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Maeve yawned and stretched her arms to the sky, arching her back. “What time is it?” she murmured, finally looking at the corner of the computer screen. She nearly jumped out of her seat when she realized she’d been in Ethan’s office almost the entire day.
She knew lunch had come and gone since he’d brought her a peanut butter sandwich and some chips, but she’d been so caught up in working with Austin to get all the social media up and the graphics put together that Maeve had completely lost the day.
“It’s amazing you’re still alive,” Ethan teased from the doorway.
Maeve groaned and let her head fall back against the seat. “Sometimes I’m a little...hyper focused.”
“I can see that.”
Maeve cracked open one eye and glared at him. “This is for your business, bub. Be nice.”
Ethan put his hands in the air. “I’m not complaining. I’m honestly amazed. I don’t think my brain could handle what you just did.”
Maeve rubbed her aching forehead. “I don’t think mine handled it well either.” A hand appeared in her vision with a bottle of pain pills. Maeve’s heart fluttered. Why was he so darn nice? “Thank you,” she said softly, her fingers brushing his. The heat that ran up her arm wasn’t nearly as unwelcome as it had been earlier. In fact, it gave her a small jolt of energy that felt wonderful after her work day. “Is the shop closed?” she asked, throwing a couple pills in her mouth and washing them down.
Ethan nodded. “Yep. It’s just me, you and a sleeping dog.” He tilted his head toward the corner where Tox was snoring.
Maeve grinned. “My dad would probably love to meet him. He always wanted a dog, but Mom didn’t want one in the house.”
“Then it’s a good thing I was supposed to come over tonight anyway,” Ethan said, walking over to his charge. He picked the little guy up, tucking Tox under his arm and waving toward the door. “Your chariot awaits, m’lady.”
Maeve smiled and laughed under her breath. “But I’m driving this time.”
“Probably best,” Ethan admitted as he locked doors behind them. “You’ll want your own vehicle come morning.”
Maeve was surprised when he still came up and opened her door for her. “Thank you,” she said, knowing her surprise was heard in her tone.
“I told you,” Ethan said. “We don’t have to be dating for me to treat you like the princess you are.”
Maeve paused before sitting down. “I’m not a princess.”
Ethan stepped closer. “Yes, you are.”
She smiled self-deprecatingly. “No. That honor goes to Estelle. She’s the—”
Ethan stepped even closer, cutting Maeve’s words off. “No. This isn’t about Estelle...or anyone else.” His eyes grew serious. “It’s about you, Maeve, and only you. You are special. You are worthwhile. You are the one I want to spend my time with.” His intense look softened, allowing Maeve to breathe a little. “I love your family like my own, but it’s not your sisters I’ve been chasing after for the past eight years.”
Her lungs weren’t working properly and Maeve couldn’t seem to get her legs to move. She couldn’t run and she didn’t know how to respond. There wasn’t the tiniest lick of deceit or teasing in his demeanor. Any stranger would be able to see how serious he was...and it was all about her.
“I...” Maeve took a shuddering breath and tried to swallow. “I’m broken,” she said softly, thinking of her dream this morning. “You should move on.”
Ethan slowly shook his head. “I’ve been patient for a long time,” he whispered. Reaching out with his free hand, he brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. “I can wait a little longer.” He finally moved away enough for her to get control of herself.
Maeve sat down and then looked up. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
Ethan smiled. “You don’t have to. I’m a big boy, I can make my own decisions.” He hesitated, but then whispered, “And you’re worth waiting for.”
Maeve blinked rapidly, but she still felt the sting of tears. The door closed. Ethan once again doing his gentleman thing and she put the key in the ignition by rote memory. Starting the car was enough to get her brain back where it belonged, but the whole ten minute ride home, Maeve was completely lost in her thoughts.
She meant it when she said she was broken. Something wasn’t quite right and she wasn’t sure how to fix it. She’d come to realize, especially recently, that it wasn’t really about Ethan anymore. Yes, he’d broken her trust, but any normal adult should have gotten over that by now.
He was working overtime to show her that he was responsible and that she could let down her guard around him, but the idea still terrified her. Why? Why was she so scared? And why did he think she was worth sticking around for?
