She couldn’t help but grin. “Afraid not.”
“Fine. I’ll tell the embarrassing tale. But prepare yourself to discover that I am not as suave as I come across.”
This earned a small laugh. “That might take a minute.”
“Not once you hear this…” He broke into the tale, as he’d called it, explaining how he’d hoped to impress the woman Richard was now engaged to. He’d overheard Ava say she was into the rugged cowboy type, and lucky him—he’d watched a bunch of westerns as a kid with his grandpa.
And as he described, in painstaking, self-deprecating detail, the events that unfolded that day, Ty couldn’t help but enjoy herself. He’d fessed up to borrowing a ridiculous outfit complete with chaps, boots, and a hat while Ava, who was an accountant, helped Richard finish The Homestead’s taxes.
Maverick had owned the foolishness behind his insistence that he ride Black Magic, the wildest horse they had. And when he got to the part where he’d been jack-hammered and then tossed off like a sack of rotten potatoes, Ty even laughed out loud.
“Oh, I’m sorry to be laughing like this,” she said. “I can’t imagine how frightening that must have been.”
Maverick shook his head with a knowing grin on his face. “Terrifying. But I deserved it. I was a real moron for doing what I did. Itdidn’tget me the girl like I hoped it might. But itdidgive Richard plenty of time to have her all to himself.”
Ty cringed. “And now they’re engaged.”
“Now they’re engaged.” Maverick tossed the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth and chewed.
Ty had finished hers a minute ago, just after she’d eaten the last of her potato salad and chips. “This really was a great lunch,” she told him, putting her mind back to her job. She grabbed the iPad to check the time, and lifted her brows in surprise as she realized how quickly their lunch had gone by.
She was glad Maverick had asked her for lunch. She had a better understanding of who he was, and she’d even been able to sneak in a few questions about Memphis along the way.
“Looks like I have to get going,” she told him with a sigh. “But thank you for this. It’s been nice.” She got to her feet, dusted off her palms, and then extended a hand toward Maverick to help him up.
Maverick looked at it with narrowed eyes, then set his gaze on her. “You don’t think I’m going to let you help me up, do you?”
Ty blinked twice, but left the offered hand in place.
She watched as he seemed to scan the area, looking for someone—anyone—who could help him up beside her. And just when she thought he’d snub the help altogether, a glint of light flashed through his eyes. A small smile pulled at his lips. And he reached up and secured her hand.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” belted a voice from behind. Memphis’s voice. “Ty, let me do that for you.”
Crap!This probably didn’t look good. She moved to yank her hand back, but Maverick tightened his grip on her, making the task harder than it should have been.
“What’s up, brother bear?” Maverick bellowed. The volume and tone were better suited for a frat party than the current situation. “We’ve just been having ourselves a little picnic date here.”
Ty spun to look at Memphis. “He was just telling me thanks for…the massages,” she explained.
“Ty?” The distinct, high-pitched voice, combined with the dragged out pronunciation of her name, made every muscle in Ty’s body clench like an angry jaw. But in case she’d mistaken it, the voice came again.
“Tybelda, is thatyou?” It was her mother. Again. And she’d pulled out the punches by using her birth-given name. Sure, Tybelda meant bold one, but Ty hadn’t felt so bold when she was being harassed on the playground over it.
She spun to see her mom gawking at the scene while draping a dramatic hand over her heart. With the other hand, she clutched Dad’s arm.
“Hi, doll,” Dad said in her mom’s shocked silence. “Nice to see you again, Memphis,” he added.
Mom’s gaze darted from the picnic basket to Maverick and then back to her. “Who’s that?” She pointed at Maverick.
Memphis moved to hoist him off the ground. “This is my twin brother, Maverick.”
“Again?”was all Maverick said once Memphis helped him to his feet. “You said again.” He turned a confused look on Ty. “When did Memphis meet your dad?”
Ty’s face went fire hot. “Last night. I had him over for dinner.”
“Youwhat?”Maverick put enough heat in the inquiry that Ty’s mother sprung into assumption mode.
“Are you dating both of these men?” she asked, sounding even more appalled than she had a moment ago. She tossed the back of her hand over her forehead. “I don’t know if I can relax enough to take a massage now. I might have to cancel.”
Ty’s eyes went wide. “You’remy next appointment?”
“Iwasyour next appointment. Didn’t we tell you last night? We’re staying here at the inn until Sunday.”
