Chapter 14
Sydney
When Monday rolls around, Melissa doesn’t call out, but she will be late for work. She was able to get a doctor’s appointment and needs to pick up her medicine. I’ll only have to cover two hours of her shift, but it still makes it impossible for me to get the kids from school.
Sydney: I should be done at five. Do you want me to come get the kids at your house or do you want to go straight to my house after school? Danny has a key.
I turn back to the dough I'm scooping out onto large cookie sheets. This is the last thing I need to bake for the day and I'm more than ready to be done. I’ve mixed up more cookie dough than I care to admit today. I’ll freeze most of it to use later, but some of it will be used today and tomorrow to make cookies.
My phone pings and I jump to see what Maverick has to say. I'm hoping he’ll take them to my house and stay for a little bit. I’d like to see him for longer than just picking up the kids.
Maverick: Come to my house.
I sigh as I read the text. I don’t want to go there. I'm exhausted and just want to go home, but he’s doing me a huge favor by getting the kids in general.
Sydney: I’ll see you around five. Thanks again.
Maverick: Of course, gorgeous.
When Melissa walks through the door a little after five-thirty, she hurries into the back room to drop off her jacket and bag. She returns as she’s tying her apron around her waist.
“I’m so sorry! It took forever to get my prescription filled. The doctor prescribed something that would interact with another medication I'm on, so I had to wait while they called to get the doctor to approve a different medication.”
“It’s fine, Melissa. Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you coming in when you could’ve just called off.”
“I still feel bad. I don’t like making you come in when you should be home with the kids.” She frowns. “Is there anything I need to know before you go?”
“There are five batches of cookies in the oven. They’ll be done in… three minutes. I can stay and help you with them.”
“Nonsense. Get out of here and have a good night.” She nudges me towards the back of the bakery and I happily tug my apron from around my waist and hang it up on the hook by my office.
After I have my bag and jacket, I slip out the back door. As I start my engine, I realize I don’t know where Maverick’s house is. I grab my phone to text him, but I find a message already waiting for me.
Maverick: 368 Berry Drive.
I smile to myself as I stare at his text. I love how much he pays attention. I didn’t need to ask him for his address because he remembers I wouldn’t have it.
I debate on texting him to let him know I'm on my way, but I kind of want to see how everything is if I just show up. If I give him a heads up, he’ll have time to clean up or stop doing whatever they’re doing. If I don’t, I get to see how he deals with the chaos.
Though it feels a little wrong to be testing him like this, I need to know the man he shows me is the real Maverick. I need to be sure he’s good enough to spend time with my children.
As I drive towards his house, I realize I’ve never been in this part of Maple Springs before.
The properties are spread further apart and the houses are set back from the road even more.
Trees line the road and wooden three rail fences sit right behind them on every property.
It’s so picturesque. So perfect. I’d love to live on a property like this.
I slow as Maverick’s home comes into view.
He has a large rancher with a long driveway.
The landscaping is hard to see with all the snow, but everything looks neat and tidy.
The driveway was plowed with care and there’s a small Christmas tree on the porch with lights sparkling from the branches.
Wreaths hang on every window, making his house look warm and inviting.
I park in front of the garage and get out of the car. Climbing the steps to the porch, I take in the cute swing and Adirondack chairs. His home looks like it could be on the cover of a magazine. I can only imagine what inside looks like.
I'm about to knock when the door swings open and I find a smiling Maverick staring down at me.
“Hey, sweetheart. I was just about to text you to see when you’d be here. How was work?” He motions for me to come in and shuts the door behind me.
“It was good, but I'm glad to be out of there.” I glance around the living room.
There’s a fire crackling in the fireplace with two large leather couches to the side of it. The coffee table in the center is gorgeous and rustic looking. The lights are low, but Maverick turns them up so the space is lit up.
“Welcome to my home, Syd.”
“This place is breathtaking,” I whisper as I take in the high ceilings and the mossy walls. The beams show on the ceiling and I swear I'm in love with his house.
“Thanks. My dad built this place before I was born. After he and my mom died, I knew I could never part with it.”
“I'm sorry to hear they died.”
“It’s alright. It was a long time ago. I’ll always miss them, but they wouldn’t want me to dwell on it.”
“Where are the kids?”
“Oh, they’re downstairs. I came up to let you in when the driveway alarm alerted me you pulled in.”
“Fancy.” I grin as I follow him to the steps.
Every inch of the house is gorgeous and exactly what I’d pick out if someone asked me to design my dream house. When we get into the basement, I let out an audible gasp. One side of the basement is a batting cage and the other side is set up to watch movies on a massive TV.
“Mom! Isn't this amazing! I don’t even have to go to the batting cages anymore! Maverick says I can come here whenever I want to.” Danny grins as another ball flies towards him and he connects with a loud crack.
“That’s awesome, buddy. You look like you’re having a lot of fun.”
“I am! Maverick was showing me how to pitch when we got home, but when he started making dinner, I switched to batting.”
“I guess we’ll have to do homework later on, huh?”
“Nope! Maverick already helped me. He also explained that thing with math I was struggling with.”
“That’s… amazing.”
I glance up at the man I'm quickly falling for. Not only did he play with my son and make dinner, but he also helped with homework and took the time to teach him math. There has to be something wrong with him, right?
Could he be an axe murderer? Some dark past I won't like? He has to at least snore so loud he shakes the house, right?
“Where’s Bree?” I shake away my thoughts and focus on my children.
I can spend the night analyzing what could be wrong with Maverick after I get home. I'm sure I could spend hours coming up with scenarios.
