Page 78 of The Cupcake Cottage

“Daisy-Mae.”

“Are you two having dinner here or something?”

“You need to invite her over, have a long conversation, and figure things out. You’re being stupid. A woman needs to feel like…” She paused, her gaze growing unfocused before it snapped back to him. She sighed, suddenly looking tired. “Let her know you care. Let her know she’s your choice at the end of every. Single. Day.” She poked him in the stomach.

“She knows that.”

“It’s early days in your relationship. It’s easy to feel insecure with you never being around.”

“Daisy-Mae isn’t—”

“She’s human, just like the rest of us. You’re a big famous man who could have any woman, and she might feel as though you’re not choosing her any longer—like you got what you needed.”

“I’m not like that.”

“You need to be patient and fair to her. Your life just went completely insane, and she’s never experienced anything like this. It’s an adjustment.” He opened his mouth to argue, and she added firmly, “This is different from pageants.”

“So I’m supposed to say no to the money that will set us up for life?”

“What’s the cost of saying yes?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know how you two find time to see each other.” She gave him a pointed look that made him feel guilty, like he was choosing money over his fiancée. Which he wasn’t. He was choosing moneyforhis fiancée. Daisy-Mae had never had it easy. He could give that to her. She could have a cushionthat would give her the confidence to take risks with her career without worrying about what she’d eat if she got fired. Daisy-Mae was amazing, and he wanted to give her everything.

“She understands, Mom. She helped me get here. We’ll be okay.”

He felt like a liar. Things seemed to be getting worse rather than better right now. She understood, but there was a piece missing from his picture. Was it really as simple as her wanting more time with him and feeling insecure? For some reason he didn’t want to believe that.

His mom opened the door, and he held it for her, his gaze catching on the rooster planted in his front yard. His heart ached for those lazy hours he’d carved out with Daisy-Mae not that long ago. Those hours that were so impossible to find these days. Was she just missing those moments as much as he was? Was it possible she needed them even more than he did?

“She’s been pushing aside a lot in her life for you,” his mom said.

“She’s got boundaries.”

“I know. But how many times has she let you down lately? Not been there when you need her?”

“Daisy-Mae isn’t like that.”

“And how many times have you not shown up for her lately?”

“That’s—”

“Don’t say different.” She gave him one of those mom stares that made him straighten up and stop arguing. “Make sure you keep showing her how special she is to you.”

“I tell her.”

“Also try listening,” she snapped. “I saidshowher. The poor woman probably feels abandoned.” As she walked to her car, he was pretty sure he also heard her mutter something about stupidity and men, but he wasn’t confident.

As he watched his mom’s car pull out, he was left doing some mental math on how many times he’d let his fiancée down lately. It was a startling number nobody should be proud of.

** *

Daisy-Mae had barely heard a peep out of Maverick over the past 48 hours until he’d shot her a text that afternoon, inviting her over. Curious as to where they stood since their fight, she stood in his living room on Monday night as the setting sun streaked it with rays of pastel colors.

She stopped in the middle of the room. “What happened?” The room had a totally different vibe to it. Less bachelor and more homey. “When did you get plants?”

Maverick had moved to the kitchen, and she heard the clinking of plates. She went to the doorway to see what he was up to.

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