by Laura Pavlov
Edward chuckled. Arrogant and taunting. “It’s a good thing you won’t be able to attend the opening, with the date being moved, because you are no longer welcome in my building. I’ll alert security immediately. I suggest you be on your way. You must have a ball to kick around, right?”
“Is that the best you can do? Don’t you have an Ivy League education, and all you can say is for me to go kick a ball?” Maverick taunted and Edward crossed his arms in front of him, smug.
Elle glared at Edward before turning to meet Maverick’s gaze. Dark and angry, yet still protective and loyal. The man owned her heart. And her soul.
“Let’s go,” she said.
They took the elevator down in silence. He kept a firm grip on her hand. Once outside, he finally spoke. “You’re driving home with me.”
“I’ll ride home with you, but you don’t need to be so bossy. There are nicer ways to ask.”
He opened the passenger door, his tone serious. “You’re driving the fuck home with me. Thank you. Better?”
She laughed, buckled up, and waited for him to get in the truck. “You’re making this a way bigger deal than it is.”
“It’s a big fucking deal. In fact, I’m calling Camille. He crossed a line. You’re done there.” He pulled the truck onto the highway, veins bulging from his chauvinistic neck.
“You’re being ridiculous. Since when do you tell me what to do? And if you call my boss again, Maverick Wallace, we are going to have a serious problem. Did you learn nothing the first time?” Her blood boiled, and she rubbed her temples as the onset of a migraine beckoned.
“Yeah, I learned I should have insisted she pull you off this goddamn account before you even got started. You don’t see what a problem this is? He put his hands on you. Twice.” His voice boomed in the cab of his truck. She’d never seen him so worked up.
“And I handled it. I told him to take his hands off me, and I walked away,” she said, angry she had to defend herself to her boyfriend.
“Oh yeah? And how did he respond? From what I could see, he did it again. You’re damn lucky I walked in when I did.”
“You’re a pompous ass.”
“I call it as I see it.”
“You’re such a hypocrite. There are women lined up just waiting for our relationship to fail so they can get their hands on you. They wear your jersey and talk about you on social media like you belong to them. But guess what, Maverick? I trust you. And it’s not easy keeping my own green-eyed monster at bay. Most days it makes me madder than a wet hen. But one man asking me to have a drink with him puts you over the edge? A man I’m not interested in whatsoever. Because I’m in love with you.”
He pulled in the driveway and turned off the engine. Wind whistled outside the truck, and the trees swayed and swooshed from side to side through the windshield.
“He’s not just any guy, Peaches. He’s your ex-boyfriend. And he wants you back. He doesn’t give a shit about our relationship. He proved it tonight. You aren’t the one I’m concerned about. And as far as other women go, there’s no one I want but you.”
“And there’s no one I want but you, either. You’re allowed to be upset about what he did, but don’t flip it on me. Don’t doubt me because you don’t like him. I don’t care for him either, but I’m able to separate my feelings and do my job. I hope you respect me enough to do the same.”
“It’s more than jealousy. Why was he grabbing you? Has he gotten physical before?” He faced her, and for the first time she saw fear when her gaze locked with his. She hated it. Hated Edward for causing it.
“No, he’s never touched me. I’ve been straight with him since day one. He’s an entitled man, not used to hearing the word no. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t said it repeatedly. I love you.” Her voice cracked as the words left her mouth.
He reached for her and pulled her close. “This isn’t about me not trusting you, I do. I’m trying so fucking hard. But this prick is getting under my skin. You went after a photographer for sticking a camera in my face, Edward had his hands on you after you asked him to let you go.”
She breathed him in. Being with Maverick made her feel safe. And loved. He loved her more than she’d ever thought possible. “I promise you there is nothing to worry about. I’ve repeatedly told him I’m in a committed relationship and I’m very happy.” She climbed onto his lap, putting her hand on his cheek. “I love you. Only you.”
He pushed the hair back from her face. “I’m sorry for telling you what to do, and I won’t call Camille even though every instinct in my body is screaming for me to do it. What did he mean when he said the date for the opening changed?”
“Apparently his dad wants to be there, and he has to leave town Saturday morning, so they moved it to Friday evening. They already sent the mass email to everyone without checking with me,” she said, her gaze locked with his.
“Did he know you were attending an event with me on Friday?”
“I never told him. But I did brag about your award at the office, and he didn’t seem surprised when I told him I had a conflict. But I don’t think he’d change the entire opening just to mess up our plans, either.”
“He’s a manipulative prick. I wouldn’t put anything past him. But I’m sorry I can’t be there to support you. Promise me you won’t be alone with him. I’m not fucking around, Peaches. I don’t trust him.”
“I promise. I don’t have to go back until Friday evening, and I’ll drive with Dani and Peyton. There’s no reason to be alone with him. But I’m disappointed I won’t get to see you receive your award.” She pushed his unruly hair back from his face and kissed him.
“I’m sorry I won’t be there for you. You know how proud I am of you, right?”
“Yes. Do you have any idea how much I love you?” She nipped at his bottom lip, before he lifted her out of the truck and threw her over his shoulder.
