by Melody Anne
“Thank you again for taking me out to the field, Mav,” she said shyly, setting Princess down and following him to the door. He faced her on the porch and gave her a sizzling look before smiling.
“It was my pleasure,” he said, and then he took off at a brisk pace back to his truck. She watched him pull from the driveway before she went back inside and sat down, Princess immediately jumping into her lap to curl up.
Sitting there for a while, she petted her dog, finding the peace she’d been without for a while. Between Maverick and the dog, she really did feel like she was letting go of the fears that had held her in their grasp for too long.
Later that night when she curled up in bed with Princess snuggled to her side again, she realized Mav was right about it all. These excursions were helping her in a way nothing else had been able to.
She was beginning to become more herself. And now that she was finding her happiness again, she wasn’t so sure she was willing to let it go.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
As good as Lindsey was at pacing, she considering applying to have it recognized as an Olympic sport. She certainly would win gold if it were. Chewing on a nail on one hand, she looked down at her other, which was gripping her phone.
To call or not to call, that was the question. She hadn’t heard from Maverick in a few days. Now that really wasn’t much time at all, but she hadn’t really thanked him properly either after her incredible night of baseball.
The man had taken her out twice on dates—yes, she was admitting they were dates. He could say it was about the fund-raising, but really, they’d spent a total of a half hour talking to one donor and they’d spent hours having fun. He might be sneaky on how he did things, but really, he was smarter than she would have ever given him credit for. Her time with him at these events had been fun. He was thoughtful and considerate, and she had to admit, she had an incredible time when she was with Maverick.
So how did one thank a person for going above and beyond to make your day absolutely unbelievable? The only thing she could think of was baking. She was a great baker. She couldn’t cook super well, but she could bake as well as Betty Crocker.
Was Betty Crocker an actual person? Or was she a brand? Maybe she’d have to look that up sometime. Ugh! Shaking her head, she continued walking a circle around the path surrounding the guest cottage.
Her nails were down to nothing, and her phone was hot from being squeezed so tightly in her other hand. This was so stupid. He’d said he wanted her to chair his event and she’d agreed. That meant he obviously planned on seeing her again.
So it wasn’t a big deal for her to call him up and invite him over for dessert. It didn’t mean anything, really. It was just a thank you from her to him for believing in her when a lot of people would have given up.
She stopped walking and plopped down on the patio chair as Princess sniffed the bushes looking for a place to go potty. The dog had been following her the entire time she’d been pacing and was probably exhausted. At least Princess was getting exercise.
Lindsey looked at the phone as if it were her mortal enemy and then decided a text message was just as good as a phone call. And that way if he couldn’t come, she wouldn’t have to hear his voice. He’d just say “Thanks but no thanks.” Easy peasy.
Now the key was to not sound too dang needy. That she could do. It was simple. She was just going to give out a quick invite. Still, she retyped it a dozen times before she finally decided the message was good enough.
I’m baking today. If you aren’t busy, or if you have a sweet tooth, I’ll have extra. No big deal.
Before she could change her mind, she hit Send. Then, of course, she began second-guessing herself. What if that did sound sort of needy? She was getting ready to send another message that said she might not bake after all when her phone chimed. Her fingers trembling, she opened the message.
I was wondering when I was going to get to taste some of your sugar. I’ll be there at six.
She reread the message a dozen times, her cheeks heating, her stomach shaking. She was sure he wasn’t meaning her sugar. Mav was just a flirt. He couldn’t help how things sounded, especially through a text.
Six is fine. I’m not good at real cooking, so I just have dessert.
She wanted to make sure he wasn’t expecting a full-blown meal. Then he’d be disappointed. Oh, this was such a bad idea. She knew it was a bad idea, so why had she started this?
Tapping her toe, she waited for his reply. She didn’t have to wait too long, thankfully, or she might have begun pulling her hair out a few strands at a time.
Let’s go ahead and make this a work night. I’ll bring the food and we’ll make dinner together . . . and then have plenty of time for dessert . . .
His choice of wording made her clench her knees together.
Was she going to allow something to happen between the two of them? Did she even want another man to ever touch her again after what had been done to her? A week ago, she would have emphatically said no. She’d been terrified of even the softest of touches.
But in only a few days’ time, Maverick had managed to get beneath her skin and had made her begin to think about things she didn’t want to think about. She didn’t cringe when he touched her, didn’t hate it when he looked at her.
“What are you doing?”
So lost in her thoughts about Maverick, Lindsey hadn’t heard Stormy walking up. The greeting made her jump before she spun around and smiled.
“I was just strolling, taking Princess for a walk.” For some reason she guiltily stuffed her phone back into her pocket.
“Okay, Lins, something is up and I want to know what it is,” Stormy demanded as she followed Lindsey into the house.
“Nothing is up,” Lindsey said as she moved over to the cupboards to see what she had and what she might need. What dessert was she going to make? How badly did she want to impress this man?
“I feel like you’re shutting me out more and more each and every day,” Stormy said, her voice sad.
That stopped Lindsey in her tracks. She didn’t want to hurt her best friend. She turned and faced her, not quite ready to approach and wrap her arms around her, but still needing to comfort her.
