Eloise comes toward us carrying a plate of bread, the smile stealing her face, with Mallory and Betsy trailing behind her. I could watch Eloise like this all night. Happy. Hopeful. Gorgeous.
I look back to Russell. “I see what you mean.”
We gather around the table, and I work at devouring everything that Eloise made, which keeps me as a side observer to the conversation. I’m okay. With a full mouth, I watch those around me instead of participating. I have to take a drink of water to swallow the lump that forms in my throat.
After dinner, I’m in the hall waiting as Betsy says goodbye to everyone.
“You bring her around more, Maverick,” Mallory says from beside me. She’s squeezing my arm to make sure I’m paying close enough attention to her. “You’ve done well with her.”
I can’t speak, so I nod my head that I’ve heard her. Even before I took full care of Betsy, she was always in my shadow. She was my responsibility when Dad and Mom were drunk and gone. I just did what I had to do.
“Have you asked her yet?” Betsy whisper-yells to me when I open the front door to leave. Betsy has wide eyes, and I feel mine narrow in her direction. “All month.” She reiterates our bet.
I clear my throat and turn to Eloise. It’s only her and me now in the entryway. Mallory left to head upstairs, and Betsy disappeared out the front door saying she’d be in the truck waiting.
I watch Eloise twist the bracelet on her wrist a couple times. Unsure of where she and I are heading with this thing between us, I still reach out to take her hand in mine, my thumb brushing over the soft skin of her wrist. She takes a deep breath then sighs, which comes out more of a moan.
Thoughts of our past, those worries I’ve had, dissolve at the sound. I come forward, my hand bracing the side of her face, and I steal her mouth in a deep kiss. The moment our lips connect again, I know, beyond a doubt, that it’s only her.
When she gives me another moan and opens her mouth, I take full advantage and lose myself in her, in the taste of her on my lips and the soft press of her curves against my other hand. Her arms wrap around my neck, which only brings us closer. She molds against me, I embrace her and press her as close as the two of us can get with clothes on.
With very little thought, I press her body against the wall, her legs wrap around my waist, and her warmth presses against the hard-on I can no longer hide. She breaks away from my mouth and tilts her head back, another of those needy pleas slipping out. God, I could hear that sound forever and still need to hear it again.
She exposes her neck, and I tip my head to the side so I can taste her skin. Eloise says my name, so low and seductive, it has me pulling back some. I need to see her this way, too. So many of my thoughts of her are of when we were younger, but now this… this gorgeous woman in my arms knows what she wants.
The new Eloise I have to study—to relearn every unique curve of her body and examine every one as I move my hands across her. To taste her on my tongue when I lose myself in her, and this can’t happen in the entryway of her parent’s home.
Her eyes open when I pull even further back. She comes back to reality, and her legs drop, eyes widen, and mouth opens when everything registers. Already missing her delicate legs wrapped around me has me adjusting myself, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts, because yeah, that escalated quickly.
“I was supposed to ask you on a date so I could get out of housework, not almost fuck you in the entryway.”
11
Chapter Eleven
Eloise
My heart beats away in my chest at a rapid rate. One thing Maverick and I haven’t seemed to forget is how well we come together. Then his words register.
He wants to date me? He wants to sleep with me?
My body is right on board with the sex; my head is excited about the dating. But, my heart? That’s screaming at me to not break it in a way that can’t be fixed. I’m stronger this time—not defined by the way he once cared for me. Just because he confessed his past love, doesn’t mean that’s where we’re heading this time. My heart is more cautious this time around.
“I’d like to take you out on a date,” he says.
“Okay.” I agree with a little persuasion. “When?”
“Friday?” I can’t keep the smile back anymore and nod. When we were younger, we jumped into it. We saw each other and lost ourselves in each other’s arms. We are taking a different approach this time.
There’s so much about Maverick, I don’t know. I remember things, yes, but this Maverick, the one that’s a man caring for a fifteen-year-old girl, doing house chores, and reading accounting textbooks on late evenings after he’s worked all day—I want to know.
“I’ll pick you up around seven tomorrow if that works?”
“That’s perfect.”
He lets out a deep breath and steps closer to sink his hand into my hair. He’s destroyed the side braid I’m wearing. My hand grips his forearm. It’s hard and warm beneath my palm. My heart rate picks up with the thought he’ll kiss me again. The way he can work my lips, the way he nibbles on my bottom lip, I can’t get enough of it.
“That’s the first time I asked a woman out, so thanks for not shootin’ me down.” I shake away my lust-filled thoughts and gaze at him. I can’t help the laughter that pours out of me. His eyes are dancing with humor.
“You did a good job of it, but now you have to actually take me on the date. Do you have some ideas to keep us busy?” I’m flirting with him. I’ve never flirted with a man before, and it sends a rush through me when Maverick’s eyes lower to where I’m nibbling on my lip. He keeps his lips to himself, just heightening the sexual tension between us.
“I have Betsy on it.”
I smile and squeeze his arm. “You did well with her. You’re a good brother, Maverick.”
He closes his eyes and it’s like my words punch him with so much emotion he doesn’t know what to say to me. That’s okay, I don’t need a response, just for him to hear from someone how good he’s doing with her.
My feet move me so close I have to look up at him with what I say next. His arm bends, and he buries his hand so deep in my hair I’m not sure he’ll let go. I’m okay with it.
“I want to spend some time with her. Will you bring her over when you’re working tomorrow so we can bake together? She already agreed, but I wanted to run it by you first.”
“Of course.” His hand tightens in my hair, not enough to hurt, just enough to say, I’m struggling here. “I want to kiss you again, but I’m not sure I’ll stop.”
“As wonderful as that sounds, you better get back, so she’s not just waiting in the truck.”
He comes forward to place a kiss on my forehead. “Check your hair before you visit your dad tonight.” Then he shoots me a mischievous smirk and walks outside. His truck starts up, and I hear the gravel crunching beneath his tires before I get my feet to move. I’m heading toward the bathroom to put myself back together.
When I step in front of the mirror, my hair is a wild halo, and I’m a mess. My cheeks are flushed pink, and my green eyes wide and bright. No wonder he was smirking.