The day went by too quickly after I was left alone in my kitchen. I spent the vast majority of my time before Maverick was due back to getting ahead on my prep for the week, meaning I would have some extra time to spend with him. It’s been so long—if ever—that I went out of my way to make so much overage that I had almost ran out of refrigerator space, but it’s important to me that I find a balance between work and my new love life. By the time Maverick had come back to get me, I had enough done that I could have taken the rest of the week off if I wanted to. As tempting as that sounds, I can’t just abandon the PieHole because my heart has found its reason to race again.
I felt like I was in a daze during the whole meeting with the Davis boys and their family lawyer. Maverick, though, hadn’t stopped smiling, not once since leaving the PieHole hours before. Of course, I didn’t know that for a fact, since we weren’t together the whole time, but that smile was still on his face when he walked back through the kitchen doorway, and it hadn’t left once during our lunch meeting. I had my head so far in the clouds that I almost signed my name on a bunch of documents with no clue as to what I was actually signing. It took me longer than the men would have liked, but I read through each and every page. Every noise I made had Maverick’s hand rubbing soothing circles on the inside of my thigh, a place he had placed his hand the second we sat down.
Jana has given me my space since I got back from the diner earlier, and thankfully Quinn hasn’t been back yet. She will be. It’s our thing for her to join me at some point before closing. For the first time, I’m not full of my normal excitement at anticipating spending time with my best friend. I love her, but I also know that her normal quirky self won’t stop until she is satisfied that she knows more details about my relationship with her brother than anyone else. Including myself.
I’m sure she already knows everything that went down at the diner earlier. Even without him confirming it, I know Maverick picked that spot with care. He could have, and probably should have, had that meeting back at the ranch. By moving it to the one place in Pine Oak that would guarantee the quickest flash of gossip to spread, my man was making it a point for us to be seen—together, as a couple. They might not know what his plans are as far as the big picture, but then none of the specifics matter. Not when the fact that both Maverick and I were purchasing land—together—and to anyone watching, he was making the biggest public display to prove our commitment. I could have told him it was pointless, I know where his heart is, but a small part of me is giddy with happiness that he purposely wanted people to know how serious we are.
I thought Marleen Day, best friend of Marybeth Perkins, was going to swallow her tongue when Clay mentioned his jealousy over his brother getting pie whenever he wanted it now that he was living with “the best damn baker in Texas.” And of course, Jimmy Lane, one of the diner regulars, looked like he was about to have a heart attack when Maverick joked that he was going to have fun eating that pie off said baker. Then there was Jimmy’s best friend, another regular, Terry Long, who couldn’t help but mention that it was about damn time Maverick had his pie and ate it too. I would have been embarrassed, but when I saw the looks on the faces of Joellen Heely and Tracey Hawthorn, two of the biggest sluts in town, when they heard all that—it was worth it. In the end, once everyone inside the diner realized what was going on, it started a domino effect that went on and on until I was finally able to get back to the PieHole.
Once I’m back in the solitude of my kitchen, though, my mind just won’t shut off. Good thoughts, but still, I’m ready for the novelty of us to wear off so the town will stop acting like we’re the most incredible thing since sliced bread. I can’t help but wonder whether the overexuberance and near-frantic excitement we’re encountering are helping my mind still the anxiousness I’ve felt over of us moving so quickly. Not doubt, just stress because of how much things are changing. I’ve never done well with change. There have been so many huge changes in my life in this short time, I should be a mess, but I’m far from that. If it were anyone other than Maverick, I would be a mess with things moving as rapidly as they are, changing so dramatically. Any other man—or any other relationship, rather—it would be too soon.
With him, though, I feel like it’s about time.
We just decided to give us a try, but even though it’s been only days, it feels like years. You don’t spend your whole life wanting something you know you’re meant to have, living without it for ten years, and not grab hold with everything you are when you finally have it. Knowing that Maverick has always felt the same way, I imagine that even the lightning speed in which we are moving is too slow for him.
Even though we wasted so much time, I know without any doubts that time was needed. My heart breaks for Maverick, knowing the pain he felt—the pain he lived—that pushed him to leave. I don’t hold that against him, not now. The time that we lost built him into the man he is today. We had time to discover ourselves. We both had other relationships—a term I use loosely for him—but it’s because of all that I know we’re finally ready for us. I believe with everything in my heart that had I been given him when we were so young, me full of na?veté and him full of pain, we might not have been strong enough to last. It’s a sobering thought, especially since I know we were made for each other. I could choose to dwell on what we lost, but instead I prefer to focus on what we will have.
I know Maverick feels the same; his warp speed is a testament to that. He, like me, is very aware that in a different life, we would be married with kids by now. Hell, if he had his way, I bet he would have me barefoot and pregnant tomorrow in an effort to start making up for that lost time.
I step away from the fridge after placing the last pie I had just finished inside, fanning myself with my hand at the thought, and look around to see if anyone had witnessed my hot flash.
Alone, thank God.
With the heat still high on my cheeks from just the thought of being pregnant with Maverick’s children, I plop down on the tall stool next to my prep station and stare off into space. Now, that’s something that I know is too soon to be hoping for, but now that the vision is in my mind, I can’t clear it. God, our children will be beautiful.
“What are you daydreamin’ about?”
Startled, I look up, glancing at Quinn before looking at the clock. “You’re done early?”
“I was missing some parts for the lift on Tucker Hillstorm’s son’s truck. I figured, I can’t get the rest of my shit done without those parts, so I might as well come bug you some more.”
“Uh-ha,” I smart, feeling my brow arch. “And did these parts go missing before or after all the gossip firing through this town hit your shop? I have to admit, I expected you earlier than this.”
“I may have put it behind some stuff I know won’t be moved so that I could claim they were missing if Tucker asked someone else while I was gone. And that may or may not have been right after some juicy whispers started to hang in the shop’s air.”
I toss my head back and laugh.
“You would have done the same thing,” she says defensively.
“If what? You stopped avoiding relationships long enough to be the center of those whispers?”