Page 20 of Falling for the Maverick

“Of course, Lucas. One of these days I hope to fall in love, get married and have children.”

He angled his head. “I don’t know why, but something about you told me you like being single.”

“I do like being single,” Michelle admitted, “for now. But I know there’ll come a time when I’ll want to share my life and future with someone.”

“I really can’t think of the future, because right now I’m involved with monitoring my family’s dry-cleaning business and running the Big Doggo. And speaking of your future, how many years are talking about?”

A server approached their table to take their orders, preempting Lucas from questioning her further. Michelle ordered a pumpkin spice latte and cupcake. She smiled when Lucas ordered a latte and pumpkin pound cake.

“The regular pound cake is good here. But then most of the food is good.”

He leaned forward and placed his hand over hers on the table, drawing her attention to how much bigger his was when compared to hers before releasing it. “What do you recommend if I decide to come here for lunch?”

“You can’t go wrong with their burgers.”

“Duh,” Lucas drawled. “We are in cattle country.”

Michelle wrinkled her nose. “Oh, so you noticed,” she returned sarcastically. “They also make delicious soups. During the colder months most people order their beef and lamb stew.”

“Do you cook?”

“I bake.”

“I didn’t ask if you bake.”

Michelle huffed, wondering why he was putting her on the spot. It wasn’t as if she was going to cook for him. “I’m an adequate cook but an exceptional baker. Who cooks for you?”

Slumping back in the booth, Lucas gave her a long, penetrating stare. “I cook for myself.” A hint of a smile parted his lips. “Did you think I order from those companies who ship prepared meals that you heat up in the microwave?”

Michelle lowered her eyes. “I thought either that, or you pay someone locally to cook for you.”

“Is this your subtle way of asking me if I’m involved with someone?”

“If I wanted to know that, I would’ve come out and asked you directly. And I couldn’t care less if you are.”

“There’s no need get huffy, Michelle. I’d never ask you out if I was involved with another woman.”

Michelle knew she was defensive because of what she’d experienced in her last relationship. “That’s very noble of you,” she drawled sarcastically.

* * *

Michelle reminded Lucas of a cat he once had that would allow him to stroke her, then without warning would hiss and show her teeth and claws. Then seconds later she was purring and would jump on his lap and fall asleep.

“I’ve been called a lot of things but never noble,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Maybe I used the wrong adjective.”

“Maybe we should drop the subject,” he countered. “I don’t want to ruin our time together by debating minutiae.” Lucas noticed her hesitation, sensing her urge to respond, but he didn’t give her the chance. Instead he reached for hand again and kissed her fingers. “Truce?”

She smiled. “Yes. Truce.”

Lucas sipped his coffee and stared at Michelle from across the table with rapt attention. He wanted to commit everything about her to memory because he didn’t know when he would get to see her again. There were so many things he wanted to know about her, but that too would remain a mystery to him.

Perhaps karma was paying him back. At times in his dating life he’d met women he might have seen himself commit to, yet some made-up excuse always stopped him. He hadn’t known the woman long enough; he found her too needy and required too much of his time; she wasn’t the ranch type.

Fast-forward, and he’d met Michelle Corey, a member of his extended family, and he’d found himself utterly enthralled with her. There was an innocence about her that appealed to him, made him want to protect her, when in reality she didn’t need protecting. She had her father and four brothers for that.

Lucas admired Michelle’s unwavering dedication to her family and the Circle C. He had witnessed firsthand how she interacted with her brothers—always supportive, yet never afraid to speak her mind. The connection they shared was undeniable, a fierce and unbreakable bond that set them apart. Despite being the youngest sibling and the only girl in the family, Michelle had always managed to hold her own. Her independence shone through in everything she did, revealing a young woman who was both strong and capable, never content to simply stand in the background.