Lost Rider(92)

“I think you should let him finish,” I snap. “Sir.” I add the last part in a rush as an afterthought, not letting my manners slip just because I’m feeling emotional. Maverick’s whole body starts to shakes with hilarity.

The phone is silent between us after my annoyed rush of words. Maverick leans forward and gives me a quick kiss before speaking again. “Like I was sayin’, Trey. I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to say no. You know I’ll always be here if you want to shoot the shit and talk shop, but I’m home now. Where I want to be. When Doc told me I couldn’t ride, it was the best news I could have gotten . . . a blessing in disguise. Damn sure didn’t see it then. Couldn’t see what was right in front of my face long before I got bucked off that last time. I’ve lived my life being driven by anger, fueled with a whole lot of regrets, but I’m done with that life, Trey. I know we talked about ways to get me back out, to keep me where I thought I needed to be, but I can honestly tell you with no regrets, everything I need is right here in front of me.”

Trey doesn’t speak for a second, clearly not happy with the rejection of his offer because he grumbles some unpleasant words before speaking again. “I hear ya, Maverick. I respect that, and even though I wish I had your skills by my side, I’m happy that you’re not still drownin’ in your own mind’s bullshit anymore. I know my brother would be feelin’ the same way.”

My big, strong man bends, pressing his forehead to mine. “Nah, I might have been lost for a little while, but I had a good guide to bring me back. I’ve got some shit I’m startin’ here that I have a feelin’ you’re gonna want to chat about. I’ll give you a call next week. See if you can make some time to come out and meet my girl.”

The rest of their conversation is brief, but by the time he stops talking I have tears rolling down my face. Not sad ones, but pure happiness is leaking from my eyes. The magnitude of his decision is something that can’t be ignored. Two months ago, when he rolled back into town, I never would have believed that he would stick around Pine Oak. I would have been crippled the second he even mentioned the call and the offer that came with it. However, that was before I felt how powerful our love really was. Before I knew the truth that pulled him from my life to begin with. And long before I accepted that it was the right move, no matter how much it hurt. Even being torn apart for a decade, I know that it really was our destiny taking a driver’s seat, making sure that we were ready when our time finally came.

That time is now.

I believe in our love, the future he’s building for us, and most important, him. There is no place for doubts or fears when you have a connection as deep as ours. We didn’t know it then, but these bonds were always unbreakable. It was just a matter of time before they snapped us back where we belonged.

Together.





27


LEIGHTON


“Yeah Boy” by Kelsea Ballerini



After Maverick’s call, we left the office to find that Quinn had already left to head back to her shop. When he shut the door on her eavesdropping, she must have gotten bored. Or maybe she remembered that she runs a business and actually went back to it.

Jana didn’t ask any questions, just gave me a knowing smile before leaving the kitchen to get everything ready to open at noon. She doesn’t ever cross those boundaries she couldn’t care less about if there isn’t sex involved in the gossip anyway. Silly woman.

The day went by too quickly after I was left alone in my kitchen. I spent the vast majority of my time before Maverick was due back to getting ahead on my prep for the week, meaning I would have some extra time to spend with him. It’s been so long—if ever—that I went out of my way to make so much overage that I had almost ran out of refrigerator space, but it’s important to me that I find a balance between work and my new love life. By the time Maverick had come back to get me, I had enough done that I could have taken the rest of the week off if I wanted to. As tempting as that sounds, I can’t just abandon the PieHole because my heart has found its reason to race again.

I felt like I was in a daze during the whole meeting with the Davis boys and their family lawyer. Maverick, though, hadn’t stopped smiling, not once since leaving the PieHole hours before. Of course, I didn’t know that for a fact, since we weren’t together the whole time, but that smile was still on his face when he walked back through the kitchen doorway, and it hadn’t left once during our lunch meeting. I had my head so far in the clouds that I almost signed my name on a bunch of documents with no clue as to what I was actually signing. It took me longer than the men would have liked, but I read through each and every page. Every noise I made had Maverick’s hand rubbing soothing circles on the inside of my thigh, a place he had placed his hand the second we sat down.