“It’s good. Hoping to be back playing soon. But I’m happy to be here with my beautiful girl. Thanks for including me.”
Maverick’s arm snakes around my waist, tugging me into his side, and I stare up at him. He seems relaxed, and his response to Max was so believable I almost bought it. And judging by the happy expressions on my friends’ faces, they did, too.
“That’s great. Well, I’d say we can introduce you around but I think you’ll find everyone knows who you are.” Max grins. “They’ll be cool, though, I promise. My brother Jude used to play in the NHL so everyone knows better than to gocrazy.”
“Well, no promises with Sawyer.” Heidi laughs, and when I steal another look up at Maverick, he’s still got that perfectly relaxed smile on his face.
“No problem. Don’t worry about us, you two should just enjoy the evening.”
I’m still wondering who this friendly, relaxed man is when Heidi pulls me in for another quick hug. “Girl. He’s even hotter in person, and oh my God, he’s so smitten! He can’t stop looking at you,” she whispers. Pulling back, she grins at me. “I’m so happy for you. You looking freaking incredible. So happy and so freaking sexy in that dress. He’s good for you, babe.” After one final squeeze, she whirls away with Max at her side.
“They seem nice,” Maverick says mildly, reaching for my hand again. I let him lead me over to a table with drinks on it, accepting the glass of white wine he hands me.
I spend the rest of the evening trying to make sense of how the introverted, gruff man I’ve become used to on our dates so far has somehow morphed into this relaxed, charming person.
And trying not to let myself fall for him with every touch and every smile. He’s playing the role we agreed upon, and he’s playing it well.
If anything, I should be relieved.
Not disappointed.
Chapter thirteen
Sadie
Blinking my eyes open, it takes me a second to register where I am. Right. The tiny cabin on Vancouver Island. Heidi and Max’s wedding.Maverick.
Okay, that last one I register as soon as I hear a pained grunt and my gaze flies to where he’s slowly standing up from the floor where he insisted on sleeping last night. He moves through a few stretches, rotating his arms slowly, and there’s no mistaking the grimaces of pain.
Throwing off the covers, I stand up and walk over to him. “Tonight, you’re taking the bed,” I say firmly. He glares at me but doesn’t argue. I move to the kitchen area, sending up a prayer of thanks that the cabins come with coffee makers. I hear Maverick move into the bathroom and the shower turns on. Guess it’s a good thing I don’t have to pee…although, I can’t be mad at him. I’m guessing he’s hoping the hot water will ease what has to be a very stiff and sore body from sleeping on the floor.
I should’ve made him take the bed last night, but when I tried, the look of complete disbelief he gave me left no room totry and convince him. At least he took the blankets and extra pillows we found in a closet and tried to make something of a bed, but clearly, it wasn’t enough.
Once my coffee’s made, I step outside to soak in the view and try to gather myself for the day ahead.
Maverick surprised me last night. He was friendly, albeit quiet, and charming to everyone, even Max’s brother Sawyer who definitely went a little fanboy. He recognized Cooper, whose mom Tori is friends with Willow, and spent a lot of time chatting with the young kid. I’m having to admit it wasn’t all that fair of me to worry he wouldn’t live up to his end of things and be convincing in front of my friends. After all, he’d suffer more than me if we didn’t pull this weekend off.
And away from the limelight and the pressure of the city, the media, the team, all of it, Maverick seems different. Like he’s able to let go, ever so slightly, of the heavy pressure he seems to always be under.
The problem is, with every layer I’m peeling back to discover, I find myself falling just a little bit more for him. At first, he was just a hot baseball player with a bad attitude who needed my help.
Now I see someone different. I see a man who won’t let anyone get close to him, who has built walls ten feet tall and five feet deep to keep everyone away. But also, a man who cares deeply. Who rises to expectations, even when everyone around him, including me, thinks he won’t.
There’s just two weeks left in our arrangement. Two weeks when I have to continue to pretend to date a man I could very easily develop feelings for if I let myself go there. But I can’t.Because there’s no way those feelings would ever be returned. And if Dirk taught me anything, it’s that I will no longer settle for a man who doesn’t love and respect me without fail.
Several hours later, and I find myself anxiously waiting for Maverick to hit his limit. This morning he went for a hike, leaving me in the cabin alone. I didn’t mind and took the time to relax and read, watching the waves from inside. When he returned, it wasn’t empty-handed. He’d stopped by a local bakery and picked up a box full of incredible treats that he handed to me wordlessly before going back into the bathroom and turning on the shower again.
At least the man cares about personal hygiene.
But the reception is in full swing now, with the dinner plates cleared and the dance floor full of happy couples. Maverick held my hand throughout the ceremony, not saying a word when I started to cry at how Max and Heidi are clearly happy and in love. He was polite to everyone at our table throughout dinner, and now he’s beside me, nursing a glass of clear liquid.
I smile up at another couple that walks past us with a curious look thrown our way. So far, no one has been too intense around Maverick. I guess it has something to do with Max’s brother being a former pro hockey player. This crowd is used to famous athletes and don’t get worked up about it. But the two of us are definitely getting some looks. I shift in my seat, trying not to worry if it’s because my supposed boyfriend isn’t touching me at all, or if it’s because it’s obvious we don’t belong together.
“Can I steal your girl away for a few minutes?” Heidi smiles down at Maverick as she takes my hand and tugs me out of my chair. How out of it was I to not even realize she had walked up to us?
Maverick raises his eyebrows at me but gives Heidi a nod. She seems to take that as enough of an answer and sweeps me away from the dance floor, not stopping until we reach a pair of Adirondack-style chairs facing the water. Dropping into one with a loud sigh, Heidi tips her head to the side, facing me, and smiles. “Finally.”
“Everything okay?” I ask, unsure what she means.
