Page 35 of The Cupcake Cottage

“And why’s that?”

“Because instead you get to be my girlfriend.”

** *

Maverick was bringing the fixed chair in from the barn when he overheard Violet say to Daisy-Mae, “I thought you two were trying to get more publicity around yourrelationship.”

“We are,” Daisy-Mae said, laying out the silverware. “It’s just hard finding something genuine.”

“Here’s the chair,” Maverick said, sliding it into place at the table the women were setting up for dinner.

Daisy-Mae gave him a weak, guilty smile and he gave a shrug to indicate he didn’t mind them talking about the business side of their relationship—as long as his mom didn’t overhear.

“You two need to do something big,” Violet said. “Maverick, be a man and kiss the living daylights out of this woman on the Jumbotron.” She gestured to Daisy-Mae, who blushed in her rosy pink sweater.

“I can see you’re thinking about it!” Violet exclaimed. “Make sure you always keep your hair perfect,” she said to Daisy-Mae. “Oh, who am I kidding? You’re always perfect.”

Maverick agreed. He also liked Violet’s loyalty.

“Thanks for inviting us to your testosterone zone,” Violet said.

Maverick rolled his eyes. He should have known better than to tell Myles and Dak that he didn’t want women here. He would never live it down.

“You bet,” he said.

Honestly, now that they were here, he realized how immature his proclamation had been. Friends—of any sex—made a house feel like a home.

“But I think it needs some womanly touches. What do you think?” Violet shifted a centerpiece left, then right. “It’s a housewarming gift from me and Daisy-Mae. We found it at the church rummage sale and it just screamed ‘Maverick.’ We knew you had to have it.”

He rolled his eyes. It was the ugliest fake floral arrangement he’d ever seen.

Violet giggled. “Just kidding.” She took the basket of faded flowers and drop-kicked it into the living room, sending dust and petals flying. “Daisy-Mae found it on the back porch when we were feeding Milo.”

“Who’s—oh, Dak’s dog? He can come in.” He glanced around. “Where is Dak?”

“He and Dylan are chatting out in the yard,” Daisy-Mae replied. She added in a whisper, “Jenny’s out there, too. I think she has a crush on Dylan.”

“Totally reciprocated,” Violet chimed in.

Maverick’s mom came through the kitchen doorway to check on the table. “It’s looking good, ladies. Thank you.” She frowned at the scattered flowers behind Violet. “Didn’t we throw that out?”

“Milo found it,” Daisy-Mae said.

“Oh.”

“The bin,” Maverick said, realizing why the arrangement had appeared slightly familiar. There was a massive bin for his renovation trash out front, as well as for the few household effects that had been left behind. How the dog had retrieved the arrangement was anyone’s guess.

“I should schedule the truck to come empty it.”

“I can do it if you give me the number.”

“The floors look really good, Carol,” Daisy-Mae said.

“They do, don’t they?” She smiled.

Maverick still saw projects everywhere he looked, but the house was coming along quickly. “Thanks for arranging to have them done.”

“I had an ulterior motive,” she said with a wink.

---