Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“I hadn’t declared a major. I was working on getting all of my general classes out of the way.”
“What do you want to do?” The tone of his voice tells me he’s not being polite. I really think he wants to know the answer.
I glance back at Ada, who’s happily chewing on her keys. “Something that lets me be home at night with my daughter. I don’t want to miss sports, school plays, or anything else. She’s my entire world.”
“As she should be. My brother Brooks is a nurse, and he’s always having to trade shifts to not miss stuff. Luckily, he works with a great group and they all pitch in to help each other out.”
“And you work construction, right?” I ask him.
“Pretty much. Road construction. I work for a paving company. The job is hot as hell, but it pays well, and I’m usually laid off during the winter months.”
He pulls into the parking lot of the diner in the center of town and turns off the truck. “Have you eaten here yet?” he asks.
“No. I’ve been trying to save money as much as possible.” It’s as if I can’t help myself where he’s concerned. My voice is low because it’s embarrassing that I’m a single, unemployed mother, especially when this sexy man seems to have his life together.
“Understandable. I’m glad I get to be the one to bring you here. Their food is incredible. It’s all home-cooking, and even the burgers taste like you’re at a barbeque.” With that, he climbs out of the truck and makes quick work of getting Ada out of the car seat.
I do what it seems that I always do where Maverick is concerned. I grab the diaper bag that has my wallet and phone shoved inside and follow him into the diner. With Ada on his hip, he opens the door for me. I step inside and survey the place, looking for somewhere to sit where a high chair won’t be in the way.
“Right, back corner,” Maverick says. His hand lands on the small of my back, and I shiver at the contact. He keeps his palm there, leading me to a booth. When we pass a small row of high chairs, he drops his hand from my back and snags one for us. He places it at the end of the booth before he slides in one side and places Ada on the table in front of him, making funny faces at her and making her laugh.
“I can take her.”
“Nah, she’s my little buddy, right, Ada girl?” He makes another face, and Ada belly laughs, placing her hands on his cheeks. I glance around, and we seem to have gained the attention of the entire diner. Not that I can blame them. Maverick is all muscles, five o’clock shadow, dark hair, and tall. And to see him talking and playing with my daughter as if she’s his best friend… as if she was his, it’s definitely something to see.
“Hey, Mav,” a woman who looks like she’s my age greets him. “What can I get for you?”
“Hi, Amy.” He greets her cordially before his eyes find mine across the table. “Stel, do you know what you want to drink?”
“Just water for me.”
“Water? Come on now. You need to experience Dorothy’s sweet tea.”
I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “I’ll have a sweet tea.”
“What about my little buddy here?” he asks me.
“I have a sippy cup of milk for her.”
“All right, well, then a sweet tea for me, too, Amy. Thanks.” He doesn’t even look at her as he makes another silly face at Ada. “You better look at the menu, Stel.”
“Do you know what you’re getting?”
“Yep. Meatloaf dinner, with mashed potatoes and green beans, and some french fries for my girl here.” He blows a raspberry on Ada’s cheek, making her giggle and pull his hair.
“No, sweetie.” I reach across the table to help free him from her grip.
“She’s fine, Momma.” He grins and continues to give her his full attention.
A few minutes later, Amy is back with our drinks, and we place our orders. I get the same thing as Maverick and order an applesauce, which I will share with Ada.
“So, you hung out with Merrick today? What’s it like having a twin?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know any different. He’s my best friend, but I could say that about all my brothers, even with the age difference between us and the oldest, which is Orrin.”
“I’ll never keep them all straight.” I internally cringe. It’s not like I’ll need to keep them straight. We’re not dating.
“Nah, you’ll get it.”
“How do people tell you and Merrick apart?” I ask.
“I’m just a little taller than him. Other than that, we’re exactly the same. I’m a little louder than him, but our personalities are also similar.” He looks over Ada’s head at me. “You’re just going to have to spend some time with me so that you can tell us apart.”