I grinned. “Aw, you had a crush on me. That’s so cute.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t think I won’t prank your ass if you embarrass me right now. I’m trying to be vulnerable here. Lyle told me the key to relationships was communication, soI’m telling you way more than I normally would. Hopefully, this doesn’t backfire on me.”
I laughed softly. “No, you’re doing great. Better than me. I, uh, really like you. I have all along. I just didn’t think I had a shot with you in a million years.”
“You’ve got one now.” He paused. “If you want to take it?”
“I do.” I kissed him again, a little more forcefully. “But you can’t ever reject my cookies again.”
He used his finger to draw an X over his heart. “Never again.”
CHAPTER 25
“Nana’s meddling was the reason I started dating my husband.”
— CLARK RHODES, TESTIMONIAL FOR MATCHMAKING MAMAS
Maverick
Damon maneuveredhis behemoth of a pickup into an angled parking spot in front of The Stag Pub.
“Sorry I couldn’t get a reservation at The Dinner Bell,” he said. “I know a night at the pub isn’t exactlyromantic.”
I was just happy we were going out as a couple. That this thing between us was real. Turned out, when you were with the right person, it didn’t really matter if you went on a picnic at sunset or to a pub on Main Street.
“I’m with you,” I said simply. “That’s good enough for me.”
He cut the engine and cast me a warm look. “Same. Andif I’m honest, I can’t wait to see Percy’s face when I walk in as your date.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Are we really that petty?”
“We really are,” he said with a grin.
We got out of the truck, and he met me on the sidewalk, holding out his hand for me to take. My chest warmed as I linked our fingers. Ever since our misunderstanding last weekend, Damon had tried to reassure me that he was in this relationship with me.
He’d joined me and Mom for dinner at my place, introducing himself as my boyfriend and charming the heck out of her. He’d popped into a video chat with my older sister, Chloe, to say hi and tell her congrats on her new job at the county sheriff’s department. And he’d even invited me to his parents’ upcoming anniversary party.
But this would be the first time we were out on a date where everyone could see us. It was different than coming out to trusted family and friends.
I squeezed his hand as we reached the door. “You ready for this?”
“The real question, Mav, isare you?”
There was a gleam in his eye that I recognized. My stomach swooped. “What did you do?”
He pulled open the door, his grin wide and devious. “Just a little something to make our date special. Come on.”
Damon tugged my hand, drawing me inside with him.
Clapping started before the door had even clicked shut. I froze, looking around.
At a table near the door, Silas and Jamie were applauding us. A sharp whistle drew my gaze to Damon’s sister, Wendy, and his bestie brother-in-law, Neil. Lyle and Truman were sitting with them, Truman howling like a maniac.
I brought a hand up to cover my mouth and looked at Damon. His grin was wide and devious.
“I know you’ve been worried about how I feel about people knowing about us, so…” He waved an arm toward the room, including people we barely knew, all cheering, whistling, and clapping. All but Percy, anyway. He sat there glowering, a pout on his handsome face. “They know now. I even told the guys at work. I thought Rudy’s eyes were gonna pop out, but he went right back to his obnoxious self, so I think he’s cool.”
“You seriously told the whole crew?”
