Passion » Max Regnery

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Lisa's reassurance had left Blake feeling a little more confident the following day. Max too, had noted the air of difference about her as he walked into the kitchen for breakfast that morning.

"Something's different," he commented, kissing her softly. "What is it?"

"Hmm?" She was looking through an old log for an elder school pony. "Nothing really."

"Nothing?" Max lofted a brow as he fixed his plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. He sat down at the small table across from her with his mug of coffee. "You seem happier."

Blake looked up, "Can I not be?" She pondered.

"Yes," he laid an arm on the table and leaned forward, his lips curled downward, "in fact, I'm all for you being happy, but you've been tense these past couple of days. What's changed?"

She shrugged her shoulders and nibbled on a piece of bacon before feeding the rest to the dog, "I've just decided not to let my sister or my family bother me... and well... Lisa spoke to me."

"Ah," recognition lit up his handsome face, "words of wisdom."

"It had to pass to someone, did it not?"

Max understood what she had meant and although he had frowned for a brief moment, he then began to smile softly and nodded his head. Indeed, it had to pass on to someone and who more better than Lisa Atwood?

"Can I be honest with you?"

Blake had to look up at him, "Sure?" She replied, her brows furrowed as the worst possible thoughts filled her head.

"I'm afraid too," he admitted with a breath of air. "Pine Hollow is my home. My great grandfather built it from the ground up. I'd hate to lose it... but I would also hate to lose you."

He reached out his hand, wanting her's. Blake was smiling sadly as she placed her hand in his and stared at it. So the situation had been troubling Max too, not just her? She hated that this was happening to him. He didn't deserve this.

First there had been his mother's passing, the divorce, and then the second or third possible chance of losing Pine Hollow. That was how she entered into the picture. And just when things were going great for the both of them, they were being torn apart from the inside by her family who could never stand for Blake being happy.

"It almost makes me want to marry you. They can't do anything then... but then-"

"You can't marry without my consent," she cut him off. "I love you, Max. I am head over heels in love with you and I am more than grateful to have been blessed with the kind of love you have shown me, but I can't accept this anymore. I can't sit by knowing the reason you're stressing out even more is because of me..."

Max had retracted his hand and was now sitting back in his chair staring at the cold food he left untouched. It came out all wrong. She hadn't meant to sound as if she was wanting to break up and like she would never marry him. She just didn't want him to go through this because she had such a ruthless family.

"Blake..."

"I'm sorry, Max," she stood up to walk around the table to him. "I didn't mean to sound like I was leaving you. I just don't know what to do anymore."

"I spoke to my lawyer," he looked up at her and placed his hand along her back. "Monte will no longer be residing at Pine Hollow, nor will Alex continue lessons. Legally, your family can not take any actions against me since what they paid for board and lessons was exactly why they owed for not paying their original owed half anyway."

"But then wouldn't that make them partners?"

He shook his head, "They failed to sign the contract, remember?"

Blake had to sit down, and did so in the chair beside him. "I'm confused," she admitted. "How did they owe you if they never signed the contract?"

"Because the money was agreed upon before I decided to make them partners. The contract had nothing to do with the money and everything with their partnership. Their money was considered a generous donation."

She sat there staring into his blue eyes digesting all that he said to her.

"I've just heard the news," Stevie was the first to greet Blake as she entered the the barn. "Pine Hollow; three, others; zero."

Blake couldn't conceal her smiled as Stevie embraced her and squeezed her tightly. "I'm glad," she said. "Max is happier now with you around. Don't get me wrong, I liked Deb, but with you he doesn't have to try so hard, he can just be himself."

"Is that something you say to the current girlfriend?" Blake asked.

"Probably not, but it's me." Stevie waved her hand, a smile etched onto her face and linked their arms together. "Come on, let's go say good riddance to your sister and her overpriced thoroughbred."

"If I didn't know any better, I would think you're glad to see my sister gone."

"Are you kidding?" She exclaimed, "I never liked your sister, even when she road here years ago. She and Veronica were practically best friends."

Blake tilted her head to the side, imagining the two together, "I could see it," she said with a laugh. "Maybe that's the real reason my parents kept Pine Hollow a secret."

"I don't like them," Stevie declared. "If they had let you come to Pine Hollow, think of all those years of fun we would have had!"

"Think of whether Max and I would be dating today. It probably would have been weird watching me grow up and then dating me."

"Ew," she cringed at the very thought, causing Blake to do the same as well. "You have a point."

"About what?" Max walked out from the stables just as they were approaching. He had stopped upon seeing Stevie and Blake approaching.

"Oh nothing," Stevie replied, removing her arm from Blake's. "Catch ya later?"

"Of course," she replied, "I can think of no better person to watch Monte go, with."

While Stevie had disappeared inside the barn, Blake turned back to Max, "What do you have a point about?" He wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her around to walk with him toward the outdoor arena.

"If my parents had allowed me to come to Pine Hollow, we would have never dated because it would've been too weird... you know... given our age gap."

Max frowned, "I'm not that old."

"Max," she tilted her head to look up at him, "If we were not dating and my family had tried to set you up with my sister, would you date her?"

"That is not the same," he replied. "Your sister does not interest me. Now, if you mean to imply that if you had rode here in your teen years, then no, I do not believe we would be together."

"That is what my point was." Blake smiled, her arm now snaking around his waist. "Hey Max?"

"Hmm," he hummed, peering down at her briefly.

"I believe it was meant to be."

Max smiled, a small laugh escaping as he stopped walking to turn and look at her fully, "I believe so too."