Page 19 of Finding Forever

This beautifully confident and unbelievably handsome businessman was nervous. Because ofme.

“I want to see more of you once we’re home,” he stated, his hand coasting over my jawline until he moved down towards my neck. His hand rested at my nape as he stared down at me.

I felt hot all over despite the breeze I had appreciated earlier.

“You’re special, Gina.”

His statement left no room for argument. He sounded sosure. And for once, I silenced the voice in my head and let myself believe the good things someone said.

“Maybe we can get a sitter and have a grown-up dinner one of these days. Just the two of us?”

As much as I wanted to entertain the thought, I had my doubts. And I voiced them.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Victoria and Chris are in a relationship, it would seem…” I feared that our ex-spouses had already called shotgun on that one.

“I don’t care. I want more of your time. No one controls our outcome but us. They have their thing and it has nothing to do with us.”

“It haseverythingto do with us, Maverick. Can’t you see? They’re the reason we met in the first place. They’re the reason our kids knew each other before this trip. They’re the reason we spent so much time together these last two weeks. It all comes back to them. Please tell me you get that.”

There was a pleading note in my voice that I didn’t care to hide. My emotions were as raw as they could get.

“The only thing I care about is getting more of your undivided attention.”

I sputtered, trying to make him understand. “But it’s not that easy.”

“Who said anything about easy? I’m a grown man, Gina. I don’t shy away from a challenge.”

I didn’t have a comeback for that. Instead, I anxiously gnawed at my bottom lip and felt him lift my chin to meet his gaze.

“I like you, Gina. And I have a feeling you like me, too. Why fight that?” A warm feeling spread throughout my entire body.

“Okay,” I finally conceded, feeling like a weight had just been lifted off my shoulders.

“I was hoping you’d say that because I’ve been longing to do this for a while.”

His lips found mine and laid claim to a kiss that stirred me from head to toe. His hands found my waist and dragged me closer to him, so that there was nothing separating us. His mouth was hot against mine, coaxing a soft moan out of me as he deepened the kiss.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been kissed, but I knew for a fact that I hadneverexperienced a kiss like this. My whole body felt wrapped up in our lip lock. To the point where I needed to come up for air or I was sure to combust right there on the spot.

“Wow,” I muttered, reaching up to touch my lips.

“You taste as good as I suspected,” Maverick said, his voice soft, but still perfectly clear.

Silence blanketed us as I absorbed the gravity of the kiss.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not sure any of my thoughts are coherent right about now.”

My words couldn’t have been truer. Everything in my head felt like a jumble, but the peace I felt in my heart was another thing.

I didn’t know what lay ahead for us, but I suddenly wanted to see.

Maverick

“Here are your tickets, sir. Your personal tour guide will be right with you. Enjoy your visit.” The lady at the service desk handed over four passes, and I returned to our group with a grin on my face. I hadn’t stopped smiling since I woke up, and I was starting to wonder if it would ever fade.

If it wasn’t for my good mood, I probably wouldn’t have been so easily swayed to stop at a cheese museum on our way home. The kids had gone wild after seeing one too many billboards for “Cheez World” on the way home, so Gina and I had given in.

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