MAVERICK WAS FLYING so goddamned high over the words he and Alexa had shared that not even spending the day with a very anxious Mrs. H schlepping her mountain of crap could touch how good he felt. Unbelievably, that mountain represented maybe a third of what the woman had in her house, but most of what they’d left behind was outright junk.
Only two things put a damper on how he was feeling. First, knowing Jagger was sitting in jail. It ate at Maverick like an itch he couldn’t reach. He just had to trust that the Hard Ink guys and their private detective would find the evidence they needed to clear Jagger. It couldn’t happen soon enough for Mav—for any of the Ravens. And second, the word that Grant had made bail. They knew it would happen, and they’d taken the time this morning to get the temporary protective order, but it was still a burr in his saddle to know that clearly guilty Grant got to walk while Jagger rotted. Justice was blind, Mav’s ass.
At the new place now, they’d just finished unloading the moving truck. He, Alexa, and the movers had managed to get the boxes and furniture in the rooms where they needed to be, but the process of unpacking and really getting the house set up would take a while. At least Mrs. H was out of Slater’s place for good.
Mav returned one of the dollies to the now-empty truck parked out in the driveway.
“That was a big job to get done,” Alexa said, bringing him a glass of ice cold water. It was another hot one, but the weather was perfect—which boded well for the opening of the carnival tonight. “I’m so glad we got her out of there.”
“Me too,” he said, taking a big drink. The more ties Alexa severed with Grant, the better. So far that included the restraining order, moving her mother out of his house, and calling in sick to work. She hadn’t pulled the trigger yet, but she’d pretty much come around to the conclusion that she was going to have to quit her job. Mav knew how much she liked what she did, and he hated that for her, hated that she was the one who was going to have to walk away when she’d done nothing wrong. “What else would you like to do here today?”
“I’m hoping that we can maybe set up her kitchen, bedroom, and enough of the living room so that she can watch TV. But I don’t want to make us late for the carnival.” She gingerly prodded the side of her head.
“You hurting?” he asked, his gut twisting.
“Just a little bit of a headache. Not too bad. Honestly, I feel too good from this morning to even care.” Her smile was so damn pretty.
“From the orgasms or the I love yous?” He grinned and pulled her into his arms.
She chuckled. “Both were very nice.”
“Nice? Nice? You screamed so loud you almost shattered glass.”
Laughing, she smacked him in the shoulder. “I did not.”
“Yeah you did. That memory will play in my head for years.” He arched a brow at her, loving the humor shining from her hazel eyes.
“Okay, I totally did.” She ducked her face against his chest.
“That’s right. Don’t be denying my skills.” He kissed her head and grinned again, having too much fun with her. What a difference a fucking day made.
“Oh, my God.” She pushed against his chest and retreated, pointing at him, and trying not to smile. “You are too full of yourself.”
“I call it like I see it.” He followed her toward the house.
She rolled her eyes and turned around, but he could tell her shoulders were shaking. “So, why don’t you try your skills on the mess that is the living room? And I’ll tackle the kitchen with Mom?”
He winked. “Consider it done. Because, skills.”
She threw up her hand and made for the kitchen. Maverick couldn’t stop smiling like an idiot. Getting everything you ever wanted did that to a man. No shame in that.
Three hours later, they’d achieved most of what Alexa had hoped for. Everything was put away in the kitchen cabinets and drawers, her mom’s bed was made and clothes were all put away, and Maverick got the TV set up, cable connected, and furniture in place so she’d be comfortable. He even found her box of photo albums and set them out on the end table next to her favorite chair.
When he was done, Maverick leaned against the arch to the kitchen. “How’s it feeling, Mrs. H?”
“It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s coming together. You kids did a lot today,” she said. “And I know I was a pain in the ass.”
He chuckled and winked at Alexa. “A Harmon be a pain in the ass? Never.”
Her mom smiled, just what he was going for. “I suppose we have our moments, don’t we?”
“Who doesn’t?” Mav asked. “What else can I do?”
“I’d love to get all the empty boxes and packing material outside. You’re going to have so much space here, Mom. Just wait and see.” Alexa tore down one of the boxes, making it flat.
“You got it.” He headed for the other end of the house and cleared out the bedroom and hallway first. By the time he emptied the living room, Alexa had taken care of the kitchen.
Smiling, Alexa passed him with an armful of bubble wrap. “We make a good team.”
He kissed her. “Damn right we do. Want me to take that out?”
She shook her head. “I got it.”
The moment Alexa stepped out the front door, her mom came into the living room. “How’s she doing? Really.”
“She’s strong, Mrs. H. She’s okay. You should ask her, though,” he said.
“I did, but of course she doesn’t want to worry me.” She waved a hand. “But I’d like to take that Grant over my knee.”
Maverick might pay good money to see that. “I understand the sentiment.”
Cynthia eyeballed him. “You’re good for her. You always were. Even when you were more of a hellion.”
The comment drew a smile from him, but also made him think. “She’s good for me, too. And I’m serious about her. That okay with you?”
She nodded. “All I ever wanted was for her to be happy. You make her happy, Maverick. That’s more than good enough for me.”
Alexa came back in and stopped short. Looking between them, she asked, “What’s the matter?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Nothing’s the matter. We’re just talking.” He managed to keep his voice casual, even though her mom’s words added to the high he was riding. Knowing she approved of them—of him—took a load off his mind. Because Maverick was already thinking in terms of forever. What to do with that, he didn’t know. But they had time to figure it out.
“You kids should go. I know you have that carnival. I’m pretty beat and think I might just like to put my feet up for a while.” She made her way to her chair and sank down. “Aw, look at you putting my books out.” She ran her hands over the album on top of the stack and gave him a smile.
Alexa squeezed his arm as she passed him, and then she crouched beside her mother. “You sure you’ll be okay by yourself? New house and everything?”
“I’m an old pro at being by myself. You go and have fun. You deserve it after everything.” She held out her arms. “Give your mama a hug.”
Mrs. H was so much more relaxed than she’d been earlier in the day that it gave Maverick hope that she’d be happy here, and he knew that would make Alexa happy, too.