Page 29 of Maverick

I caught the flicker in his eyes. Deep down, he’d always had a thing for Sky. Didn’t matter that he’d married Eve, or that he’d had a twisted relationship with both women. The man was a fucking black hole of desire, never satisfied. But in that moment, I realized I didn’t care anymore about Eve or Kingpin’s personal shit. Sky and her betrayal were the last thing on my mind. My mind was consumed by Lexi, her emerald eyes, her fear, her grief.

I turned to leave, flicking a glance over my shoulder. “We’re done here.”

Kingpin barked a laugh. “For now, Maverick. But if you screw me over…”

“I won’t,” I snapped, then stomped back to my Harley. My blood pounded with anger, and something else. The need to keep Lexi safe, no matter who was behind this.

On my way out, I weaved between the thinning crowds. The rally was winding down, but there were still pockets of chaos, men swigging from beer bottles, women dancing, random bikes roaring. I was just about to pass a row of tents when a familiar high voice called, “Maverick…”

I turned to see Hoops stepping out of her rainbow-colored tent, wearing the same skimpy top I’d peeled off her a couple of nights ago. She gave me a flirty grin, her hula hoop on one arm.

“Hey, big dick,” she crooned, stepping in close and sliding a hand over my crotch. “You going somewhere? Thought we could have another good time.”

She grabbed me by the balls, literally, and I let out a hiss. “Jesus, woman, I’m kinda busy.”

She pouted. “Aw, come on. Don’t tell me you’re still playing white knight for that old lady’s daughter.”

I shoved her hand away, gently but firmly. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. Sorry, Hoops. Not interested.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You used me for a little fun, and now you’re blowing me off?”

I forced a tight smile. “It was mutual fun. Don’t pretend otherwise. Look, I got shit going on. That’s it.” And with that, I turned and headed for my Harley. I heard her curse under her breath, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was Lexi, her wide, tear-filled eyes and the way her voice quivered when she put all her faith in me.

Hoops was old news, just another distraction in a world full of them. Right now, I needed a clear head, and Lexi.

Chapter 17

When I finally returned to the safe-house cabin, it was late. My headlights shone on the tiny porch in the darkness, and my eyes scanned for trouble. So far, Lexi’s car and Chigger’s Harley was just where they’d left them. I killed the engine and stepped inside, finding the place mostly silent.

The bedroom I was supposed to share with Chigger’s door was shut and locked. I didn’t have to press my ear to the door to hear what was going on inside. Typical. Those two had become practically inseparable, which annoyed me a little, but I wasn’t their keeper.

In the bathroom, I scrubbed the dirt from the rally off my face. Tearing off my shirt, I planned to take a scalding shower. But I heard a noise. Stepping out into the hall, I ran into Lexi, still dressed in the clothes from earlier, holding a damn frying pan in the air. She froze when she saw me, relief flashing across her face.

“Easy, princess,” I whispered. “You planning on bashing someone’s skull in?”

“I heard noises,” she blurted. “I thought maybe we were being attacked.”

Drawn in by her, I couldn't resist getting closer. “Just your friend and Chigger having themselves a little midnight fun. The walls here aren’t exactly thick.”

Her face turned bright red. “Right. Um… You’re back.”

“Got back a few minutes ago,” I explained, shooting a glance to the cries of passion coming from the bedroom. “Didn’t feel like stepping into that, so I was gonna crash on the futon in the living room. But now….” I thought about the lumpy cushions. “I doubt I’ll get any peace with that going on.”

“You can, uh, take Nova’s bed in my room, if you want. I mean, she’s obviously not using it.”

My heart did a funny twist. “You sure?”

Lexi nodded eagerly. “Yeah. It’s fine. Let’s just…sleep.”

Damn, she was sexy. The way her lips trembled as her breathing quickened. This girl wanted me. It was written all over her face, but for some reason she was holding back. “All right. Lead the way.”

We headed down the hallway to her room. Sure enough, it had two small twin beds. Nova’s bed was empty. Since she’d obviously moved on to warmer company. Lexi cleared her throat and sat down the pan she’d still been clutching. She turned out the light, plunging the room into darkness. The faint moonlight through the curtains showed her silhouette as she crawled under the blanket of the other bed.

Getting rid of my boots, I sank onto the bed's edge nearest the door. Determined to give Lexi some space, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, letting my mind drift. The day had been pure chaos, from Kingpin’s bullshit to Hoops grabbing me to the never-ending swirl of confusion around Diana’s murder. But at least here, with Lexi a few feet away, I felt… calmer. She was within arm’s reach, so that meant I could get some rest.

I woke before dawn, a little light creeping in. Lexi was still out cold, facing the window. She looked oddly peaceful, notension across her brow like I’d seen before. A protective urge swelled in my chest as I watched her. There’s nothing I wanted more than to slip behind her, spoon her, comfort her. And then maybe have my way with her. But the girl was grieving the loss of her mother.

Quietly, I left the bedroom and went to the cramped bathroom. I showered quickly, cursing under my breath at the lukewarm water that sputtered from the old showerhead. When I emerged, dressed in fresh clothes, I noticed Chigger and Nova were still knocked out in the other room. No surprise there.

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