Page 143 of Boss of Me

“Well, um, thank you.” I can’t help blushing again. “Congratulations on being featured inForbesWomen. I loved reading about your investment club for girls, and how you help women land leadership positions in their industries. And what you said about overcoming imposter syndrome was super inspiring. The whole article was.”

“Aww, thanks, baby doll.” She tweaks my nose, her eyes twinkling warmly. “Speaking of inspiring, Gunner tells me you’re a brilliant pianist.”

I laugh. “I wouldn’t say bril?—”

“Aht aht. Don’t do that. Don’t diminish your talent. ‘Brilliant’ is the adjective he used, and since he’s the biggest music snob I know, I’ll take his word for it. Besides,” Sedonia adds, “I’ve seen the video of you playing and I happen to agree with him. I was out of town when he threw his random dinner party, so I’m really bummed that I missed your crowd-pleasing performance. I’d love to hear more sometime.”

I beam. “Sure. Anytime.”

“We’ll schedule a date. Seriously.” She motions to my attire—an orange Longhorns jersey dress paired with cowboy boots. “Love your outfit, by the way.”

“Love yours, too.”

Maverick chuckles. “Why don’t you two just kiss already?”

Sedonia gives him a disgusted look. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He leers. “I would, actually. More than you can imagine.”

Gunner shakes his head at him. “Go hose down, bro.”

Everyone laughs.

Just before halftime ends, the president of the university shows up with his VIP entourage to say hello to Gunner and Maverick. I can’t help feeling a little dazzled in the presence of such luminaries. When Gunner draws me to his side and introduces me as his girlfriend, I’m so overjoyed at being publicly claimed by him that I practically levitate off the ground.

When he steps away to take a call during the third quarter, Maverick bumps his shoulder against mine. “It’s nice to see you and Gunn doing the whole couple thing. You’re good for each other.”

I smile shyly. “I think so, too.”

He grins at me. “Dad says you two act like lovesick teenagers when you’re together,” he teases. “You blow kisses at each other over breakfast, play footsie under the table, cuddle in front of the fire while reading Shakespeare?—”

“Not true!” I protest, blushing.

Maverick cocks an eyebrow. “You calling my old man a liar?”

“No, but he’s exaggerating. I mean, we’re notthatnauseating.”

“So youweren’treciting Shakespeare to each other?”

“It wasn’t Shakespeare!” I pause, biting my lip. “It was Keats.”

Maverick throws back his head with a shout of laughter.

Grinning, I fork my fingers through my hair, pushing it back from my face.

Maverick affectionately tweaks my nose. “Seriously though, Marlowe. I’ve never seen my brother so happy, not even when he made his first million. You’ve got him on cloud fucking nine.” His pale eyes twinkle at me. “I envy what you guys have. Almost makes me want my own special someone.”

His admission surprises me. “You do?”

“Nahhh.”

I laugh and shake my head at him. I can’t help wondering what would happen if he and my sister met. Would sparks fly between them? Would they be compatible? I wish for the umpteenth time that Ember lived here with me. Maybe someday.

“Did Gunner ever tell you about the time we got into a barroom brawl?” Maverick asks.

“A barroom brawl? Oh, I have to hear this story,” I say with an eager grin.

“We were seventeen,” he begins, humor threading his deep voice. “It was Dad’s turn to keep us that weekend, so he picked us up from school. He used to love taking us places that Mom didn’t approve of. For our sixteenth birthday, for example, he took us to a strip club and treated us to private lap dances.”