Buttery light spilled onto the forest floor, warming the cooling air as I pulled up at Maverick’s house. Crickets sang in the background as I ascended the stairs, wearing a cozy pair of yoga pants and an oversized shirt underneath my jacket.
Maverick opened the door and laughed. “I’m glad you followed orders.”
He wore a pair of jogging pants and a plain white shirt that fit his broad shoulders a little too well. I wanted to run my hands along his arms but settled for dreaming of it instead. A box of pizza sat on the counter behind him.
“Come on in.” He tilted his head. “Can’t wait for you.”
“For me to what?”
“For you.”
Seconds later, my body pressed against his. His rock-hard thighs lined mine. His hands were in my hair, his arms around my back. He dipped me into a kiss, forcing me to surrender my weight to him. I hovered in his arms, paralyzed by the tilt of his lips against mine, until he straightened. The broken kiss lingered on my lips like a whisper.
His boyish grin melted me. “For that.”
He wound our fingers together and pulled me farther into the house. I stumbled after him and tried to pull myself back together, unable to peel the smile off my face.
Totally worth it.
The skeleton interior had amped up significantly. New granite counters sparkled beneath a protective film. Wooden stools lined the bar, covered in plastic. A faint hint of wood stain lingered in the air, and the walls seemed far brighter. An updated light fixture made of elk antlers dangled overhead. No furniture yet.
On the table sat my card, propped open. Nerves twisted in my stomach. I hadn’t said anything blatantly obvious in the card about how I felt, but I hadn’t been reserved, either.
“It’s really amazing.” I slipped a hand over one of the counters, sawdust gritty on my palm. “I’m impressed. This will be such a lovely home. How will you part with it?”
He shrugged.
“Oh. Right. This isn’t your style.”
He grinned and flipped the pizza box open, shoving it toward me. “Grab a slice. We’ll eat in here, then I have some movies picked out. And no, it’s not my style. But it’s someone’s style. And that’s who will buy it.”
Grateful to get some food in my belly after forgetting to eat lunch, I grabbed a slice of what appeared to be all-meat-man pizza and sank my teeth into it. Delicious, crisp crust exploded in my mouth. Maverick went for his own slice.
“Then what is your house style?” I asked, eyeing an open cupboard that still needed repair. He’d replaced the black cupboard doors with all-wood ones, giving it a more rustic, gentle feel. Near the dining area to the left, another elk-antler chandelier sat on the floor, awaiting placement. This one sprawled to at least ten points. It would be a talking piece all its own.
Swallowing, he said, “I prefer . . . subtle freedom.”
“Subtle freedom?” That piqued my attention. I chewed, nearly melting into the delicious cheese. His response sounded a lot like noncommitment. “What does that mean?”
“I’m not big on the spotlight. I don’t like attention, and I’d rather fly under the radar. I think my house should reflect that.”
“Minimalism at work?”
“Definitely. I rented that truck and arrived with only a bag.”
Such a revelation seemed so at odds with how he always presented himself. Charismatic. Confident. Even caring. I recalled the way he’d vowed to save my company without knowing much about it. Even now, he leaned against the counter with an arrogant little smirk I wanted to kiss away.
“And freedom?” I twirled a piece of cheese around the tip of my finger, dizzy with him standing this close. The entire house smelled like pine, drenching me in memories of our kiss.
“Staying in one place has always been hard for me.” He frowned. Grooves formed in his brow. “That’s why the military appealed. I prefer movement. Freedom. You know . . . change.”
He shifted his weight but held my gaze. A challenge lived there, and I didn’t know what it meant. But it surely meant something, and so had that kiss. Together, it was an ugly arithmetic. My thoughts moved so fast they strangled themselves. He studied me carefully, and I felt both of us take a metaphorical breath.
Falling for that ridiculous voice and those strong shoulders was a little too easy. Maybe this hadn’t been my best idea.
I forced a smile and said, “Sounds like a bachelor’s life.”