She drew an X over her heart. “Promise.” An easy guarantee, since she didn’t plan on visiting him again anytime soon. He’d left his front door open and gestured for her to enter before him. “How did you know I was out there? I thought I was exceptionally quiet.”
“I saw you the second you walked up. There’s a window in the kitchen with a view of the road. When you didn’t knock right away, I figured you were up to no good.”
She swatted him in the arm. “Thanks a lot.”
He closed the door behind him. “I was right, wasn’t I?”
Rather than answer him, she wandered over to the dogs. “How are they doing?”
“Good, for the most part.” He took the spot right beside her, their arms brushing. “I just got back from the vet and Barley checked out well.”
“But…”
“But one of the pups was restless earlier. She’s having a hard time feeding, so for the next day or two, I’ll help out.”
“I could, too, you know.” When he didn’t say anything, she added, “I mean, if you’re busy with work around the ranch, I’m happy to stop by to bottle-feed her. I’ve fed many babies in the hospital and feel confident I could handle it.” So much for not visiting him again.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He was just appeasing her, the big lug.
“I’m assuming the different colored ribbons around their necks are so you can tell them apart?” All the puppies had fluffy, golden fur and pointed ears like their mama.
“Exactly. Pinky there is the one I’m a little worried about.”
The sweet concern was such a juxtaposition to Maverick’s rugged stature that she was once again reminded he had layers she knew nothing about.
They watched the sleeping family in silence until Maverick turned and headed into the kitchen.
She walked back toward the front door. “I guess I’ll be go— Is that sushi?” she asked, veering away from the door and into the kitchen where two take-out cartons sat open. Recently opened, by the fact that they looked untouched. “Since when do you like sushi?”
“Since always.”
This new information made no sense. He was a steak and potatoes kind of guy. Right? She leaned against the counter across from him. She loved sushi. “Windsong doesn’t seem like a sushi kind of town.”
“It’s not.” He filled a glass with water from the dispenser on the front of his fridge, then a second glass, and carried them to the counter.
“Thanks.” She accepted the tumbler he handed her. “I’m sorry I interrupted your magical dinner, then.”
His lips curled slightly. Lips she would never look at the same way again. “Nice” did not do them justice anymore. She absently touched her bottom lip, remembering the way her body had tingled when they’d kissed.
“Cole had an appointment in Rustic Creek and grabbed it for me.”
“So he’s the nice brother.” At Maverick’s raised eyebrow, she continued. “Cole is nice. Hunter is outgoing. And you’re…you’re prickly.”
“You sure that’s the word you want to go with when you’re hoping to share my dinner? Not to mention I’m the one who knows you haven’t been invited—”
“Okay, fine. You’re nice, too.”
He bit back a smile, darn it. No dimples for her. But he did grab a couple of napkins and push the containers of sushi to the center of the counter. “Have at it.”
She didn’t need to be invited twice.
They stood at his counter, ate spicy tuna rolls and some delicious crab-shrimp combo roll, and let the silence guide their thoughts. There was something intimate about eating this way, simply standing in his kitchen and using their fingers to share a meal. When Maverick focused on his food, she took in the open space with high ceilings, noticing for the first time a passport and travel guide for Europe sitting at the end of the counter.
“Are you planning a trip somewhere?” she asked.
His face pinched like he wished he’d put away the evidence out in plain view. “How’d it go with Doc today?”
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.
“Do I want to talk about what?”
“The reason you answered my question with a question that had nothing to do with travel.”
“I think it’s obvious.” He popped a piece of sushi into his mouth. When he’d finished chewing he said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?” At his pained expression, she decided to take pity on him. “Okay, how about this: we exchange information.”
“There’s nothing I need to know,” he said plainly.
“There’s absolutely nothing else you’d like to know about me? Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
She ate her sushi and scowled at him. A minute of painful—although introspective—silence later, she’d figured out the reason for his grumpy attitude. “I think the trip has something to do with Nicole and that’s why you don’t want to talk about it.”
He choked on his spicy tuna.
“Sorry. You know I can’t let things go. And for what it’s worth, I do care about your answers; I’m not just trying to irritate you.”
He took a long pull of his water. “And yet—”
“Stop.” She held up her hand. “No need to finish that thought. I’m only trying to make conversation, and your passport is right there, so you can’t really blame me for asking. How about we Rock Paper Scissors?”
“For what?”
“If I win, we talk, and if you win, you pick what we do.”
“What we do?” he asked, amused.
“Yep.” Let him stew on that one-word answer. She had no place to be and had no problem wearing out her welcome. Not with him.
“Best two of three?” He put out his fist.
She made a fist and extended it. “Sure.”
“On three,” he said. “One…two…three.” He made a rock. She made paper. He immediately counted again. On three, she did a repeat of paper. He made scissors. Dang it. They were tied now. They studied each other for a moment. She didn’t know why, but she felt certain he planned to do paper, which meant she needed to do scissors.
And that’s what he did.
Yes! Rather than gloat out loud, she grabbed another piece of sushi and contemplated her next question. To his credit, Maverick took the loss in stride, eating another piece himself and then waiting for her. Like he knew her mind was at work.