Page 19 of Don't Hurt Us
Instead, I snake my arms around his neck and plaster my body against him.A hug is the next best thing to kissing him, right?
“If you’re not doing anything tonight, you should come over for dinner,” I say as I take a step back and let my arms fall to my side.My bottom lip slips between my teeth and I nibble on the flesh as I wait for him to reply.
“I’d love to come over for dinner.”He reaches up and uses his thumb to tug my lip from my teeth and grins.“Let me grab my bag, then I’ll walk you out to your car.”
He comes back a few moments later with jeans on and a heavy sweatshirt.I don’t know where he got changed, but it would’ve been freezing for him outside in shorts and a t-shirt.
We walk slowly to accommodate Maverick’s limp.When we get to the door, I gasp at how much snow there is.It was flurrying when we got here, but this is a lot worse.
“Is your car going to drive ok in this?”Mav glances at the unplowed roads with a scowl.
“I… I’m not sure.I hate driving in the snow.”
“How about you guys get in my truck?I’ll take you home and I can come back later with Peck to get your car.”
“You don’t need-” My words die on my tongue with the look he’s giving me.
“Let me take care of you, Syd.”
“I'm not used to anyone taking care of me.Rob wouldn’t have done this.”
“That sounds like even more of a reason to let me.You deserve to be taken care of.I'm not Rob and I never will be.Let me be there for you and the kids.Let me be what he wasn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to be.”
“Yeah, but why?”
He stares at me for several long seconds before he reaches up and cups my cheek.He brushes his thumb over my jaw and I lean into his touch.
“Let’s talk about it later.I’d rather get you home safely before the snow gets any worse.”
Maverick’s truck is parked right next to my car.He opens the passenger’s door and helps me inside, then he rushes around to the driver’s side and cranks the engine.As soon as it’s running, he knocks on my car’s window and tells Danny what’s going on.Soon, my son is climbing into the back of the cab with a big grin on his face.
“Mom, why can't you have an awesome truck like this?”
“Because I have to deliver things for the bakery with my car.”I chuckle.“It would be a little hard without a flat place to put all of the boxes.”
“That’s what the bed of the truck is for.”He rolls his eyes.
“No, they need to be covered.I'm not getting a truck, Danny.It’s way too big for me to drive.”
“It’s alright, Danny.You can ride with me wherever you want.”Maverick glances behind him and winks at my son before spinning around to face the front.
He takes his time backing up and drives slowly.I'm not sure if this is how he would normally drive in the snow, or if he’s doing it because we’re in the car with him.
He holds the steering wheel with his left hand and rests his right arm on the center console.His fingers hang over, almost brushing my thigh.I want to encourage him to touch me, but that’s stupid.Maverick isn't interested in me.
Not only is he older than me, but no one wants to date a single mom of two.He could have any of the women that show up in his bar.He’s attractive with his long, wavy brown hair.His piercing blue eyes and sinful smile.He has tattoos that cover most of his arms and disappear behind his sleeves, making you wonder how many tattoos you can't see.
We hit a patch of ice and I shriek, reaching for anything to hold on to.Maverick stays calm and regains control without any effort.
“We’re ok, sweetheart.Sometimes the truck will fishtail, but it’s alright.”He reaches a little further and takes my hand in his, giving it a little squeeze.
My heart is pounding against my ribs and I'm not sure if it’s because he’s still holding my hand, or from my near-death experience.I squeeze my eyes shut and try to calm myself down.This is stupid.I’ve driven in snow hundreds of times.I should expect us to slide a little.
“She hates the snow,” Danny pipes up from the backseat.
