Chapter 15
Maverick
Damon weaved through tables and mingling guests to join me with Edna’s grandkids, Crystal and Marcus Wallis. They’d done most of the planning, though their parents were paying the bill.
“So, you’re the hero of the day,” Crystal said when Damon reached us.
“Uh…”
“I told her about my transportation emergency,” I said. “Crystal and Marcus wanted to thank you.”
“I was happy to help Maverick out. I hope you all enjoy your party.”
We retreated to the edge of the room just as there was a commotion near the door.
“Edna’s coming!” someone called.
The room quieted, everyone watching as Edna shuffled in, moving a walker in front of her.
“Happy Birthday!” the crowd called out.
Her eyes lit up as she took in her family and friends, the decorations, and the impressive three-tier cake her family had gotten for the occasion.
“Are you all trying to kill me?” she scolded. “My old heart can’t take it!”
“Lies!” someone called.
“Your heart is younger than mine!”
Edna laughed and blushed, waving off their comments with a chuckle as she resumed her slow trek across the room. I watched her progress toward the table where her immediate family waited.
She stumbled as one of the feet on her walker caught on a wrinkle in the carpet. A collective gasp went up. Damon lurched forward to catch her arm and help her stay on her feet.
“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, pressing a hand to her chest. “Thank you, young man.” She blinked owlishly at him. “Don’t tell me I have another grandson no one told me about!”
Marcus laughed. “Yeah, Grandma, did you forget about my brother? He’s going to be so hurt.”
Crystal slapped his arm. “Don’t even joke about it.” She cast a flirty look at Damon. “Granville is incestuous enough without making up siblings. Damon is just our hero for the day, apparently.”
Shit, was Crystal into him? I stepped up beside him, taking hold of his arm.
Jealous much, Mav? He’s not yours.
Damon smiled at Edna. “I’d love to claim you as a grandma. I bet I missed out.”
“You did,” Crystal said with a big smile. “Grandma was always baking, singing, kissing our boo-boos away. We’ve been so lucky.”
Edna scoffed, but her cheeks glowed pink. “I spoiled you all rotten.”
The whole room laughed at the exchange.
Marcus pulled out a chair and helped his grandmother take a seat at the head banquet table.
My large centerpiece, with the big foil balloons in the shape of a nine and five floated to her left.
I was so, so glad I hadn’t missed the delivery window.
It would have been a shame to spoil such a special day.
While Edna’s family fussed over her, Damon and I quietly retreated to the side door. He pulled it open, waving me out.
“Such a gentleman today,” I teased.
To my surprise, his ears turned red. “Just being polite.”
I fell into step beside him as we walked toward his truck. “I appreciate what you did today. Crystal was right. You did a good thing.”
He turned a cocky grin on me. “I believe her exact word was hero.”
There was the Damon I knew and lo—loathed? I still disliked him, right? I mean, he was gorgeous and sexy, and I was desperately curious about whether he’d used that toy I’d pranked him with.
And this weekend, he’d be taking me on a date.
But…I didn’t like him, did I? I couldn’t. That would be a mistake. This date was just a challenge to him. Just a game. Wasn’t it?
Damon prowled closer, crowding me against the side of his pickup. “What do you think, Mav? Am I your hero?”
I gazed into his eyes, then studied the curve of his smirking mouth, looking for a sign of what he really felt for me. “I don’t know,” I said at last. “Are you?”
He leaned in closer, shoulder brushing mine. I held my breath, heart racing. But he only took hold of the door handle and opened the door for me.
“I guess we’ll both find out,” he said. “But first, I need you to be my hero.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Get in. I’ll tell you on the drive.”
Whatever I’d expected, flowers had been the last thing on my mind. An unusual state for a florist, maybe, but Damon tended to bring out murderous or lecherous thoughts, not work-related ones.
“My parents have an anniversary party coming up, and I’ve kind of procrastinated on getting the arrangements made. We’d like something similar to what you did today.”
“How soon?”
“Three weeks.”
“Damon! I live right next door. Why would you put it off?”
He grimaced, hands tightening on the steering wheel. “I just… I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been a little preoccupied lately.” He sent me a sheepish smile. “Every time we talked, we were arguing about your terrible dates.”
I rolled my eyes. “And the date with you is going to be so much better, right?”
“So much better,” he said, pulling up in front of Rainbow Garden. “I’m going to hit it out of the park. Home run, baby.”
“Uh-huh. Word of advice, Damon?” I waited until he looked at me expectantly. “Lose the sports metaphors if you want to impress me. I’m not your bro.”
He looked chagrinned. “Right. It was just an expression. I know you’re not into that shit, Mav. No worries. We won’t be drinking beer and playing darts on our date.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I reached for the door handle. “I’ll see what I can do about those flowers for your parents.”
He touched my arm, and goosebumps rushed over my skin. “Thank you, Maverick. It means a lot.”
I turned toward him, a tension thrumming between us as our eyes met. Damn, but I wanted to kiss the man stupid. But that would be stupid, considering I had no idea what his intentions were. If this date was just another prank…
My chest grew tight at the thought.
I was probably a fool to hope for anything else. But right now, he looked so sincere that I couldn’t help it. My heart gave a stupid-ass flutter.
“Thanks for the rescue today, Damon. That meant a lot, too.”
He smiled. “Anytime, darlin’.”
I hopped out of the truck before I gave in to the impulse to do something stupid. Maybe I should cancel the date. If I got this twisted up over a favor, what would Damon wining and dining me do to my head and my heart?