Maverik's Ashes

by Sandra R Neeley

  Riley smiled, relieved that Cristie wasn't afraid of Maia and that Maia understood that she’d have to win her over.

  Maverik leaned over and took a big piece of Maia’s carrot cheesecake. He had relaxed quite a bit since his discussion with Riley. And since he was relaxed, he was starting to look around. He realized that even in the midst of all these people, people who loved him, he was lonely. He missed his Mate. He was smiling, he was interacting, but he really wasn't there. He was with Valerie. He was wondering where she was and if she was missing him, too. If she would ever want him. Ever give him the chance to prove that he did deserve her, that he could be good to her. Bam was watching him. He knew instinctively what Maverik was feeling, now that Mav didn’t lock him out anymore. Bam got up and made Delilah scoot down where she sat between Kaid and Maverik at the end of the table. He sat right beside Maverik and made sure that their legs were touching, and his Bear went to work, trying to soothe Maverik’s Wolf. Maverik smiled half heartedly at him, “I’m okay, Bam.”

  Bam smiled back, “No, you’re not. Go see her.”

  “Naw, Bam. I can’t. Already did that. I can’t force her. You know how I feel about that. If she doesn't want me, I can’t force her.”

  Bam only looked at him for a few seconds before he just knocked his shoulder against Mav’s and decided not to argue with Maverik; he made sure to let him know that even though he was feeling lonely, he wasn't alone.

  Maia watched Bam trying to comfort her dad. This was not going to do. It was completely unacceptable. She had to make sure this woman understood what she’d be losing if she didn’t choose to accept her daddy as her Mate. He was a good male. And she’d be damned if she stood by and allowed her to just walk away from him.

  Chapter 14

  “Maia? Baby? Come on, time to get up, we going house shopping,” Maverik called from outside the bedroom door.

  Maia groaned and rolled over in bed. The sun was up, but she wasn't.

  There came another soft knock on her bedroom door, “Maia? You awake?” Maverik called a little louder through the door.

  “Yeah, but I’m really tired. Do you mind if I stay here, Daddy?” she answered.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, Daddy. I guess I’m still a little tired from the trip home. Do you mind if I stay here? Would you be too disappointed? If so, I’ll get up and get dressed if you give me a minute or two.”

  “Naw, you go ahead and rest. I got this. Any special requests?” he asked her, still on the other side of her door.

  “Nope, none at all. Whatever you think is fine.”

  “Okay, baby. Go back to sleep. I’m going to head on to work, and I’ll take off the afternoon and see what I can find for us,” Maverik answered.

  “Okay, Daddy,” she yawned loudly, “have a good day.”

  She lay back down and listened to his footsteps receding down the hall.

  It worked perfectly for her; what she had planned for today, she needed him gone for; otherwise, she’d never be able to get away by herself.

  Maverik stepped quickly down the front steps of Bane’s porch. It actually worked better for him that Maia stayed home and slept in. He didn't feel like having to play chaperone to Maia and Riley again, and he knew that Riley was coming to drop off Cristie to Avaleigh for the day. This way Maia would be asleep at Bane’s when Riley got there to drop his daughter off. Riley wasn't feeling comfortable leaving Cristie at the daycare since everything that had happened with Remi’s aunt, and Avaleigh had told him that he could just bring her by and she’d watch Cristie. It would give Remi a playmate during the day, not to mention Avaleigh would always have a soft spot for Riley since he was instrumental in her having her son.

  Maverik planned to stop in at the main house, grab a bite to eat, and then head out to the work site. Put in a good morning’s work then spend the afternoon, looking for a place for him and Maia to call home.

