Austin leans back in his chair watching us all with quiet amusement. “Why don’t you go with her, Mav?”
His deep voice is so calm, and my response to his suggestion catches me off-guard. I take a quick breath, and my chest rises with hope. Pressing my lips together, I force myself not to look at him. No matter how happy it would make me to have Mav there, it’s impossible with his hockey schedule. I shouldn’t even think of such a thing.
My rebellious eyes still flicker to his face, which is stricken. “I don’t have any breaks at this point in the season. From here on in, it only gets more intense.”
He sounds so helpless, my flash of excitement turns to guilt. “I would never expect you to make that trip. I know… or at least I’m learning how busy your schedule is.”
“Yeah, it’s not like football where you actually have time for personal relationships,” Knox leans back, grinning as he rests his hand on the back of my chair.
“If you’re lucky,” Austin notes, glancing at his brother.
“Oh, fuck, sorry Austin.” Knox drops his chin.
My eyes blink up again, and with a shock of electricity, I catch Mav watching me. His gaze is so intense, I can’t hold it for long.
Looking down again, I give his hand a squeeze. “Please don’t feel bad. The thought never even crossed my mind.”
“I would if I could.” His tone is so low and serious, I almost don’t know how to take it.
“I know.” Reaching out, I slide my hand over his. “I’ve been dealing with Corey Hayes a long time. I can handle him.”
Confusion knots my throat. I’m sitting here, holding his hand, comforting him for not being able to rush in and save me. When have I ever expected anyone to save me?
My life has been so focused up to this point. I’ve worked on my studies, worked with my uncles on the farm, focused everything on doing my part to keep things going and carry my own weight.
This enemy appeared, this unseen force attacking from underground, and I don’t look around for a hero. I dig in and utilize all my own strengths to help find a solution. It’s what I do.
My plans were well-established when I arrived. I had a focus. Maverick Murphy does not fit into that established plan. It’s impossible. We like each other, okay. We’ve always had a connection, and maybe it’s stronger than I realized as a teenager. But the truth is, we’re too different.
He’s big-city excitement. He’s an ice hockey star with an overwhelming schedule. He’s a fast-moving tornado, and I’ve seen what tornadoes do to peach trees. They lift them up high into the air and swirl them around. They take them on a thrilling ride, but ultimately they throw them to theground, uprooted and irrevocably damaged. It’s not the tornado’s fault. It’s simply their nature.
Maverick is gorgeous and tempting and so sexy, but he’s not going to walk away from his life here. I’m not going to walk away from my life back home.
I don’t even know why I’m allowing myself to have anxiety about these things.
Maverick is sweet and kind, and he has always been protective, even when I fell carrying a basket of peaches. We’re friends. We have fond memories. I’m the silly fool going down some rabbit hole, letting my insides get all twisted up by fantasies and lust.
The tornado is in my own head, and I’ve got enough real problems to worry about without creating fresh, new ones.
16
MAVERICK
By Sunday night, I’m ready to play hockey. I’m ready to skate hard, fight, and burn this frustration out of me.
It’s been a long three days of Knox challenging me at every turn. From feats of strength to who has the best wardrobe to who remembers the most about past family visits… I’m ready to stuff him in a dumpster. Then I find out Corey Hayes is waiting for Dove to go home like some creepy predator ready to pounce.
I walk out to the living room, drinking my red Mountain Dew, and of course, Knox is sitting across from her on the couch talking about poetry.Give me a break.
“You never told me why ‘Love Song’ is your favorite poem.” He is always smiling at her like he won the lottery.
“Well…” Her pretty blue eyes rise like she’s thinking, and I want to walk over and plop right down between them.
At the very least, I want to walk over to where she’ssitting, slide my thumb along the line of her jaw, into her hair. Then I want to lean down and kiss her. What would that be like?
Ever since Austin suggested I go with her to the wedding, I haven’t been able to stop trying to make it happen. I hate the idea of her fighting for LaGrange Orchardandfighting some dickhead who thinks he owns her.
Of course, her family is there. She’s right, and I know all of them. They’ll take care of her, butIwant to take care of her.
