Chapter 20
Maverick
In the truck on the way home, Belle chatted about everything we'd seen.
"We'd recommend a book to read and then host a trivia night where everyone dresses up as one of the characters in the book. The kids could answer the questions on pieces of paper and redeem them for a prize."
"That sounds fun." It wasn't something I would have enjoyed as a kid. But the ones who loved reading and being immersed in storybook worlds sure would.
"We could have crafts and themed drinks. There're so many options." Then she chewed her lip. "I might need some help."
I squeezed her hand. "Count me in. I'll have to read whichever book you pick because I didn't read many books when I was a kid."
"You'd read the books and help me host events?" Her voice was soft.
"If it's important to you, then it's important to me. I figured you wouldn't be able to hire much in the way of help for a while. But I'm sure Aspen would assist, and I could rope my brothers in too."
"I don't expect your family to help. If you and maybe Aspen wanted to help, that's probably all I'll need."
I gave her a look. "Don't turn them down. I'm sure they'll be happy to assist in whatever you're planning."
She was quiet for a few seconds. "Why would they want to help me? I'm not part of your family."
I skipped over the part where I was hoping she would be one day. It was way too soon to be thinking about that, and sooner still to be saying it out loud. I didn't want to freak her out with everything I was feeling. "My family likes you, and I'm going to tell them soon that you're my girl."
"Ah. Okay."
But it didn't sound like she understood. "My family expands to include everyone important to us."
"Your family is amazing."
I glanced over at her, wondering if that made her think about how her family fell short. "They can be a bit much at times. They're nosey and overbearing, and sometimes you just need some room to breathe."
She rested her head back. "Do you need that space from them?”
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be an only child. I was tired of my brothers. They were everywhere all the time. I thought if I could separate myself from them, it would give me some breathing room."
"That makes sense."
What I loved about tonight was how much she seemed to enjoy it. Her energy changed as soon as she realized where we were going. It was the right choice.
"How am I ever going to top this date?"
"This relationship isn't a competition. I just wanted to do something for you."
She laughed. "I'm going to have to find a garden with elaborate stonework."
I chuckled. "I'm always up for some inspiration."
"We're too easy, aren't we? Anyone can see what we like." Her voice was light.
"Yet no other man has taken you to a library or even a bookstore on a date, have they?" She was too surprised when she discovered our destination for the night. No one saw her like I did.
She turned slightly in her seat to face me, cradling my free hand in both of hers. "How did you know that?"
"I could see it on your face. You were surprised."
She let out a breath. "I don't know how you can see all of that."
"I see you." Not the person her parents wanted her to be. I saw underneath to who she was at her core. "I didn't always. I assumed you were a spoiled rich girl who didn't want someone like me."
"You know you're not the bad guy you think you are."
"Oh?" I asked, looking over at her for clarification.
"You have a tight-knit, supportive family. And I'm assuming you had everything you needed growing up. If you wanted to go to college, your parents would have probably helped you in any way they could."
I sighed. "You're right about that. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was neglected."
"You didn't. It's just you always said we were so different. I don't think that's true. Or at least, not in the ways that matter. We both love what we do and providing a service to others. For me, that's books and a meeting place, and for you, that's beautiful outdoor spaces."
Did we want the same things out of life? Yeah, we owned businesses, but did she want a relationship and a family? I wasn't brave enough to ask. She might want those things but not with me. There was that insecurity that underwrote everything in my life.
I didn't believe I was good enough for her, whether that was reality or not, and it was something I needed to work out on my own. I just hoped I could do it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to be the guy she deserved.
"Thanks for tonight. It really was the perfect day."
"Next time, we'll go during the day and look at the books." We spent more time looking at the architecture and the exhibits. It was a museum in its own right.
"That would be lovely. But you don't have to go with me. I'm sure you have other things you want to do on your Sundays off."
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be than with you. I enjoyed being there too." It had a lot to do with seeing her so happy.
She sighed, and I wondered if that meant she liked my answer. I was just telling her the truth. I wasn't saying what she wanted to hear. I wasn't sophisticated enough for that. I was known for being blunt, and our relationship wasn't any different.
I couldn't be anything but honest with her. "Do you mind if we head to my place tonight? I can drive you to work in the morning."
"I don't mind."
My place was a little bigger, but it was also removed from our work. I wanted a break from that.
At home, we got ready for bed. I left out a shirt for her to wear, and she climbed into bed with me.
I turned on the TV. We had sex most nights we spent together, but tonight I just wanted to hold her.
To let her know that we could do things without always resorting to sex.
Not that there was anything wrong with having a healthy physical relationship, but I didn't want her to think that was all I wanted.
When she fell asleep halfway through the movie, I listened to her breathing, wondering how I'd gotten so lucky to meet her. Like Hudson or Ford had said of their relationships, I'd work my whole life to be deserving of her. I just hoped she thought I was worth it.
I'd planned the perfect date, and it wasn't that hard. I tapped into what she liked, did a little research, and there was an event that matched her interests. It was my knowledge about her coupled with a whole lot of luck. Maybe this relationship stuff wasn't as hard as I thought.
The rest of the week was more of the same. I stopped by her place after work, showered, and we cooked together. It was nice, and I loved spending most of my free time with her. Unfortunately, my mother's patience had run out.
