55. Maverick
MAVERICK
ORDINARY
“Chatsworth PD reached out,” Riley starts, swiping through her tablet until she finds whatever she’s looking for. “Catherine Bennett’s family got closure yesterday. We thought she had no next of kin, so it took longer than expected to find them. They were the last of the families to be notified.”
“Good,” I nod, leaning back in my chair with a sigh.
There will always be a part of me that wishes we caught that bastard before he claimed so many women—the regret of failing them is etched into my bones.
But Evans is also the reason Clara is in my life, and I would face it all again if it meant having her where she belongs.
With me.
“The press conference went well, too,” Evie adds. “Clean wrap-up. Minneapolis and Rochester PD were there. No loose ends.”
Spencer’s eyes narrow slightly as he studies my face. He knows me too well. He can probably read the tension in my shoulders, the way I’m not quite meeting anyone’s gaze directly.
Today is the first day I’ve been back at work since the night Evans made his play and lost. I took a leave of absence the next morning and haven’t spent a day without being near Clara in two months.
The heavy feeling of being away from her now—even if it’s only been a couple of hours—solidifies my decision.
I clear my throat, gaining the attention of the team gathered around the conference table in my office. My team. “There’s something I need to tell you all,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
The room goes quiet, all their eyes on me. Arlo even closes his laptop.
“I’ve put in my resignation.”
“What?” Evie breathes.
“No way, boss!” Jesse says at the same time.
Spencer just nods slowly. “I was wondering how long it’d take.”
“You knew?” Riley demands, turning to Spencer with wide eyes.
“I suspected,” Spencer replies, his knowing gaze still on me. “You’re sure about this, Mav?”
I run a hand through my hair and swipe my face, feeling the weight of their stares. “I’m sure,” I respond with a dip of my chin. “If I miss it that much, I can always reinstate. Or maybe I’ll consult, I don’t know. But I need to do this—for me. It’s time.”
Arlo leans forward, pushing his computer away from him. “We’re such a good team,” he says, his brows knitting together. When Arlo’s comfortable, he’s comfortable, and it takes him a while to open up and adjust to changes. “And the work we do?—”
“I’m not walking away from the work,” I interject gently. “Or from you guys. This team,” I say, gesturing around the table, “is what made this decision one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. This family we’ve created,” I pause, my throat tight, “I hope it extends beyond the badge.”
Riley stands abruptly and rounds the table. Before I can react, she pulls me into a fierce hug. “You better not disappear on us, Rhodes.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I murmur, returning her embrace.
One by one, they each say their piece. Evie makes me promise to invite them to the wedding—a comment that makes my heart race with anticipation. Arlo thanks me for bringing him onto the team, for taking a chance on him. Jesse threatens to hunt me down if I don’t stay in touch.
Spencer is the last to approach. “You’re doing the right thing, brother,” he says quietly, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder.
I reach out and clasp his shoulder in return. “Thank you, brother.” Spencer has been my rock, my sounding board, for years. I might not walk beside him with my badge after today, but I have no doubt we'll still walk through life together.
After they file out, I sit alone in my office for a few minutes, taking it all in. Then I pull out my phone and type a quick message to Clara.
Maverick
Looking forward to our date tonight, sunshine.
Clara
I can't wait, my love.
At exactly six o’clock, I pull into our driveway and kill the engine. The sight of home— our home—makes something warm unfurl in my chest, knowing she’s waiting for me inside. But tonight, I don’t use my key. Tonight, I knock.
The door swings open, and the breath leaves my lungs in a rush.
Clara stands before me like a vision—her dark hair falling in soft waves just above her shoulders, her full lips tinted a teasing red that makes me want to kiss the lipstick right off.
The dark green wrap dress hugs her curves, the V-neck and tied waist making my fingers itch to reach for that bow and…
“Why’d you knock?” she asks, tilting her head with a smile that lights up her entire face. And damn if I don’t live for her smiles. “You live here.”
