I was wondering when I was going to get to taste some of your sugar. I’ll be there at six.

She reread the message a dozen times, her cheeks heating, her stomach shaking. She was sure he wasn’t meaning her sugar. Mav was just a flirt. He couldn’t help how things sounded, especially through a text.

Six is fine. I’m not good at real cooking, so I just have dessert.

She wanted to make sure he wasn’t expecting a full-blown meal. Then he’d be disappointed. Oh, this was such a bad idea. She knew it was a bad idea, so why had she started this?

Tapping her toe, she waited for his reply. She didn’t have to wait too long, thankfully, or she might have begun pulling her hair out a few strands at a time.

Let’s go ahead and make this a work night. I’ll bring the food and we’ll make dinner together . . . and then have plenty of time for dessert . . .

His choice of wording made her clench her knees together.

Was she going to allow something to happen between the two of them? Did she even want another man to ever touch her again after what had been done to her? A week ago, she would have emphatically said no. She’d been terrified of even the softest of touches.

But in only a few days’ time, Maverick had managed to get beneath her skin and had made her begin to think about things she didn’t want to think about. She didn’t cringe when he touched her, didn’t hate it when he looked at her.

“What are you doing?”

So lost in her thoughts about Maverick, Lindsey hadn’t heard Stormy walking up. The greeting made her jump before she spun around and smiled.

“I was just strolling, taking Princess for a walk.” For some reason she guiltily stuffed her phone back into her pocket.

“Okay, Lins, something is up and I want to know what it is,” Stormy demanded as she followed Lindsey into the house.

“Nothing is up,” Lindsey said as she moved over to the cupboards to see what she had and what she might need. What dessert was she going to make? How badly did she want to impress this man?

“I feel like you’re shutting me out more and more each and every day,” Stormy said, her voice sad.

That stopped Lindsey in her tracks. She didn’t want to hurt her best friend. She turned and faced her, not quite ready to approach and wrap her arms around her, but still needing to comfort her.

“I . . . uh . . . I just invited Maverick over. He’s been really great to me and I wanted to do something for him,” Lindsey said in a rush of words.

Stormy’s eyes widened, and then she smiled.

“You weren’t going to tell me that!” she exclaimed.

“I don’t know,” Lindsey said as she shifted from foot to foot.

“You don’t think I’d be upset about it, do you?”

“Well . . .” Lindsey stalled.

“I think it’s great that you two can barely keep your eyes off each other,” Stormy exclaimed.

“We can keep our eyes off each other,” Lindsey insisted.

“Mmm-hmm,” Stormy said before chuckling.

“We can,” Lindsey insisted, feeling like a broken record.

“Well, I will make sure that Coop and I keep ourselves locked tightly inside the house tonight so there aren’t any interruptions. I’m going to take Princess too,” Stormy said as she sat down. Princess immediately went over and snuggled by her side.

“You don’t need to take Princess,” Lindsey said in almost a panic.

“You just ring me when the date is over, and I’ll bring her right back.”

“She doesn’t have to leave,” Lins said again.

“I want you to have a distraction-free night. What time is the date?” Stormy said, ignoring her protests.

“It’s at six, and it’s not a date. I’m just making him dessert as a thank you.”

“Sure, sure, not a date. Okay, I’ll pick up Princess in a couple hours.”

“Wait!” Lindsey said, stopping Stormy from leaving. Her friend looked at her patiently.

“I know Mav is your brother-in-law, and I don’t want to make things awkward for you. I just . . .” She stopped talking, feeling her cheeks heat.

Stormy’s eyes widened as her mouth hung open. She pulled herself together quickly, though.

“You don’t actually think I would be upset about the two of you becoming an item, do you?” she asked.

“Well . . . it could be awkward,” Lindsey said.

“Oh, Lins, not at all. I love Mav, and you know how much I love you. Why would I be upset about you two dating?” Stormy asked.

“Because when things go sour . . .” Lindsey stopped speaking.

“When?” Stormy said with a confused look. “Why do you assume it will go bad?” She sat back as if she were going to get comfortable.

“Come on, Storm, there’s no way this will be fairy-tale perfect,” Lindsey said. “I’m a realist.”

“You’re protecting yourself,” Stormy corrected. “And that’s okay. But don’t dwell on what could happen. Live in the moment. Enjoy yourself and know that you have my full support no matter what happens.”

“What if it gets bitter?” Lindsey said, choking out the words.

“Then we cross that road when it happens,” Stormy said reasonably.

“I can’t lose you, Stormy—not ever,” Lindsey said, tears threatening.

Stormy crossed the room and stood in front of Lindsey, not reaching out to her, but letting her know she was right there.