Turbulent Desires(21)

     



 

I was wondering when I was going to get to taste some of your sugar. I'll be there at six.

She reread the message a dozen times, her cheeks heating, her stomach  shaking. She was sure he wasn't meaning her sugar. Mav was just a flirt.  He couldn't help how things sounded, especially through a text.

Six is fine. I'm not good at real cooking, so I just have dessert.

She wanted to make sure he wasn't expecting a full-blown meal. Then he'd  be disappointed. Oh, this was such a bad idea. She knew it was a bad  idea, so why had she started this?

Tapping her toe, she waited for his reply. She didn't have to wait too  long, thankfully, or she might have begun pulling her hair out a few  strands at a time.

Let's go ahead and make this a work night. I'll bring the food and we'll  make dinner together . . . and then have plenty of time for dessert . .  .

His choice of wording made her clench her knees together.

Was she going to allow something to happen between the two of them? Did  she even want another man to ever touch her again after what had been  done to her? A week ago, she would have emphatically said no. She'd been  terrified of even the softest of touches.

But in only a few days' time, Maverick had managed to get beneath her  skin and had made her begin to think about things she didn't want to  think about. She didn't cringe when he touched her, didn't hate it when  he looked at her.

"What are you doing?"

So lost in her thoughts about Maverick, Lindsey hadn't heard Stormy  walking up. The greeting made her jump before she spun around and  smiled.

"I was just strolling, taking Princess for a walk." For some reason she guiltily stuffed her phone back into her pocket.

"Okay, Lins, something is up and I want to know what it is," Stormy demanded as she followed Lindsey into the house.

"Nothing is up," Lindsey said as she moved over to the cupboards to see  what she had and what she might need. What dessert was she going to  make? How badly did she want to impress this man?

"I feel like you're shutting me out more and more each and every day," Stormy said, her voice sad.

That stopped Lindsey in her tracks. She didn't want to hurt her best  friend. She turned and faced her, not quite ready to approach and wrap  her arms around her, but still needing to comfort her.

"I . . . uh . . . I just invited Maverick over. He's been really great  to me and I wanted to do something for him," Lindsey said in a rush of  words.

Stormy's eyes widened, and then she smiled.

"You weren't going to tell me that!" she exclaimed.

"I don't know," Lindsey said as she shifted from foot to foot.

"You don't think I'd be upset about it, do you?"

"Well . . ." Lindsey stalled.

"I think it's great that you two can barely keep your eyes off each other," Stormy exclaimed.

"We can keep our eyes off each other," Lindsey insisted.

"Mmm-hmm," Stormy said before chuckling.

"We can," Lindsey insisted, feeling like a broken record.

"Well, I will make sure that Coop and I keep ourselves locked tightly  inside the house tonight so there aren't any interruptions. I'm going to  take Princess too," Stormy said as she sat down. Princess immediately  went over and snuggled by her side.

"You don't need to take Princess," Lindsey said in almost a panic.

"You just ring me when the date is over, and I'll bring her right back."

"She doesn't have to leave," Lins said again.

"I want you to have a distraction-free night. What time is the date?" Stormy said, ignoring her protests.

"It's at six, and it's not a date. I'm just making him dessert as a thank you."

"Sure, sure, not a date. Okay, I'll pick up Princess in a couple hours."

"Wait!" Lindsey said, stopping Stormy from leaving. Her friend looked at her patiently.

"I know Mav is your brother-in-law, and I don't want to make things  awkward for you. I just . . ." She stopped talking, feeling her cheeks  heat.

Stormy's eyes widened as her mouth hung open. She pulled herself together quickly, though.

"You don't actually think I would be upset about the two of you becoming an item, do you?" she asked.

"Well . . . it could be awkward," Lindsey said.

"Oh, Lins, not at all. I love Mav, and you know how much I love you. Why would I be upset about you two dating?" Stormy asked.

"Because when things go sour . . ." Lindsey stopped speaking.

