“If you don’t want a dog, we don’t have to get one. I didn’t think having a husky might make you sad.”
So thoughtful. He might be tall, dark, and ridiculouslyhandsome, but he’s still my old buddy Mav, who I’ve always been able to talk to. Who’s always looking out for me.
“I think it’s really sweet you and Gina picked out a husky for me.” I smile up at him. “You wanted to make me feel at home.”
His eyes hold mine a moment, then he clears his throat, seeming to shake away whatever he was thinking. “I hope you always feel at home here.”
“I do. It’ll be like when we were young, except longer.” Then I exhale a laugh. “I’ll probably start to get on your nerves after a while.”
“No way,” he answers fast, then he seems embarrassed, clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll let you unpack. Come down when you’re ready.”
He’s such a contradiction. I want to get to know this new, grown-up Maverick. I still see the boy I told all my dreams and hopes to that day so long ago. But now I also see this adult man, who’s gorgeous and confident and disarmingly thoughtful.
He makes my ears hot and my whole body feel like I need a long drink of ice water. He makes me feel like being here is as dangerous as it is safe.
Which is utterly ridiculous. I’m here to learn, not have wild fantasies about an old friend. Still, I sneak a glance at his ass as he walks away. A little fantasy never hurt anyone.
4
MAVERICK
Dove fits into our family so easily. It helps that we’ve known each other since we were ten years old. It helps that her personality is still the same. She’s still quick to laugh, quick to put me in my place, and quick with a Dolly Parton quote.
At the moment, she’s sitting on our living room floor with Lucy on one hip and Maddie facing her from the couch, hanging on her every word.
“Then what happened?” Maddie is obsessed with her stories from our childhood.
“Then your aunt Haddy walked right out and sang ‘The Heart Wants What it Wants’ by Selena Gomez, and the entire room melted like putty in her hand.”
Maddie’s brown eyes widen, and she looks over at Haddy, who is sitting on Gavin’s lap in our oversized arm chair.
“It’s important to remember your new friend Dove likes to exaggerate,” Haddy says. “A lot.”
“That doesn’t sound like an exaggeration.” Gavin’s voice is low, and he slides his hand along the side of her thigh. “You did it to me.”
“Flattery is my love language.” Haddy leans forward to kiss him on the lips, and I look down at my hands.
“Get a room!” Gina yells, walking over and taking Lucy from Dove’s arms. “We already have one baby. Are y’all going for a second?”
Maddie’s lips twist, and she studies Haddy sitting on Gavin’s lap. “Mama G needs to sit on Daddy’s lap. I’d like a new baby!”
Leaning forward, I hold the beer bottle in front of my mouth, hiding my laugh with a cough.
“What?” Maddie frowns at me.
Dove catches both her hands. “Guess what your uncle Maverick used to do when he was your age.”
Maddie shakes her head excitedly, and my brow furrows. I can’t imagine what she’s about to say.
“A long time ago, there was a movie calledGrease, and your uncle Mav used to act just like the hero… down to a certain move he did in front of the mirror.”
Embarrassment heats my chest, and warning is in my tone. “Dove…”
She blinks round eyes up at me, but it’s too late. Haddy snortles, and Gavin leans forward. “Now you have to tell us.”
Gina drops onto the couch, bouncing the baby on her lap, her eyes flashing at me. “I forgot about that! Mav’s little ‘Greased Lightning’ move.”
“What did I miss?” Owen drifts into the room from the kitchen, stopping to rest a hand on Gina’s shoulder.