  He opened the back door to the kitchen of the main house and let himself in. When he got a good look at the room and the people in it, he grinned hard and wide. This is what it was supposed to be like. Avaleigh was standing at the cabinet making Belgian waffles with her new waffle maker. Daniel and Remi were seated at the table, laughing and cutting up. Remi was covered in powdered sugar, and Daniel was teaching him to toss strawberry slices up in the air and catch them in his mouth. Each time he caught one, Janie and Delilah would cheer. Bam was pretending to miss his mouth each time he tried, and the big splats of strawberry juice each time one would hit his face had Remi in peals of laughter. Bane and Kaid were each trying to toss strawberries at each other and catch them with their mouths, which, of course, resulted in a mini food fight. Daisy was happy as a baby bear sucking whipped cream off her mom’s finger. Maverik stood there for a minute just taking it in. This was family. This is what he wanted in his own house, every single day.

  Splat. Maverik jerked his head back. Oh hell naw! He looked up to see which one of them had thrown a strawberry and hit him right between the eyes. They were all sitting there, mouths open, eyebrows raised, different stages of smiles on their faces as they watched him. All except one. Remi. He sat in his booster seat, calmly taking aim at Maverik again with the strawberry he currently held in his hand. “Oh, no, you did not just throw a strawberry at me!”

  Remi grinned at him, drew back, and let the next one sail. Again, it hit Maverik between the eyes. “Boy!” Maverik play shouted. Remi just smiled mischievously and reached for another one to take aim with.

  “Daniel, do something with your son! He is attacking me with strawberries!” Maverik announced, pretending to be put out.

  When Remi let the next one fly, Maverik leaned in and caught it in his mouth. And then he did it with the next two that Remi threw, which made Remi dissolve into laughter that he could move that fast.

  “Remi, baby, don’t throw things at Uncle Maverik,” Avaleigh told him.

  “Papa said so,” he told her.

  “Ahh, you sold me out! You little bug!” Daniel told him, tickling Remi ‘til he laughed even harder.

  Maverik was laughing, enjoying the morning. Then suddenly he realized that it would be a whole lot sweeter if Valerie were there with him.

  Maybe he’d have time to drop in on Joanne and watch Valerie a bit before work. He looked around, “Where’s Amos?”

  “He went to have breakfast down at Joanne’s. He goes there most days,” Bane told him.

  He walked over to Avaleigh, hugged her, and whispered, “I’m so damn happy for you, Ave. He’s a great kid.”

  Avaleigh turned around, hugging him, “Thank you, Mav. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”

  About that time another strawberry hit him square in the back of the head. Mav sighed, “And he’s got a hell of an arm and aim.” Turning around he told Daniel, “You need to get that kid into baseball!”

  Maverik grabbed a paper towel and started trying to wipe the strawberry off the back of his head, “Hey, is Riley still bringing Cristie by?”

  “Yeah, he should be here any minute,” Kaid answered. “When he gets here, we’re all gonna head on to work. You coming today, or you going house shopping?”

  “I’m coming this morning; then, I’m gonna take off early to go house shopping. Maia wanted to sleep in; she’s still not caught up on rest.”

  “Alright, no problem,” Kaid told him. Then he smiled, “It’s really good to have you back, Maverik.”

  Maverik grinned back and tossed his own strawberry at Kaid, then so quick no one else even noticed ‘til it was done, he tossed one at Remi. Who freaking caught it, popped it into his mouth and munched on it.

  “That’s my boy!” Daniel crowed proudly.

  Avaleigh's cell started vibrating where it sat on the table; Daniel leaned over and looked at it. “It’s Riley, love.”

  “Can you grab it? My hands are covered in batter.”

  Daniel answered, spoke for just a quick minute, then ended the call and put it back on the table. “He
says that he’s going to be a bit late. Apparently Cristie got into the finger paints again, and they are everywhere. He’s gotta clean the couch and Cristie before they can head this way.”

  “No problem. I’ll go ahead and make her waffles so they’ll be ready when she gets here,” Avaleigh told him.

  “Hey, Kaid, I was thinking that I’d try to put a house on that piece back behind us here,” Maverik indicated the back of the house, out toward the north end of their property.

  “That will put you behind us and to the left of Avaleigh’s place,” Kaid said.

