Page 48 of Maverick

“Yeah,” one said.

“Then how about you get your fucking asses in gear and get them to the trailer?”

“We were just taking a break,” the other one said.

“You take a break when I tell you to take a break. Move it,” he snapped and stared at them until they spurred their horses and rode toward the cattle. “Son of a bitch.”

He didn’t like talking to his men like that, but they needed to get these cattle rounded up and they were pissing around. They might not have anyone they want to get home to, but he did.

“What’s wrong with you, Maverick?”

“Nothing, Grady.”

“Bullshit. You never jump on the men like that.”

Maverick sighed. “I know, but I thought we’d be finished by now and we should be. I see cattle and calves, and those two were just… taking a break,” he snapped.

“I think those are the last of the cattle and calves. Once Bobby’s done checking the ear tags, we should know for sure.”

Maverick sighed. “Alright, then we can head back.”

“Yeah, we can head out of here tomorrow morning,” Grady told him.

“Tomorrow morning. Another damn day,” Maverick muttered.

Grady laughed. “Man, if I didn’t know better, I’d say there’s someone waiting for you back home.”

“Fuck you, Grady.”

Grady laughed again and shook his head. “Sure.”

Maverick grinned. He knew Grady was teasing him, and that was fine now, since Maverick knew they’d be heading home tomorrow.

“So, is there?” Grady asked.

“None of your business.”

“Okay. So… what’s her name?”

Maverick glared at him, but Grady just chuckled, then rode toward some cattle. Maverick sighed. He just wanted to get home to Parker. He couldn’t send text messages at all. He’d tried several times, but they all failed. He didn’t know he could miss someone so much. Of course, he missed Kat when she died, but looking back on his love for her, it was nothing compared to what he felt for Parker. He reined Cisco to a stop.

“Love? Shit,” he muttered. He really wasn’t sure about that, but he did know she was constantly in his thoughts and if he wasn’t in love, he was on the verge.

After a restless night, he loaded Cisco into the trailer in the morning, and told the men to get moving. They looked at him like they didn’t even know who he was, which made him chuckle.

“Damn, he’s really cracking the whip on this trip,” one of the hands said.

Maverick looked at Grady to see him grinning, and raised his middle finger at him, making him laugh.

“Let’s get him back to the barn so he can get in a better mood,” Grady said.

The men laughed, climbed into the trucks and they headed back to the barn. Maverick just wanted to get back, shower, and head to town to see Parker. He didn’t even want to take the time to call or text her. He just wanted to see her and hold her in his arms.

****

Parker sat on the sofa, reading when someone knocked on her door. She just wanted a relaxing Sunday at home. With a deep sigh, she put the book down, got up, walked to the door, and peered out the peephole. With a gasp, she quickly unlocked the door, opened it, and jumped into Maverick’s arms. She sighed when they wrapped around her, and she pressed her lips to his.

Maverick entered the apartment without letting her down, kicked the door closed, and carried her to the bedroom. He set her on her feet, and they practically ripped each other’s clothes off. Soon, their naked bodies touched and both groaned.

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