Page 83 of Falling Stars

Squinting at me, he taps his clipboard again. “You might need to hold off on the fun stuff for a while. I’m surprised your doctor gave you the go-ahead for sex.”

I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, about that. Technically, I didn’t ask.”

“I get it, Maverick, but if you want to take your rehab seriously, you have to be methodical about how you increase your physical activity.”

We go through a series of stretches and mild exercises. He spends the next half hour poking and prodding, making me turn this way and that. Testing my flexibility and strength.

Then he sits me down to lay out some rules.

Something tells me I’m not gonna like what he has to say.

28

BAYLEE

“Someone’s in a good mood,”Vera calls out as I walk by with a smile.

“It’s a beautiful day. I’m appreciating the weather.”

I can’t tell my employees I’m in a great mood because I had the best sex of my life. I keep it to myself all day. When I can’t stand it anymore, I finally reach for my phone and text Paige.

Me: We did the thing.

Paige: Thing? What thing?

Me: THE thing.

Paige: OMG, YOU HAD SEX?!!!

Me: YESSSSS.

Paige: Was it amazing?

Me: SO. FUCKING. GOOD. I’m walkingfunny today.

Paige: You got dick-matized! LOL. Those Walker boys know what they’re doing. *laughing emoji* Guess this means you’re not moving to the ranch.

Me: He wants me to stay. He was so sweet last night. HE SPOONED ME!

Paige: SHUT UP. This is MAJOR.

Me: I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

Paige: DID YOU TELL HIM THAT???

Me: No, I’m not dumb.

Paige: You’re going to marry him and be my sister-in-law!!! I KNOW IT!

I sigh at the idea. Marrying Maverick would be a fairytale ending, but I’m not sure small-town hairstylists marry big-time NFL stars.

Me: I’d love nothing more, but that’s not what I think is going to happen.

Paige: Do you have a feeling?

I don’t get a chance to respond before the bell over the door jingles, and a familiar male voice calls out my name. There goes my afterglow.

With a lump of chew in his bottom lip, Sean waves at the women in my shop. “Ladies. Y’all are looking lovely as ever.”

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