“He sleeps like that,” Delilah said with a smile as she stepped to Maverick’s side. “Even in his crib as a baby. I’d find him with his arms open and legs spread. Oh, and when I swaddled him as a newborn, me and Charles—ah, well, we used to laugh when we unwrapped him. How his arms flung up, and legs stretched. I got some videos if you want to see them.”
“That would be cool,” Maverick agreed. “He’s a tough boy. Needs his freedom, like his mother. It’s late. Let me give it to you. Goodnight.”
“Maverick?” She called after him.
He looked back at her and waited. Delilah wasn’t sure what she would say, but she wasn’t ready to finish their talk.
“Goodnight,” he winked and closed the door.
“Night,” she said. Delilah walked over and locked the door. She put her back to the door and released a deep sigh. What she needed was Goodiva. Her friend understood men. Her friend could explain the flutters in her stomach more than the logical thinking Queen would. And then she wondered if logic was precisely what she needed. Delilah walked over to the bed and removed her cellphone from her pocket. Queen answered on the first ring.
“Why are you up so late? Something wrong?”
“No. I’m fine,” Delilah said.
“And? How was it?” Queen asked.
“You still at work?” Delilah asked.
“What’s going on, Dee? He’s there, isn’t he? I heard you and him were seen at the grocery store together shopping.”
“What? Who told you?”
“You know this town. You’re brave. After that junk in the newspaper, you took him into town? That doesn’t sound like you,” Queen chuckled.
“First of all, I didn’t see the newspaper article spreading my business all over the place. It was Jefferson. He only did it because I told him to take his so-called feelings and kick sand,” Delilah huffed.
“Aaah, Jefferson finally made a move on you, and you put an end to his puppy dog crush? I told you about that one.”
“It’s gross. He was friends with Charles. Forget him. Who told you we went into town?” Delilah asked.
“Does it matter? What is going on? I’m leaving in ten minutes. Do you want me to drive out and spend the night? I can speak with this bad boy cop from New York about how we do things in the Cove. Set some things straight,” Queen offered.
“No! Uhm, no, it’s fine. He’s fine. We went to town because we needed some things for dinner. We had a nice talk,” Delilah explained.
“Dinner and a talk?” Queen asked.
Delilah could hear the alarm in her friend’s voice. Every conversation she ever had with Queen about Maverick was to drive home that Maverick was the devil, evil, and how deeply she despised him. She couldn’t explain why twelve hours alone with the man had left her smiling like a schoolgirl.
“You there?” Queen asked.
“Yes, I’m trying, Queen. This is for Noah. I’m trying to work through it. Give me a break!” Delilah said.
“You’re doing fine, girl. You sure you don’t want me to come out there and hang with you tonight? We can watch Netflix and drink pop?”
“Come in the morning? For breakfast. Around nine? I’ll cook, and you can meet him. I need a second opinion, I think,” Delilah said.
“How about ten? I’m tired. This case is beating my head in. Apollo thinks I’m obsessing again.” Delilah heard Queen yawn.
“Tell Apollo, hi. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Delilah said.
“Later,” Queen said and hung up. Immediately Delilah called her back. Queen answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong now?”
“Goodiva? Any more news on her?” Delilah asked.
Queen fell silent.
“Is she—?”
“She’s not dead,” Queen blurted.
“Where is she?” Delilah asked.
“We’ll find her. I’m still looking into things. Don’t worry,” Queen told her.
Delilah sighed. “Bye then.”
“Bye,” Queen said.
Delilah stared at the door. Maybe she should say good night again to Maverick and make sure he was okay. Delilah wondered if he had pillows and fresh linen for the guest-room. She went to the door and stopped. She couldn’t bring herself to touch the doorknob.
“What are you doing? Girl stop. You’re trippin!” Turning, she put her hands to her head. “I’m going to bed!” Delilah pulled off her boots. She unzipped her jeans and peeled them off her legs. Free of them and in nothing but her shirt, she went to the bathroom to remove the ponytail she wore all day. Her head felt immediate relief from the bobby-pins, and her hair was now loose and free. It’s length dusted her shoulders. She climbed in bed with her baby boy feeling more at ease since the nightmare of Eve’s Promise came into their life. He didn’t move, but he made that sucking motion with his mouth that he used to do as a baby. It melted Delilah’s heart. Noah was who she lived for. Maverick may be a nice man and a capable father, but Noah needed his mother. She had to be strong to protect him—always. She kissed his cheek and pulled the covers up over them. Within minutes fatigue won out, and she drifted to sleep.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Maverick opened his eyes, and then he closed them, he then opened them again. In the dark, he turned to his side. He stared at nothing. And then he heard it—her door. The cottage was quiet. Quieter than his trailer at night, where insects chirped, and animals howled at the moon. Buried in a valley between snowcapped mountains, he didn’t expect to hear night owls or insects. Nothing stirred, except for her. Maverick listened to the sound of her room door opening. It drew him up and out of his fugue state. Was she leaving? Was she taking Noah in the middle of the night back to his bed? Did she just need a glass of water? No matter the reason, he had a chance to talk to her again. He hurried from bed in nothing but his boxers, forgetting the impropriety. He went to his door. Just as he opened it, he saw the entrance to the bathroom next to him close.
There was a huge bathroom in the master bedroom. Why had she come out of her room to use his? Curious, Maverick went to the room to check on Noah. The toddler lay still on his back. Confused, he turned and headed to his room when he heard her flush the toilet. He listened to her washing her hands. And then she opened the door.
DELILAH FROZE.
It was Maverick. He gripped the top of the door and leaned in to look down at her. Avoiding his eyes, she was unable to lift her gaze from his bare torso. Every ridge from of every muscle was there. He had a lion’s head tattooed over his right breast, with some of the lion's mane reaching his shoulder. And other tattoos that stretched down his right shoulder down his arm to his wrist. Still, it was his chest where her eyes remained glued. Delilah’s gaze eventually slid down to his navel. Dark silly hair lay and slid beneath the brim of his boxers to underneath.
“Sorry,” he spoke.
Delilah glanced up into his face.
“Didn’t know you were in here,” he gave her a crooked smile. He was lying. Delilah could hear it in his voice. Was he crazy? Did Maverick think she was attracted to him? How dare he.
His face came in closer, but she refused to move. “What are you doing in here?”