Page 11 of Maverick

“Thank you,” she said, taking it from his hands.

“I’ll make you some food while you’re in there. If you need anything, just call me.”

“Anything? You mean like wash my back?” she grinned.

“Fuck yes.” Her face turned beet red, her heart beating through her chest.

“I-I was joking. I mean, I was, but I wasn’t.” Mav laughed, nodding his head.

“It’s all good, Katelyn. I know you were kidding. Kind of, I hope. If you ever want that back washed, just let me know. I’d be more than happy to help.” He stared at her shocked face and then took a half step back. “Katelyn? Are you dating anyone? Have you dated anyone?”

“Dating? No. No, I haven’t had a date in two hundred and thirteen days, and it was a disaster.”

“Just one date?” he smirked, secretly hoping it had been only one.

“Only one within the last year. Yes. I think I’ll shower now,” she said, starting to close the door.

“Katelyn? When we get to Belle Fleur, you and I are going on a date.”

She watched as he walked back toward his friends, talking to them as if nothing had just happened. He didn’t ask her for a date. He told her they were going on a date. Normally, that would piss her off, but for some reason, it sent electricity through her body with Mav.

Inside the shower, she shook her head as she stripped and turned the water on. She was shocked to realize that it came out at almost the perfect temperature. No cold shock. No blast of scalding heat. It was wonderful and relaxing.

Whatever the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were made from, it was possibly the most divine smell she’d ever experienced.

A date. He’d asked her if she was dating. It was such a joke. Guys hated that she was always working, yet couldn’t talk about her work. They were insecure and accused her of seeing other guys.

“If I don’t have time to see you, how do you think I have time to see someone else?” she asked the last guy. He didn’t have a good response. Just a goodbye. She was twenty-seven years old and had slept with exactly three guys.

Well, slept was the wrong word. None of them spent the night. When they were done, they left. Two tried to call for another date, but Katelyn knew it was a waste of time. She had too much on her plate. Besides, the sex was nothing like the romance novels she’d read. Nothing! No fireworks, no steamy, sweaty bodies spent with satisfaction, and definitely no creativity.

There wasn’t a hair dryer available, so she twisted as much of the water out of her hair as she could, then braided it down her back. Looking in the mirror, she frowned at herself.

“Wonderful. Now you look twelve.” When she stepped out of the bathroom and walked toward her seat, she heard the men gasp, and then Mav turned, staring at her.

“Son-of-a-bitch.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Uh, there wasn’t a hair dryer. I mean, I know I look like a little kid. I can’t help it. That’s what happens when I can’t dry my hair or put on makeup.” They all just stared at her. “Will someone say something? Did I miss some dirt on my face?”

Chipper laughed, shaking his head.

“No, honey. You showed them what you really are. Gorgeous. Naturally, unblemished, pure and simple. Gorgeous. That makes the young fellas all choked up and unable to speak. They’ll catch their breath in a minute.”

“Oh. Oh, well. I mean, thank you, Chipper.” Mav stood and walked toward her, taking her hand and pulling her toward the galley.

“Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?” she asked, looking at him. She looked back at the rest of the men, who had strange looks on their faces.

“Not a fucking thing. You’re perfect. Perfection. You are so damn beautiful. Chipper was right. You just took my breath away when you walked out of the shower,” he said, stumbling over his words like a lost child.

“Thank you,” she smiled. “I thought I’d done something wrong.”

“I knew you were beautiful. I could see you, how gorgeous you are, smart, funny. I don’t know, maybe the hot water, the flush of your skin. I-I’m struggling for the right words. I meant what I said, Katelyn. I want to take you on a date when we get to Belle Fleur.”

“I thought I had to stay hidden.”

“You do,” he said, stroking her cheek. “We do. We’ll be together.”

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