Page 8 of The Maverick’s Legacy

A lump formed in Jesse’s throat. He hadn’t realized his brother was talking to the school’s football coach and looking out for his nephew.

“All things considered Oscar’s a pretty independent kid. He might need a little wiggle room to get his feet under him in school.”

Jesse opened his mouth to argue that but instead said, “That doesn’t change the fact that Carly is a huge star.”

“You can still ask the woman out,” Grayson responded. “What’s the worst she can say? No, right? At least you’ll know.”

Yeah. That actually sounded horrible. Jesse glared at the remaining posts.

“Is this about MaryBeth?” Grayson asked, his tone careful.

Jesse’s throat bobbed, but he didn’t answer.

His brother let out a sad sigh. “She wouldn’t want you to grow old alone.”

“I know,” Jesse replied after swallowing hard. He stared at the ground. “She was always so good with Oscar. Do you remember how she could calm him with just a look? I feel like I screw up all the time with him.”

“You’re not. He’s a good kid who handles situations a little differently—that’s all. You deserve to be happy. You both do.” Grayson reached for the gearshift and put it back into Drive. “Ask the woman out, Jess. And if she says no, JenniLynn is the mayor. She knows literally everyone in this town. She can find you a nice woman to date.”

He waved at Jesse before continuing down the road.

Jesse’s mind raced with everything that his brother said, but one thing stood out—that Grayson offered to set Jesse up with someone. He’d need to put an end to that. It was bad enough whenever he made a trip to town for something that the single women circled him like sharks. He didn’t need his family setting him up with some random woman. He certainly didn’t want it to get around town that he was open to dating.

Because if Jesse was going to ask out anyone, it would be the one he couldn’t stop thinking about. The one who made his pulse jump just by thinking of her. The one he shouldn’t have. She was off-limits, and he needed to remember to keep it that way.

So why was it that every time he told himself to forget her, she found a way to slip back into his thoughts?

Chapter Four

Carly chewed on her lip as she waited for her cousin Remi to answer her front door. Remi’s fiancé, Shane Corey, was the one who opened it, looking like he was on his way out.

“Hey, Carly,” he said. “You here to distract Remi, I hope?”

Carly laughed. “Maybe. Does she need a distraction?”

“Tiffany sent over another floral design for her to consider for the wedding,” he said, mentioning Tiffany Brandt, who was engaged to his brother, Ellis. The brothers and their fiancées had decided to have a dual wedding. Carly didn’t know how they were going to pull it off, but she wished them luck. Shane continued, “This is the eighth one this week. I think Remi’s getting a little overwhelmed. I asked her if she wanted scrambled or fried eggs this morning, and I thought she was going to have a conniption.”

Carly did her best to keep her face straight. “I’ll see what I can do to help.”

“Awesome,” Shane said. “I need to go check on the border fence. I’ll see you later.”

She waved goodbye to him before entering the house. She could hear Remi muttering to herself somewhere within, and she followed the noise until she came upon her cousin pacing back and forth in her family room.

“Hi,” Carly greeted.

Remi turned to face her. Her eyes were red rimmed like she hadn’t slept in a week, and her hair was sticking up at the crown of her head. “Did you know there are over a hundred shades of pink roses? How am I supposed to pick the correct shade?”

Carly walked over to her cousin and grabbed her hands. “Honey, I need you to breathe with me.” She inhaled deeply, and Remi copied the motion before they exhaled in unison. “Whatever shade you pick will be perfect. Honestly, it won’t matter in the end because the only thing that Shane cares about is marrying you. You could show up in jean shorts carrying a bouquet of dandelions for all that matters to him.”

Remi took another deep breath to steady herself. “Yeah. You’re right. I just want everything to be perfect.”

“It will be.”

“Thanks, cuz.” Remi beamed at her before tilting her head. “Not that I don’t appreciate you talking me down from the proverbial ledge, but what are you doing here?”

“Um…” Carly fiddled with the end of her ponytail. “I was wondering if you knew a place I could buy baked goods. And then I wanted to ask if you knew the best way to get to Jesse Abernathy’s place over on Ambling Hills.”

Remi’s jaw dropped. “Okay…why do you need to know those things?”