“Thank you,” I say softly as I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.I don’t want to cry.
“Don’t thank me for that.I’m only doing what’s right.”
Before I know what’s happening, he pulls me in for a tight hug, and I bury my face in his chest.I didn’t know how badly I needed the hug until his arms are around me and I’m in his warmth.He smells of sandalwood and cotton, and it’s comforting in a way I’ve never felt before.
“I’ll get rid of him,” Maverick says, and I’m a little disappointed he has to stop hugging me to do it.I know I can’t hold on to him forever, so I let my arms fall away and step back.“Let me take you up to my office first.”
“Okay,” I agree.
When we walk out, his hand goes to my back, and he leads me across the gym.I expect people to stare, but they don’t.As soon as we’re at his office, he lets me go.
“I’ll be right back,” he says and starts to walk away.
“Maverick,” I say quickly, and he stops.“Brock might say I stole things, but it’s not true.”
“I know it’s not,” he says with utter certainty.“But it wouldn’t have mattered if you did.”
Another heavy weight that’s been sitting on my chest lifts, and I smile at him.Maverick winks at me before closing the door and leaving me alone in his office.
Then a thought occurs to me.Maverick thinks I’m engaged, or at least was at one time, to Brock.
CHAPTERTEN
MAVERICK
The back office is an old room my dad used to take guys to when they needed, as he called it, an attitude adjustment.It’s a room away from the cameras and has extra soundproofing on the walls.It’s the perfect place to have a nice quiet conversation with Brock.One where we won’t be interrupted.No matter how loudly he screams.
Kincade is standing guard outside the door, and when he sees me approach, he raises his chin.“I’m going to go fold some towels for the next seventeen minutes.”
“Make it twenty,” I say as I glance at the door and then crack my knuckles.
“Yeah, I think that’s about how long it will take me.”He casually strolls away from the door and toward the front of the gym, leaving Brock and me to have a moment alone.
As soon as I step inside, I see Brock pacing by the window.The door is barely shut behind me when he starts talking a mile a minute.
“Listen, Maverick, I don’t know what that bitch has told you, but she’s a fucking liar.”
It takes everything inside of me to stay calm, but I tuck my hands in my pockets casually and nod for him to continue.I want to give him all the rope he needs to hang himself on his own lies.
“She stole some jewelry from our stepmom and then took off without telling anyone.We’ve all been in panic mode searching for her, and then when I saw her today, I couldn’t believe it.”
“You said you’re engaged,” I say, my voice calmer than I thought it would be.
“Yeah, but she lies and says we’re not.”He glances away and then back at me like something just occurred to him.“She left the ring I gave her at home.”
“But she stole jewelry?”I cock my head to the side and pretend to think it over.“That’s curious.”
“Jewels is crazy,” Brock says dismissively.“Who knows why she does anything.”He seems to take my silence for agreement because he gives me a cocky smile.“I mean, she’s great in the sack, but the crazy ones usually are.Right?”
I’m not sure how I keep myself in check, but I manage to take a deep breath and not strangle him with my bare hands.
“What is it you want?”Clearly I’ve used up all my patience because I’m ready to put an end to this conversation.
“To take my girl home.”Brock smiles at me like we’re bros.“Don’t worry, I’ll see that you’re compensated for keeping an eye on her for me all this time.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” I tell him, and his good ol’ boy smile slips.
“That’s not really up to you to decide, is it?I’m talking to you as a courtesy, but I’m leaving here with Juliet.”