Mom: Please invite your girlfriend to family dinner this weekend.
Maverick: That's our only day off.
Mom: I let you have last Sunday. Now we want to meet her.
Maverick: I'll see if she's available.
Mom: Maverick—
"What's going on?" Belle asked while she was chopping vegetables at her counter on Thursday night.
"I tried to hold her off, but Mom wants us to come to family dinner. I can tell her you're busy, but I can't miss it."
She swiped a strand of hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. "It's my day off, and it's not like my family has dinner nights."
"I don't want you to feel like you have to go. My family can be a lot."
She shrugged. "She was nice enough to invite me."
This invitation was hitting her differently than it was me.
I thought it was an intrusion into this relationship we were building.
My family was nosey. But she saw it as a nice gesture.
Maybe she wanted to meet them and feel part of something bigger than herself. Who was I to say no? "If you're sure."
She raised a brow. "Is your mom going to let this go?"
I laughed. "She said she gave us last Sunday, so our time is up."
Belle smiled. "She sounds nice."
I snorted. "I think you mean overbearing."
"She loves you and wants to know who's got your attention. I can understand that."
"You're going to get along just fine with my mother. Not sure why I was worried," I grumbled.
"You love your family," Belle said softly.
"They're great."
She poured the bowl of chopped veggies into the pan. "Don't worry about me. I can handle one family dinner."
"Don't say I didn't warn you." I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. This was turning out to be more than I ever imagined. I was having feelings that I couldn't express to her yet. I didn't want to scare her off. Especially not before she met with my entire family.
On Sunday, I picked Belle up for dinner with my family. She wore a cardigan over a navy-blue ruffled blouse, jeans, and boots. It was casual but still dressy.
I wore my usual flannel over jeans and boots because this was my family. I didn't have to impress anyone. But I was nervous.
I wanted Belle to like my family, and I wanted them to like her. But what if someone noticed that she was way out of my league? I was positive my brothers would give me a hard time. She was so different than anyone I'd seen before.
I parked in the driveway next to another Sterling Brothers Contracing truck.
Belle covered my hand with hers. "Are you worried about me meeting your family?"
I let out a breath. "I've never brought a girl home before."
She sat back in her seat at that admission. "I'm the first woman you've brought home?"
I nodded.
"Huh."
I looked over at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I know you said you didn't have any serious girlfriends before, but—"
I let my head fall back. "I never liked anyone enough to subject them to my family."
Her lips quirked at the self-deprecating comment. "Thanks, I guess?"
I looked over at her. "You should feel special because you are."
A smile spread over her face. "You say the nicest things."
"We'd better get in there before they start peeking through windows and wondering what we're doing out here. They'll come up with all kinds of crazy scenarios, and we can't avoid them forever."
I met her at the hood of my truck.
"This is going to be okay, right?" she asked me.
"They're going to love you." And that was the problem. It would be glaringly obvious that this girl was too good for me. Her parents wanted her to get her doctorate. I couldn't compete with that. I hadn't even gone to college.
I opened the door, stepping into the chaos. Ayla was playing a card game with Morgan on the floor. Hudson and Angela sat on the couch watching them. And there was laughter coming from the kitchen.
"Pick your poison."
She nodded toward the kitchen. "We should greet your parents first. They're the ones who invited me."
She wanted to tackle my parents head-on, and I should admire that about her, but I wanted to hide out in the living room and hope no one noticed us. "Okay."
With a wave to everyone in the living room, I took her hand and led her into the kitchen.
Everyone quieted when we walked in. Mom stood at the counter with Dad, staring at us expectedly.
"Mom, Dad, this is Belle Beckett. Belle, this is Matt and Maria Sterling."
She held out her free hand while still holding mine. "It's so nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting me to dinner."
They shook her hand. Then Mom said, "We're delighted that Maverick brought someone home."
I groaned. "You make it sound like I don't ever date."
Mom just raised her brow, and then to Belle, she said, "It's nice to meet the woman who caught his attention."
"Oh, I don't know about that—" Belle began, her cheeks flushing pink.
"You caught my attention in high school," I said not wanting her to think that she hadn't. Or that this wasn't special. Because it was.
"Aw. That's so sweet," Aspen said, her gaze flitting from me to Belle. "I want to hear all about it."
"Did you two date in high school? I don't believe you talked about your dating life then," Mom said.
"We flirted. But I messed everything up," I said, hoping to keep it to that.
"That sounds about right," Ford said from his spot, leaning against the cabinet.
Cooper was quiet, just taking everything in.
Mom frowned. "I doubt it was that bad. I raised you to be considerate to women."
"You would be ashamed of the way I acted. But I've made up for it now, and I hope that Belle can forgive me."
"That was a long time ago. I'm sure we've all done things that we regret," Belle said.
Mom shot me a look as if she wasn't going to let this go. She'd want to know how I screwed up. And then she'd probably blame herself for not raising me right. I wanted to be the man she was proud of.
Mom shook her head. "The important thing is that you're here now. And hopefully, Maverick doesn't act like an idiot again."
Everyone else laughed, but I wasn't amused. The prospect of me screwing up again had my stomach in knots. I couldn't lose Belle now. Not after everything was going so well. I was fairly sure I was falling for her, and there was no distancing myself from that.