Delilah went straight into his arms. She didn’t cry, but he could feel the burden of her emotions by the way she shivered against him. He looked at Queen for an explanation. The detective shrugged. Queen took off her coat and her shoes at the patio door but never removed her mask. Maverick helped Delilah shed her jacket and boots. Queen observed them curiously. He guessed she wasn’t used to seeing Delilah pampered in such a manner. Maverick even went for a few sheets from the paper towel roll and gave it to Delilah to clean up her smeared makeup from her tears.
“Where is your friend?” he asked.
“She doesn’t want us, our help, or our friendship. She did all of it. She set it all up to be with that madman. She pretty much told Queen and me to go to hell and to leave her alone.” Delilah said in disgust.
“That’s not true, Dee,” Queen countered.
“It is true! Don’t defend her. And why didn’t you confront her with what we know? Listening to her lies made me sick!”
“Because we were being watched,” Queen said. “Did you not notice the cameras all throughout that place?”
“Cameras?” Maverick asked.
“Forget the surveillance,” Delilah said. “Shelly said she was right there in the mansion when Queen and the feds raided the place looking for her. I don’t even know who she is anymore. She literally faked her death.”
Maverick wasn’t sure how to respond. He glanced to Queen, who sat on the sofa staring down at her hands.
“Excuse me. I need to cool off.” Delilah said and went into the master bedroom. She slammed the door.
“Is it true? Did Goodiva kick you out of her life?” Maverick asked.
“Don’t worry about Dee. She’s very dramatic. I’m sure you’ve seen that side of her before?” Queen said. “Plus, she’s extra protective of Shelly. It’s hard for her to believe that Shelly doesn’t need her anymore. Dee thinks she’s under some mind control by the madman on the mountain.”
“What do you think?” he asked and sat down.
“I think we’ve come to the point in our lives when the three of us will have to let go of the past. We’ll have to deal with the women we are today—make our own choices—live with them. Maybe even go our own separate ways. I think Goodiva is in love with a psycho. I think Delilah is in love with a bad cop and me,” Queen sighed. “I don’t even think I will ever know what love means. And there you have it. The truth.”
“That’s not the truth,” Maverick said.
“Really? Enlighten me?” Queen asked.
“You three are friends. You had a lifetime of troubles, and you survived it together. You don’t destroy that. You change it. If you think your friend is in trouble, there is a way to get her out of it.”
“How?” Delilah asked.
Maverick looked back. His lady had rejoined the conversation. “You want to sit down and discuss it?”
Delilah sat next to Queen.
“How?” Delilah asked again.
“You should know the answer better than all of us. How did you get rid of Mother Abigail? How did you flush the Montgomery’s out of your system?” Maverick asked.
Delilah looked to Queen, then back to Maverick. “I exposed them and myself.”
“Then set a match to it. Go to the press. Tell them what you think Jaxon Price has done.”
“Wait, if we do that, then he’ll come for us,” Queen said. “We committed a crime too.”
“Will he? He could have told the authorities about the accident. He didn’t. He plays in secrets, not truth. Force his hand. And while you’re doing that, I’ll set bait for Armand. Lure him here. You can have the feds ready the moment he lands in Falcon Cove. Then turn him.”
“Turn him?” Delilah frowned.
“Have you met the guy?” Maverick chuckled. “He’s that Hollywood type. All about his reputation and proving he’s some kind of smart guy. Trust me, he won’t give up his image if you put the feds on his ass. We’ll flush Jaxon Price out of his hiding space. Approach the F.B.I. with the plan, and I’ll call Armand and warn him that this is brewing. Make him desperate to get to Colorado.”
“That might work,” Queen said. She smiled. “It might work, Dee.”
“And then what? We drag her kicking and screaming from that mountain?” Delilah asked.
“If we have to. Yes. She would do the same for us,” Queen said. “Call your contacts in the media and schedule a sit-down interview.” Queen stood. She extended her hand to Maverick. He stood and shook it. “I have to say, I have a lot of respect for you.”
“Hey, even a bad cop can be useful sometimes,” Maverick kidded.
“I’m not talking about you being a cop. I respect you for being a good man for my friend and her son. For making her happy. And for reminding me that my friendship with her and Shelly is still the most important relationship I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Sounds like you know what love is after all,” Maverick winked.
Queen smiled and said goodbye to them both before she left for the helicopter waiting on her. Maverick sat back down and waited for Delilah to return to him. She did. She sat on his lap and hugged his neck. He removed her mask. In her anger, she forgot to do it herself. And then he comforted her. When she was less distressed, she asked him a few questions about what he thought could happen. He did his best to give her a positive story.
“I miss Noah,” she said.
“Me too,” he agreed.
“Let’s go home,” she said.
“I got my stuff packed,” he nodded to the door.
“You do; I didn’t even notice.”
“I’m ready to move in,” he said.
She kissed him. “I’m so ready! I don’t care that you kept a secret with Queen about Jaxon Price. I’m not a hypocrite. But promise me it’s the last secret between us. I don’t want any more drama. I just want to be with you.”
“I promise,” he said and kissed her long and slow. Kissing her was one of the best parts of being her man. Every time he took in her breath and tasted her tongue, he was reminded of the sweetness of her. And stronger and smarter than any woman he’d ever consider for a partner. She made him a better man. He was going to prove it to her.
Night —
Noah lay asleep in the bed next to Maverick. He had been with them the rest of the evening. He was cranky. It was expected. The little guy had battled a strange cold that kept them all worried and in fear that it was something more. Maverick did his best to hold and comfort him. He took turns with Delilah. Noah would switch between him and Delilah most of the evening.
“He’s asleep?” she asked.
He nodded and shifted Noah over to his left side. His head turns in the direction of her voice. She had changed into a floor-length silk negligee. It was the softest shade of pink he’d ever seen. The bodice was all lace but tasteful. He could only see a hint of her nipples but not much. She’d curled her hair and added a touch of makeup. He didn’t understand her appearance. It made no sense considering they were in parent mode. They would have their son all night.
“What do you think?” She turned to the right, and the garment split to reveal her thigh. The way her figure filled in the material around her curves melted him. “Hello? What do you think?”