“Nothing in this world would ever make you lose me. Just like I know that you will always be there for me. We are so much more than friends. We’re sisters by choice. And I have no problem causing physical harm to my dear brother-in-law if he hurts you.”

She said this so seriously that Lindsey couldn’t help but smile.

“I promise you, I won’t ever ask you to maim Maverick, no matter what,” Lindsey said.

“You wouldn’t have to ask. That’s just what best friends do for each other,” Stormy said.

Before Lindsey realized what she was doing, she leaned forward and tugged Stormy close, giving her the first hug in a year. Stormy was shocked for a moment and then she wrapped her arms around her friend and clung on tight.

When they let go, Stormy had tears coming down her cheeks.

“I love you, Lins, more than almost anyone in this world.”

“I love you too, Storm.”

“I’m running away now so I can soak up this moment.”

Before Lindsey could say anything more, Stormy rushed out, sniffling as she practically ran up the trail to the main house. Lindsey looked at Princess, who gazed at her a moment before shutting her eyes again and continuing her nap.

It was a pretty perfect day—even with all these emotions coursing through her. She felt happiness she hadn’t thought she would ever feel again. Her life was getting back on the right path.

Maverick being in her life was the best thing that had ever happened to her. That was a sobering thought, but not enough that she wanted to stop the ride she was on.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Files tucked beneath his arm, flowers in his hand, a grocery sack in the other, Maverick walked quickly up to Lindsey’s door, feeling awkward with the damn cast. The sweat on his palm was simply because it was hot outside. It had nothing to do with nerves.

Maverick didn’t get nervous before dates—umm, meetings—even impromptu ones when the girl invited him to come over. He was too far above something so silly as that. Still, he stopped in front of her door, set down the items he was carrying, and wiped his sweaty palms against his jeans.

It would be good to get into some air conditioning, that was for sure. Picking up the items, he rang the bell, then impatiently waited for her to open the door.

When she did, his palms became sweaty all over again. Beautiful was too tame a word to describe her with her hair pulled up in a hazardous bun, an apron draped across her body trying to disguise her beautiful lush breasts and full hips, and a genuine smile upon her lips along with a sprinkling of flour.

Even with only a smidgeon of makeup on her naturally beautiful, somewhat olive complexion, she was stunning. She really had no clue how appealing she was. Maybe that was just one more thing he appreciated about her.

As much as he was fighting against his father’s last wishes, this girl made him think he might just want to cave in to the terms of his father’s will. It was something he would have to tell her about so she would never think he wanted her for money. She wouldn’t think that. He had enough of his own already. Hell, he’d sign away every penny to his organization. Maybe she didn’t have to know.

No! He wasn’t considering marriage. That was foolish. He just wanted to be with her. It didn’t have to be forever. Damn, his mind was a mess.

“You’re a little early,” she said with a shy smile, snapping him out of his wayward thoughts.

“I didn’t want the food to go bad,” he lamely replied as he took a step forward, instantly wanting to lay his head against her shoulder and inhale her intoxicating floral scent. It was a subtle mixture that drove him crazy anytime he was around the woman.

“Let me take that from you.” She reached out for the bag.

“You take these. I’ll deal with the groceries,” he offered as he handed her the flowers.

She inhaled their scent and that simple gesture stirred images of her trailing her nose down his body doing the same to him. Dang! It was hot outside, and the house felt like a furnace had exploded.

“What are we eating?” she asked as she trailed after him into the small kitchen. She found a vase and took her time arranging the flowers until she had them just right.

“Salmon and rice,” he said. His voice must have been tight, because she looked up a bit startled, but Mav knew she had feelings for him. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her body. He wanted to scrap dinner and go right to dessert, and the sweetness he wanted to devour had nothing to do with whatever she’d been working on this afternoon.

“That sounds great,” she said before moving away from the flowers and pulling something out of the oven when the timer went off.

“Something smells delicious,” he said as he peeked at the cake she was taking out.

“It’s just a cake with chocolate and strawberries,” she said nervously.

“Mmm, aphrodisiacs,” he told her with a laugh.

“They are not!” Her eyes went wide as she gazed at him in surprise.

“Are you nervous around me, sugar?”

He backed her into the counter as he brought himself a little bit closer, inhaling her sweet perfume mixed with the scent of the sweet dessert in the air. He needed just one little taste. Barely brushing his body against hers, he leaned in and gently sucked the skin of her neck.

“No,” she panted. “Okay, a little.”

The sigh escaping after her words made his thickness even harder. There wasn’t a time he ever recalled wanting a woman as much as he wanted this one—especially without taking what he wanted. Hell, nope, not even then. This desire was unquenchable, he feared.