Being the youngest of three sisters hadn’t been easy on Maeve’s ego. Her oldest sister was perfect. Gorgeous, curvy, responsible and so intimidating to men that very few managed the courage to ask her out. It was like asking out a supermodel with a brain.
Aspen was driven and loud and fun and could bake like nobody’s business. Her artistic side was so stereotypically Italian that it had been a joke for most of their growing up years. She was passionate and excited and drove Maeve crazy...in a good way.
Then there was Maeve. She’d always been quiet, even as a teenager. Where Aspen could talk someone’s ear off, Maeve was more of a listener. Maybe that’s why she’d gotten along so well with Ethan. His laid back way of handling life had appealed to her. He was cool and cute and his smile made her heart flutter. And since he was an only child, he had been over at their house a lot, since he spent time with Maeve’s older brother, Antonio.
But that one summer...the one that had changed everything...Maeve had finally stepped out of her shell. She’d gotten the courage to talk to the cute boy next door as something more than her brother’s friend. To laugh at his jokes and smile when he flirted with her. When he’d offered to take her surfing for the first time, Maeve had thought she’d won the lottery. What girl in their school wouldn’t have traded her right arm to be in that position?
Maeve shut off the engine and closed her eyes. One moment. One terrifying, terrible moment had changed it all. She’d retreated back into her shell, she’d lost her trust in Ethan and life in general, and had stopped living.
“You’re a coward, Maeve Linlee Harrison. An absolute coward.” How long had it taken her to finally realize Ethan was never the problem? Yes...he’d broken a promise. But was anyone perfect? Plus, they’d been kids. Kids! How could she hold him so responsible for something he did eight years ago?
“And more importantly,” she murmured to the dark car, “why are you so willing to trust him with your father...but not yourself?” There was no good answer to the question. If she was willing to trust him with her family, Maeve knew that deep down, somewhere inside the frightened little girl that still ruled her...she wanted to change. She wanted to trust him.
Headlights pulled in behind her.
“And he’s giving you every opportunity,” she continued. She wasn’t sure why she was speaking out loud, except that there was something more convincing when the words were given tangibility. “Maybe it’s time you took him up on it.”
Nervous, but also intrigued, Maeve gripped the door handle. The first fissures of doubt were starting to shake her foundation and this time...she wasn’t going to fight back.
*****
TOX’S HIND END WAS just about to come out of socket with the way he was wiggling. It was funny how quickly the puppy had adjusted to being around people again. Only a few days ago he’d been scared to death at the shelter and now he couldn’t seem to stop moving, licking and tasting everything in sight. “Is Mama Em gonna skin me for bringing a pup by?” Ethan asked as they walked up the front steps together.
Maeve laughed. She looked a little less weary than she had this morning, though Ethan couldn’t figure out why. She had to be dead on her feet after spending so much time trying to give him an online presence. He’d have to make her a nice breakfast tomorrow as a thank you. “No. If it makes my dad happy, she’ll be all for it.”
Maeve pushed open the door. She hadn’t said anything more about their little chat outside the shop and Ethan decided it was best to wait and watch. He’d played most of his hand and she’d said something that gave him hope, but worried him too. Why did she think she was broken? Had their situation when they were teenagers been so horrible that she was still traumatized? All this time he thought she was simply mad, but maybe there was more to it. Or had something else happened that made things worse?
Too many questions and not enough answers, he thought as they walked inside.
“Maeve? Is that you?” Mama Em called from deeper in the house.
“Yep,” Maeve hollered back.
A dark head appeared around the corner. “Oh! Ethan, I’m so glad you...” She trailed off, then put her hands on her hips. “What in the world is that?”
Ethan grinned, then set the puppy on the floor. Tox’s little legs immediately propelled him to the new person and he began sniffing Mama Em’s bare feet.
“Is it even real?” she asked with a laugh.
“Oh, he’s real,” Maeve teased. “Ethan’s chewed up ankle cords are in the garbage to prove it.”
Maeve’s mother bent down and picked up the fluffball. “Aren’t you just the cutest thing?” she cooed. She brought the puppy to her chest. “When did you get a dog, Ethan?”
Ethan shrugged. “I’m only fostering him, but Riley talked me into it.”
