by C. M. Owens
Obviously he didn’t get the memo that I no longer want girls to have free access to me.
“Maverick Sterling, I think you forgot to call,” she says, feigning an exasperated sigh.
“On purpose,” I say immediately through a tight smile.
Her grin slips. I’ve already given up the pretense of even trying to be charming. Apparently my charm is not willing to be spent freely anymore.
“What?” she asks, annoyed.
“Sort of fell in love with the other girl mechanic. Makes you about as appealing as the disappointing sequel to an epic original,” I say with a smirk, being a bit more dickish than I’ve ever been in my life, considering she’s the fourth girl tonight I’ve deliberately been short with.
“There’s something wrong with the guys in this group,” she grumbles as she angrily slides out of the booth in a huff, stomping away.
I look over to see Dane grinning down at his drink.
“What?” I ask, exasperated.
“Never thought I’d see the day when you couldn’t care less about flirting, even harmlessly. Hell, I don’t think you’ve even looked at a girl since you met Salem.”
I lean back in my seat, drinking a bottle of water.
“Get used to it,” I say bitterly while clanking my bottle of water against his glass of Coke. “Blame it on the fucking pie.”
Chapter 46
SALEM
I’m returning the shopping cart at the front of the grocery store when I hear, “Salem!”
The voice turns my blood to ice as I turn to see my mother walking toward me, her determined strides bringing her dangerously close to power-walking instead of elegantly strutting.
I turn and walk briskly, hurrying my steps to my truck, unconcerned. She won’t follow. It’s beneath her to chase—
“Salem!” she shouts again, startling me when I turn to see her actually running across the parking lot in her heels.
I’ve never seen my mother run.
I’m so stunned by the sight that I forget I’m supposed to be escaping. She’s out of breath, her cheeks are flushed, and she curses—my mother just said the F-bomb—when her ankle turns because her right heel breaks.
She doesn’t even slow down—just kicks out of her shoes. Leaning against the side of my truck, I watch in unyielding fascination as my mother abandons her thousand dollar shoes in the parking lot and closes the rest of the distance between us—barefoot.
Obviously she walks on her tiptoes to prevent all of her feet from touching the ground, but still…my mother is barefoot in a parking lot.
She clears her throat when she reaches me, and stands there on her tiptoes, looking absolutely ridiculous.
A grin curves my lips unexpectedly.
“Is Sean with you?” she asks.
“He’s with a friend,” I lie.
The sincere disappointment in her eyes actually sends a pang to my heart.
“I know you really don’t want to speak to me right now, but when you speak to Sean again, if you can put our problems aside, will you please ask him to answer my calls. I just want to hear…from him.”
Her eyes water, and I cross my arms over my chest.
“He misses you,” I decide to tell her. “But he’s really pissed right now. This last little stunt hurt him as much as it hurt me.”
She looks down, picking at her nails. My mother doesn’t pick at her nails. It’s inelegant and tacky.
“I’m painfully aware this situation was entirely more complicated than I realized.” She looks back up at me and blows out a breath. “I want to go back to the night of my birthday dinner and do things differently, but I can’t.”
Her lower lip trembles, and I swear she looks human.
More human than I’ve ever seen her.
Hell, I’ve only ignored her just over a month, and I barely recognize her.
“What’s going on, Mom? Why are you chasing me through parking lots and standing barefoot before me with tears in your eyes?”
My mother doesn’t play on emotions like this, so I know it’s not a manipulation tactic. She’s too good for such mediocre tactics, and she’s too proud for tears.
She straightens her shoulders, trying to gain some semblance of a respectable appearance. “It’s been brought to my attention that I’m not an easy person to love.”
I snort, and her eyes narrow in disapproval. At least that look is something I’m used to. This human side of her is creeping me out a little.
She stares expectantly, as though she expects me to comment.
“I’m sorry; was that not rhetorical? Because I found it to be the understatement of the century,” I finally say.
She rolls her eyes, taking a deep breath, acting as though this is the most difficult conversation of her entire life. When her eyes meet mine again, she says, “I’m trying to remedy that the best I can. In my quest to keep you and your brothers from being duped by the cons in life, I may have suggested there is no such thing as love—”
“May have suggested?” I interrupt, laughing humorlessly at the hypocrite who loves to con. “You said those exact words, Mom. Numerous times.”
She bristles. “Be that as it may, I never meant that all forms didn’t exist. And I might have been wrong.”
She says the last sentence quickly, as though if she says the words in a rush, I won’t call her out on them.
“Did you just admit to being wrong?” I ask, clearly delusional by this point. I might even glance around for pink elephants on parade.
She heaves out a frustrated breath. “Ian is insufferable. He’s relentless. And he’s, as you put it…warm.” Her eyes soften, and my heart kicks a little.
Is my mother seriously admitting that she’s fucking in love? Are you kidding me right now?
Gah, it shouldn’t piss me off so much, but I want to strangle her here in the parking lot for what she took from me, all while she plays house happily, as though she hasn’t been on a mission to destroy all warmth.
