Page 96 of IOU

“Uh-huh.” He shifts and lifts me so I’m straddling him, my bare breasts on display only for him. “Do you want to go out tonight?” he asks hesitantly. “Grab something to eat maybe?”

I watch him carefully. “Are you not going to Gigi’s with Sebastian?”

He’s canceled all the poker games here since I moved in. Apparently, he and his friends have been meeting up at some place called Gigi’s to play instead. I didn’t care since it’s such a pain for me to leave and find something else to do while they are here.

“I don’t have to go,” he says, a yawn clipping the last word.

He has to love me, right? Before, he would have never missed a game to hang out with me. And he wouldn’t have spent an obscene amount of time sitting on a hard bench while I cooed and hugged as many sea lions as the aquarium staff would allow. I even forced Maverick to take pictures with me and the “sea otters” as he likes to call them.

Someone who didn’t love you back wouldn’t make arrangements for you to spend hours with your favorite animal right after you met his family, right? I don’t think so.

Which begs the question. “Did your friend ever find me a house to rent?”

His body tenses under my fingers. “No. Why? Did you find a place?”

I laugh. “Uh, no. I’m just wondering since the last time you mentioned it, it sounded like a done deal.”

He clears his throat. “The rental fell through.”

“Too bad,” I say, not meaning it at all. “I guess you’re stuck with me for a little while longer.”

I’m not eager to move out of Maverick’s apartment, but if he’s still looking for a place for me to stay then my theory could be wrong about him loving me. Then again, he could still love me but want his privacy. Who knows?

He makes a low noise in his throat. “I’ve gotten used to it.”

That wasn’t a “Don’t worry, we’ll find you a place soon” answer.

That means ... “I’ve kind of gotten used to you too.”

He rolls his eyes and I grin just before someone bangs on the door.

Maverick jumps, pushing me off him, and stands. “Put some clothes on.”

I nod at his back as he sprints off to his room, throws on some clothes, and tosses me a pair of his sweats and a T-shirt.

Well then, guess he isn’t waiting for me to do it myself. I pull on his clothes and watch as he stomps to the door, looking back to make sure I’m dressed before he yanks it open, seemingly ready to blast whoever is on the other side. Except, he never does. Because when the door gives way and he gets a good look at the stunning blonde, he sucks in a breath, taking a step back.

Quickly, I move to his side, getting an up close and personal look at the girl in the doorway. She is stunning with her long blonde hair and her navy stained eyes.

“Aspen,” he drawls, looking past her size zero body toward the stairs. “Are you alone?”

I rear back.Is she alone?Is he expecting an army? Granted, the way she holds herself does look a bit regal even if she is dressed in workout gear.

She grins at Maverick. “I’m alone,” she answers, clearly amused.

Mav nods but doesn’t step back to let her in. “I don’t want any problems with Jameson,” he adds.

Who the hell is Jameson? Is that another one of his poker buddies I’ve yet to meet?

Aspen smiles and levels me with a curious look. “You must be Ainsley,” she says, extending her hand out. I glance at Mav, a silent question transferring between us. Is she a friend? He nods and I turn back to the blonde bombshell and shake her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I add, even though Maverick has never mentioned her.

“I have to say, I’m impressed. I wasn’t sure that any girl could break Lexington.”

Is she validating all the wild and crazy thoughts I’ve been having this morning? I think she is.

Mav snorts and seems to relax a little. “Yeah, yeah. What are you doing here, Von Bremen? You were supposed to call, not show.”

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