Shaking her head, Alexa had to laugh, too. Because she’d totally fallen for it.
As if he’d get pissed off over a cookie. These men had their rough edges, but they were good guys. They’d always been good to Tyler and her when she’d hung out with them years before. And everything she heard about what they did for people who needed help in the community said the same, too.
Grant looked like Mr. Respectable, and yet, behind closed doors, he wasn’t a nice person and he certainly hadn’t been good for her the way she’d convinced herself he was. Meanwhile, sometimes Maverick looked like a total grease monkey and other times like a hard-ass biker who might kill you just as soon as ask your name, and yet he was a good person, a fair person, generous and kind.
Damn. She’d totally fallen for the fa?ade, hadn’t she? For the stereotype. Not the truth.
In not much longer than thirty-five seconds, the cookies and s’mores squares were all gone, and Alexa pitched in with the dishes. Maverick and Dare hung out while they worked, helping by putting away the bigger things as the women dried them. Alexa was glad for the time to hang out with Bunny and the girls some more, because she already liked Haven a lot and Cora seemed pretty great, too. More than once, Alexa felt Maverick’s eyes on her. Sure enough, when she gave into the urge to look, he was watching her work, his expression intense and approving. She didn’t know what to make of that, except that it made her belly flip every time.
“Hey, uh, Cora?” came a deep voice from the doorway.
As the man exchanged nods with Dare and Maverick, it took Alexa a few seconds to realize who the new Raven was. Slider. Except he didn’t look anything like the person she’d known five years before. This man seemed to carry the weight of the world on his rounded shoulders. His eyes were shuttered, his mouth was set in a grim line, and his hair was much longer and hung in a manner that made her think it’d been a long time since he’d had it cut.
“Hey,” Cora said, grabbing a paper towel to dry her hands. “I can be ready in two minutes. Do you want some dinner? I can pack up something for you.”
Not quite making eye contact, Slider shook his head.
“For the boys then?” she asked.
“They had pizza,” he said, turning for the door. “I’ll be in the truck.”
Cora sighed and squeezed Haven’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow,” she said.
“Okay,” Haven said, her gaze equal parts sad and worried.
They were all quiet for a moment after Cora left. Dare heaved a long troubled breath. Alexa’s heart hurt for the changes she saw in Slider. She’d never known him that well, but he’d always seemed happy—good to Kim and a proud dad to their two little boys. Kim had died a few years before, but clearly he was still torn apart.
“Okay, youngins, I’m beat,” Bunny said, folding a hand towel.
“Thanks for everything, Bunny,” Dare said. “Dinner was great as usual.”
“It’s my pleasure. You boys know that. Besides, these girls did most of the work.” She pulled her purse out of a cabinet in the corner and then gave a round of hugs and kisses before she left.
“I guess we’ll head out, too,” Maverick said, clasping hands with Dare. “You need anything?”
Dare shook his head. “Everything is quiet right now, which, knock on wood, will stay that way for a while.” He rapped his fist against the closest cabinet.
“Amen to that,” Mav said. “But just ask, okay? Don’t be a fucking hero all the time.” He turned to Haven. “Make him ask me for help.”
She smiled and nodded. Dare gave him a shove. “Weren’t you leaving?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Maverick said, smiling at Alexa. “Still want to see the bike I’m working on?”
“Definitely,” Alexa said. She turned to Haven and gave her a meaningful look. “Thanks for everything.” She didn’t just mean the awesome meal, but the pep talk out on the porch, the offer of friendship.
Haven seemed to understand. “You’re welcome. Maverick has my cell phone number. Give me a call anytime.” They hugged and said their good-byes.
And then it was just her and Maverick. Well, there were some other Ravens still around as they made their way through the clubhouse. But the moment Maverick placed his hand against her lower back, he was the only man Alexa could think about.
The only man she wanted.
CHAPTER 17
As they walked across the darkening parking lot to the chop shop, the evening air still warm, Maverick felt a little like he’d traveled back in time. Alexa was here. Hanging with him and his brothers. And it felt good, natural, right.
Only tonight had actually been better and worse. Better because Maverick was older now, old enough to know what he actually wanted out of life, old enough to know that he didn’t want to come home to an empty house forever, old enough to understand down to his marrow how important family was—and that he wanted one of his own. He hadn’t understood all of that five years ago. Not really. Not enough to fight for it the way he should’ve. Not enough to man up when she’d all but asked him to.
Not enough to ask her what he should’ve asked her.
Damnit. Why hadn’t he fought for her—for them—harder? Why hadn’t he laid it all on the line and gotten down on one knee? Especially when he’d known that in her grief over losing Tyler she wasn’t strong enough to do it herself. But then watching her head get turned by Slater had fucked with his head. Maverick had let that shit happen. So that was on him.
At the same time, the night was worse because Mav had no fucking idea whether Alexa wanted any of that in return—with him. Sure, the chemistry between them was still off the charts. And the sex this morning had been phenomenal. Even better than he remembered it from before, and before had been fantastic. Worse because seeing Alexa at the clubhouse only made Maverick want her more, want her to see what he saw, want her for his, for keeps, forever.
And he knew it wasn’t fair to even expect her to know what she wanted from or with him. Not when she was only a day into the implosion of the life she’d thought she wanted. There was no reason why she’d feel the same urgency he did. The urgency not to make the same mistake again, the urgency to hold tight and never let go. No matter how rough the ride got this time.
All of which meant it was going to fucking suck if he turned out to be her rebound man. And only her rebound man. And Maverick knew there was a chance that’s all he was.