“It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “And I’m sure you’re not as ornery as everyone says you are.”
Gentle. Soft. Mild.NotMaverick’s type. A small flare stirred low in his belly.
Richard cleared his throat. “No,” he said. “I’m worse.”
She laughed, and the sweet sound alone appealed to his senses. Heaven help him, Maverick had gone and found himself a real charmer, hadn’t he?
Even as the thought ran through his mind, the woman locked eyes with him, a timid half-smile on her face.
There went that belly heat once more.
“Well, this calls for a celebration,” Andie said. “We’re all together again...” Her voice cracked as she died off, sniffing and dabbing the corner of her eye.
The group piled in closer.
“I know we were all comfortable living our own lives before this,” his sister continued, “but I think that coming here, being forced, essentially, to do life together…it’s not a punishment, but a gift. And I’m really grateful for it. I want to be part of your lives. We’re family.”
The nearby porch lamp reflected the moisture in her eyes. Moisture that, as Richard glanced around the circle, he saw duplicated in Emmitt’s, Trenton’s, and the twin’s rare blue eyes too. But it was the sight of the woman that made his heart skip two full beats as she reached up to smear her cheeks. When she dropped her hands, the lamplight glistened off a remaining tear smudge on one side of her face.
A realization struck him. She’d left her own family behind. Forever. All because she’d gotten caught in Maverick The Womanizer’s trap. A deep sense of longing came over him. The desire to reach out and comfort this perfect stranger standing before him. Something he had no business doing.
“Well,” he blurted. “If we’re celebrating, I say we do it tomorrow. It’s late.” With that, Richard spun on one heel and headed toward the front door of the inn.
“Wait,” Andie hollered. “We need to get them settled for the night. It wouldn’t hurt to head over to their cabin and hear about how they got here.”
“I agree,” Emmitt said.
“Yeah, Rich-ster,” Maverick hissed. “You getting so old that you’re back to an early bedtime?”
A spill of laugher poured over the small group and echoed off the porch at his back.
“Shut up, Maverick,” Richard spat. He knew that the anger fuming in him wasn’t in balance with the offense, but that didn’t mean he could stop it. “If you guys want to stay up all night and talk, go nuts. I’ve got too much on my plate to miss any sleep.” Boy, was that the truth. He’d only just learned that the inn’s tax guy—who’d left due to a family emergency—wouldn’t be back before their extension was up.
Trenton held up a hand and whistled through his teeth. “How about this. Private lunch at my place, tomorrow, twelve o’clock. Then we hit the bonfire later that night. For those who want to.”
“Perfect,” Emmitt and Memphis said in unison. Those two were always so anxious to keep the peace.
Maverick glared at Richard from across the way.
Richard glared back, glad he knew just how ticked off he was.
“Does that work for everyone?” Andie prompted.
Richard could feel his sister’s gaze on him, but he didn’t tear his eyes away from Maverick. “Fine,” he said at last.
Maverick turned his gaze to Andie as he replied. “Sounds good to me. Evenifold stuffy’s going to be there.”
Richard was quick to excuse himself with one last nod. He hadn’t meant to trace over the group once more, but as he did, he could swear that Ava’s gaze was set on him.
* * *
Ava tore her eyes off the front door of the inn after Richard stepped inside.
“So do you guys have a room for us or what?” Maverick asked, bringing her mind back to the group.
“We’ve got a cabin for the two of you to share,” Emmitt said. “It’s the busy season, so all the others are rented out.”
Thetwoof them. The statement made Ava want to vanish. What if they weren’t up for taking in an extra? Some stray who’d crashed the party in hiding.
