Page 64 of Maverick

“Let’s see what he can find first. For all we know Trent lied about all of it after the news reported the man missing.” Which I wouldn’t put past the fucker at all.

“All right, let’s start there. And let’s hope he’s not smart enough to recruit any of our enemies to help him out.”

“If he does, at least we’ll know where he is. Kill two birds with one goddamn bullet.”

Diesel laughed. “I like that optimism. Keep that shit up.”

We laughed and watched the kids play, and even though Sophie wasn’t mine biologically, it felt like she was mine, like I had the right to love and protect her.

I wanted that so fucking bad I could taste it.

Chapter 32

Grace

This is perfect. Absolutely perfect.

It was a dangerous thought to have when I knew my future was so uncertain, despite the certainty that Maverick seemed to wear as well as he wore a pair of jeans. But we sat around the table, all three of us, eating dinner and laughing and chatting like a real family.

It was what I’d always hoped to have. It was what I thought I would have with Trent before everything went straight to hell. But now with this big, badass biker, my wish was finally coming true. It was enough to make me cry, if I hadn’t decided to be done with crying. Unless absolutely necessary, of course.

Maverick was so good with Sophie. He was kind and patient, boosting her confidence in so many ways, that a few times over the past week I’d had to escape to another room just to get my emotions in check because he was so good. Better than her own damn father had ever been or ever tried to be.

“I’ll tell you what.” Maverick’s amused voice broke through my thoughts. “If you eat those veggies you pushed to the side, I’ll split the last biscuit with you.”

Sophie gasped and her eyes went comically wide. “You will?”

He leaned back in his chair, a broad smile on his face. “Sure will. Eat up, kiddo.”

She beamed a smile up at him and speared a carrot slice with her fork. “I love you, Mr. Maverick. and I’m staying here with you forever.”

My heart stopped at my little girl’s words, and when it started beating again, it donkey kicked against my chest so hard I couldn’t breathe. She loves him. On the one hand, I was thrilled for my little girl to have a man in her life who cherished her and treated her like she mattered more than anything—and anyone—in the world. On the other hand, was I setting her—and myself—up for heartbreak?

Maverick, for his part, appeared to be choked up by her words, which touched me more than it should have, and suddenly I was more worried about my own heart because I feared it was too late for me. “Sophie, sweetheart.” His voice was thick with emotion.

Sophie’s hazel eyes rounded with fear. “I’m sorry, Mr. Maverick.”

He frowned and shot out of his chair, coming to kneel at her side. “You’re sorry that you love me and want to stay at my house forever?”

Her mouth curled up into a shy smile and she nodded. “I don’t wanna make you mad.”

“I’m not mad,” he assured her, and stroked her lopsided ponytails. “You surprised me, and I didn’t know what to say, but you know what?”

“What?”

He smiled. “I love you and I want you to stay too. Both of you.” His blue gaze slid to mine and I felt it, the heat and the affection, all the way down to my toes.

“Okay, Mommy, we’re staying!” She bounced in her chair and picked up a piece of broccoli with her fingers, eating it happily.

Any man who made Sophie smile while she ate her vegetables was a good man. A solid man. Maverick was everything I’d ever hoped for in a man, but I never knew I could have. I didn’t even know men like him existed outside of romance novels.

I watched him closely, unsure if I could believe my eyes. My heart. But he pushed to his feet, twirled a thick finger around one of Sophie’s ponytails and winked when she looked up at him with her biggest smile. “However long you want.”

“All done,” Sophie declared sometime later, and I reluctantly tore my gaze from the rugged beauty that was Maverick and found her smiling at him.

With all the seriousness of a man about to go into battle, he plucked the biscuit from the plate and held it out to her. “You ever heard of a wishbone?”

She shook her head, curiosity in her eyes. “Nope.”

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