“I . . . uh . . . I just invited Maverick over. He’s been really great to me and I wanted to do something for him,” Lindsey said in a rush of words.
Stormy’s eyes widened, and then she smiled.
“You weren’t going to tell me that!” she exclaimed.
“I don’t know,” Lindsey said as she shifted from foot to foot.
“You don’t think I’d be upset about it, do you?”
“Well . . .” Lindsey stalled.
“I think it’s great that you two can barely keep your eyes off each other,” Stormy exclaimed.
“We can keep our eyes off each other,” Lindsey insisted.
“Mmm-hmm,” Stormy said before chuckling.
“We can,” Lindsey insisted, feeling like a broken record.
“Well, I will make sure that Coop and I keep ourselves locked tightly inside the house tonight so there aren’t any interruptions. I’m going to take Princess too,” Stormy said as she sat down. Princess immediately went over and snuggled by her side.
“You don’t need to take Princess,” Lindsey said in almost a panic.
“You just ring me when the date is over, and I’ll bring her right back.”
“She doesn’t have to leave,” Lins said again.
“I want you to have a distraction-free night. What time is the date?” Stormy said, ignoring her protests.
“It’s at six, and it’s not a date. I’m just making him dessert as a thank you.”
“Sure, sure, not a date. Okay, I’ll pick up Princess in a couple hours.”
“Wait!” Lindsey said, stopping Stormy from leaving. Her friend looked at her patiently.
“I know Mav is your brother-in-law, and I don’t want to make things awkward for you. I just . . .” She sto
pped talking, feeling her cheeks heat.
Stormy’s eyes widened as her mouth hung open. She pulled herself together quickly, though.
“You don’t actually think I would be upset about the two of you becoming an item, do you?” she asked.
“Well . . . it could be awkward,” Lindsey said.
“Oh, Lins, not at all. I love Mav, and you know how much I love you. Why would I be upset about you two dating?” Stormy asked.
“Because when things go sour . . .” Lindsey stopped speaking.
“When?” Stormy said with a confused look. “Why do you assume it will go bad?” She sat back as if she were going to get comfortable.
“Come on, Storm, there’s no way this will be fairy-tale perfect,” Lindsey said. “I’m a realist.”
“You’re protecting yourself,” Stormy corrected. “And that’s okay. But don’t dwell on what could happen. Live in the moment. Enjoy yourself and know that you have my full support no matter what happens.”
“What if it gets bitter?” Lindsey said, choking out the words.
“Then we cross that road when it happens,” Stormy said reasonably.
“I can’t lose you, Stormy—not ever,” Lindsey said, tears threatening.
Stormy crossed the room and stood in front of Lindsey, not reaching out to her, but letting her know she was right there.
“Nothing in this world would ever make you lose me. Just like I know that you will always be there for me. We are so much more than friends. We’re sisters by choice. And I have no problem causing physical harm to my dear brother-in-law if he hurts you.”
She said this so seriously that Lindsey couldn’t help but smile.
“I promise you, I won’t ever ask you to maim Maverick, no matter what,” Lindsey said.
“You wouldn’t have to ask. That’s just what best friends do for each other,” Stormy said.
Before Lindsey realized what she was doing, she leaned forward and tugged Stormy close, giving her the first hug in a year. Stormy was shocked for a moment and then she wrapped her arms around her friend and clung on tight.
When they let go, Stormy had tears coming down her cheeks.
“I love you, Lins, more than almost anyone in this world.”
“I love you too, Storm.”
“I’m running away now so I can soak up this moment.”
Before Lindsey could say anything more, Stormy rushed out, sniffling as she practically ran up the trail to the main house. Lindsey looked at Princess, who gazed at her a moment before shutting her eyes again and continuing her nap.
It was a pretty perfect day—even with all these emotions coursing through her. She felt happiness she hadn’t thought she would ever feel again. Her life was getting back on the right path.
Maverick being in her life was the best thing that had ever happened to her. That was a sobering thought, but not enough that she wanted to stop the ride she was on.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Files tucked beneath his arm, flowers in his hand, a grocery sack in the other, Maverick walked quickly up to Lindsey’s door, feeling awkward with the damn cast. The sweat on his palm was simply because it was hot outside. It had nothing to do with nerves.
Maverick didn’t get nervous before dates—umm, meetings—even impromptu ones when the girl invited him to come over. He was too far above something so silly as that. Still, he stopped in front of her door, set down the items he was carrying, and wiped his sweaty palms against his jeans.
It would be good to get into some air conditioning, that was for sure. Picking up the items, he rang the bell, then impatiently waited for her to open the door.
When she did, his palms became sweaty all over again. Beautiful was too tame a word to describe her with her hair pulled up in a hazardous bun, an apron draped across her body trying to disguise her beautiful lush breasts and full hips, and a genuine smile upon her lips along with a sprinkling of flour.
Even with only a smidgeon of makeup on her naturally beautiful, somewhat olive complexion, she was stunning. She really had no clue how appealing she was. Maybe that was just one more thing he appreciated about her.
