Chapter 24
Sydney
I can't wipe the smile from my face as I glance around the table. Maverick’s sitting to my right, at the head of the table, and Bree is on my left with Danny next to her, sitting at the other head of the table. Pecker and Sophia are sitting across from us.
I’ve never been so happy. I don’t think my home has ever felt so full of love and happiness, but right now, it’s perfect. Everything I’ve ever wanted. And I have Maverick to thank for all of this.
His hand brushes over my thigh as he searches for my hand under the table. As soon as his fingers meet mine, he threads them together and smiles at me.
He goes out of his way to make sure I know how much I mean to him. I know he’s going above and beyond, trying to remind me he’s not Rob. He’s so much more than Rob ever was, I'm just worried about what life will be like when this isn't new anymore. What happens when the honeymoon phase is over?
“When are you moving home?” Maverick asks Sophia.
“I'm not sure. My house isn't ready quite yet, but I want to move as soon as it’s ready. My dad’s been looking for a store front for my bakery and he found the perfect one. I’m so excited to finally make my dreams come true, especially after working at Sydney’s Sweets the last few weeks.”
“I’ve loved having you there. You’re an amazing baker.” I smile, knowing I'm going to miss her so much when she’s gone.
“I'm going to miss it here,” she whispers as her eyes fill with tears.
“Baby,” Peck chuckles, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and tugging her into his side. He presses a soft kiss to her head, then keeps her close to him.
I’ve never seen him love someone like this. It makes me so happy to know he’s met the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.
“What?” She murmurs, glancing up at him as she brushes away the moisture.
“You need to pick where you want to be. Whatever you want, I'm ok with it.”
“I miss Mulberry Lane so much, but I love Maple Springs too. Why can't they be closer?”
“Because one is in Pennsylvania and the other is in Maine?” Danny offers with a grin.
“Maybe we should buy an airplane so we can visit whenever we want.” She blinks up at Pecker.
“Is Papa Robinson funding this gift? Because I hate to break it to you, Soph, but I'm a cop, I don’t make that kind of money.” Pecker arches a brow at her.
“Maybe Jax, Cody, and Wyatt can go in on it for our wedding gift,” she grumbles under her breath, making Pecker chuckle.
“Well, you guys are always welcome to stay here when you come to visit. We can get a bed for the office,” Maverick offers.
“You don’t need to do that. We can kick Bree out of her room.” Peck winks at Bree, making her stick her tongue out at him. I know she’d give up her room in a second if it means she gets to see her Uncle Peck though.
“Yeah, we don’t need to change anything else. You’ve already done more than enough for us.” I squeeze Maverick’s hand.
“This is your house too. I told you, you’re free to change whatever you want. I don’t care. I just want you here.”
“I'm getting tired,” Sophia yawns. “Who knew packing up an entire house and moving in one day would take so much out of you.”
“Do you want to go to bed? Or go in the hot tub?” Peck arches a brow.
“Hot tub!” She grins.
“Why don’t you all go get your bathing suits on and get in the hot tub. I can clean all of this up, then I’ll meet you out there.” I begin cleaning up dinner and pile the plates in the sink.
“Thank you, Syd.” Peck presses a kiss to my cheek before taking Sophia’s hand and leading her towards Bree’s room, where they’ll be sleeping tonight.
“Leave the mess, baby. We can clean up later.” Maverick closes the pizza box and sticks it in the fridge.
“It’s fine. It will only take me a few minutes to wash these up.” I wave him off and begin filling the sink with hot water.
“Nah, I want you spending your time with us, not with the dishes. They can wait until later.” He snakes his arm around my waist and tugs me away from the sink. He quickly flicks off the water and continues backing me away from the counter.
“Maverick!” I chuckle as he lifts me into the air and cradles me against his chest like I weigh nothing at all.
“What? You weren’t listening to me. I want you in that hot tub with me, not cleaning.”
As soon as we step foot inside his room – our room – he kicks the door shut and gently settles me onto the bottom of the bed. He leans over me and presses a few soft kisses to my lips.
“Do you know where your bathing suit is?”
“I put it in the black bag.” I point in the direction I think my bag is, but I'm not sure if that’s where it actually is.
Maverick scoops the bag off the floor and rifles through the contents. He pulls my black bikini out of the bottom and grins.
“This is your bathing suit?” He arches a brow.
“Yes? Is there something wrong with it?”
“Absolutely not. I guess I expected a one-piece. Something a little less revealing.” He eyes the pieces of fabric.
“You’re making me feel self-conscious,” I pout.
“You absolutely shouldn’t. I just didn’t expect a bikini. I'm more than happy to be wrong with my assumptions.”
He reaches behind his head and tugs his shirt off with one hand. My eyes roam over his bare torso, taking in the tight muscles covering his chest and abdomen. His body is like a work of art, especially with the tattoos covering much of his skin.
I don’t know how I got lucky enough to gain his attention, but I'm thrilled I did. I get to see this every day for the rest of my life.
“Are you going to stare at me or are you getting changed too?” He arches a brow as a smirk tugs on the corner of his lips.
“Staring seems like a really good option right now,” I whisper as he searches through a drawer for his bathing suit.
“I'll be right back,” he murmurs as he grabs his bathing suit and shuts himself inside the bathroom.
I lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. It’s hard to believe this is our new life. I'm not alone anymore and I have someone to lean on now. It’s difficult to remember and to adjust to, but I'm so thankful for Maverick and everything he’s done for us.
“I think it’s your turn to get changed,” Maverick mutters as exits the bathroom. He pulls me to my feet and nudges me towards the bathroom.
I quickly change into my bikini and when I emerge from the bathroom, Maverick is sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for me. His eyes roam over my body. I want to cover up or hide the stretch marks that mar my stomach and hips. I want to make him look anywhere else, but that’s not fair.
“Why do you look like you’re seconds away from running and hiding from me?” His voice is deep and barely a whisper.
“I don’t want to… I'm just… My body is nowhere near as nice as yours.”
“Your body is amazing. You just don’t see it.” He presses a soft kiss on my neck before moving down to my collar bone. “I love your body. It’s so perfect. You’re beautiful, baby. I'm a lucky man.”
He’s the only man I’ve ever truly loved.
The only one to have held my heart in the palm of his hand.
He takes a step towards me and loops his arm around my waist, tugging me flush against him.
“You’re absolutely beautiful. I wish I had the time to show you exactly how much I love you, but our kids are waiting to go in the hot tub and I think it would be weird if we keep your brother and Sophia waiting much longer.
They’ll think we’re doing things we aren’t doing.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend the rest of my night with you in my arms and my lips on yours. Do you understand me?”
I nod my head, not trusting my voice one bit. This man does things to me no one else has ever been able to do.
I don’t miss the way he refers to Danny and Bree as our kids, not my kids. I love that about him. He views me and the kids as a package deal and he doesn’t shy away from it. He embraces it with both hands.
“Good. Let’s get in that hot tub.”
As much as I want to stay in this room with him for the rest of the night, he’s right. We can't leave everyone waiting. I have no doubt one of the kids will come looking for us shortly anyway.