London was back at his mom’s flower shop. The place had been mostly cleaned up. They’d hired Maia’s driver, Allister, of all people to finish the repairs on the brick walkway. He spent his off hours on his knees doing a better job than the first installer. Mom felt safe around him, and London liked that he’d been there when the store was closed, keeping an eye on things.

Though short, Allister was street tough. His intimidating edge probably helped him as a driver for the rich and famous. However, he also melted like a ten-year-old when Mom presented him with a plate of homemade cookies.

Today was all about finishing the last of the pallet tables and filling the yard with flowers once more. The first thing he’d done when he arrived was take the pallet that had injured Maia, and any others with sharp edges, out to the dumpster. He then called to have it emptied ASAP. After that, he donned his tool belt and got to work.

About an hour later, his phone rang and he sent it to the Bluetooth device around his neck so he could continue working. “This is London.”

“Hello, London. This is Maia.”

He set his tools down. “Well, hello there. Where are you?”

“I am in a land far, far away.”

“That’s sad.”

“I know. I thought you’d appreciate the sadness factor.” Her chipper-ness was, once again, a bright spot in his day.

“How’s the leg?”

“Manageable.”

“You’re so tough.”

She laughed lightly. “Like someone else I know. What is it they call you? The Warrior?”

London’s blood ran cold. He’d gotten the nickname in college because he’d been in a fight, and he showed up to a game the next day with a split lip and bruised cheek, among other injuries Coach didn’t know about, and didn’t complain once. He’d snagged two interceptions that game. They said he was unstoppable.

“I’m guessing that’s because you conquer your opponents,” she added.

“Among other things.” He hated that the pain made him focus, reminded him of all the times his dad had pushed him to be better. The game was a turning point for him. He vowed never to need pain to play his best; to prove he was better without his father than he’d ever been with him.

“Oh?” Her tone was flirtatious. “What other things?”

“I guess I can be relentless.”

She laughed lightly. “You guess? Why don’t we call and ask Mrs. Beiste what she thinks?”

“She gave me a C- because I missed a quiz for an away game. Teachers are supposed to work with student athletes when they are excused for school activities.”

“You laid on the floor in front of her desk and refused to move until she let you take the quiz.”

“It worked and I got a B+.”

She chuckled. “Relentless.”

He grinned. “You’re as bad as I am. The only difference between you and me is that you convinced the world to call you princess.”

“Oooo, don’t call me princess! It sounds like ball gowns and seven golden forks at dinner.”

“I seem to remember a certain princess wore a certain gown to the premiere that almost ate me.”

“Some warrior—couldn’t even defend himself against my dress.”

“That dress was a dragon,” he murmured just loud enough for her to hear. Maia’s peal of laughter was well worth the false irritation. “Where are you, Maia? I’ll be there before the clock strikes midnight.”

“Why, are you afraid I’ll turn into a pumpkin?”

He tucked the phone between his cheek and shoulder. “I’m afraid it’s all a dream and the magic will disappear. I want to hold you.”

She gasped. “It is such a good thing we are miles apart right now.”

“How do you figure?”

“Because you are awfully hard to resist.”

“It’s my general air of rugged handsomeness.”

“Among other things.” Her words hummed in his ear as if she’d whispered them, her lips brushing his skin. He shivered with pleasure.

Maia continued, “We need to take this slow.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“You will—listen.”

He let out a low growl.

Maia giggled. “Stop it. You sound like a beast. Hey, that could be your new nickname.”

“Already taken.” Knox Sherman, the Titans’s running back, was nicknamed The Beast, and London had no desire to get on the guy’s bad side by charging into his territory. Everyone on the team, and half of Texas, knew not to step into Knox’s space without his permission—and he didn’t give permission.

“Oh, that’s right.” Her fingers snapped. “Too bad.” She took a deep breath. “This is going to get really real for a second, so hang with me. I may have been thinking about you for the last ten years—on and off. You know, here and there.”

London leaned against the table, enjoying every moment of Maia getting real. Short of admitting her undying love for him, admitting she’d thought about him while they were apart was the best news he’d heard in a long time. “Go on,” he encouraged.

“Well, you said you wanted a new relationship, and I do, too. Only… a new relationship is difficult because we are pretty comfortable around one another.”

“I’m not seeing the problem.”

“How could you miss it? We’re in danger of burning ourselves out.”

He shook his head before she stopped talking. “That’s not going to happen, Maia.”

“If we move too fast and don’t build a foundation, it will. I’ve seen it happen with my mom over and over again. She goes on one date and suddenly has a boyfriend—one she usually helped support, by the way.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to mooch off you.”

“I know you’re not after me for my money, London. But I don’t want to be my mom.”

“Is that why no one knows your last name?”

The silence stretched between them like a crazy-house mirror reflection. London held perfectly still, unable to see his next move.

“I was better off without it.”

“I’m not going to argue with you, Maia. But you could have turned around everyone’s idea of what the Esposito name stood for; I never looked at you and saw your mom.”

“That’s probably for the best; because you kissed me, and if you pictured my mom, that would be weird,” she joked.

London laughed with relief. “Yeah, I kissed you. Every chance I got.” Not every chance, his mind argued with him. Thankfully Maia didn’t echo his thoughts by saying them out loud.

“Yeah, you did,” she said dreamily.

He did a fist pump. That’s what I’m talking about. Dreamy Maia was one of his favorites.

“Which is another reason we should stay apart for a few days between dates.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me, beautiful.”

A commotion happened on the other end. “They’ve come for me. I need to go sing.”

“Sing? With who?”

“Franz. We’re performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.”

“You’ll be stunning.”

She sighed happily.

His thoughts went to her leg. “Are you standing all night?”

“No, we’ve made arrangements for stools and I’m offstage for several numbers.” There was rustling. “London, I’m sorry. I really have to go.”

“It’s all good. I’ll talk to you soon.” They hung up and London stared at his phone. He couldn’t disagree with Maia more. They’d be fine going zero to sixty. They were meant to be together. He knew their connection was meant to last with every fiber of his being.

His phone rang and he answered without looking at the caller ID. “Miss me already?”

“Not as much as you’d think,” came a gruff reply.

“Who is this?” London demanded.

“This is Officer Bullon. Is this London Wilder?”

London’s heart sank to his knees. “This is he.”

“We’ve gotten a lead we’d like you to take a look at. Can you come in tomorrow to review some film?”

“I have a workout in the morning. Can I come after lunch?”

“That would be fine.” He said he’d send the address to the precinct in a text and hung up.

London went back to work. He wasn’t kidding about chasing Maia across the country on tour, and he wanted the flower shop to be up and running before he left.