Mama Em rolled her eyes. “I should have known. We’d have a zoo here if that girl had her way.” She waved them back. “Come on. Dad will want to see the little guy.” She paused. “What’s his name?”
“Tox.” Everytime Ethan had to say the name, he felt his neck heat up. Maeve hadn’t given him a hard time about it, but someone was eventually going to push for an explanation and he didn’t want to give one. Who named a dog after their crush? Teenage girls?
“Tox? Hm?” She looked down at the dog. “Interesting name. Is that like a surf brand or something?”
“Or something,” Ethan muttered.
Mama Em laughed. “Well, come on.” She led the way to the family room where Tony was sitting in front of the television. “You have a visitor, sweetie.” Mama Em leaned over the back of the couch and deposited the puppy in Tony’s lap, then kissed his cheek.
Ethan couldn’t help it. A surge of jealousy reared its ugly head and it took him a few moments to push it away. Their interaction made him miss his own parents and long for that kind of connection again in his life. His eyes darted to Maeve, who was watching her parents with an adoring look. If only he could skip through time to see if his investment in this relationship was worth it. Was she ever going to let him in?
“Who’s this?” Tony asked, chuckling as Tox began licking everything in sight. Tony’s hands shook, but he began scratching behind the dog’s ears, much to Tox’s delight.
“This is Tox, Daddy,” Maeve said, moving around the couch to sit by her father. She pet the puppy’s head. “Ethan is fostering him for Riley and I convinced him to come visit.”
Tony looked over his shoulder, found Ethan and winked.
Ethan winked back.
“I always wanted a dog,” Tony said to his daughter in a deliberately loud whisper. “But your mother is a stick in the mud.”
“I heard that!” Mama Em shouted from the kitchen.
Tony made a face, then he and Maeve laughed.
Ethan watched, enjoying every minute of Maeve’s light heartedness. This was why he kept doing what he was doing. This was why he didn’t give up hope. She had such goodness inside her, but she hid it, especially from him.
“Think we can feed him dinner for bringing a dog?” Tony asked his daughter.
“Eh,” Maeve teased, glancing at Ethan over her shoulder. “I doubt he’s hungry. Ethan’s never hungry.”
Ethan chuckled and it was for more than just her teasing. I do believe she’s flirting with me, he thought with a mental grin.
“Is that right?” Tony asked. He made a face. “That’s not what I remember from being young.”
Maeve leaned over and rested her head against her father’s thinning shoulder. “You’re still young,” she whispered.
Ethan’s grin grew slightly smaller. He wasn’t sure what was worse. Watching a parent waste away slowly from a disease or having them suddenly be gone overnight. His protective instincts were screaming for him to somehow save Maeve from this pain. To help her manage it in a way that would save her heart, but he knew from first hand experience, he couldn’t. He couldn’t save her, he could only choose to be there. And if he played his cards right, then hopefully she would learn to turn to him when it grew difficult.
“Dinner!” Mama Em called out. “You too, young man,” she said, pointing to Ethan. “You don’t eat enough.”
“I don’t know about that,” Maeve said with a laugh as she helped her father off the couch. “He fed me an omelet this morning, so I saw exactly what he eats during the day and it’s far from insubstantial.”
Ethan pinched his lips together when Mama Em froze.
“He fed you breakfast?” she asked.
Ethan looked over to see Maeve turning bright red even with her darker skin. “Uh...yes?” she squeaked.
Mama Em looked at him. “At your house?”
Ethan nodded. “She came to work with a stomach growling so loudly she couldn’t crunch her numbers.” He shrugged. “So I ran us home and had her crunch vegetables instead.”
Mama Em tsked her tongue and Ethan let out a breath. Maeve had almost gotten them in trouble and from her blush, she knew exactly what she’d done. “There’s always time for a good breakfast,” she scolded her daughter. “Come on. Let’s at least feed you dinner before you both blow away.”
Maeve didn’t meet Ethan’s eye as she hurried past him and into the kitchen, but when Tony walked up, he held out a fist and Ethan smirked as they bumped knuckles.
“She’s worth it,” Tony whispered.
Ethan nodded. “Yes, sir.”