maxie said with a smile as he punched in a gate code and pulled up to a large house. It wasn't as big as her family's home, but it was still impressive.
"Yeah, they are. My parents adored your family. My mom even volunteered at the group homes sometimes." Maxie turned and studied Buddy.
"Wait a minute. Was your mom's name Evelyn, but she liked to be called Evie?" She asked him. Buddy nodded and looked at her in confusion.
"How did you know that?" Maxie smiled.
"I knew your mom. I've been helping out at the group homes for as long as I can remember. You look like her. She was always so kind, and the kids loved the stories she would tell. Not to mention her delicious chocolate chip cookies." Buddy laughed. He couldn't believe Maxie had met his mom or that he'd never seen her all the times he'd been around her family. He shut the car off and closed the garage door.
"Who knows, maybe it was our destiny to be together and our paths to never cross until it was meant to be. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I was supposed to be there tonight when you went off the road. I can't explain it, but Maxie, I think today is just the beginning for us." Buddy leaned over and kissed her. She opened her mouth slightly, and he took advantage, sliding his tongue against hers. They both moaned as the sparks ran through their bodies. Maxie was glad that they had a connection through their families.
"I think so, too," Maxie replied when he pulled away. They got out of the car and went into the house. She was nervous, but she knew she had to tell him what she was and that he was her mate. She hoped he felt the same way after she told him everything; otherwise, the pain would tear her apart.
