Page 25 of The Cupcake Cottage

Daisy-Mae giggled. “It’s fine. Really.” She rested a hand briefly over his wrist.

Maverick shot off a text, his mom getting back to him instantly.

“She wants to know what style of desk.”

Daisy-Mae frowned. “I don’t know.”

Maverick thought back to what he’d seen in her house. “You sure you want a desk? I could see you more likely to curl up in an armchair with a laptop and a fuzzy blanket.”

“That’s not very professional.”

“You’re working from home.”

“Yeah, but at a desk.”

He glanced at his phone as another text came in. “My mom wants to know if you want to go shopping next weekend? And she wants me to come so you’ll have a truck.” He glanced at Daisy-Mae. “You can just borrow it.”

Realizing his mom was playing wingman, and he’d just shot her down, he quickly amended his statement. “Actually, Sunday is our team’s day off next week. I’ll swing by and get you. You might need me if you buy something heavy. And maybe we can grab supper afterward.”

Daisy-Mae smiled. “It’s a date.”

“A date with my mother in tow?” He winced, and Daisy-Mae laughed.

“I like that you and your mom are close.”

“The supper idea included only you and me.”

“Okay.” She opened her car door, and he leapt out of his own side, suddenly nervous. He felt like he had a shot with Daisy-Mae, and he wanted to get it right. Every moment of it.

He escorted her up the steps where she paused under the porch light, unlocking her door. The barking stopped and snuffling sounds started instead.

Daisy-Mae turned back to Maverick. “I guess this is good night?”

Without another thought, he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her body tight to his. She felt even better than in his imagination.

“Good night,” he said, his mouth inches from hers.

“Good night, Maverick.”

Her gaze softened as he dipped his head. She stretched her neck slightly, angling her mouth upward to connect with his.

He kissed her softly. Her lips were sweet with chocolate from her earlier mocha, and before he could let himself get lost in her,he ended the kiss, hoping he was leaving her wanting more. A lot more.

Because if nothing else, he was a horrible, despicable man for the way he loved every second of the heated electric touch of his best friend’s ex’s lips upon his own. If kissing Daisy-Mae was sinning, save him a seat in hell because he wanted to do this all day long for the rest of his life.

CHAPTER 5

Daisy-Mae stared at the poster of the Dragons captain that had been hung in her new office, along with several other star players and hockey memorabilia. She hadn’t been the one to decorate, and if she had, she wouldn’t have chosen that particular poster.

Maverick was smiling at her, gloved hands stacked on top of his stick, his hair damp from practice. He was staring right at her, and every time she looked up, her heart skipped a beat.

And he had been placed straight across from her desk.

She knew what it felt like to kiss those lips.

She knew what it felt like to be held by those powerful arms.

The idea of working from home was gaining in appeal—if only for its lack of distractions.

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