The white cotton sheet rested just below his hips, taunting me, begging me to crawl back into that bed next to him. My eyes slowly traveled up along the muscles of his chest, gradually stopping when I reached his handsome face. My heart ached as I looked at him sleeping so soundly, the burden that he carried with him every second of the day had seemed to melt away. Lying there with his face free from his dark thoughts, he actually looked peaceful, almost vulnerable. I wanted to curl up next to him and hold him close. I wanted to try to keep the demons from finding their way back to him.
“How long are you planning to stand there staring at me like that?” he grumbled with his eyes barely squinting open. Damn. The spell was broken.
“Well, you ruined it. For a minute there, you actually looked kind of sweet.”
“Nothing about me is sweet, Slick,” he smirked.
“Why don’t you go back to sleep, and let me enjoy Sweet Maverick for a little while longer?” I teased, but he wasn’t in the mood for it. “What time is it, Henley?” he demanded.
I looked over at the clock and told him, “8:30.”
He closed his eyes and growled under his breath. For a second, I thought he was going to do like I suggested and sleep longer, but instead, he threw the covers back and sat at the edge of the bed. He dropped his head into his hands and rested his elbows on his knees, letting out a low, deep sigh.
“How much longer is the drive?” I asked apprehensively.
“We’ll get there late tonight, but we need to get rolling,” he said as he stood up and headed towards the bathroom. He stopped at the doorway and glanced back at me, lost in a thoughtful gaze. After a few seconds, he said, “I slept better last night than I have in months, even though you’re like sleeping next to a damn heating pad. Hell, I’m surprised that I don’t have third degree burns after lying next to you all night.” I noticed just a glimmer of a smile creeping across his face before he closed the door behind him. Damn, I loved that smile… it’s going to be the end of me.
I was already dressed and ready to go by the time Maverick had the car loaded. I knew he was in a rush, but I was in dire need of a cup of coffee. “So, how about some breakfast before we go?”
“Drive through,” was all he said as he started the engine.
I’d already given up any hopes for pancakes and bacon, so I said, “Cool beans.”
After we grabbed something to eat, it was several hours before we stopped again, and that was only to get more gas. The long drive was killing me. It would be different if Maverick would actually talk to me, but he just sat there stewing in his thoughts. I wanted to know what was going on in that head of his, but I was afraid I’d set him off. When I had finally worked up the courage, I asked him, “How’d you get the name Maverick?”
“Cotton.”
“Okay… but why Maverick?” I pushed.
“He used to watch reruns of some old show called Maverick. He thought the guy reminded him of me,” he said, looking over in my direction. “I’ve always stood up for what I believe in, even when it would be easier to just let things go.”
“I like it. I think it suits you.” I finally had him talking so I thought I would push a little further. “Are you going to tell me why we are going to Tennessee?”
“I have some papers to sign.”
“Couldn’t they just fax them to you or something?”
“No.” One word. That’s all I got, so I kept trying.
“Will I get to meet your brother while we’re there?”
“Probably.”
“Does he have a delightful personality like his brother?” I taunted. Surely one of them knew how to have a decent conversation.
He looked over to me with a smirk and said, “Of course.”
That smile! I’d do just about anything to keep that smile on his face. I felt like I was getting somewhere, so I just kept talking. “Good to know. How about the others? Is this MC club like yours?”
“They’re different,” he clipped.
“How?” I prodded.
“Just different… safer, but a club nonetheless.”
“By safer I’d assume that you mean they don’t deal in illegal activities, so there are less threats to deal with?” When he didn’t reply, I kept talking. “I guess that would make it easier. I mean not having to worry about who’s waiting to take you down at every corner must have its advantages.” The muscles in his throat began to twitch letting me know that it was time for me to redirect. “Cassidy says they have a lake there.”
“Yeah, their club is just a few miles from the water.”
“That would be so cool. I’d love to have a place where I could sit out on a big wide porch and drink my cup of coffee while I looked out over the water. Perfect way to start the day.” Just the thought of a place like that made me wonder what I was going to do after college. After two more classes, I would be graduating, and I really had no idea what I was going to do. I’d always dreamed of being a graphic designer – creating images that could be seen all over the world. Now, I found myself wondering if Maverick would have a place in my life when this thing was all over. What did his future hold and would I be a part of it somehow? It was silly for me to even think about it. We barely knew each other. It was ridiculous, but a part of me liked the thought of having him in my life.