Page 113 of Maverick

She smiles back, her eyes bright and satisfied, and my heart does a funny little flip in my chest. "Hey yourself," she says, her voice warm and relaxed.

We lie there in comfortable silence for a while, just basking in each other's presence. I trace lazy patterns on her back, marveling at how right this feels. It's like all the pieces of my life have finally fallen into place.

Eventually, Cadence shifts, propping herself up on an elbow to look at me. "You look like you have a busy brain," she says, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

I smile, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm thinking about how lucky I am," I tell her honestly. "How grateful I am that you came into my life."

Her eyes soften, and she leans down to press a gentle kiss to my lips. "I feel the same way," she murmurs against my mouth.

We share a few more lazy kisses before Cadence settles back against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, content to hold her close.

"You know," I say after a moment, "I never expected this when I bought that club. Never imagined I'd meet someone like you."

Maybe we would have met again anyway. She was in our orbit already, thanks to the rescue. But I can admit that I probably wouldn’t have gone back there unless my brothers dragged me. Animals aren’t really my thing.

At least they weren’t.

Cadence chuckles softly. "Life has a funny way of surprising us, doesn't it?"

I nod, thinking about all the twists and turns that led us here. "It sure does. But I wouldn't change a thing."

"Not even the part where you fell face-first into John's crotch?" Cadence teases, her eyes twinkling.

I groan, covering my face with my free hand. "You had to bring that up, didn't you?"

She laughs, the sound making me so fucking happy. "I will never, not for the rest of my life, forget that. I mean the pitch of John's scream nearly shattered the glasses behind the bar."

"I'm never drinking again," I vow, dropping my lips against her cheek. “Unless it's a birthday party. Or we're on the deck and it's hot and Ransom hands me a beer. But otherwise, never again."

"Umm," she says. "About that. I have to make a confession."

"Confess away, baby."

She exhales a breath. "I took advantage of you when you were drunk."

This conversation just got really fucking interesting. I sit up and pin her with what Ransom calls my 'imperious eyebrow'. "You took advantage of me? Explain."

She bites that already swollen lip of hers, and my cock perks up…again. Way to go big buddy.

"Well, it was that night you got naked and fell off the pole. I um…helped you off the stage. And you were just so drunk and funny and sweet and there was so much skin." She sucks in a big breath, then continues. "And it was wrong, I know. But I…I kinda kissed you. Not like a peck. I full on ravaged your mouth. Well, you ravaged my mouth. We ravaged each other."

"I fucking knew it! I knew those dreams were too real." They've been haunting me for months. I knew the feel of her skin, and the way she tasted because we'd had a fucking moment before!

Her face crinkles up. "I'm sorry. You said you wouldn't remember, so I went for it."

"I didn't remember it. But I did. I dreamed of you every fucking night. Fuck woman, you're going to make it up to me right now."

"Make it up to you how?"

I haul her off the bed, spinning her until her bare ass is pressed to my thighs. "We're going to recreate that night, right fucking now."

"Whatever you say, boss."

37

CADENCE

Iheave a deep, happy sigh as I lock up the rescue for the night, double-checking each door and window. It's a mindless ritual, one I've done thousands of times. It doesn't get old, knowing that each window I check and door I lock is mine. My place. My rescue. It's everything I've built.

---