Page 10 of Maverick

She was helping a woman when the doorbell chimed again, and she instinctively looked over her shoulder and her heart hit her stomach when she saw Maverick enter. She watched him glance around, then smile when he saw her and headed her way.

“Hey,” he said when he reached her.

“Hi.” She smiled at him. “I thought you forgot me.”

He grinned. “Not a chance. I had to come into town and thought I’d see if you wanted to get that cup of coffee.”

“We’re a little busy at the moment,” she said, disappointed.

“Honey, if you don’t want to go, I will,” the older woman said with a laugh.

Maverick laughed and raised his eyebrow at Parker.

“Looks like I have a date if you can’t go.”

Parker laughed and looked at her watch. “I take lunch in fifteen minutes,” she suggested.

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll just head to the Feed Store, then come back.”

“Sounds good.” Parker smiled.

“Hey, Maverick,” Shay said when she saw him.

“Shay, how’s your day?”

“Busy.”

“That’s good though, right?” He looked back at Parker. “I’ll see you soon.”

As he touched the brim of his hat and walked out, she grinned as she heard some of the women sigh.

“That is one good-looking man. Oh, to be twenty years younger,” the woman said, then laughed. “Oh, who am I kidding? Thirty years younger.”

“He’s very handsome,” Parker agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, Maverick entered the store again. He grinned when he saw her behind the counter and walked toward her. Parker smiled and continued ringing up the customer.

Once she was finished, she walked to Maverick.

“Just let me grab my purse, and we can go.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be right here.”

Parker headed to the office, took her purse from the safe, and walked back to the front. She saw Shay and Maverick talking, so she made her way to them.

“I’m ready.”

“Okay,” he said and opened the door for her.

“I’ll be back after lunch, Shay.”

“Take your time.” Shay smiled.

As they walked out the door, Maverick moved to the outside of her, making her smile at his manners.

“Your mama raised you right.”

“Yes, she and my dad did.”

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