  “Yeah, that okay? It’s far enough to give us a little privacy, but close enough that we are still a part of everything. Still within eyesight and earshot of everybody and everything. And we can tap into the well and the septic tank on that side, too. That okay with everybody?” Mav asked.

  “Well, Goldy’s gonna have to move his junk pile, but I been meaning to ask him to anyway,” Kaid answered. “We got kids around now, and they gonna climb all over everything. Thought maybe we’d move his stuff further to the right, away from the middle of everything.”

  “That’s no problem,” Bane said. “We already talked about it. Goldy said he’d been meaning to anyway.”

  “Great! I’m gonna go measure for the well and sewer lines, get an idea of how much I’ll need to get everything hooked up,” Maverik said excitedly.

  “I’ll come help,” Daniel offered.

  As they went out the door, Maverik was explaining to Daniel, “I was thinking far enough toward the woods that we could be off to ourselves a bit, with a nice yard in front, but still close enough that we can see ever’body else and be a part of ever’thing. And I’d like to have a little yard in the back, not too much, just a little one for a swing set, maybe. I don’t know, maybe I’ll put a swing set in the front.”

  Everyone could hear the sadness in his voice as he added this last part. He really was hoping for a family. And they were all hoping for a family for him, too.

  “Sure, man, let’s go take a look real quick, and then we’ll clear a little of Goldy’s pile if we can before we leave for work,” Daniel told him.

  Once they’d left the house and were far enough away that Delilah was sure that they couldn't hear her, she said, “I believe that I shall pay Valerie a visit this day.”

  “No, you will not!” Kaid told her. “You will stay out of it. He expressly said that she will have to come to him. You will not be going to see her.”

  Delilah, who hadn’t quite mastered the art of finesse, or deceit, responded immediately, “You will not be here; you will not know what I do!”

  Kaid regarded her for only a minute, then he leaned forward, whispered in her ear, and she immediately sat back, staring at him with a complete look of disbelief on her face. “You wouldn't!”

  “Yes, Ma’am, I most certainly will.”

  “You would not deny my touch,” she said smugly.

  “I didn’t say I’d deny your touch. I said I’d spank that ass. Then I’d make you wait weeks before I’d allow you satisfaction again. I’ll take my own satisfaction.” He sat back grinning at her.

  Delilah looked at him, still not quite believing.

  He looked her square in the eye; the one thing he’d found in the time since they’d been mated was that when dealing with her Dragon, coercion was a great help. And her Dragon loved her pleasure. “You want me to please you each night, you will do as I say. I said, leave Valerie alone. That’s how Maverik wants it. Respect his wishes.”

  Delilah sat back, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at Kaid, her eyes flashing ice blue and violet, “Ffffffiiiiiiinnnnnnne!” she spat at him.

  “There’s a good Dragon,” he told her, kissing her lips in spite of her not kissing him back.

  Bam, Bane and Avaleigh snickered. Janie just grinned and rolled her eyes; there was a constant power struggle between the two of them. It was actually something they both had come to love and savor. It added an entirely new dimension to their love and depth of commitment to each other.

  Daniel came back in alone a short while later, “Maverik headed on to town, said he’d meet us at the job site.”

  Kaid and Bane stood, “Well, let’s get a move on. Goldy and Ms. Sadie are on their morning ride; he’s staying with the women today. They’re due back any time now.”

  Bam stood as well, hugging Avaleigh, which earned him a splat of strawberry dead center of his forehead, too. “I don’t think Remi likes anybody hugging you,” Bam said, ruffling the boy’s head as he went by.

  “That’s my little man; you keep those other males away from Mommy!” Daniel told him.

  They all said their goodbyes, grabbed their lunches and made their way out to their trucks, headed to start the day.

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  The bell jangled over the door as he entered the little pastry/coffee/book shop that Joanne appropriately dubbed, Joanne’s Books and Goodies. She looked up as he entered the shop, “Maverik!!!” She hurried over to him and wrapped him up in a big hug. “I’d heard you were back; I’m so glad you came to see me!” she told him.

