A ribbon of guilt curled inside her belly. “Yeah,” she said, not at all believing there’d be another time. Which was probably for the best.
Heading to the driver’s side of his old truck, Maverick said, “Well, hop in and we’ll take off. Not as fun as the Night Rod but it’ll get the job done.”
Alexa slid into the passenger seat and closed her door. “That’s all that matters. If I don’t keep things under control at the house, Mom will just fill it up. So it’s good to get rid of what we took out right away. I can’t afford for her to lose this place, too.”
Maverick gave her a hard look. “Why would she lose it? I thought Slater owned her place.”
Alexa didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. The one thing Grant and Maverick had in common was that they were both networked into just about everything that happened in Frederick. Grant because of his business activities. And Maverick because of the Ravens’ businesses, not to mention the club’s long history in the area. “He does,” she said. “But he doesn’t know just how bad it can get. It makes me worry.”
Maverick frowned. “Well, there’s no way he’d ever put her out on the street. She’s your mother. He has to know how much she means to you, so I can’t imagine you need to worry. You’re finally set where she’s concerned, Alexa. I know that means a lot to you.”
The words nearly stole Alexa’s breath. Mav didn’t like Grant. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out or know why. So it was a really generous thing for him to say about her fiancé—and really . . . mature, too. She wasn’t sure the old Maverick could’ve offered her that kind of understanding. It meant a lot to her. More than that, it almost sounded like he understood why she’d made the choices she’d made. Or maybe that was her wishful thinking reading into what he’d said. She hoped he did understand. Because Alexa had never wanted to hurt Maverick, even though she knew she had.
Hell. She’d hurt herself, too, hadn’t she? She knew that. Now. Being around him again made her wonder how she’d ever forgotten just how much.
Alexa just hoped Maverick was right about Grant. She wished she knew for sure. The fact that she didn’t know? She refused to analyze too closely what that meant. So she just said, “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Don’t have to thank me,” he said, turning the key. The engine echoed inside the old garage as he backed out of the spot. Then he was putting the truck in Drive and pulling around past the front of his house.
“I do,” she said, studying his roughly handsome profile as he sat behind the wheel. “You didn’t have to do all this today. I appreciate it.” She hadn’t realized how much she needed some support in taking care of her mother until she had Maverick working at her side.
Mav gave her a long sideways glance. “You know I’m always here for you and your mom, right? You and her and Ty were like family to me for a lot of years. That didn’t end just because we didn’t make it. Understand?”
After a moment, Alexa gave a tight nod, and then she had to look away, out her window at the passing trees. So that Maverick didn’t see just how much his words meant to her. Or ask why she suddenly had tears in her eyes.
Because she wasn’t sure she knew, either.
CHAPTER 9
I have a surprise for you,” Grant said almost as soon as Alexa returned home that afternoon. Wearing an expensive blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the collar open, he met her in the kitchen and pulled her into a hug and a long, lingering kiss.
Registering his good mood—for which she was grateful given how much later she was than usual—Alexa relaxed into his embrace. “You do?” she asked.
“Mmhmm.” Finally, he eased away from the kiss. Tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear, he smiled. “You’re always so stressed when you come home from your mother’s, so I’m whisking you away for an overnight getaway. We’ll relax, eat great food, take a sail. Just you and me.”
“Wow, really? That sounds amazing,” she said. And so much like the kinds of things he planned for them early in their relationship. He used to take her away on trips and weekend getaways all the time the first year or two that they dated. Weekends in New York City, Atlantic City, and the Massanutten ski resort in the Shenandoahs, and surprise weeks in Mexico, Paris, Rome, to name a few. They still traveled sometimes, but now his business and her school and job responsibilities made it harder to get away as often.
“Having you all to myself is what sounds amazing,” he said, nailing her with an intense stare. “No wedding planning, no jobs, no school, no mother, no life obligations at all. Just you and me.”
A fleeting wave of stress passed through her, because she had been planning to spend Sunday running errands for the wedding. Picking up gifts for Grant and the bridesmaids, who were mostly colleagues at work. Dropping by the reception venue to finalize menu details. Finding a few last things to pack for their honeymoon in Cozumel, the first place they’d ever traveled out of the country together years before. Neither of them having parents who could help with the planning was a mixed blessing—on the one hand it meant they didn’t have to try to please a bunch of people besides themselves, but it also meant she didn’t have any help. And all of that was in addition to the reading she still had to do for Tuesday night’s class. The list was never-ending.
But Grant was right. They could use some time in the midst of all the madness to just focus on each other. And it would help screw her head back on right, too. “That does sound amazing. Thank you, Grant. This is so thoughtful.” She pressed her lips to his. “I’ll just pack a quick bag.”
“Already done,” he said, nodding to something behind her.
She turned to see two overnight bags in the doorway to the foyer. Alexa laughed. “My, someone is eager, isn’t he?”
He kissed her roughly, in a way that made her feel claimed. “Where you’re concerned? Always.” He swatted her on the butt. “Now go get pretty. I’ll pack up the car.”
After cleaning all morning, Alexa guessed she must look a mess. “Okay, I’ll do that.” Excitement and anticipation flitted through her. No doubt wherever he was taking her would be romantic and luxurious and sure to take all her cares away. With a quick last kiss, she pulled away.
He caught her wrist and gave her an intense look. “And wear that white sundress for me.”
“You like that white one, huh?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.