"When?" Stormy said with a confused look. "Why do you assume it will go  bad?" She sat back as if she were going to get comfortable.         

     



 

"Come on, Storm, there's no way this will be fairy-tale perfect," Lindsey said. "I'm a realist."

"You're protecting yourself," Stormy corrected. "And that's okay. But  don't dwell on what could happen. Live in the moment. Enjoy yourself and  know that you have my full support no matter what happens."

"What if it gets bitter?" Lindsey said, choking out the words.

"Then we cross that road when it happens," Stormy said reasonably.

"I can't lose you, Stormy-not ever," Lindsey said, tears threatening.

Stormy crossed the room and stood in front of Lindsey, not reaching out to her, but letting her know she was right there.

"Nothing in this world would ever make you lose me. Just like I know  that you will always be there for me. We are so much more than friends.  We're sisters by choice. And I have no problem causing physical harm to  my dear brother-in-law if he hurts you."

She said this so seriously that Lindsey couldn't help but smile.

"I promise you, I won't ever ask you to maim Maverick, no matter what," Lindsey said.

"You wouldn't have to ask. That's just what best friends do for each other," Stormy said.

Before Lindsey realized what she was doing, she leaned forward and  tugged Stormy close, giving her the first hug in a year. Stormy was  shocked for a moment and then she wrapped her arms around her friend and  clung on tight.

When they let go, Stormy had tears coming down her cheeks.

"I love you, Lins, more than almost anyone in this world."

"I love you too, Storm."

"I'm running away now so I can soak up this moment."

Before Lindsey could say anything more, Stormy rushed out, sniffling as  she practically ran up the trail to the main house. Lindsey looked at  Princess, who gazed at her a moment before shutting her eyes again and  continuing her nap.

It was a pretty perfect day-even with all these emotions coursing  through her. She felt happiness she hadn't thought she would ever feel  again. Her life was getting back on the right path.

Maverick being in her life was the best thing that had ever happened to  her. That was a sobering thought, but not enough that she wanted to stop  the ride she was on.





CHAPTER NINETEEN

Files tucked beneath his arm, flowers in his hand, a grocery sack in the  other, Maverick walked quickly up to Lindsey's door, feeling awkward  with the damn cast. The sweat on his palm was simply because it was hot  outside. It had nothing to do with nerves.

Maverick didn't get nervous before dates-umm, meetings-even impromptu  ones when the girl invited him to come over. He was too far above  something so silly as that. Still, he stopped in front of her door, set  down the items he was carrying, and wiped his sweaty palms against his  jeans.

It would be good to get into some air conditioning, that was for sure.  Picking up the items, he rang the bell, then impatiently waited for her  to open the door.

When she did, his palms became sweaty all over again. Beautiful was too  tame a word to describe her with her hair pulled up in a hazardous bun,  an apron draped across her body trying to disguise her beautiful lush  breasts and full hips, and a genuine smile upon her lips along with a  sprinkling of flour.

Even with only a smidgeon of makeup on her naturally beautiful, somewhat  olive complexion, she was stunning. She really had no clue how  appealing she was. Maybe that was just one more thing he appreciated  about her.

As much as he was fighting against his father's last wishes, this girl  made him think he might just want to cave in to the terms of his  father's will. It was something he would have to tell her about so she  would never think he wanted her for money. She wouldn't think that. He  had enough of his own already. Hell, he'd sign away every penny to his  organization. Maybe she didn't have to know.

No! He wasn't considering marriage. That was foolish. He just wanted to  be with her. It didn't have to be forever. Damn, his mind was a mess.

"You're a little early," she said with a shy smile, snapping him out of his wayward thoughts.

"I didn't want the food to go bad," he lamely replied as he took a step  forward, instantly wanting to lay his head against her shoulder and  inhale her intoxicating floral scent. It was a subtle mixture that drove  him crazy anytime he was around the woman.

"Let me take that from you." She reached out for the bag.

"You take these. I'll deal with the groceries," he offered as he handed her the flowers.