  “Hey, Joanne. ‘Course I’m going to come see my favorite gal!”

  About that time, Amos came out of the back, munching on a beignet, “Well, lookie here what the cat dragged in! Welcome, Maverik, have a seat, and I’ll get you something yummy!”

  Maverik smirked at Amos, then turning his attention to Joanne, “What’s he doing here? You know that you deserve better, right?”

  “He’s very sweet to me, Maverik. And after everything, I deserve a little sweet in my life.”

  Maverik shifted his eyes back to Amos, “You be nice to her, or you and me’s gonna have a little talk, old man.”

  “I promise ya’ I got the best of intentions, Mav,” Amos told him.

  Joanne had gathered him a cup of his favorite coffee flavored with chicory, a saucer with three hot, fresh beignets smothered in powered sugar, and a book for him to pretend to read.

  She placed them at his usual spot, a booth near the front of the shop, where he could see out across the street, but with the windows treated with tint to help keep the glare of the sun out in the daytime, no one could see in. As he took his seat, Joanne said, “She got there about thirty minutes ago. She’s been cleaning in the back since.”

  He took a sip of the coffee, grateful for her amazing coffee making skills, “Thank you, Joanne. How can I ever thank you?” He looked down at the book she’d placed by his plate and barked out a laugh, “Wolf shifters, Joanne? Seriously?”

  She grinned at him, but didn’t miss a beat, “Stop being such a twatcicle to Amos. He makes me smile.”

  Maverik just chuckled, “I’ll see what I can do.” He looked at his watch and settled down to watch his Valerie, across the street, working her part time job in the insurance company for a few minutes before he had to head off to work. It was a little before 7:30AM. He knew that Valerie would head back to the bar in about an hour, so at least he’d get to watch her for a little while before she left and he had to head off to work.

  Chapter 15

  A couple of hours later Maia stepped out onto the porch, stretched in the sunlight, leaned over to touch her toes, lifted each leg behind her and pulled her toes to her hips each time. It was important to stretch your muscles before you went for a run. She gathered her heavy dark hair into a ponytail high on her head, stretched one more time and took off at a slow jog down the front steps and into the woods. She had an excellent sense of direction and had paid attention since she’d gotten there. She knew that most everything the little town had to offer was to the south, so she headed that way, running along the side of the two lane highway. Besides, she didn't have to run all the way to town, just to the bar that was slightly before it, if she’d understood properly. Until she got there, she enjoyed her run. She loved that the driver of every car that passed her lifted their hand in a wave as they drove by. That was small town southern life for you; they waved at every
one. As she came out of a particularly sharp curve, she saw the bar, Vince’s Place, sitting back from the road, surrounded by a red dirt parking lot. It was an old wooden building, freshly painted, but still obviously a hole in the wall. She could see the tail end of a couple of trucks and some kind of small SUV poking out from around back. There weren't any others there, but then it was 10:30 in the morning, so, yeah, a little early to drink. Maia jogged most of the way up to the building and stopped to peer in one of the windows, filled with neon beer and liquor signs. She saw a pretty blonde woman, with full, voluptuous curves standing behind the bar. She had thick, tawny blond colored hair cut in layers and falling well past her shoulders. She was topping off bottles, wiping off the bar, getting it ready for the night’s crowd. There was a broom and mop leaning on the bar nearby, too. Maia considered her for a moment and decided that she looked like a nice lady. She was going to go ahead and follow through. Her daddy deserved happiness, and if she could get that for him, she damn sure would. She opened the door and walked in as though she owned the place.

  Valerie looked up from the back of the bar, where she was arranging the bottles of liquor and cleaning, at the sound of the door opening, and immediately Maia noticed beautiful blue eyes.

  “We’re closed,” Valerie called, “Come back this evenin’.”