As much as he was fighting against his father’s last wishes, this girl made him think he might just want to cave in to the terms of his father’s will. It was something he would have to tell her about so she would never think he wanted her for money. She wouldn’t think that. He had enough of his own already. Hell, he’d sign away every penny to his organization. Maybe she didn’t have to know.
No! He wasn’t considering marriage. That was foolish. He just wanted to be with her. It didn’t have to be forever. Damn, his mind was a mess.
“You’re a little early,” she said with a shy smile, snapping him out of his wayward thoughts.
“I didn’t want the food to go bad,” he lamely replied as he took a step forward, instantly wanting to lay his head against her shoulder and inhale her intoxicating floral scent. It was a subtle mixture that drove him crazy anytime he was around the woman.
“Let me take that from you.” She reached out for the bag.
“You take these. I’ll deal with the groceries,” he offered as he handed her the flowers.
She inhaled their scent and that simple gesture stirred images of her trailing her nose down his body doing the same to him. Dang! It was hot outside, and the house felt like a furnace had exploded.
“What are we eating?” she asked as she trailed after him into the small kitchen. She found a vase and took her time arranging the flowers until she had them just right.
“Salmon and rice,” he said. His voice must have been tight, because she looked up a bit startled, but Mav knew she had feelings for him. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her body. He wanted to scrap dinner and go right to dessert, and the sweetness he wanted to devour had nothing to do with whatever she’d been working on this afternoon.
“That sounds great,” she said before moving away from the flowers and pulling something out of the oven when the timer went off.
“Something smells delicious,” he said as he peeked at the cake she was taking out.
“It’s just a cake with chocolate and strawberries,” she said nervously.
“Mmm, aphrodisiacs,” he told her with a laugh.
“They are not!” Her eyes went wide as she gazed at him in surprise.
“Are you nervous around me, sugar?”
He backed her into the counter as he brought himself a little bit closer, inhaling her sweet perfume mixed with the scent of the sweet dessert in the air. He needed just one little taste. Barely brushing his body against hers, he leaned in and gently sucked the skin of her neck.
“No,” she panted. “Okay, a little.”
The sigh escaping after her words made his thickness even harder. There wasn’t a time he ever recalled wanting a woman as much as he wanted this one—especially without taking what he wanted. Hell, nope, not even then. This desire was unquenchable, he feared.
“Shouldn’t we . . . um . . . cook?” she asked breathily.
“Definitely. I’m already hot,” he told her. But he backed off, almost satisfied with the glow in her eyes. He could tell how much she desired him.
They worked side by side, cooking the salmon and rice, and chopping a salad. He felt high every time she laughed. During all the prep, he continuously brushed against her, making sure she was more and more comfortable with his touch.
There was a radiant glow about her cheeks the entire evening, and the one thing Maverick knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that he had to have a taste of her. He had to show her how great and unselfish lovemaking could be.
He just prayed he had the restraint to keep himself together while giving her this gift.
The two finished dinner, and then it was time for dessert. His favorite part of the day. Undoing the top two buttons of his shirt, he followed her back into the kitchen while she pulled out a couple of pots and several ingredients, including chocolate and strawberries.
&
nbsp; That had him instantly hard again. But tonight wasn’t about him finding satisfaction. It was about helping Lindsey feel good about herself and helping her to feel safe, especially in her own home.
“This is a chocolate strawberry layer cake,” she told him as she took the cake portion and began frosting it. She set it in the freezer to rapidly cool.
“Looks good,” he said, trying to calm himself as he swiped a taste from the bowl she’d mixed the frosting in.
“Um . . . yeah.” Her gaze was centered on his lips as he sucked the frosting off, and the look in her eyes made his body pulse painfully.
She went back to the stove and began mixing more ingredients until she had a creamy chocolate mixture. Then she pulled the cake from the freezer, set it on the counter, and placed strawberries on top. When she grabbed the chocolate sauce and drizzled it over the top, he thought he just might have a high-school moment and embarrass himself right there in front of her.
Maverick couldn’t remember the last time his body had ached so much from wanting a woman. It was just about killing him. But when a dribble of chocolate splattered the counter and she wiped it up with her finger and then sucked on it, he knew it was over.
Taking the pan from her hands, he carefully set it aside, ignoring the slight tremble in his own fingers as he backed her against the kitchen island.
“I need to put the cake in the fridge to cool,” she huskily told him.
“You know that’s not the dessert I want, sugar,” he said as he pressed against her, making sure she had no doubt how turned on he was.
“Oh,” she replied barely above a whisper. “It’s really good.”
Her gaze was looking right at his lips again and when her tongue came out and ran across her bottom lip, he knew he had to taste her. But he couldn’t lose control. This night was about her—and her alone.
“Let me show you exactly how I like my dessert,” he said before dipping his finger in the melted chocolate and swiping it across her lips. She stuck out her tongue to lap it off, but he shook his head. “Allow me.”
Though he wanted to ravish her, he slowly leaned forward and ran his tongue along the outline of her mouth, lapping up the chocolate that was bitter compared to her sweetness.
