Page 12 of Teasing

Legit growls.

And why is that hot?

I side-eye the grumpy giant and realize if I spend much more time with him, I’m going to have to come up with more creative ways to call this guy a giant jerk at this rate.

“I was next door with three professional football players built like tanks and one cute attack dog all night. Why would I lock it?” It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone lecture me about locking a door.

“Butters is more likely to lick someone to death than she is to attack them.” He steps around me and walks right into my house, like he’s been invited in.

“Why sure, Maverick. Come right in. Make yourself at home,” I murmur, a little annoyed and a little uncomfortable having someone in my space.

“I’m making sure it’s safe,” he deadpans, and for a second I think he’s joking.

But this guy is serious.

I close the door behind me and flip the light switch as Maverick walks around the first floor like a TV cop, checking the rooms. “You okay if I check upstairs?”

“You’re kidding me, right? There’s no one here.” I walk over to the stairs and flip that light switch too. “If someone was upstairs, the lights would be on, or they’d have climbed out a window by now.”

His eyes grow ten sizes too big for his face. “What the fuck, woman?”

The low tenor of his voice is almost more disturbing than the growl.

He marches past me and up the stairs, and the look on his face is murderous—and hot. Seriously hot. What the heck is wrong with me?

I follow behind him and feel my cheeks flame when he walks into the hall bathroom, then turns around and immediately walks out with pink-tinged cheeks.

Oh my God. I handwash my bras and hang them from the shower curtain rod in that bathroom since no one uses it. There’s got to be four hanging in there right now.

Oops.

“You’re right. No one’s in here. But fuck. Lock your goddamned door, so I don’t have to tell my daughter you were murdered in your sleep because you let some fucking scumbag walk right in,” he might as well yell in my face.

My mouth opens on a gasp, and I shove at his solid chest. “Get. Out.”

I leave no room for argument, even if I don’t manage to move him at all.

“Emmie—” His voice doesn’t soften, but it does change.

“Nope. You can leave now. And in case you were wondering, you’re the only jerk who’s walked into my house uninvited. Sothanks for that. Now, you can go.” My hands shake as I wrap them around myself.

I will not cry again today.

Not now and not in front of this man.

Maverick’s eyes darken, and his shoulders tighten. “I shouldn’t?—”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t. Now go.” I walk right past him into my bedroom and slam the door, then change my mind, turn back, and crack it open just to look at him again. “I’ll lock the door after you leave.”

This time when I slam it, the pictures on the wall shake.

I hear him shuffle closer to the door and close my eyes, hoping he doesn’t say something to make this worse. Thankfully, he doesn’t. He stands quietly on the other side for a few minutes before he finally leaves.

A few minutes after that, I lock the door.

Stupid jerk.

MAVERICK

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