I step closer, my hands finding her hips and drawing her against me. I run my nose along her jaw, breathing in the scent of her.
“It’s our first real date, sunshine,” I murmur against her skin before pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I wasn’t going to do anything else.”
I trail my lips down to her exposed collarbone, letting out a playful growl that makes her laugh. “But we need to go before I change my mind.”
The rooftop Italian restaurant in downtown Minneapolis is exactly what I’d hoped for when I made the reservation—intimate, with string lights casting a warm glow over the tables, and the city skyline stretching out beyond us.
We’re seated at a corner table, close enough that I can rest my hand on her thigh, feel the warmth of her through the soft fabric of her dress.
“This is perfect,” Clara says, twirling chicken fettuccine around her fork. The white wine brought a flush to her cheeks, and she looks radiant in the soft light. Happy . She looks happy.
“You’re perfect,” I reply, earning myself an eye roll and a smile.
We eat and talk about everything and nothing—her latest session with Ash, my latest session with Ash, Juno’s latest destruction of the backyard, and how Tamara left The Pour House to focus on teaching yoga full time.
But underneath it all, I can feel the weight of what I need to tell her, what I need to ask her.
“I resigned from the FBI today,” I say as she takes a sip of wine.
Her glass pauses halfway to the table, her forehead creasing, her sweet lips turning down. “What?”
“I put in my resignation,” I say again, my voice confident. “I’m done, sunshine. ”
“Mav…” She sets down her glass and turns to face me fully. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. What are you going to do?”
I shrug, my fingers tracing circles on her thigh. “I’m not sure yet. But I know I want to enjoy more time with you.”
When the tiramisu arrives, I slide it closer to me, ignoring Clara’s protests. “Let me feed you.”
“I can feed myself,” she laughs.
“I know you can, sunshine, but where’s the fun in that?” I load the spoon with the perfect bite and hold it out to her. “Open, baby.”
She huffs but obliges, her lips closing around the spoon, making me shift in my seat. Fuck, what was I thinking? A bit of mascarpone clings to the corner of her mouth, and I swipe it away with my thumb before bringing it to my own lips.
“Mav,” she breathes, her pupils blown.
I lean closer, my hand coming up to cup her jaw.
“Sunshine, I’ve been living in the dark for so long.
” My thumb strokes across her cheekbone as I hold her gaze.
“But you… your fight, your fire, your smile… your love… You’re my sunshine.
You’ve shown me what it is to live in the light, and I never want to go back. ”
Tears gather in her eyes, and I know this is the moment. This is what I resigned for, what I’ve been building toward since the day she came into my life and changed everything.
“Tell me you’ll marry me,” I whisper.
For a heartbeat, the world stops. The city noise fades, the string lights blur, and there’s only Clara. My Clara— her sharp intake of breath, the tears spilling over, the way her beautiful face transforms with pure joy.
Then she’s throwing her arms around me, kissing me with everything she has. “Yes!” she cries against my lips. “Yes. I can’t wait to marry you, my love.”
I’m about to deepen the kiss when the sound of applause erupts around us.
We break apart, both breathless and laughing, to find Spencer, Riley, Arlo, Evie, and Jesse emerging from behind the rooftop bar, huge grins on their faces.
Cruz, Tamara, and Rosie follow close behind, Tamara bouncing on her toes with excitement and Rosie wiping tears from her eyes.
“Congratulations!” They all shout, Riley and Tamara’s voices leading the charge, and suddenly we’re surrounded by our family—our chosen family—all talking at once, pulling us into hugs, celebrating this moment that feels like the beginning of everything.
Clara turns to me, tears still streaming down her face, her smile brighter than all the lights in the city. “Did you plan this?”
“Spencer and Tamara helped,” I admit, pulling her close. “I wanted everyone here. Our family.”
She kisses me again, soft and sweet and full of promise. “I love you, Maverick Rhodes.”
“I love you, too, sunshine. Forever.”
This—Clara, this love, this life we’re building together… This is worth everything.