Page 86 of Cop Daddy Next Door

“I feel remarkably calm.”

“Because you know you’re marrying a great guy.”

I might’ve been mixed up about damn near everything right now when it came to me and Maverick, but I knew his brother was right for my sister. Brady was a rare one.

I was beginning to believe that might be a McNeill trait. It scared me to pieces, but that fact kept sneaking up on me when I least expected it.

Maybe Brady wasn’t the only decent guy around, after all.

The sliding door opened behind us, and Maverick filled the doorway. His wide shoulders showed off a snug T-shirt that looked at least ten years old. Maybe something out of his childhood closet.

I had a feeling Mav had been just as hot as a high school student, but maybe he was just a bit more filled out now. And boy, did I enjoy it.

His fond gaze drifted from my sister to me, his expression cooling. The punch of unhappiness rolled through me and made me want to go to him.

To say I was sorry.

That I really didn’t know what the heck I was thinking, making him feel crappy about standing up for me and the baby. Well, the teeny tiny speck of a bean growing inside of me that was going to be a baby.

His gaze narrowed on me.

Could he hear the streaming insanity going on inside my head?

Was he feeling it too?

My sister looked between us with a raised brow. “Why don’t you go check on the backyard?”

“Right. I’ll go check and make sure everything is all set.” I gave Tab a quick hug and one more pat. “Go sit down and put those feet up.”

“I’m going,” she said with a sigh. “I’m so sick of sitting,” she muttered as she waddled her way to the recliner.

I crossed to Mav. The closer I got to him, the more his chocolate eyes went from hard to molten. His gaze drifted over my romper to the length of leg it showed off with my heels. I definitely didn’t wear these kinds of shoes too often.

“How’s it going out there?”

“Why don’t you come see? Think you can navigate the grass in those stilts?”

I lifted my chin. “I can run ten miles in heels—at least I used to be able to in my clubbing days.”

He folded his arms. “Is that so?”

“Well, what’s the fun of traveling the world if you don’t have fun?” It felt like a million years ago, but my youth was full of seedy bars, hostels, and probably a few too many close calls with dangerous places.

Being young and invincible felt like a long time ago. And while I liked his interested gaze, I really wished I had my Crocs. But pride had me marching after his long stride.

“Hey, where’s Francie?”

Mav looked over his shoulder. “Hanging out with her grandpa.” He pointed toward his father who had Francie sticking out of his coveralls. She was happily snuggled under his beardy chin as the barrel-chested man was placing center pieces on each table.

A large white tent was tucked along the back of the property beside a massive oak. Gossamer thin material floated on the light early morning breeze, drawing my attention away from the simple and elegant tables to the tree.

“Oh, Mav.”

He reached back to me and I took his hand as we crossed to the tree where two beautiful bird cages were hung on the sturdy branch that shaded a lovely spot on the lawn.

Scars in the bark made me wonder if a swing used to hang right there. Little Mav swinging there on a summer day was far too easy to see. Maybe pushing Honey on that same swing.

Perhaps he’d do it for our baby.

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