Page 42 of Stay for Forever

Chapter 15

People who say money can’t buy happiness have never paid a pet adoption fee.

Ipark the bikes on Mav’s lawn and stare up at his house. Once upon a time, I thought the Colonial style house would become my home. The oversized fenced-in yard is perfect for my dogs, while the fancy kitchen with every appliance known to man would be perfect for me. Not to mention how I would die to relax in the clawfoot bathtub after a day of working at the Wildlife Refuge.

Snort. I was such an idiot. In what world would movie star Maverick Langston want me for his happily ever after? Not this one.

Shake it off, Juniper. This is not the moment to worry about what ifs. Not when I’m here on a mission I’ve dubbed ‘stop being a bitch’.

I spent the night thinking and thinking and thinking some more about what my sisters said and came to the conclusion I definitely didn’t want to come to. I’m being too hard on Mav. Was he wrong to kiss another woman? Yes. No doubt about it. But it wasn’t real. Could he have warned me in advance? Damn straight he could have. Am I holding on to my grudge because my feelings for Mav scare the living daylights out of me? Definitely.

Enough with being scared out of my mind. If I can face off with a pissed off cougar, I can definitely handle this. I march up the porch steps and knock on the door.

Mav’s smile lights up his face when he answers. “June Bug.”

Great. As if I weren’t already feeling like an asshole, he has to grace me with his genuine smile. Ugh.

“I’m here to teach you how to ride a bike,” I blurt out before I can tell him I want to have his babies. What am I thinking? I have lost my dang mind. It’s the smile I tell you. It makes me think all kinds of crazy thoughts.

“What? Ride a bike?”

I indicate the bikes. “Not the vroom-vroom, I’m James Dean and cool in a t-shirt and jeans, bike. A bicycle with two wheels you have to pedal.”

His lips twitch. “Vroom-vroom?”

“Shaddup. I’ve never taught someone to ride a bike before. I spent half the night watching YouTube videos. I’m tired and not thinking clearly.” I pat my pants to check they don’t light on fire after my ginormous lie.

“You didn’t need to do that. I don’t need to know how to ride a bike. I have the golf cart.”

I cross my arms over my chest and watch as his gaze dips to my cleavage. I quickly drop my arms before my nipples pebble to show off how much I enjoy him gazing at my body like he can’t wait to devour me. Head out of the gutter, Juniper!

“I heard from a very reliable source you’ve been driving your car in town.”

He cocks an eyebrow and his eyes sparkle. Dang. Why does he have to be this handsome? “A very reliable source?”

“If you’re planning to stay in town, you best learn now Winter Falls is a bed of gossip.” I pause. “Assuming you are planning to stay.”

“My plans haven’t changed, June Bug. I’m here to stay.”

My belly warms at his declaration. Maverick Langston around town 365 days a year? I could learn to love him being here permanently. Learn to love? Really, Juniper? You need to stop lying to yourself.

“In which case, you should learn to ride a bike.”

“Do I have to?” he whines.

I scrunch my nose as I study his stiff posture. “Are you afraid?”

He growls. “No.”

“Alrighty then. Let’s do this.” I march to the bikes and gesture toward the one I borrowed for him. He retreats with his hands up. “I can’t learn on this bike. It’s a girl’s bike.”

“Beep! Wrong. All bikes are unisex. The only difference is size and fit.” When he doesn’t appear any closer to wanting to come near, I decide to try a different tactic. “I never thought I’d witness the day Maverick Langston was a chicken.” I tap my cheek. “Oh wait. There was the time he ran away from a giant, adorable rodent.”

He growls. “Those capybaras have it out for me.”

I giggle. “Sure, they do.”

“Fine. What do I do?”

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