I turn to Maverick, overwhelmed by the effort he's put into this. "This is... incredible," I breathe, taking in the romantic scene before me.
Maverick's hand finds the small of my back, warm even through the fabric of my dress. "I'm glad you like it," he says, his voice low and intimate in the quiet of the room. "I wanted tonight to be special, and there have been too many interruptions on our other dates. So I’ve been working on this. I wanted to do it sooner, but you were sick, then training Molly. And I had a few cases to wrap up. But it doesn’t matter. We’re here now."
A little niggling worry pokes at the back of my mind. One I won't ignore. "I’m so glad you did this, but I can't turn off my phone. If Nan needs me…".
"Of course you should leave it on,” he says immediately. “Though I think Nan's with Connie and Nick tonight, so if anything's wrong, they'll come and get us. Everyone knows where we are, I just threatened each and every one of them tomake damn sure they don't interrupt us," Maverick reassures me, his tone a mix of humor and determination.
"I'm glad. I've wanted more time with you. Our last few dates have been…" I trail off, not wanting to sound ungrateful for the moments we've shared.
"Short," he admits with a wince, his expression sheepish.
"But sweet," I quickly add, because it's absolutely true. Our simple dates, a walk through the park, and sitting in a quiet corner of a coffee shop have been better than any date I've been on before. Every moment with him, a moment where his attention is solely on me, is special. He makes me feel special.
"I'm sorry. I'm working on setting boundaries. But the side work I take on is really important to me. But so are you, and I'm afraid I haven't done a good job showing you that."
"I didn't take it personally. I know you have a lot going on."
"Maybe, but you deserve to have a man that puts you first."
"That sounds romantic. It does. And maybe you deserve a woman that can put you first. But I don't think that's me."
His brow furrows, and he smooths a hand over the tablecloth. "I see."
"I don't think you do. You're everything I've ever wanted in a man. Everything and more. Honestly, if I dreamed you up, I still would have fallen short of the reality of you. But if something happened, and Nan needed me, I would drop you like a hot potato and run to be at her side."
Maverick's brow relaxes and that little grin comes back. "That's fair, but just saying, I'd push you out of the way to get to her if she needed me too."
It's my turn to be shocked. "Just…knock me over?"
"In a heartbeat. I love her. If she needs me, I'm there. No questions asked. That woman could ask me to help her cover up a crime, and I would do it."
I press my fingers against my trembling lips. "You would really do that?"
"Do I swear I'll put Nan above you if necessary? Yeah, I do."
There's no stopping them. I try, but fail fast. I burst into tears, overwhelmed by Maverick's words. The emotions I've been holding back for so long come crashing down, and I can't stop the sobs wracking my body. Maverick reacts instantly, his chair clattering to the floor as he rushes to my side. He kneels next to me, trying to console me, but I'm too far gone. I lay my head on his shoulder and continue to cry.
With a frustrated sound, Maverick scoops me up in his arms. He carries me to the bedroom, gently laying me on the bed before crawling on. He pulls me close, wrapping his strong arms around me. His hand moves in soothing circles on my back as I rest my head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
As my tears slowly subside, I find comfort in Maverick's embrace. The warmth of his body and the strength of his arms around me make me feel safe in a way I haven't in a long time. The sound of his heartbeat grounds me, reminding me that I'm not alone anymore.
"I've been so alone," I whisper, my voice still shaky. "Every test, every doctor's appointment, I've had to be the strong one. I've had to do all the worrying. And the idea that you're on her side too? I got a little overwhelmed. I'm so sorry."
Maverick's arms tighten around me, chest rumbling under my cheek as he speaks. "You don't ever have to apologize to me for feeling. Ever, you hear me? I can't imagine everything you went through with her. All the stress and worry. But you're done carrying that burden by yourself."
I couldn't feel better than this. It's not possible. Jason Momoa could drop to one knee and tell me I'm the love of hislife, and I wouldn't feel a thing. Because Maverick Walker is looking at me like I'm the best thing since gummy bears.
"It's been so tough," I admit. "Nan's all I have, and I've been terrified of losing her. Every time she has a bad day or complains about feeling tired, my mind goes to the worst-case scenario. I've had to be strong for her, to reassure her that everything will be okay, even when I'm not sure myself."
I take a deep breath, inhaling Maverick's comforting scent. "And it's not just the medical stuff. It's everything. Making sure we have enough money for bills, for food, for her medications. Worrying about the rescue and how to keep it running. It's been overwhelming, and I've felt so alone in all of it."
Maverick's hand continues its soothing motion on my back. "You're not alone anymore, Cadence. I'm here, and I want to help. Not just with Nan, but with everything. You don't have to carry this weight by yourself anymore."
32
MAVERICK
Isuck in a deeper breath, trying to keep my shit together. Cady is right where I want her, in my arms, and I'm deep in my fucking feelings. The overriding one? An intense sense of rightness. She belongs in my arms. We fit.
