Page 18 of Brewing Brilliance

“I’m not sure who these are from, but you’re one lucky lady, Spencer. They’re gorgeous.”

“Awe, I bet they’re from her boyfriend!” Seraphine teases. I grab the card out of the flowers, but before I get a chance to read it, someone else speaks up.

“Oh, boyfriend? I didn’t know you were dating anyone, Spencer. Good for you. Who’s the lucky guy?” I didn’t even realize Aileen was sitting with Brant until she spoke up. Her grin looks smug instead of sweet like I’m sure she’s going for. It doesn’t help that I catch the side eye smirk she shoots towards Jasmine. I wonder how long that smirk will last once she hears I’m dating Maverick.

“Um, I’m not sure if you would know him, but I’ve been dating Maverick Sanders, the owner of The Tavern, for a little over a month now.” Her smile drops and is immediately replaced with a snarl.

“You’re dating Maverick? Yeah, I’m sure you are.”

“Um, what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Seraphine spits out before I can even say anything. I elbow her in the ribs because even though Aileen is being a royal bitch, she still is one of our bosses.

“Well, it’s a fact that everyone knows that Maverick doesn’t date. I can’t imagine you two even have anything in common, no offense.” She sneers as she looks at me from head to toe and obviously finds me lacking.

“None taken, but I can assure you that we are indeed dating and have been for a little bit. And we have way more in common than you’d think. But I can understand how it’s hard to wrap your head around it. Lord knows I’ve been trying to figure out how I got so lucky to have this man’s undivided attention.” The smile I go for is innocent, but it’s also genuine because he does make me feel like I’m his sole focus. It’s been a long time since someone made me feel that way.

I can tell Aileen wants to say something else, but she looks around as if remembering where she is before sending me a tight smile and going back to her lunch. I can’t help but think that she’s going to be difficult for me this year, but I’m not going to make an issue where there isn’t necessarily an issue.

I pluck the card from the flowers and smile at the sweet message from Mav. It’s simple and adorable and I’m stupidly excited to see him tonight. The flowers were exactly the extra push I needed to make it through the afternoon.

Sera and I are on pick up duty today, so imagine my shock when I see Maverick waiting outside to get Patrick. It’s chaos as parents snag their kids and you can hear the excited chatter about the first day back, but it all fades into the background as I watch Maverick as he stares me down with a hungry look on his face.

Most of the kids are gone when he stalks up to me holding Patrick’s hand as he recounts his day to Mav. I’m holding my breath as I wait to see how he’ll greet me.

“Hey buddy, give me one second to say hi to Miss Wilson, okay.” Pat nods to him and giggles the sweetest little boy giggle as he watches Maverick come over to me and kiss the life out of me. We stop once Seraphine whistles and I remember where I’m at.

“Maverick…” I’m breathing heavily and clinging to him as he holds me tight and smiles down at me. I get butterflies in my stomach but chalk it up to making out in front of the school for anyone to see. He tucks a strand of hair that came loose from my ponytail behind my ear before slowly stepping back.

“Hey Sweets. Sorry about that, but I couldn’t wait to see you tonight. I wanted to surprise you when I picked Pat up. I hope it was a good surprise.” I just bite my lip and nod because my brain is still trying to catch up to what’s going on around me.

“Alright, well little man and I are going to head out. I’ll see you at dinner, right?” I just nod and try to get my breathing regulated while I watch the boys leave. It isn’t until they are gone that I can finally breathe again.

“Hot damn, Spence.” Sera is fanning her face as I turn back around, mine still on fire from Maverick’s kiss. It takes me a minute to realize she had her phone out.

“Did you record that?”

“Obviously. I told Chayse and Emerson I’d keep them in the loop, and they agreed as well.”

“Seriously!?! I can’t believe you all. Well, I mean, I can but you all are ridiculous.” We’re finally back in the sanctuary of my classroom where I can try and wrap my head around what just happened.

“Are you sure this is fake, because that kiss was hot as fuck. Maverick looked like he wanted to eat you as he stalked over to you from the pick up line. I mean, he practically did eat you with that kiss. It was so hot.”

“Um, chemistry is most definitely not our issue, but I know where we stand. Besides, that’s why we have the rules.”

“If you say so, but I don’t think I could kiss a man the way you did without feeling some way towards him.”

I choose not to answer as I tidy up the reading circle after a fun day talking about Dr. Seuss and reading the kiddos a few of his books. Seraphine takes another area, and we have it cleaned and ready for a new day of learning in no time. It’s so much easier since we are able to fall back into our routines since we’ve done this together for years. We head home and it gives me a little time before I need to head out to see Mav.

Before I know it, it’s 6:15 and I need to head out so that I won’t be late for dinner with Maverick. When I get to The Tavern, I find him standing behind the bar working on an order. The two girls sitting in front of him flirt with him relentlessly.

I’m shocked at the sudden surge of jealousy. I’ve never been the jealous type, so this is a new feeling for me. Thankfully my rational brain kicks in and their attempts become comical more than anything. Maverick is being attentive without being suggestive and it gives me a huge relief since he hasn’t even seen me come in yet.

Just then, he looks up and locks eyes with me. I slowly make my way to the bar as I watch him finish getting the order ready before heading my way. He stops right in front of me before he soars over the bar and is standing beside my barstool crowding me in. He steps closer before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. I wrap my hands around his waist, content to be allowed to be this close to him.

I can’t help but tease him. “What, don’t want to heat things up a little more since we’re at your place of employment instead of mine?” I cross my arms and lift an eyebrow at him, but I can’t refrain from smiling at him and letting him know I’m teasing.

“No, Sweets. I still have a raging hard-on from the first encounter with your sweet mouth earlier. I’m not sure if my balls could handle another kiss like that right now.” I instantly flush at his filthy mouth. I hated dirty talk from Brant, but that’s probably because it was so out of character for him that it was way more awkward than sexy. But Maverick, he can say all the dirty things to me, and my blush will only get worse as my lady bits heat up more for him. Needing to get things back in the more friendly zone, I pull back from him a bit.

“So, are we just going to eat dinner at the bar?” He gets a big grin before slowly shaking his head and then tipping it towards the corner. I turn my head and gasp. Maverick went all out decorating the table and making it as romantic as can be. It also looks like he isn’t having anyone sitting in the tables immediately surrounding ours, giving us more privacy.

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