Page 20 of Maverick

Whoops. Where did that come from? We're not talking love. Not yet anyway. Right now, I just want a date.

With a deep breath, I square my shoulders and head over to Cadence, ready to putThe Planinto action.

6

CADENCE

Crap. He caught me looking.

I send Maverick a little wave, then, cheeks burning, lower my head back to the dripping mop in my hand. God he's handsome. I thought maybe I was imagining how hot he is. I mean, everyone looks good in a dark club. That's the point of all that dim lighting. But nope, it wasn't the lights. It was him.

Bree's laugh rings out, echoing off the concrete. With a lot of effort, I turn my back to the men at the other end of the kennels. "What's so funny?"

She grins knowingly. "You can't take your eyes off him, can you?"

Totally busted, I shrug, a smile tugging at my lips. "Looking never hurt anybody."

"Mmhmm. Nick mentioned you two were making eyes at each other last weekend at Mav's club."

It really is getting warm in here. "We were not 'making eyes.' I was working."

She snickers. "Uh huh. Working real hard at undressing him with your eyes."

"Bree!" I toss a soapy sponge at her. She ducks, laughing.

"I'm just saying, the chemistry is obvious. Nick's a good judge of people, so I didn't doubt him, but seeing it for myself, wow."

I bite my lip, focusing intently on scrubbing the concrete floor. "It doesn't matter. He's my boss. It would be totally inappropriate."

"At the club, maybe. But you're not at the club. You're both consenting adults."

I sigh. "It's not that simple. There's a power imbalance. And I don't even know if he's interested."

Bree snorts. "Oh, he's interested all right. A blind man could see that."

I can't help but steal another glance. Maverick is crouched down, fingers outstretched for Goldie to sniff, his face split in a boyish grin. My heart does a happy little flip.

"See? You're doing it again," Bree teases.

"Hush, you." But I'm smiling. It's hard not to. There are worse problems in the world than having the hots for your boss.

"I think you should go for it," Bree says. "Life's too short not to take a chance on love."

"Love?" I shake my head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I barely know the man."

"Then get to know him. What's the harm in that?"

"Here's here. I'll talk to him. Hell, I can even be his friend. But that's all it will be."

Bree bites her lip, studying me. "He's a good man. They all are. He would never take advantage of his position. Just think about it, Cady."

I shrug, and move to the next kennel, rolling the yellow mop bucket in front of me. Maybe he's a good man. Maybe he's a great man. Doesn't change the facts that he's my boss, and that job is going to save Nan and I. So no, I'm not going there.

Ever.

I'm scooping kibble into metal bowls when Maverick appears in the doorway of the little kitchenette. He leans against the frame, hands in his pockets, a small smile playing on his lips. My fingers tingle with the urge to flatten the little swirl of hair sticking up at the back of his head.

"Need a hand?" he asks.

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