“I see,” I say around a cold smile. “Congratu-fucking-lations,” I tell her bitterly, feeling the hot tears trying to breach my eyes.
Her eyes water as well. “I’m staying in Sterling Shore, Salem. Permanently.”
Those words stave off my anger just because of the surprise.
“Even if Ian and I don’t work out, it’s clear Sean is doing better here than he’s ever done anywhere else. He has friends. He has excellent grades—even better than usual. He’s also in love with this place. I won’t take that away from him.”
Her eyes find mine, and I see the meaning in them.
“How can I trust that?”
“Because I’m many things, but I’m never intentionally a liar, Salem. You know this.”
I do know that, but—
“Why the sudden change of heart? All because of Ian?” I ask, still wary.
She gives me a sad shake of her head. “Not just Ian. Sean is the only one of my children who doesn’t cringe or run when he hears my voice. He’s the only one who even seems to want to be around me. I realize this is all of my own making, and I don’t expect sympathy. I might have realized that I’m not prepared to live alone in my ice fortress—” She pauses, sucking in a breath, as though she’s struggling to finish the sentence. “—fucking myself.”
My laugh is unexpected when I hear her throw my words back, and her lips twitch. Hell has frozen over. My mother just made a joke.
“You’ll notice I haven’t leveraged you against him in a long time. I really am trying to make appropriate changes, Salem,” she goes on more seriously. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but I am trying.”
“We’re really staying. No matter what?” I ask her, my heart fluttering inside my chest with bridled anticipation and cautious hope.
“We’re staying no matter what,” she agrees firmly. “Will you please tell Sean I would like to see him some time?” she asks, tears teetering on her eyelids.
Never thought I’d feel sorry for m
y mother. I really am too damn tender-hearted if this is happening.
I pound on the back window with the side of my fist, and Mom jerks her attention to the passenger door as Sean opens it. His eyes are red, as though he’s been crying, but he acts unaffected.
Mom’s tears fall as she takes him in, and she fights to stay rooted to her spot, her will to go to him almost palpable.
Sean looks over at me as he gets out and walks over to her. “I’m going home with Mom if that’s okay. I’ll come see you in a day or two.”
I wink at him, trying not to also cry, because I know how much this means to him.
Mom messily wipes her eyes—no dainty dabbing—as she goes to him. For the first time in my life, I witness my mother hug my baby brother, and I see the same shock on his face as he warily hugs her back.
She’s bent over, her arms wound around him tightly, as the tears leak from her eyes.
“I need to go,” I tell them, shutting Sean’s door and trying not to run to the driver’s seat.
Mom smiles warmly—which just freaks me out a little, if I’m being honest.
Shaking out of the trance, I get into my truck, and I drive like hell, feeling my heart hit my chest so hard that I’m worried it’s going to burst free and I’ll die before I even get to tell Maverick how I feel.
Wouldn’t that be one hell of a Before Maverick pie moment…
Chapter 47
SALEM
Getting into Silk on a crowded night without the escorting assistance from a Sterling is not easy. I finally get desperate and go to the bouncer, wishing I had been coming a lot with the girls when they invited me. That way I was known.
“Please let me skip the line. It’s really important,” I tell him.
I can’t call Maverick. This is not a phone conversation. And I maybe I already tried to call and it went straight to voicemail.
Yeah. I’m that pathetic.
“Sorry, but it’s the line for everyone unless you’re VIP,” he says dismissively.
I really wish I had on something a lot sexier than jean shorts and a T-shirt. Groceries are wasting away in my truck, part of the sacrifice for tonight’s rituals, as I glare at the man blocking my moment.
Who am I kidding? I know the way in.
I reach down for the bottom of my shirt, fully prepared to flash him. He grins in anticipation as I work up the courage, but suddenly there’s a hand clamping down on my wrist.
“She’s with us, Bert,” Kode says, refraining from laughing as Tria covers her smile with her hand.
I blow out a breath of relief as Kode releases my hand, and Bert gives me a disappointed pout as he ushers us inside.
“Were you really about to flash the bouncer to get in?” Kode asks, damned amused.
“Maverick’s phone was off, and I needed in,” I tell him, cursing the blockade of people who are holding up my progress.
“Could have called someone else,” he points out.
I pause and blink. Yeah, that would have been smart, but my mind is sort of only thinking of one person.
“Can’t talk right now,” I say as I start shoving through the people, tired of politely waiting on them to move the hell out of my way.
I leave Kode and Tria behind as I needle my way through very ungracefully.
My eyes dart to the booth, which is also blocked by a bouncer. The platform is raised, looking out over the dancefloor. It’s only about chest high, so I run toward the back of it where I know he’ll be. Or hope, anyway.
The second my eyes land on Maverick, I get a little queasy. In a good and bad way—nervous anticipation. He’s talking to Dane, not looking particularly thrilled to even be here.
His dark hair looks like he just had it trimmed, and his face is smooth, showing off that one tiny dimple when he forces a smile for Dane. He’s wearing a pale blue T-shirt and dark jeans, looking too sexy for his own damn good.
