Page 51 of Coming Home to Maverick

Did she tell Maverick? No. She didn’t need to make him aware of every emotional development regarding Daniel. But that left her feeling like she had secrets. And it felt all too similar to those ill-fated weeks leading up to her wedding.

But when she heard his truck pulling up the drive, she pushed her nervous anticipation aside and ran to meet him. He leapt out of the truck so that he could get her door.

“Well, hey! Where we going?”

As he shut the passenger door behind her, a reckless happiness filled her.

By the time he sat beside her in the driver’s seat of the truck, she was ready for some serious fun.

He leaned across the middle console, his grin welcoming. “Are we in a hurry?”

She shrugged. “I was until you got here. Now, time can slow to a crawl, and I’ll be happy.”

“Perfect. So, back to the lake?” His eyes sparkled.

“Or the trestle?”

He nodded. “You’re on. But the lake is happening eventually.”

“I’m not one to back away from a challenge.”

He reached for her hand. “You really aren’t. So, about that singing in the fair.”

She groaned. “Of course, you’d turn this conversation to my singing at the fair. What would I even sing?”

“Anything. Come on, you’re incredible. Sing ‘Always and Forever.’”

The song she wrote for him.

He colored slightly. “I like that one.”

“I hope so. My heart and soul went into that.”

“Well, why not that one? You know it still, right?”

“Of course.”

They drove along, his thumb caressing the back of her hand while she considered what he wanted from her. He wanted an act in the fair, but what he really wanted was for her to keep pursuing her dream. And she had so firmly closed the door on it that she wasn’t sure her heart could be open to the possibility again.

“Look, Bailey, I just want to hear you sing again. At a microphone, in front of a crowd who appreciates you.”

She closed her eyes. “The crowd’s always amazing, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely. Not quite like our county fair but still real good. They’re ready to have a good time.”

She had to admit the idea of standing at a microphone in front of a friendly crowd after those years of rejection sounded pretty darn good. “I’ll let you know later today.” Even if it terrified her, she was really tempted.

They pulled to a stop in front of the large trestle bridge that spanned across the Guadalupe River.

Her heart hummed. “Wow, that thing is high.”

“We were crazy as kids.”

She eyed him. “You having second thoughts?”

“No way. We’re doing this. If only to prove we both still got it.”

She closed her truck door and stretched her arms above her head. “I think I might need a little proving.”

---