They say girls find men like their daddies, and Maverick Wallace sure had a thing for carrying her fireman style. She slapped his butt. “Why do you insist on carrying me everywhere?”
“Because it’s faster. And I’m starving.”
“What are you in the mood for?” she squeaked, as his hand slipped beneath her pencil skirt and landed on her bottom.
“The same thing I’m always in the mood for. Some sweet Peaches.” Maverick howled the last three words, tossed her on the couch and settled above her.
The man was insatiable.
And she thanked her lucky stars he was hers.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Maverick’s Playbook
Don’t get distracted by the outside noise!
Daisy whined at the side of the bed, and though he wanted to ignore her, he knew she wouldn’t go away. He and Elle got to sleep in later than usual. Yes. Her going back to Efant Capital for the opening bugged the shit out of him, but she’d be done with Count Asshat soon. It took all the restraint he had not to beat Edward’s face in for touching her yesterday, but he knew better than to play into the guy’s hand.
He stretched one arm and gazed down at Elle sprawled across his chest. Blonde hair strewn around—the girl slept the way she lived. Wild and full of life. He pushed golden hair back so he could look at her pretty face. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Six months ago he wouldn’t spend the night with a woman, and now he woke up every morning with Elle Fiore attached to him. Like a second skin. Just the way he liked it. This invisible force lived between them even when they slept. She was warmth and sweetness, softening his rough edges.
Daisy scratched the side of the bed again. He shifted Elle to slide her off his body, trying not to wake her while adjusting himself as he sported major morning wood. Her nearness did it to him every fucking time.
A little moan escaped her. “Where are you going?”
“Go back to sleep, Peaches. I’ve got to take the cock-blocking four-legged ginger out.”
She didn’t open her eyes, but her plump lips curved up at the sides and she chuckled. “You�
��ve got a one-track mind, Wallace.”
“You’re naked under those sheets, can you blame me?” He pulled his sweatpants on and made his way out the door. When he returned to the bedroom, Elle walked out of the bathroom wearing one of his T-shirts. Or it was wearing her because it hit her right above the knees and practically swallowed her whole.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he said, dropping back down on the bed.
“I want to show you something. I lose focus when we aren’t dressed,” she said, grabbing her laptop from her bag before settling beside him.
He sat up with his back pressed to the headboard and watched her speed type on her keyboard.
“What are you working on? You aren’t going to try to film me naked with your laptop, are you? Because, it’ll cost you, Peaches. I don’t drop the drawers for just anyone,” he said with a laugh.
She settled beside him and rolled her eyes. “I’m not making a porno, you perv. I like to keep you all to myself.”
“Good to know. Then, what are we working on?” He loved to tease her.
She’d come a long way over the last few months. When they were first together, she wouldn’t get undressed in front of him. Now she slept naked, and they talked about anything and everything. He loved seeing her confidence grow. Loved how she asked him for what she wanted. There was nothing sexier than a woman who told her man what pleased her. And there was no one he liked to please more than her.
“I need your opinion.”
He noted the pink hue covering her cheeks. She was up to something.
He studied the computer screen. There were pictures of furniture. Not his favorite activity when his girl was barely clothed beside him in bed, but her work was important to her, so he’d play along. “I like it. Is this for your next project?”
“Yeah, it’s sort of a side job. Camille doesn’t have anything for me right now, so I have a little down time between gigs.” She scrolled down, pausing to show him specific pieces.
“What do you think of this one?”
“It’s a cool couch, if you take all the ridiculous throw pillows off.”
“Well, throw pillows bring in a ton of character. I’d never have a couch without throw pillows,” she said, appearing offended. Why the hell was she asking his opinion then? He didn’t know shit about decorating.
“You know this isn’t my area of expertise.” He kissed her neck, making his way down to her collarbone.
“Oh yeah. What is your area of expertise?” Her words came out all breathy.
“Football and Peaches.”
She fell back in a fit of laughter. “Good Lord, you make it hard for me to concentrate.”
“Then stop trying so hard,” he said with a smirk.
“Focus, Wallace. What do you think of this table?” She pushed back up and turned her computer toward him.
He focused on the table. “I think it’s great. I’d like it better if you were naked and sprawled across it.”
She set the laptop aside and pushed up on her knees to face him. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Is that a problem for you?”
“Oddly, no. It’s not.” A grin spread across her gorgeous face.
“Yeah? So, who is the furniture for?” He snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her closer. He grazed her lips playfully.
She tangled her fingers in his hair, her warm breath tickling his neck. “It’s for us.”
He sat back and pulled her onto his lap. “Spill it, Peaches.”
“Well, I thought about what you said. We do spend every night together. And I don’t want to be away from you.”
“So, you want to buy more furniture?” he said with a laugh.
“I want to redecorate this house. Make it ours. I realize my rule about being engaged first is a bit old-fashioned, so I’m going to trust you and shack up with you. Throw my moral compass to the wind. But not until your season ends. We don’t need the press finding out there’s a moving truck in front of your house in the middle of the season.”
