Page 20 of Wild Love
When we get close, Dakota navigates me through her hometown. I stop at the pizza place, and she runs in to get our order. Charli puts her paws up on the dash watching her.
Someone stops her at the doorway, and they embrace. Charli and I look on. My dog whines.
“I know. I know. She’s coming back.” I pat her head. Charli is a pretty friendly dog, but she’s got a major crush on Kota. Who could blame her? Dakota watched her for me recently when I had to make a trip up to Minnesota, and she always gives her attention, pets her, takes her on runs. We’re easy to please.
I check email on my phone. Hugh sent the final signed contract for my endorsement and my lease agreement. I lucked out being able to find a sublease for Dakota in the same building.
The Legends is usually booked up solid, but one of my new teammates was looking to offload his place while he moved back to his hometown to recuperate from surgery. I didn’t even think about him taking his stuff with him. I just assumed it was furnished.
She’s going to find out eventually that the endorsement is for the Maverick Corporation, but I couldn’t risk her passing because of pride. I could see how much she wanted the job, and she shouldn’t have to give that up because of something stupid like money.
She comes out a few minutes later with two large pizza boxes. I lean over to open the door for her, and the smell that takes over my truck is divine.
“Oh, man. My mouth just started watering.”
“Right.” She sits and flips open the lid revealing a sausage pizza. She frees a slice and takes a bite, then groans loudly. “You have to try it.”
She holds out the pizza to feed me, and I take a huge bite that makes her laugh.
“You almost got my fingers.”
“I’m so hungry. I hope one of those boxes is all mine.” I reach for another slice, and she smacks my hand. “Only one bite. We have to save the rest to eat with my dad.”
Dakota’s dad lives in a quiet subdivision on the east side of town. I park the SUV along the road, grab our overnight bags and Charli, and follow her up the sidewalk to an entrance at the back side of the house.
The screen door creaks open, and a big, burly guy with a gray beard steps out. “DJ!”
“Dad!” She holds the pizzas with one hand to her side and hugs him with the other.
Her dad looks at me over her shoulder and gives me the appropriate dad once-over. Charli growls in my arms.
Dakota laughs and pulls back. “Dad, this is Maverick. Maverick, meet my dad.”
“Maverick, huh?”
“Johnny Maverick, but everyone just calls me by my last name.” I drop Charli to the ground and step forward to shake his hand.
He stares at the tattoos along my arm as he reaches to take my hand. “Jerry. Thanks for driving my DJ.”
Kota rolls her eyes. “He always wanted a son. Hence the nickname.”
Jerry smiles and holds the door open for us or, well, her. I get the feeling ole Jer might let it slam in my face if it weren’t for Dakota holding it open with her foot while I shuffle through with Charli and the bags.
The house is small but has a homey feel. Everything is tidy and clean, but there are stacks of papers and clutter that my parents always kept out of view for guests.
We drop our stuff, and I feed Charli while Dakota and Jerry catch up. I try to hang back and give them some time, but Kota calls for me, and it’s a good thing because one whole pizza is gone by the time I sit down.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Jerry asks. From the kitchen table, he reaches over and opens the fridge. “I’ve got Coke or beer.”
“He wants beer, Dad,” Dakota says at the same time I say, “Coke will be fine.”
Jerry looks between us.
“Either one is great. Thanks.” I wipe my palms on my thighs. I don’t have a lot of experience with fathers. Especially girls’ fathers.
I mumble my thanks as he sets a Bud Light bottle in front of me. I think I’m sweating. Must be the humidity. Charli jogs in circles around the living room, then the kitchen, checking everything out.
I whistle lightly and pat my thigh to get her attention. “Come lie down, girl.”
