“I know. I’ve got it taken care of,” he said. “You told me that she’s small for her age, so I figured a five-point harness car seat would work best. And it converts to a booster seat for when she’s bigger.”
Was I dreaming? Or was I just hearing things? Had he just said he bought her a car seat? For his truck? He bought her a car seat for his truck?
“You bought her a car seat?” I demanded.
“I bought her a car seat,” he reiterated with a growing smile.
Holy shit, he bought her a car seat.
“That’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said,” I whispered, unable to help myself. The fact that he was actively thinking about her safety—and for the long term—had my chest tightening with the onslaught of feelings.
“Oh,that’ssexy?” Maverick chuckled as he faced me. “Would you like me to talk taxes to you next? I know so much about taxes. Would that do it for you? I’d tell you that I child-proofed my house, but I didn’t do that for you. My dog’s a little bit of an idiot—”
My mouth landed on his softly as I shut him up with a kiss. I kept it brief because Aria would wear herself out running if I didn’t intervene, so I had a little window.
“I love you,” I said. “I really hope you know that.”
“I do,” he replied. His head turned slightly as he yelled, “Hey! Spooky queen, sound off!”
“Spooky queen reporting for duty!” Aria shouted back. She hurried around the back corner and playfully saluted him.
“C’mon, let’s check out your new car seat,” he told her.
“I get a new car seat too?” Her voice rose to squeaky notches. “This is the best day ever!”
I chuckled at her never-ending excitement.Oh, to be young and that happy.I didn’t intervene or join their conversation as Maverick made a whole display of showing off the car seat to her.
Instead, I stood back and just watched as he talked her through it like it was the most important thing in the whole world—and her safety was. But he made it more than that. He made it fun and necessary. Treated her to a throne in his bigtruck. She lit up like it was Christmas, laughing as he adjusted the straps and double-checked everything. The level of care he showed wasn’t performative. It wasn’t for me. It wasn’t for show.
It was just who he was. He’d thought ahead and planned. He made space for a little girl who wasn’t his and treated her like she was anyway.
And that… that undid me a little.
CHAPTER 108
maverick
Little Lantern Farmssat just outside of Wilde Bay, tucked between rolling fields and a stretch of trees that turned gold in the fall. The entrance was framed by a weathered wooden arch with the farm’s name painted in bright red lettering. The gravel drive opened up into a wide, bustling parking lot and an even busier farmyard. Rows of apple trees stretched out in neat lines off to one side, a massive red barn was the centerpiece of theplace, and a petting zoo with a pumpkin patch, fresh donuts, and hot apple cider rounded out the layout of the place.
The hum of laughter and the drone of tractor engines buzzed in the air. Families wandered between activities, loud and happy with a simple kind of joy. It was the only way to have a family date in Wilde Bay in the fall.
“The owner’s kids took over,” I explained to Harley when he asked.Little Lantern Farmused to beSweetwater Farms & Co.The old farm was nothing short of a mess. They maintained their apple orchards to supply surrounding businesses throughout the season, but that was it. Their kids had turned it into a seasonal staple venue years ago.
We wandered between rows of trees. Aria sat on my shoulder as she grabbed apples off the high branches to hand to Harley, who pulled a wagon behind him. We had barrels of apples and were on a mission to collect as many as we could for Millie.
“Does this mean we get apple pie?” Aria asked. Her hands landed on my temples as she leaned over to stare at me. Blonde curls tickled my nose, and I made a dramatic display of huffing and puffing to blow them out of my face—only because it made her giggle.
“I’ll make sure you get apple pie,” I promised.
“It’s my daddy’s favorite,” she quipped.
“Oh, really now?” I rotated slightly to glance at Harley, and he smiled.Was just going to catalogue that one away for later.
This was my favorite part of dating him. This time, I was learning so much more about him than just his trauma. Like his favorite color and how he took his coffee. How he loved breakfast and apparently loved apple pie.
And it wasn’t just one way either. He noticed the same kinds of things, and they quietly became a part of his life. Like my favorite coffee and creamer suddenly becoming a staple in his house whenever I was working, or how he slowly worked out myschedule and used it to keep up with my life. This part of being together hadn’t been an option in the past. And it was nice. More than nice.
“Speaking of Millie,” I continued as Aria went back to picking apples. “You two are officially invited to unofficial-official Thanksgiving.”
