Chapter 7
Belle
We finished eating, and Maverick cleaned up. I didn't offer to help because I was drained.
When the kitchen was cleared and the soup transferred to a container in the fridge, Maverick asked, "You want to get back in bed?"
I was tired but not ready for bed. "My body aches from being in the same position for so long."
"You want to watch something until you feel sleepy?" he asked, and I was struck again by how attentive he'd been all day. I never expected him to stick around and cook dinner for me. He'd gone above and beyond, and he was still here.
"That sounds good actually." I slid off the stool and carried my water with me to the couch.
I set the glass on the coffee table and curled up on the couch, grabbing the throw I kept there to wrap it around me.
I was still chilly, but my stomach felt better.
By tomorrow, I should be ready to eat regular food and open the store on time.
My hours were reduced on Sunday, so it was more manageable.
I clicked on the TV and picked a home-renovation show. It was one where they created elaborate outdoor spaces: patios, kitchens, and fireplaces.
Maverick finished up in the kitchen and sat next to me on the couch.
"Is this too similar to what you do for a living?" I asked him.
He leaned back and placed his hands behind his head. "I watch this sometimes. It's interesting to see what they create."
We watched for a few seconds in silence, and then I asked, "You didn't need to go to work today?"
"I kept an eye on things from here and went down once to make sure they didn't need any help."
I felt bad that I'd taken him away from his job, especially when it was my project. He'd surprised me today, and I wasn't sure how to handle this new version of him. The only consolation was that he was predictable. He'd be back to his grumpy self tomorrow when I was feeling better.
His phone buzzed, and he read the incoming messages. "Aspen closed your store at five. She said you had a steady stream of people coming through most of the day. She wants to know if you need her tomorrow."
I shook my head. "I should be able to work."
"I'll send you her contact information just in case."
He set his phone down, and we turned our attention to the show. He made comments from time to time, on what he thought was a good idea and which choices weren't. It was interesting watching a show next to an expert.
"You think you could host a show like this?" I asked him when it was over.
He waved his hand at the TV. "I don't have the personality for something like this. I'm usually short with people, and I'm not much of a talker. I tend to make decisions quickly and not sit around and debate the design with my coworkers."
My lips curled into a smile. "Yeah, that would make for a boring show."
"Are you teasing me?"
I smiled. "Maybe."
He sighed. "You must be feeling better."
"I am, actually. Thanks to you. If I were here by myself, I wouldn't have been able to go shopping or cook anything healthy to eat. I give you all the credit." Then I yawned, the long night catching up with me.
He stood and held his hand out to me.
I threw off the blanket and let him pull me to standing.
He walked toward the door, and I followed, wondering what was expected in a moment like this. It wasn't a date, and I wasn't feeling one hundred percent.
He opened the door and said, "Make sure you rest as much as possible, and don't overdo it tomorrow."
I curled a hand around the edge of the door. "Thanks again for coming to my rescue."
"You would have done the same."
I hadn't expected this behavior from him. That was the thing that had been bothering me all day. He maintained that we weren't right for each other. We were opposites; I was a good girl to his bad boy. But he'd taken care of me. He'd been there for me when he didn't have any obligation to do so.
That meant he was probably a decent boyfriend. So why the hesitation to pursue something with me? I felt heat whenever we were near each other. It usually turned to verbal sparring, but the heat was present today even without the angst.
My body reacted to his proximity. It was undeniable. But I supposed it was possible he didn't feel the same way.
"Take care of yourself. I'll see you on Monday."
I leaned against the door as he jogged down the steps, waiting for him to open and close the exterior door. Then I closed mine. The apartment smelled like chicken noodle soup and Maverick.
I liked having him in my space. Surprisingly, he hadn't said anything about me wearing his sweatshirt. It was so big and comfortable. It was the only thing I wanted to wear when I got out of bed.
He hadn't asked for it back, which felt significant. He didn't want me, but he didn't mind if I wore his hoodie?
Maverick was confusing. I just couldn't forget that he'd bailed on me once before. He wasn't a man I could count on for anything long-term. I turned off the TV and brushed my teeth. When I climbed into bed, I saved Aspen's phone number and sent her a text.
Belle: Thanks for working at the store for me. I can write a check for your time.
Aspen: Not necessary. But I'd love to come in and talk to you about a part-time job. I love books.
Belle: I'm not sure how many hours I can afford yet.
Aspen: I'm fine with a few hours a week. I've always wanted to work in a bookstore, and I have a few other part-time jobs at the moment.
Belle: Stop by tomorrow, and we can talk.
Aspen: I'll bring something from Reina's. Just text me what you're in the mood for. I know your stomach might not be one hundred percent.
Would she want to know why Maverick helped me today? Why he'd stayed most of the day to take care of me?
I'd have to come up with a response that didn't insinuate that anything was going on between us, because he'd made sure of that.
I'd appreciated his apology, even if it was years too late.
The damage was already done, the lesson already learned.
I couldn't trust Maverick. He might have come through for me today, but he was too unpredictable.
Or maybe the problem was, he was too predictable.
I knew what happened when he got too close to someone; he ran.
And I didn't intend to be the recipient of that particular reaction again.
I was older and more mature. I could protect myself from him. I wouldn't get any ideas about how sweet it was that he'd taken care of me today.
He'd done what any nice person would have done. I couldn't depend on my parents or former friends, but maybe my luck was changing. The Sterlings had come through for me in a way that no one else ever had. And it was nice.
I was going to view it as a sign of mutual respect. I wasn't for any reason going to assume that Maverick was attracted to me. That today meant anything more than being there for someone.
