Page 52 of Three of a Kind

“Oh, sweetheart.” He tightens his hold on my shoulder and starts to gently rock us back and forth. “I think you’ve got to get out of the city, sooner rather than later.”

My stomach rolls uncomfortably, but I nod. “I know.”

“You’re going to be okay,” Maverick says against the side of my head. “Gunner and I will make sure of it.”

It’s a nice sentiment, but I’m going to be a single mom of two kids in a couple of short months.

Without Avan to help fill in the gaps financially…

I don’t know how I’ll possibly keep the three of us above water.

Libby plays for a while, but I’m emotionally and physically exhausted.

All I can hope is that she’ll crash after lunch.

I turn around to lift her into her stroller, and my mouth falls open.

Maverick cradles her to his chest as she smiles up at him. I’ve worried a lot about what she might miss out on with not having another parent around.

“Ready to ride?” he asks, preparing to drop her into her seat.

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “You carry me.”

I seem to be frozen in place, watching her cuddled so close to him.

I should take her, so he doesn’t have to carry her.

It’s not his responsibility.

She’s mine.

“Okay, you got it,” Maverick says with a shrug. He grabs Nova’s leash and hands it to me. “Wanna trade?”

My heart races as I blink like a fool.

Is it really this easy being around another person?

Holy crap.

Maybe I do have more trauma left over from my relationship with Avan than I was ready to admit.

I don’t know why I’m so on edge.

Maverick hasn’t promised me anything, and yet it feels like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Liberty falls asleep with her arm wrapped around Maverick’s neck and her head on his shoulder when we’re only five minutes away from my apartment.

My eyes continually dart over to study the way Maverick’s strong shoulders and chest fill out that white T-shirt to perfection.

It’s ridiculous.

I wouldn’t be shocked if he asks Bless for a transfer.

Who would want to deal with me and all my problems? Especially when following Lennox around is probably a relatively simple job.

The crosswalk light is green, so I push the stroller out into the road without looking both ways.

My entire world tilts as Maverick wraps his arm around my torso, just under my breasts. He lifts and tugs me backward as air fans over my face from the passing car.

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