Page 47 of Three of a Kind

Maverick

Nova and I spend the morning cooped up in my truck. Who the fuck knows why I brought the massive beast? She’s annoyed and tired of being cramped in the back seat. I’m sure she thought this was going to be a fun mission. Her favorites are search and rescue and anything where she’s allowed to subdue combative assailants.

Instead, we’re stalking Brooklyn’s apartment.

Bless straight-up threatened to cut mine and Gunner’s balls off if we hurt Brooklyn in any way. She didn’t seem pleased to learn we’ve met before, but I’m not a threat to Brooklyn.

I just ache to get to know her better.

Nova tosses her front half up on the middle console, and her nails scratch across the leather. She’s such an intuitive dog. She bumps her face against my hand until I bury my fingers in her long hair and give her scratches.

Well, she’s either intuitive to my anxiety…

Or she’s spoiled.

It’s definitely one or the other.

It takes what feels like hours for Brooklyn to finally come out the door of her apartment building. Lennox is at her side, but she gives her niece and sister a kiss and heads off like she’s going in the opposite direction.

It’s fucking wild.

Brooklyn has a kid.

I trusted what Gunner said, but seeing it with my own eyes is an entirely different story.

My gaze stays on Brooklyn as she gets her daughter into the stroller, but I pat around for Nova’s leash.

I grab it, and Nova flattens on the middle console, so I can clip into her harness.

My mouth is suddenly dry as fuck.

What if Brooklyn tells me to get lost?

Or politely asks that I keep her safe from a distance?

Fuck, that would suck.

“Okay, so, game plan,” I tell Nova, pulling her face to mine. “You win over the kid, and I’ll work on the mom. We can do this. What woman can resist a man who loves his dog? None. I’ve clearly proven that I’m capable of caring for another living being. That should instantly win me points.” I check the spot where Brooklyn was and panic when I see she’s taking off toward the sidewalk. “Oh shit, we gotta go.”

I toss the door open, flip around my baseball cap, and climb from the vehicle.

Nova follows me, shaking out her massive frame as I grab my backpack from the passenger seat.

It’s bulky but necessary.

I’m not dressed to conceal my arsenal, so I had to get creative.

I’ve barely shut the door and clicked the locks when Nova barrels toward Brooklyn, and I give her leash a solid tug.

“You’re a lady; act like it,” I remind the ninety-five-pound mutt as she tugs me forward. She’s also been trapped in that truck for a while too long for her to do anything but act a fool.

Brooklyn’s head whips up as she spots Nova barreling toward her. She tugs the stroller backward to give us room to pass, but it’s clear the exact second she spots my face.

Her dark waves fall around her shoulders as she jolts, and my heart drops. That face doesn’t exactly scream that she’s happy to see me.

God, she’s so fucking pretty.

She’s wearing a dress that kinda reminds me of a bag. There’s no shape to it at all, and she’s wearing a cable-knit sweater over it. I think that’s called a cardigan…maybe?

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