Page 11 of Teasing

No explanation.

No wiggle room.

Just the order.

Well, alrighty then.

“You know it’s about twenty-seven steps,” I tell him as I stand in front of him with my hands planted firmly on my hips and my head tilted back because the big grump is so darn tall.

“Did you count?” he asks, and Jamie laughs.

Does this guy ever get mad? I swear he’s laughed and joked all night. He might just be the most even-tempered, easygoing guy I’ve ever met. Basically, Maverick’s opposite.

“Just let him walk you home, or he is gonna be pissy all night,”Ryker warns me, and I take the bait he just dangled, whether he realizes it or not.

“I’m sorry. Is this him in a good mood?”I ask and run my teeth over my lower lip, imagining what a good mood looks like on Maverick Beneventi.

Oh yeah . . . that’s a pretty picture.

“Heh heh heh,” Ryker mocks his brother, and the look Maverick throws his way shuts him right down.

Big brothers suck.

“Whatever,” I murmur. “Okay, Cujo. Walk me home,” I give in, and this time Jamie and Ryker both snicker.“Good night, boys.”

“Night, Emmie,” they call back as Maverick slides his hand to the small of my back, and sweet baby Jesus. His giant palm takes up the entire span of my back and sears my skin right through my linen dress.

I take a step forward, hoping he’ll drop the contact, but he doesn’t.

We walk in silence for the minute it takes to cross our properties.

“Have you lived here long?” Maverick asks once we’re past the arborvitaes that separate the properties.

“My whole life,” I tell him and climb the steps to the front porch, not thinking he’ll follow me, but he does.

When I reach for my doorknob and turn, he crosses his thick arms, and I immediately miss the contact I try to convince myself I wasn’t enjoying. “You were really good with Rosie tonight.”

He might seem like Cujo most of the time, but when this beast of a man talks about his daughter, his whole body softens, even if he doesn’t realize it.

“I love kids, and she seems like a great one. If you decide to let her take ballet and need help getting her there, let me know,” I offer, and as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. He’s probably going to bite my head off.

“Annabelle’s been bugging me for a while to let her take dance classes,” he admits almost sheepishly.

“You know Annabelle?” The owner of Hart & Soul is one of the kindest, coolest women I’ve ever known. And I guess it wouldmake sense that he’d know her. Her husband is the head coach of the Kings.

“Yeah. She’s my godmother. My parents and her and her husband are close. If you work for her, you must be good people.”

I stare into his navy-blue eyes, trying to figure out if he’s serious right now.

Who says that to someone?

“Umm . . . thanks, I think.” What the heck?

Maverick blows out a frustrated breath and runs his big tattooed hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Not sure there are too many ways to take that, buddy.” I turn my knob and open the front door, but Maverick grabs it before I can push it all the way open.

“Why wasn’t your door locked?” he growls.

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