“Oh, she’s over in the dance studio.”
“You have a dance studio?” I arch a brow, not believing a word he’s saying. “And batting cages.”
“Well, my dad loved baseball and when I started showing interest in it, he built this for me. He knew how much I hated going to the cages and having to wait to use a pitching machine. Plus, it costs a fortune when you go as often as I did and playing outside is difficult when we get a lot of snow.”
“Were you a ballerina too?” I smirk, teasing him a little bit.
“Nah, my mom was. She loved ballet and used to perform when she was younger. She always had a dance studio and after she died, I couldn’t bring myself to change it. I have some workout equipment in there, but for the most part I kept it the way she always had it.”
He leads me down a hall to a room with mirrors the entire perimeter. There’s a ballet barre on one wall and Bree’s trying her hardest to get her foot to rest on the top of it.
“I can't do it, Maverick!” She huffs and folds her arms across her chest. Her little chin wobbles and I know she’s seconds away from losing it.
“Sure, you can. You just need to improvise. My mom was a lot taller than you and this barre was put in specifically for her.”
He grabs a few exercise steps and places them side by side down the length of the barre. He lifts Bree into the air and places her on top of them.
“Look! Now you’re the perfect size. Show me what you can do!”
He takes a step back and watches her carefully. She struggles at first to lift her leg high enough, but when she finally gets it, a massive smile lifts her chubby baby cheeks.
“I did it!” She squeals, almost losing her balance with her excitement.
Quickly getting her leg back down to the ground, she runs towards Maverick and leaps into the air. He catches her with ease and she wraps her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, Maverick! You’re the best!”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He lowers her back to the ground and watches as she races back to the barre to practice some more of her ballet moves. “I need to check on dinner. You can either stay down here or come up and keep me company,” he says as he turns his sparkling blue eyes on me.
“I think I’ll keep you company.” I smile as I take a step closer to him.
“Smart decision. I have wine.” He winks as he heads back towards the stairs.
As soon as we’re out of view of the kids, he places his hand on my lower back and walks next to me. The warmth from his palm seeps through my thin shirt and sets my skin on fire.
He leads me into the kitchen and before I can even take it all in, I'm pressed against the wall and Maverick’s lips are on mine.
His hands grip my waist and he tilts his head to the side, deepening our kiss.
It’s demanding and needy. He has me breathless in seconds and wondering how I can make this a daily occurrence.
“I’ve been waiting to kiss you for two days,” he murmurs against my lips. “I’ve been counting down the minutes until you’d get home.”
“Me too,” I whisper. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“Good. It’s nice to feel wanted.” He grins as he takes a step back and grabs a bottle of wine off the counter. He pours two glasses and hands one to me.
“This is my favorite wine.” I stare down at the glass and wonder if he knew.
“I assumed so. You had two bottles at your house. I was afraid I was wrong and they were Pecker’s.”
“No,” I chuckle and shake my head. “Pecker hates wine. Did you really go out and buy wine just for me?”
“Of course. I figured you’ve been at work all day and had to stay late. You’re probably exhausted and in need of a relaxing night. I have a hot tub too, if you ever want to use it.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I tilt my head to the side and examine him.
“Excuse me?” He chuckles, but he looks slightly nervous.
“There has to be something wrong with you. You seem too perfect. How are you still single?”
“I told you, I never found anyone worthy of my attention.”
“You’re not a serial killer?” I arch a brow.
“No.” His grin widens.
“Do you have an odd obsession with something like… stuffed animals?”
“I collect shot glasses.” He lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Is that a red flag?”
“No, you own a bar.” I roll my eyes. “Have you been to prison?”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I clamp my hand over it and stare at him with wide eyes. His brows shoot up his forehead and he pinches his lips together.
“I can't believe I just said that. You don’t need to answer me. In fact, you shouldn’t answer me,” I mumble against my palm, but he still hears me.
He tries to close the distance between us, but every step he takes towards me, I take one back until my butt hits the wall behind me. I let out a loud gasp and he takes the chance to press his body against mine.
He stares down into my eyes and doesn’t say a word. I'm not scared of Maverick and I know he’d never hurt me, but I'm not sure what’s going through his head right now.
“Do you really think I’ve been to prison? I'm best friends with the sheriff,” he murmurs against the side of my neck, making shivers dance up and down my skin.
“I think I'm horribly wrong and I should stop talking around you,” I whisper in a breathy voice.
“I wouldn’t want that. Tell me what’s going through your head, Syd. I can feel you pulling away from me.” Maverick rests his forehead against mine and closes his eyes.
“You just seem too good to be true. My kids love you and want to spend time with you. You actually like them and want to hang out with them. You played with them and did freaking homework with them.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No! The problem is no one else has ever done any of that. You handle them like a pro too. It’s like someone’s whispering the secrets to parenting in your ear every step of the way and it’s not fair because I'm barely surviving as a parent and it seems so easy for you.”
“Sweetheart, you’re a wonderful mom and those kids love you more than life itself.
My parents were the best and I learned a lot from them.
But at the end of the day, I'm putting myself in their shoes and thinking about how I’d want someone to treat me.
I'm not their parent so I don’t have to deal with everything you do.
That makes it easier for me. Plus, I think they both are trying to get me to like them so I stick around.
They’re on their best behavior with me because they’re terrified I’ll walk away if they give me a reason to. ”
“Will you?”
“Never.” He brushes my hair behind my ear and cups my cheeks. “I'm here for as long as you’ll allow me to be.”
“What if I don’t let you go?”
“Then I guess you’ll have to marry me.”