As soon as I put my head on the pillow, I fell asleep. When I woke the next morning, the light was shining through the windows, and I felt more like my normal self.
I picked up my phone and checked my messages. Maverick had sent a text.
Bad Boy Contractor: I hope you're feeling better.
Belle: Much better. Thank you.
I felt like a new woman, and it had nothing to do with how he'd taken care of me or that I was wearing his sweatshirt that smelled faintly of him. It felt weird now to use a nickname for his contact name, so I changed it to his given one.
Maverick: Take it easy.
Belle: Aspen is stopping by to discuss working at the store.
Maverick: Good. She'll tell me if you're overdoing it.
I liked that he was still worried about me. It was doing funny things to my heart. I couldn't believe he's spent the day at my apartment playing nursemaid. I was starting to feel like I needed a friend to talk to about this, and I couldn't talk to his sister.
I should reach out to the other shop owners. We tried to meet up every once in a while to discuss business issues or just to vent. This was the first time I needed to talk to them about a guy.
I needed someone's opinion on Maverick, but at the same time, I wondered if I should keep it quiet for a little while longer.
I should see how he reacted this week. If everything went back to normal, then nothing would have changed. It would just be a brief blip in our lives where Maverick was nice to me. It didn't have to change anything, even if my heart longed for something more with him.
My body hadn't gotten the message that my brain did a long time ago. Maverick wasn't the commitment type. Hell, he wasn't even a guy you could date.
He had so many walls in place, rules, and regulations. For a bad boy, he had a lot of hang-ups when it came to women. But I was starting to expect it was just me that he had a problem with.
I couldn't fight him. I just needed to move on and find myself a nice guy. One that didn't think I was too good for him. Who would treat me right. I owned the store now and was feeling settled. It was a good time to meet someone new, who'd take my mind off the man cooking soup in my kitchen.
I showered and got dressed, pleased I could stomach coffee this morning. I ate toast and jelly before cleaning up the bathroom and the rest of the apartment.
I couldn't believe that Maverick had unpacked most of my books. He hadn't organized them, but it was still a nice gesture. I wasn't sure when I would have gotten to it otherwise.
At ten forty-five, I went downstairs to get the store ready to open. Aspen had done a nice job of tidying up the store itself, so there wasn't anything for me to do.
I opened the store and greeted the customers as they came in to browse. A few asked how I was feeling; Aspen must have told them I was sick. But others preferred to browse without me hovering.
I spent the afternoon at the front counter checking people out, and brainstorming ways to draw more people in. We had a small space for group gatherings that would be larger once the four-seasons room was completed. But I had visions of more groups wanting to meet here.
When Aspen appeared with coffees and pastries, she said, "It looks like you could use a pick-me-up."
I practically inhaled the sugary coffee. "It's so nice to eat real food."
She leaned against the counter, pulling a muffin out of the bakery bag. "Are you feeling better?"
I nodded. "I feel human again."
She bit off a croissant. "Mmm. That's great news."
I nodded, still sipping the warm liquid.
She was quiet for a few seconds. "You were busy yesterday. You had a steady stream of customers."
"I haven't been sure what to expect, especially since the holiday season is over." Sunday was definitely quieter, but there were a few people who liked to work on their laptops or read books in one of the overstuffed chairs.
"Eve is determined to keep traffic steady. It won't be the same as November through December, but we're a small town with a holiday theme. People can visit at any time for a winter-wonderland feel."
"You're still working the front desk at the inn?" I asked her, remembering what people had said about her.
"Yes, and I do some personal shopping at Wilde Ski Resort. There's an app, and I can take the job or not. It's flexible. But I've always wanted to work in a bookstore."
"I'm sure I could use help a few hours a week. It would be nice to have more flexibility." Right now, I had to be here during store hours. At least until the shop was more profitable.
A customer approached, and Aspen wiped her hands before taking the book and checking her out. She was quick and efficient, commenting on the customer's reading choice and asking her if she'd seen the bulletin board where I'd posted opportunities to get involved in a few groups.
When the woman left, I said, "You're hired."
She smiled. "You barely know me."
"Maverick trusted you to handle the shop when I was sick." He wouldn't have done that if he didn't think she was reliable and competent. And I'd seen her check out a customer. She was efficient and polite, commenting on their books. She was perfect.
She leaned against the counter, facing me. "Speaking of Maverick, he hung around to help you yesterday."
"He was worried when I didn't open the store.
I'd been up all night puking and must have fallen asleep on the bathroom floor.
As soon as he found me, he insisted I shower and then get into bed.
He went grocery shopping and forced me to eat.
I think he felt bad for me because I was alone. But I could have taken care of myself."
Aspen frowned. "I've never heard of him taking care of anyone like that."
"Trust me, I tried to send him to work several times. He's stubborn."
"He is stubborn, but he's also a big grouch. I'm surprised he stuck around once he realized you were okay."
I chewed my lip. "It was definitely out of character for him. Usually, I irritate him, and he can't stand to be in my presence."
The lines in her forehead deepened. "Are you dating?"
My eyes widened, and I huffed out a laugh. "Definitely not. Did you miss the part where I annoy him?"
She sighed. "Everyone annoys him, but he's never taken care of anyone when they were sick before."
I rolled my eyes. "I promise that it doesn't mean anything. I'm sure I looked awful, and he wanted to make sure I was going to live."
"Yeah, sure," Aspen said, but her lips were pursed.
If she thought it was odd for Maverick, then I was right in thinking the same. But it wasn't going to change my outlook. I needed to protect myself in this situation. And the most likely scenario was that he was doing something out of duty or obligation and not because he liked me.
He'd already rejected me once; I wouldn't let him close enough to do it again.