Damn. His chest tightened. The girl was making him soft. He’d need to crush a can or punch someone later. Make sure he still had his man card. “This is the best thing I’ve heard in a long time, Peaches. You sure you don’t want us to move into your condo?”
“No. The condo isn’t good for Daisy. We can’t really grow into it. I have some good equity though, and we can put the money into this house after it sells.”
His head fell back on a laugh. “Oh, you’re my sugar mama now?”
“I have to contribute, Maverick. Or I won’t move in with you.”
She could be so stubborn sometimes. He was learning to choose his battles. She’d agreed to move in. Progress. He wanted to tell her she wasn’t stomping on her morals or her fairy-tale dreams by moving in with him, because he’d propose as soon as the season ended. But he didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“Baby, this house is paid off. I don’t want your money. But I understand you want to contribute. What if we take the money from your condo and put it in a separate account we can build on and use to start your own business when you’re ready?”
Her eyebrows cinched as she thought about his offer. “You make some good points. But I’m no kept woman. We can put it in a joint account and use however we see fit later. If we decide it’s best put to use going toward my interior design company, I’ll consider it. But we’ll be fifty-fifty partners in it. And we’re splittin’ the cost of the new furniture. Deal?”
He shook her hand. “Deal.”
She studied his face. “All right, you only have a few months of freedom before the ol’ ball and chain takes up permanent residence here. You know, if you have any wild oats to sell.”
Fucking adorable.
“First of all, it’s not sell your wild oats, it’s sow your wild oats. And I gave up my wild oats the day I hooked up with my ball and chain. She’s got all my oats now.”
He flipped her on her back and settled above her. She broke out in hysterical laughter.
“Ah, yes. I’m keeping all your oats, Wallace,” she said, barely able to speak as she tried to catch her breath.
The doorbell rang, and Daisy went batshit crazy, per usual. His sister’s voice filtered through the house, shouting something about getting his lazy ass out of bed. How the hell did she make so much noise standing on the front porch? He rested his forehead against Elle’s. “Fucking. Naughty. Twin. She purposely shows up at the worst times.”
She chuckled, and hurried off the bed, combing her hair with her fingers. “Yes, I’m sure Gigi plans her day around your sex life. Tell her I’ll be right down. I’m going to get dressed.”
“It’s probably part of her evil plan,” he said, pulling a T-shirt over his head.
“You’re ridiculous, Wallace. Go let your sister in.”
When he opened the door, Gigi huffed past him. “Took you long enough. Aren’t you a professional football player? Shouldn’t you be a little quicker, old man?”
What the actual fuck? Since when was twenty-eight old? He wouldn’t waste his breath explaining the reason it took him a minute to get to the door. She’d only enjoy hearing she’d cock-blocked him.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this early morning visit?” He dropped down on the couch.
She pulled off her ridiculously oversized sunglasses and stood in front of him tapping her foot like she was awaiting the detonation of a bomb. She rolled her eyes before taking a sip of her Starbucks coffee. His sister carried the white and green cup like an accessory. Pumped full of caffeine and ready to conquer the world. She’d been like this for as long as he could remember. As much as she annoyed him, he fucking loved her.
“I had a meeting a few blocks from here. Wanted to check on you. I called you yesterday about my friend and I staying here when our apartments get fumigated. You never called back.”
He let out an irritated breath. “I talked to you yesterday.”
“Dude. You talked to me earl
ier in the day. I called you later and left a message,” she said, before falling onto the couch beside him.
“Dude. I’m a busy man. If I answered your every whim, I’d never get shit done. Tone down the attitude. Of course, you can stay here. Peaches and I will stay at her place.”
“Where is your better half? I was actually hoping to see her.”
“She’ll be down in a minute. We were still in bed before you started screaming and banging on the door like a fucking hellion.”
Gigi’s head fell back with a maniacal laugh. “It’s nine o’clock in the morning. Since when do you two sleep in?”
“I don’t have to go to practice for two hours and Peaches wrapped up her project with the douchebag yesterday.”
“Ah, yes. I thought we were calling him Count Asshat?”
“We are. I can’t stand the fucker.”
“Really? I’m shocked.” She gasped and threw her hand to her chest like a fool. Sarcasm was Gigi Wallace’s middle name.
He chuckled. “I speak the truth.”
“Hashtag no judgment. I actually enjoy seeing you all worked up. It looks good on you.”
“What does?” He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Caring. It’s nice to see you actually love someone other than yourself. I mean, aside from the family, of course. I feared it would never happen, and you’d die a lonely, arrogant asshole.”
He flicked her in the shoulder. “Thanks, G. Good to know.”
“What’s up with the nightmares? Have you had any more since Tahoe?” Her tone turned serious. She was all jokes and mockery until shit got real. And when it did, there was no one he’d rather have in his corner than Gigi.
“Only one since we’ve been back. Peaches wants me to see a shrink she found. Apparently, the woman specializes in night terrors. I can’t risk going during season and having the press find out. I’ll deal with it when the season wraps.”
“Bullshit.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Foolish, deceitful, or boastful language,” she said.
“What are you talking about?” His irritation always more prevalent when discussing his fucked-up nightmares. He hated his weakness.
