Maverick had my heart.
I think he always had.
“Okay, Mari…what do I do?”
“Oh love, it’s not what you’re going to do,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s what he’s going to do to win you back. Don’t let him think he can just push you aside, and come sliding back into your bed. He’s going to work to get back into your arms.”
Her devilish smile made me smile, and I relayed the message he sent me earlier about coming to see me. I could see her mastermind at work right before my eyes. She was already figuring out a way that this could all work.
But it would take time.
That…I could work with.
Maverick
“The engine is busted,” Denny said, his face full of grease and his eyes red from lack of sleep. I ran my hand through my hair out of frustration. This was the third major issue with the current state of the cars in the shop. Dust Line was one of the best car shops around, and I knew I ran a tight ship, but with everything going on right now, this was the last thing I needed.
“What’s it gonna take?”
“I need to find parts, man.”
“Then go to Son’s Supply,” I said, angrily. “Talk to them, come back and fix it. The client’s been waiting for a week.”
“Not my fault everyone needs their car fixed this week.” The little runt had the nerve to say under his breath. I was pissy, I knew it, but I didn’t give a fuck. They had a fucking job to do.
“Bad time?”
I turned at the familiar voice, my anger shifting immediately. “Lani?”
“Hey Dad…mind if we talk?”
My stomach sunk. “Is every—”
“Oh, yeah, everyone is fine. I just…thought maybe we could talk?”
Lani was twisting her fingers through the lace of her top, her eyes shooting to the ground as if she were nervous. For the first time in as long as I could remember, she wasn’t flipping me offor cursing me out. Everything inside of me wanted to hide her behind me and protect her from whatever was freaking her out, but I had a strong inclination it was me.
“Yeah…of course. Come inside.”
I ushered her into the building, and down the hall to where I had my own office. Closing the door, I moved behind the desk and watched her take in the room. Her eyes zoned in on the photos immediately. I knew she had an eye for art.
“These are beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She turned, her eyes moving over me, her brows furrowed in confusion. “You took these?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I had a time in my life when I felt lost. I’d go on long rides with my mate Wyatt and I’d take photos to remind me of what Australia really looks like. The side of Australia that isn’t in the tourist shops.”
Lani looked impressed but turned her back to take in the photos again. She was so like her mother, it was mind-boggling. “You have a good eye,” she said as she turned back around to face me. Lowering her eyes, back to her top where she was pulling at the strands.
“What did you want to talk about? I don’t think you’ve ever visited me here before.”
“I can go if it’s not okay…”
I could see the fear all over her face like maybe she’d done the wrong thing, with an edge of anger. She’d only looked at me with derision and anger recently, so this was a welcome change, but I didn’t like the fact that she thought she had done the wrong thing.
It didn’t sit well with me at all.
