I tiltmy head and wipe away her tears with my thumbs. “Ellie, we’re bothto blame here, darlin’. It takes two to tango. We were both justmessing around, not taking what we were doing seriously. You don’towe me any apologies, love. It happened, we’re both takingresponsibility for it now, and we’ve both come to terms with it.That’s all that matters.”
I kissher forehead. “Now, we should get some sleep. It’s late and we bothhave to work in the morning.” My eyes scan hers. “You want me tohead on home now, or you want me to stay?”
“You can stay.” She nods, sniffing. “I don’t want to be alonetonight.”
“Okay. Y’all want to sleep here on the couch, or do you wantto head up to your bed?”
“We’ll go up to bed.” Another nod.
I pullthe blanket and pillow up off the floor and carry it with meupstairs to her room. As I lay it all down on the floor next to herbed, she gives me a look. “Maverick, you don’t have to sleep downthere.”
“Are you sure? Ellie, I think I’ve put enough pressure on youfor one night.”
“No, Maverick, I…gosh, I feel like such a child for sayingthis, but…I need you to hold me for a while.”
My handgoes to my chest. I love the soft side of Ellie. “Gosh, darlin’. Mycup runeth over, sweetheart.” I lift a hand. “Now, I gotta warnyou, after that…cheese and crackers, and the stuff from earlier…mybreath ain’t all that good, okay?” my voice is a scoff.
“I puked earlier.” Her voice is flat. “Think of how sexy Ismell.”
Ichuckle. “Fair enough. Which side do y’all sleep on?”
“I told you I want you to hold me, now, so the side isirrelevant.”
She getsinto bed and I slide in behind her. “There. How’s that?” I ask,kissing her head.
“Great. Just don’t touch my boobs. They’re killingme.”
I leanmy forehead on her shoulder, as if in defeat. “Sugar, I’d never tryto do anything like that now. You’ve got nothing to worryabout.”
“Good.” She snuggles into me, taking my hand inhers.
…Then she says something that makes me warm and fuzzy allover.
Chapter 7
Ellie
Afterall the talk tonight, all the tears, all the…everything, as I laythere next to Maverick, and he holds me close, I’ve never feltsafer in my life. And I feel closer to him than all the years thatI was with Will. It feels like nothing can go wrong, and Maverickhas made me believe that tonight.
“I want to keep the baby.” I blurt softly in thedark.
I hearhim draw in a deep breath, and he rests his lips against my head,and then releases the breath. On exhale, he says. “Thank the Lord.”As he kisses my head. “Oh,” Another kiss. He pulls me closer, beingcareful not to touch me outside of the boundaries. “Sleep, Ellie.Get some sleep.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, darlin’.” One more kiss. I drift off in moments,and he doesn’t move until morning. He’s up before I am, and I hearhim go downstairs, and I think he’s left, figuring maybe he’s lateto be back at the ranch, but then I hear him come back in again. Hedoes something in the kitchen, and then I hear him come upstairs.“Good morning.” He says, kissing my cheek.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I did, as a matter of fact. How about you?”
“I slept well.”
“I hope I’m not going to make you late for work.”
I givehim a look. “I am my own boss, Maverick. I’m a commodities broker.I have clients, sure, but they are on my schedule…they just don’tknow it.” I notice that he’s got something in his hand, and Ilook.
Hecatches my gaze. “I always keep a change of clothes in the truck.You mind if I use your shower? I need to brush my teeth,too.”
