Page 36 of Teasing

The way Maverick blushes has me so shocked, you could knock me over with a tutu.

Literally blushes.

“What kind of magic do you have that I don’t?” she asks me, and I bite back my smile. “Because I’ve been bugging him for months.”

“She’s been teaching me in the backyard,” Rosie proclaims, loud and proud, the way only a child can.

“It sounds like I’ll be teaching you here in the fall, my little rose.” I hoist her up a little further on my hip when she starts to slide down. “Did your daddy tell you I’m coming over tonight to stay with you?”

Her big brown eyes widen. “You are?”

“I sure am. How does some homemade, Rosie-approved ice cream and a little movie marathon sound?” My plan starts to form in my mind, grocery list and all.

“I can’t have ice cream, Emmie.” My heart breaks for this poor little girl who looks so disappointed at the thought.

“You’ll be able to have this ice cream. I promise. Even your daddy will approve.”

Mistake number one... looking to her daddy for approval.

Mistake number two... liking what I see looking back at me.

“Oh, I bet he will,” Annabelle murmurs before handing Maverick a Heart & Soul Academy of Dance folder. “I’ll see you at the game next week, Mav.”

“Thanks, Belle.”

Maverick takes Rosie from me and plants her feet on the floor. “Come on, kiddo. We’ve got errands to run.”

“Do we have to?” Rosie pouts, and I hide my smile because that right there is a whole mood. She blinks up at her father, smiles at me for a hot second before looking back at him, and I swear I feel that single smile from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

Damn . . .

“Briar Rose... I told you we had errands to run after this.” Mav stands firm, or at least he tries to.

“Can we stop by Aunt Amelia’s for a cupcake?” Rosie tries to negotiate. “I’m really hungry, and she always has special ones for me.”

“Aunt Amelia doesn’t work on Saturday mornings,” he tries to reason, but Rosie’s ready for it.

She shrugs her little shoulders. “But the cupcakes will still be there.”

I can already see him giving in, “You’re going to grow up to be a hostage negotiator at this rate, kid. You know that, don’t you?”

“Do they eat cupcakes?” she asks so innocently, I’m glad I’m standing behind her so she can’t see the look on my face. But Mav can, and he looks like he wants to kill me... or maybe spank me.

Okay... No moreSex and the Citybefore bed.

There will be no spanking.

At least not withmyass.

Because that man in front of me is going out to a bar tonight with friends, and I’m staying home with his daughter. Pretty sure that sums it up right there, which is fine because I’m not looking for a man. Men leave. Everyone leaves eventually.

After my final class of the day ends, Annabelle comes out of her office, shutting off the lights behind her as she goes. “How are you doing, Emmie?”

“I’m okay.” And I am. Sort of. Even if it’s been a rough few days.

“How are things going at Maverick’s? I heard a rumor you were helping him out.”

“They’re going. Rosie is a sweetheart. Jamie is a giant flirt. Ryker is so easygoing, and Maverick is...” I trail off, unsure how to finish that thought. “Well... he’s Maverick.”

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