“What’s going on?” Delilah demanded.
“Pretty soon, the Governor is going to lock down the state,” Queen explained.
“Why?” Maverick asked.
“COVID-19. It’s the virus that is coming out of Wuhan, China. The contagion is spreading. They don’t have it contained no matter what the media was saying. I told your parents it’s best you all quarantine together.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Delilah frowned. “Lockdown the state? How? When?”
“Pandemic. That’s what it means. Have you not been watching the news, honey. People are dying from this.” Delores said. “It’s serious. We’re scared.”
“Well, okay, but I have a lot going on here,” Delilah tried to explain.
“Which is why me and your daddy are here. I had to drag him out the door. We’re here to help. When are you leaving, sir?” Delores asked Maverick.
“Ma!” Delilah said. “He’s not leaving, he’s...”
Everyone looked to Delilah when she abruptly stopped. She shook her head in frustration and swallowed the rest of her statement before she tried again. “Maverick, can I speak with you?”
“Sure,” he agreed.
Delilah walked over to her friend Queen and said something through clenched teeth that Maverick couldn’t hear. She then walked off. Maverick smiled at his son. Noah didn’t bother to look up at him. “Nice meeting you,” he said to Delilah’s mother. Delores nodded, and Queen just stared at him while pacing the floor. He wished he’d had the chance to speak with Queen. Maverick knew the key to breaking barriers with Delilah was through this unyielding bond the two shared. He walked out of the parlor to the TV room to the back of the house. He found Delilah in distress.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry. Damn her. Queen did this.”
“It’s okay. I get it. Plus, we need to see what is going on with this virus. Sounds serious,” Maverick said.
“No. You don’t get it. My parents are... a lot. This is going to be harder with them here. So much harder, and we... just getting started, I mean. We need time. Alone.”
“Why?” Maverick asked. “It doesn’t have to be hard. I’ll stay in the guesthouse out of their way. I’ll talk to them. Answer any of their questions.”
“No!” Delilah’s eyes stretched. “No, you can’t.”
“What’s really going on?” Maverick asked.
“I hate this, but I have to go to this brunch. It’s too late for me to cancel. And I don’t want to leave you here with them. But I don’t have time to get you in a good position with everyone.”
Maverick brows lowered. “Good position?”
“Can you please wait in the cottage for me today? Wait until I get back. This thing lasts a few hours, and I’ll come right back. Then we’ll talk. And I’ll fix all of this.”
“What is there to fix? We’re in this together. We can talk and explain our agreement with your parents,” Maverick reasoned.
She gave him a nervous smile. “You don’t get it.”
“Then tell me?” he asked.
“I don’t want them to know about us just yet. We’re having sex.”
Maverick eyes stretched. “That’s none of their business.”
“Exactly!”
“But that’s not what I’m saying,” he chuckled. “I know this is awkward, sweetheart, but look at you. You have me stumbling over myself in that dress.”
Delilah smiled and looked down at herself. Maverick lifted her chin to look into her eyes.
“You like it,” she asked.
“Yes. I like it. Calm down, okay? This isn’t about us; I can handle hanging here with your parents because I want to know them. They’re Noah’s grandparents. They will be in my life, and I will be in theirs.”
“No!” She took a step back. “Not that way!”
Maverick was concerned. He said he would go at her pace, but this felt more like a squeeze. The parents’ arrival was a game-changer for her. And he respected her resistance, but it was digging into his gut. There was something else going on with princess. And his detective’s nose didn’t like what he smelled. She stood her ground, glaring, waiting for him to object before she played her final card. The ‘this is my house, you do what I say’ card. He didn’t want to argue with her. In fact, he tried to touch her and reason with her. He decided to take a different path. “Fine. I’ll take Noah to the cottage and wait for you there.”
“Maverick. You aren’t listening,” she blocked his leaving by a step in front of him. “I need you to go back to the cottage alone.”
“That’s not going to work for me,” Maverick replied.
“Please,” she pleaded.
“Can you not do that? Okay? Shut me down with a ‘please understand’ when you know it’s not about my understanding.” he said. “It’s about your fear of people knowing you’re human.”
“Just give me a chance to warm my parents up to the idea of you and I being a team, Maverick. It’s been three days. We were just at war. No one can believe what has happened between us so fast. Okay?”
Maverick sighed.
“And then yes, you and Noah can spend all the time together you want,” Delilah said.
“We’re not playing that game. You and I happened fast. I get it. And you need time. I’ll give it to you. But I want to spend the day looking after Noah. Like we agreed. That has nothing to do with you or them.”
“Not today,” she sighed and stepped so close to him he could touch her. “Please, Maverick. Let me go to this brunch, and then I promise we’ll sit down with my parents, and I’ll make sure they understand that you are to have your visitation rights no matter what. And I approve of it all. No interruption. Just give me this.”
Maverick realized how deeply she needed his support. The push she gave to remove him from hers and Noah’s life hurt, but her distress troubled him even more. The idea that anyone would know the vulnerable side to her terrified her. Even her parents.
“I’ll do it today,” he gave up.
“Thank you,” she said with relief.
“But only today. I’m not going to compromise when it comes to Noah. Not this kind of compromise, sweetheart.”
She frowned. “Well, I’m still his mother, Maverick. I know what’s best for him.”
“And I’m his father. You’re going to respect that, Delilah, or we’ll have bigger problems than what your parents.” He let his words sink in on her shocked face and then walked out despite her calling his name. After all, he could only take so much. Upon his exit, he nearly collided with Queen in the hall. She stepped aside, and he ignored her stern glare. Maverick figured space between them all is what was best.
“DAMN IT,” DELILAH MUTTERED.
“Hey? Your driver is here.” Queen said.
“Why did you do this? Bring them here! I had it under control,” Delilah asked.
“Whoa, since when do you not want your parents at this ranch?” Queen asked.