Page 76 of August 20

Dania shook her head at Brooke. "One day, we won't have to drop them off and sit in line before work."

"I know." Brooke shrugged. "Crazy."

While the early morning hassle of getting Skye in the car in time for school was always a rush, she wasn't in a hurry to have her grow up too fast. Her phone beeped again. However, it would make it easier to get to work on time.

"I'll see you in a few." Dania waved over her shoulder as she got back into her SUV.

Brooke turned into Maverick's arms and hugged him, stretching for a kiss. "Okay, so you'll come by and get my car when you need to pick her up. Then, she can come to Whale's Tail. She can do her homework while I finish work, and you do your business at Havlin." She kissed him again.

He continued staring over her head toward the school. She tugged his beard, bringing his attention back to her.

"What's wrong?"

"Worried."

"About?"

His lips firmed, and he remained silent. He couldn't even express how worried he was about Skye.

"Trust me. She heard you last night. Kids are...tough." She relaxed.

"Skye's soft."

"Well, yes. But she handled the news, and one of these days, she will open up and ask questions." She forced a smile. "A lot of questions."

He cleared his throat. She kissed him, but something stopped her from leaving.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He grimaced, swallowing heavily. "You're young. Too young to have an eight-year-old."

She laughed. "I wouldn't change it for a thing."

"Too young for me." He turned his head and hacked.

She planted her hand on his chest. "While you're older, I grew up fast and alone. I don't see your age as something that would worry me."

His gaze narrowed. She raised to her toes and kissed him again. "We're good, right?"

He nodded, kissing her back.

Behind them, a car honked. She jumped away from him and stepped toward the car, laughing as if someone caught them breaking the rules.

She blew him a kiss. "Ride carefully."

He lifted his chin and walked behind her car, where he parked his Harley. Seeing how distracted he was about Skye accepting Maverick's place in her life. Knowing he struggled, she sat in the driver's seat and texted him.

I never knew my father. She looked up to see if the car line was moving and then went back to texting. Trust me, a little girl wants a daddy. Skye needs a daddy.

Three dots instantly appeared on her screen as Maverick tapped a reply. Where was your mom?

She blew out her breath. That was not a story for a text. Hooked on drugs. Left Janelle and I. Grandma tried to be everything for me.

She looked in the rearview mirror and found Maverick staring at her in the reflection. The car ahead of her moved forward. She started the Honda and put it into Drive.

Feeling vulnerable, she kept her gaze on Maverick. She'd expected him to tell Skye, but she hadn't known he would use that talk to announce how much their marriage meant to him. He wanted them to be a family.

She wanted the same thing.

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