“Alright, crew,” Maverick says, clapping his hands once. “Let’s move. We don’t want to be late.”
“And where’s your date, Maverick?” Sunny asks, brows lifting.
Maverick smiles slowly.
“I don’t arrive with dates,” he says calmly. “I arrive with intentions.”
Sunny blinks. “Oh?”
“I was invited,” he continues, straightening his cuffs. “I show respect. If someone chooses to walk beside me, I’m honored. If not, I walk alone and enjoy the evening just the same.”
Then, softer… almost amused.
“Besides,” he adds, “Now that the secret is out of the bag and people know I’m the Italian Don, it would take one strong and brave person to give me a chance.”
“Hopefully that will happen soon so you can get your very own happily ever after,” Sunny says.
“No rush,” Maverick smiles, nodding to his driver as he opens the door for us. “The right person never needs to be hurried. They’ll find their way to me when they’re ready.”
The silence that follows is thick.
“Whoa,” Sunny exhales.
Maverick inclines his head in a polite, old-world gesture.
“Shall we?”
I walk beside Sunny, Lila, and Riley as we follow Maverick toward the limo.
“Think you all need to keep an eye on him,” Skip calls from behind us. “I’m pretty sure your women just fell in love with our Outlaw.”
“Your man is still drooling,” Tank mutters, making Eli laugh outright.
“I’m not worried,” Skip says confidently. “He doesn’t carry the right parts for the Outlaw.”
Maverick glances over his shoulder, lips curving into a very sinful grin.
“Wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
“Oh, hell no,” Skip snaps. “Pretty boy, get your ass back here and hold my hand.”
Chapter Ten
Tank
I smile at the group surrounding Abby as they crowd around the screen, voices overlapping as clips and photos flash by.
“You’re freaking famous,” Riley says, eyes wide.
“That dress is unreal,” Sunny adds. “Like…museumunreal.”
“They’re talking about it on every gossip channel,” Riley continues, scrolling. “Fashion blogs, entertainment news…everywhere. You’re going to have people banging down the gate trying to get to you for their own dress.”
I don’t like that.
Judging by the way Spike’s mouth tightens, neither does he.
“Looks like we’re gonna have to increase gate security,” Spike mutters, already shifting into big-brother mode as he pulls Abby into his arms. “I’m proud of you, baby sister.”
