“No, because now we are taking a trip to LA. That way, you can ask her to move here with you.”
“No!” I raise my voice. I’ve never raised my voice to her before. The sound has her head whipping around, and her blue eyes, full of fire, lock on me.
“Why not? If you won’t move us to her, then you have to bring her to us.”
“This discussion is over.” I turn to walk from her room. She is right behind me.
“Don’t you love her?” Betsy asks as she trails behind me and into the kitchen.
“I love her.”
“Then, I don’t see the issue.”
I slam my hand down on the counter. “She said she wouldn’t love me again, okay? So even if I wanted to chase after her, I broke her heart last time.” Betsy’s hand lands on my back, a comforting gesture, but she says nothing else. Because yes, even if I wanted to chase after the woman I love, she swore to herself, she wouldn’t let me in again. I don’t blame her.
There’s a soft knock at the front door. My sister and I share a look because we can’t imagine who it would be. We are both a bit of a recluse, and the only time someone knocked on our door was when Eloise came over. I want to entertain the thought that it's her, but she’s on a flight back to LA with her family.
Betsy moves quicker and is at the front door before me. Her voice raises, “I knew I was right,” she tells our guest just as I swing around into the entryway.
“You were right?” My heart stops. It’s the voice that seeps its way into my dreams. It’s the voice that brought me light and happiness again, even in this moment of darkness.
My sister is leaning against the door, blocking my way. “My brother is right there.” She glances over her shoulder, gives me a beaming smile, then passes by me on her way upstairs. “I think she’s reconsidering you. Don’t fuck it up, Mavie.”
Before I can form any response, Betsy is making her way back upstairs. There are so many things I need to say to her, but I’ll do it later. I need to get my feet moving. Eloise is watching me from the front porch. Her eyes are red, but there’s a fierce look of determination in her eyes that lights my body on fire.
“Can I come inside?” she asks.
“Shit. Yes, of course.” Eloise steps inside and pauses in the entryway. I can’t wrap my head around this. She’s standing in my living room rather than going home. My body responds to her closeness, the scent of her infusing me with new hope. It’s only been a few hours since I’ve seen her, but it was too long without her. My hand lands on her cheek, her head tilting into it as a soft moan escapes.
I lower my head to steal her lips. I’m not sure what’s happening, but she’s here, and I can only think of having her lips connected with mine. The moment we touch, everything else fades. I press forward, and she opens her mouth, allowing me to express everything I can't find the words for.
“Maverick.” She says my name, the pleading edge to it, has me pressing us as close to one another as possible. I don’t want to let her go, so my hand tangles into her hair as I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her as close to my body as we can get with clothes between us. I break away and rest my forehead against hers.
We need to talk, and I won’t get any words from her if I continue kissing her. I take one more kiss anyway because the way she tastes is enough to drive any man crazy. Mix that with the soft moans and the way she moves with my body, and I’m done for.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I admit when I break the kiss again. Perhaps I don’t want to voice my thoughts either, because the thoughts are too good to be true. Eloise is standing in my home again. I never thought this would happen.
“I couldn’t leave like Mom wanted. Not again. Not like that. Not without telling you something first.” The blood is rushing through my body, steady and sure, and pounding in my ears. My heart hasn’t beaten this hard or fast in years. I know the words I want to hear. I pray they leave her lips this time. But what I say in return will mark a change in our lives.
The deep and staggering breath I take in still doesn’t give me enough air to ease the pressure building. All the reasons I told this woman I couldn’t love her before are still there. I still have heavy burdens to carry. Like I told Betsy, nothing changes with her. And I have a ranch to run. If I say the next four words, I’m yearning to say to Eloise, I’ll forever shape her future, too. But can I let her go again? No. I was close to caving in with Betsy and packing my bags myself, so I could chase her down regardless of the possibility she might not give me a second chance at love.
I speak first. “I love you, Eloise.”
15
Chapter Fifteen
Eloise
I love you, Eloise.
With those four words, Maverick hands me his heart. A heart I’ve always had, but he kept hidden for so many years. But right now, he’s telling me that he’s ready to share his life with me if I’m willing to trust he’ll never hurt me again.
There’s so much emotion swimming in the depths of his eyes as he waits for my response. This time he took the first step and is asking me to be strong enough to follow.
I’ve never been so sure of anything. “I love you, Maverick Carter.” With the biggest smile stretching across his face, I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. My arms squeeze as he wraps his arms around me.
My thoughts have ventured no further than this moment, but I know together, Maverick and I will figure everything else out. Because now we are both ready to share a world together as one. Whatever we figure out, we do it together.
“So, does this mean I need to keep packing?” I turn my head toward the living room. Betsy is standing nearby with a smirk on her face. I try to wiggle free of Maverick’s hold, so his sister doesn’t have to see us like this.
His hold doesn’t loosen. “I’m not ready to let you go yet,” he whispers into my ear. His breath warms the skin below my ear. His head is buried in my neck.
“Why are you packing?”
“To go to LA.” Excitement laces Betsy’s voice. “I’ll go check my computer.” She’s rushing upstairs, and I watch her go until Maverick’s mouth travels along the sensitive skin of my neck.
The desire rushes through my body. The only thing my body wants is to sink into his warmth and forget about the world, but I need him to stop so my mind can gather its wits. He wipes everything else away. His groan is deep in his chest when my body shifts in a rocking motion in response to him nipping the skin on my shoulder.
“I need you, babe.” He says into my shoulder, and as much as I need him too, we need to talk. My fingers are tangled deep into his hair, and they clench, just like my body does, with his heated declaration.
“We need to talk.” With a tug on his hair I make him look up. “There will be time later.” I’m not disappearing, I promise him. His expression, a mixture of desire, but also worry, lingers on his face. His hold tightens, but I don’t mind. “I’m not going anywhere, but we need to talk.” I cup his face in my hands, my legs still secured around his waist. “Your sister is up there packing.”