Page 36 of Maverick

I look up at Ransom, meeting his gaze head-on. "For the right woman, I'd make it work. I'd find a way."

He nods, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Then maybe it's time to start making some changes. To start putting yourself first for once."

I can do that. I can make some changes. And in the meantime, I'll mostly play it cool like Nick suggested, then let her know how I feel when the time is right.

And until then, I'll focus on my family. And work, because that never fucking ends.

11

CADENCE

This family is completely insane, and I'm a little jealous of them.

They have stamina, that's for damned sure. They've closed the club out. And I've had the pleasure of watching most of them shed any inhibitions they might have had, not that I think they had many to begin with. I can't take my eyes off of them, so in between wiping down tables, I watch the show.

The lights in the club came up a while ago. Three of the most talented dancers, Angie, Alexis and Star are laughing and doing some sort of a demonstration for the Brash women, seated right at the stage. The Brash men, including my sexy boss are seated up in the VIP area. The men have handled their liquor a little better than the women have, and there are a few designated drivers in the bunch, including a very large man holding a very tiny baby.

When the club was open, the table full of men drew a lot of attention from women and men. They have an air of power and confidence that makes women want to be around them and men want to be them.

Now that the lights are up and the regular patrons have cleared out, they're still sexy, but the air of mystery around them is gone. It's easier to see the goofy grins on a few faces. Okay, on Maverick's face, because that's the one I'm spending the most time looking at.

The man is drunk.

Not asleep under the table drunk, but invincible, thinking he has life by the balls drunk. And oh my god, drunk Maverick is a serious flirt. Luckily his brothers are keeping him distracted because goofy, happy, drunk Maverick is hard to resist.

I'm wiping down a table next to the guys, making covert eyes at my boss when Kade stands. "Uh oh. Here comes another concussion," he says grimly.

Following his gaze to the stage, I see Becca doing some sort of barrel roll onto the stage. The girls are laughing, egging her on. Hiding my own laugh, I finish with the table and move on to the next one. The next time I look back, Cara is up there too. Both women are attempting to climb the pole, and spin, but not having much luck.

Then Abby's on the stage. They've been talking about getting up there for a while, but she's the only one who's actually had any pole dancing lessons. And her skill is obvious. Sure, she's not in the same league as the professionals, but she's worlds better than Becca and Cara. Abby's man, John, is standing, transfixed at the show she's putting on.

Whistling at one particularly stunning spin, I step up to John, grinning at the look on his face. "Damn, your girl has some moves. I guess those pole dancing classes paid off."

"Yeah," he says hoarsely, eyes hungry. He steps away, and I'm positive Abby's going to get railed tonight.

Lucky girl.

Except before he can reach her, Maverick cuts in front of him, and climbs up on the stage. The women surround him,seeming to hold him back, and all of them argue with him for a minute. Then they start stripping him, and every thought drains from my head.

Every thought except…yum.

Because, oh my god, under that suit of his, hides the kind of body that makes women think very dirty things. I'm so busy staring at his chest and back, that I don't catch which woman loosens his pants, but oh my god, do I wish I could run up there and give her a kiss. Because there he is, Maverick, billionaire extraordinaire, in bare feet and black boxer briefs.

"What the fuck are you doing?" John barks.

I flinch and energetically wipe the table in front of me. It takes me a second to realize John wasn't talking to me.

Abby, looking like it's Christmas morning, is the one that answers. "He says he can do it. I wanna watch."

Becca steps closer to him, and I creep forward, giving up any effort at cleaning. I don't want to miss this.

“You just climb up," she says, "then flip upside down, and slide slowly to the floor. It’s really easy.”

Maverick's not buying it. The man may be drunk, but he's not stupid drunk yet. “Just like that? Just…slide down?”

She nods and so does Cara, backing her up. I'm not sure why he's choosing to believe them. It's not like they got anywhere close to actually executing that move.

Abby seems to be the only voice of reason up there. “Uh, it’s not quite that easy. I’ve been going to classes for a while, and I still can’t do it. It’s a really advanced move.”

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