Page 54 of Maverick

Maybe he's right. Maybe Cadence is a risk worth taking. But as I sit there, the cool bottle of beer sweating in my hand and the muted sounds of the TV washing over me, I'm not sure I have the courage to take that leap. Not yet, anyway. All I can manage is, "I don't really know."

Thankfully, other than a quickly hidden small smile, he doesn't reply. We go back to watching the movie, but I'm not really seeing what's happening on screen. My mind is wrapped up in the mess I've gotten myself into, and the realization that I don't even want to try getting out of it.

"Mav."

"Mav."

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I turn to Ransom, who's not bothering to hide his laugh. "Brother. Movie's over."

"Right. Yeah," I say, but I don't move, just stare at the now black screen.

"What do you like about her?" he asks quietly, lifting one knee onto the couch and running an arm along the back. "What makes her different for you?"

The question hits me like a sucker punch, stealing the air from my lungs. What do I like about her? Where do I even start?

"She's just...she's incredible, man. The way she's built that rescue from the ground up, the way she pours her heart and soul into every single animal that comes through those doors. It's not just a job to her, you know? It's a calling. A purpose."

I lean forward, my elbows on my knees, the bottle dangling between my fingers. "And the way she is with her Nan? The patience, the love, the unwavering dedication? It's fucking beautiful. You and I both know not all families are like that. She's got this huge heart, this capacity for love and compassion that just blows me away."

Ransom nods, a small smile playing at his lips. "She sounds special."

"She is," I say, my voice rough with emotion. "But it's more than that. It's the way she carries herself, the way she moves through the world. Nothing seems to faze her, you know? Like, no matter what life throws at her, she just...handles it. With grace and strength and this quiet resilience, that's just...it's fucking inspiring."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "And she's so...real. So authentically herself. There's no pretense with her, no bullshit. She's warm and approachable and just...she's full of life, man. Full of this vibrant energy that just draws you in. A lot of the women I've dated have been all about appearances. They want to look good, to be seen in a certain way, but underneath, they're different. Cadence is the opposite. She doesn't seem to care what she looks like most of the time, and still, she shines. Even the dog hair doesn't bother me."

I shake my head, a wry laugh escaping me. "I sound like a fucking idiot, don't I?"

Ransom shakes his head, gaze serious. "No brother, you sound like a man who's falling hard."

I don't deny it. Can't deny it. Because he's right. I am falling. Hard and fast and with no safety net in sight.

"I just...I don't know what to do, man. I've never felt like this before. Never wanted someone this badly. And it's not just physical, you know? I mean, don't get me wrong, I want her. I want to touch her, to taste her, to lose myself in her. But it's more than that. I want...I want everything with her. And I want to be her everything. Her support system, her rock. When she has a problem, I want to be the one she talks to first because she knows she can trust me with anything."

The words pour out of me, a torrent of emotion I can't stem. It's like a dam has burst inside me, and all the feelings I've been trying so hard to suppress are rushing to the surface.

Ransom is quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Then you need to do something about it, Mav. Because if you don't? If you let fear or doubt or whatever the fuck else is holding you back win? You'll regret it for the rest of your life."

18

MAVERICK

I'm up before the sun, a rare occurrence for me, but I'm on a mission. I need to talk to Nan, to get her blessing before I make any moves on Cadence. It's old-fashioned, I know, but something about Cadence brings out that side of me.

I stumble into the kitchen, still half-asleep, wearing nothing but my black Calvin Klein sleep shorts. I'm rubbing the sleep from my eyes when I collide with a soft, warm body.

"Oof!" Cadence gasps, her hands coming up to steady herself against my chest.

Shit!How did I let myself forget for even a second that walking around in my underwear is something I can't do anymore?

For a moment, we just stare at each other, breathless. She's wearing a simple pair of black leggings and a white t-shirt, her hair pulled up in a messy bun, and somehow she's even more beautiful than yesterday. The way the fabric clings to her curves, the way her eyes widen as they meet mine... it's enough to make my heart race. I can't even remember anymore why I liked sleek polished women. What was the appeal?

"Morning," I manage, my voice rough with sleep and something else.

"Morning," she replies, a blush staining her cheeks. "I was just..." She gestures vaguely towards the coffee maker.

"Yeah, me too," I say, even though coffee was the last thing on my mind.

We step back from each other, laughing a little awkwardly. I can't help but let my gaze linger on her, drinking in the sight of her like a man starved. The way her leggings hug her legs, the sliver of skin peeking out where her t-shirt has ridden up... it's enough to make my mouth go dry.

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