Dane sees me, and his mouth pauses mid-sentence. Maverick looks confused as he follows Dane’s line of view, and his eyes collide with mine as his eyebrows go up in surprise.
Not even hesitating, he stands and moves to the edge, and I step back, allowing him the space he needs to hop down.
As soon as he’s in front of me, he says, “Hey, I wasn’t expecting to see—”
I launch myself at him, not even caring how ridiculous I look. He catches me, looking utterly bewildered until I grab him behind the neck and pull him down.
He doesn’t hesitate to follow my lead, his lips crashing against mine as I start climbing him, needing to be as close as possible.
The sound he releases into my mouth is sexy, raw, and makes me want so much more. In a way, I’d rather say this somewhere more private, but I’m bursting at the seams. Also, this was where it all started, so it makes it somewhat poetic.
I break the kiss, even as he nips at my lips, holding me up by my ass as my legs stay wrapped around his waist.
“I love you, too,” I say as tears stupidly leak from my eyes without warning.
He goes still for a minute, confusion clear on his face.
“What?” he asks, as though he’s genuinely questioning his hearing capabilities.
“I love you,” I tell him, kissing his stunned, motionless lips. “I love you,” I say again, trailing my lips up his jaw. “I love you,” I whisper right against his ear, and despite the music, I know he hears it.
He turns his head, his lips finding mine, and he kisses me harder than before, walking through all the people, bumping into who knows who all along the way. I never release him. Don’t know if I could even if I wanted to.
I don’t break the kiss even as I feel the night air on us, proving we’ve reached the outside.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” I hear Bert the bouncer scoffing, but I don’t stop kissing Maverick long enough for him to ask questions about that snarky remark.
I’m not even sure how he’s navigating us, since I’m on him like a spider monkey and holding his lips captive.
When he tears his lips away, I make a small sound of protest that has him grinning, even as he opens a door and, with great skill, maneuvers us into the backseat of the cab, me still firmly attached.
Since I don’t want to leave him, I don’t bother mentioning my truck is here.
The second he tells the cab driver the information, I start to kiss him, but he tugs my hair, halting me. When I maybe glare at him a little, he grins.
“Say it again,” he whispers softly, just barely brushing his lips against mine enough to tease me as the cab starts driving us away.
Everything on me softens as my own smile grows. “I love you,” I tell him.
He tugs at my bottom lip with his teeth, then soothes the slight sting with his tongue.
“And again,” he murmurs, his lips brushing mine before turning into a kiss.
“I love you,” I mumble against his lips, grinning like an idiot.
The kiss spirals out of control after that, and the cab driver is warning us that we can’t have sex in his backseat. Understandable concern.
Maverick is quick to toss him cash, not even bothering to see how much, as we get out of the cab.
“Hey, this too much—”
“Keep it,” Maverick says, his lips moving away from mine long enough to say the words as he carries me up his porch, fumbles with the door, then stumbles his way inside.
If he falls, I’m going down with him, because my legs are apparently never letting go.
I’m kissing my way around his neck, tasting every inch of him, as he kicks the door shut behind us and starts walking toward his bedroom.
“You had so much grace the first time we did this,” I say, grinning when he stumbles again.
“The first time we did this, you were just another girl, and I wasn’t a fucking mess,” he murmurs, kissing me silent again.
My legs don’t let go until he’s lowering me onto his bed, and I move up, grabbing at him to drag him down with me until his body is on top of
mine. His hands go to my head, gently holding both sides, as he breaks the kiss again.
“What changed?” he asks, his eyes studying mine.
I smile as tears cloud my eyes. “Mom let us have a home.”
He runs his fingers through my hair for a second, before his lips come back to mine, softer this time, more searching, reverent even, as though he realizes I’m not going anywhere and he doesn’t have worry about this moment disappearing.
He spins suddenly, pulling me on top of him, never breaking the kiss.
My hair falls like a veil around us, and he pushes me back until our mouths have a few inches of separation.
“So you’re staying. For good?” he asks, his lips only growing wider in a smile. “I don’t have to follow you all over the country?”
“I wouldn’t have let you do that,” I remind him.
“I wasn’t going to give you an option. I figured you’d find my stalking too charming to ignore for long. I mean, stalking is trending these days, according to the books,” he says with a grin.
“I love you,” I tell him again, and he kisses me like he wants to taste the words.
Since we won’t stop kissing, it’s awkward to get my shorts and his pants off, but we manage. My underwear goes next, until only his buffer us.
He sits up, his arms around my waist, but breaks the kiss to pull his shirt over his head. I do the same, and he reaches around me, trying to undo my bra and…struggling with the warped clasp.
I didn’t exactly plan for this, so my current underwear is not my finest.
I find myself giggling when he finally curses and has to look around me to see what he’s doing.
“This thing is diabolical,” he mumbles, only prompting me to laugh more until he finally gets it off.
The second his mouth starts showing attention to my freed ladies, I lose my sense of humor. My fingers dig into his hair as he moves his mouth between my breasts, trying to show them equal attention, all while I grind against him like an impatient teenager.
“I love you,” he says.
“I was wondering if you were ever going to say it back,” I murmur.
