“I want you to kiss me like you used to, Maverick.” She sayssoftly, desperately.
Myglance is divided between both her eyes as I speak in a whisper. “Iwasn’t sure if you were ready for that…medicallyspeaking.”
“I’m ready if you’re ready.” She answers.
“Are you sure, darlin’? I mean you’ve been crying and all, andI don’t want y’all to feel any pressure. But most of all, I thinkit’s important that your body heals. You haven’t got anything toprove to me, Ellie.”
Justthen, my goddamn phone rings. Ellie glances at my pocket, knowingfull well that I need to answer it. “Sorry, love.” I say beforepicking it up. It’s Blake, wondering where I’ve run off to. “I’mjust over at Ellie’s. What’s up, man?”
“The roof’s leaking in the goddam barn and I’ve got all handson deck in the stable already, getting the horses exercised, plusmama’s looking after the lessons. Any way you can haul ass and getback here?”
“Sure, man. I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks. You can kiss and make up with Ellie later.” Hestates, good-naturedly.
“See you shortly.” I chuckle.
I hangup and look at Ellie. Her warm expression melts my heart. I wrap myarms around her. “I’ll be back later. No arguments, okay?” I leanin and kiss her.
“No arguments.” She says kissing me back. I release her andhead for the door. She follows me. I give her one more kiss. “Ilove you.” I whisper, kissing her again.
“I love you, too.” She says between kisses. “See yousoon.”
“I’ll see ya.”
***
Ellie
My lipsare tingling from Maverick. But it’s my heart that really has alasting impression. Maverick loves me and I love him. It’s sosurreal I almost don’t believe it. I wouldn’t believe it if itweren’t for that thigh searing kiss he gave me. As if I didn’t haveenough distractions already, now I really can’t focus. I resignmyself to work, and lots of it, to keep my mind off Will, Maverick,and when I get to see him again tonight.
Therelief I feel is palpable. He’s not seeing anyone else. That girlis his cousin. And thank God for that. Most important is that heloves me back. I never thought I’d hear another man say that to meagain. And so soon after my divorce. And I deserve it. Despite whatI believed, Maverick is right. It doesn’t matter what happenedbetween Will and I. My love for Maverick has nothing to do withWill. I see that now.
Workcalls and emails explode for most of the day, which works well forme, because I’m able to grasp my focus again, and take my mind offall the other things that are going on in my life. And it isn’tuntil there is a knock at the door just before five that my breakcomes. As I go to the door, the smile on my face is fromear-to-ear, thinking about how happy I am to see Maverick. But whenI open the door my face immediately falls.
“Oh. Hi, Sloane.” I say to my sister. Her face is impassive asI open the door enough for her to enter and then closeit.
“Thought I’d check in. I haven’t heard from you.”
“I’m fine. You could have called and saved yourself atrip.”
Sheignores my comment. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Completely back to normal.”
She’snot giving me any eye contact, which tells me that she’s gotsomething more on her mind than I’m guessing.
“I didn’t say anything to the family, Ellie.” Shevolunteers.
“I appreciate that. It’s not like I’m obligated to tellanyone.”
“Well, that’s what I was thinking.” She pauses. “I figure Iwouldn’t want anyone knowing if I went through that.”
“Exactly. Not exactly something you want posted on abillboard.”
“I get it, Ellie. I won’t say anything.”
“Yeah?”
