Page 59 of The Maverick's Forever Home
She sat up and stared at the bag of dime-store candy.“You bought these for me tonight?”She’d been in a fog of lust, and he’d been responsible enough to buy condoms and thoughtful enough to get her candy.
He nodded, his brows dipping.“You said you liked cherry sours, didn’t you?”
She nodded, her emotions ping-ponging all over the place.Her eyes started burning.
“It’s nothing much.”His smile was slipping.“No big deal.”
“You’re wrong.”She scooted across the blanket until she was pressed beside him.“It’s thoughtful and sweet.Thatmakes it a big deal.”This time, she worried her heart had gotten it right.How would she recover when it all fell apart?
“Are you sad?”He wiped at the corner of her eyes.“Dammit, Maggie, I thought—”
She raised up on her knees and silenced him with a kiss.If she didn’t, she’d say it.She’d admit she loved him and there’d be no way to take it back.She wasn’t ready to face the truth.There were too many variables.Like real life.Real life was kids and jobs and family and everyday chores and responsibilities.The two of them were already struggling with this.
And she had to go back to work.
She couldn’t break her promise to Angelique.How could she when there were so many women and children that needed an advocate?That was all it took for her to shove her feelings deep, deep down inside of her.Her goal in life was to give back.Even if she tried to stay and make it work with Braden, she’d never be able to live with the guilt of breaking her promise—and deserting those who had no one to speak for them.
But what did that mean for she and Braden?
* * *
Braden hadn’t slept a wink.When Maggie dozed off, he’d watched her.He was afraid if he closed his eyes, he’d wake up to discover all of this had been a dream.He couldn’t let that happen.Their night together had given him a glimpse into what love could be.Passion, yes, but laughter, too.When he hadn’t been discovering new ways to make her orgasm, they’d talked.A lot.Some of it was big, important stuff, but mostly, it was silly things.And the sillier it was, the more she laughed.He liked making her laugh almost as much as he liked making her climax.Well, hell, it was a toss-up.
But now she was sound asleep against his shoulder and he was driving them home.They’d tried to get out of bed at the crack of dawn but it hadn’t worked.One touch, one look, and he couldn’t keep his hands off her.Lucky for him, she was the same.But checkout time rolled around, and they could no longer delay the inevitable.
Besides, Delilah and Cody would definitely have questions if the two of them weren’t there after school.
“Sorry.”Maggie’s voice was thick with sleep.She yawned, sitting up to peer through the windshield.With a sigh, she turned to him—her face tilted up.
He dropped a kiss on her waiting lips and slid his arm around her, keeping her beside him.In a few minutes, he’d be turning into the drive of her family home and leaving her.Until then, he wasn’t going to let her go.“Get some sleep?”
She nodded, grinning.“More than I did last night.”
He chuckled.“I don’t remember you complaining.”
“That’s because I didn’t complain.”She rested her head on his shoulder again.“The drive was quick.”She caught his right hand with both of hers.
“Was it?”He smiled, keeping his voice light.“Or are you saying you’re not ready to let me go?”Because that’s exactly how he was feeling.
She squeezed his hand but didn’t say a word.Not when they turned off the highway and pulled into the Cooper Ranch.Not when he parked at the main house and turned off the truck.She sat, holding his hand, totally silent.
“You okay, Maggie?”He rested his head on top of hers.
She nodded.“I’m a little sad.”
“Why?”He pulled her against him and slid his arms around her.
“Because I’m not ready to let you go.”She looked up at him.
“Now that you’re my girlfriend, I can drop by more often.”He loved the way her face lit up with her smile.“It’s my right as a boyfriend, isn’t it?”
“You’re my boyfriend,” she whispered, a hint of mischief to her grin.“Well,boyfriend, why don’t you and Delilah come for dinner?”She blinked.“If you don’t have plans or—”
He kissed her.“We will be here.”He kissed her again, then stared down at her.“I need you to do something for me.”
“Okay.”She was wearing the sexy, sleepy smile from last night—the one that got his heart thumping.
“Take a nap and rest.”He pressed a finger to her lips to stop her from interrupting.“You were sick, Maggie.I don’t want last night causing a setback.I’d feel guilty as hell if I did that to you.Promise me you’ll take a nap.”He lifted his finger.
