Page 37 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

MAVERICK

Rhett doesn’t look particularly happy to see me when he opens his front door, but Jace waves at me from the bar.

“Trouble in paradise?” Rhett asks as we head to the kitchen.

“Let me guess. Baylee and Paige talked this morning.”

Pouring a cup of coffee, he sighs. “Not quite.” Then he opens his phone and hands it to me. “You might want to read this.”

The Gazette . Christ. I do not need this today.

Smack dab on the front page of our local newspaper is an article about Wild Heart’s “hometown hero” being home.

“I hate that term, hometown hero. I didn’t go off to war. I didn’t save any lives.”

Jace shovels food into his mouth. “But you play a mean game of football.”

I hand Rhett his phone, but he motions toward it. “There’s also something in the announcements you should read.”

I scroll until I find it. Ladies, dust off your nicest outfits.

If you want a shot with Maverick Walker, Wild Heart’s biggest bachelor, you’d best get yourselves in the game because he was spotted talking to his old flame, Nicole Ashbury, down by the river last night.

They enjoyed some tacos at Guac ’N’ Roll and had a romantic stroll. What the hell is this?

Rhett watches me over the rim of his coffee cup. “You two-timing my wife’s best friend?” Rhett might be my brother, but he’d sure as shit kick my ass if I turned into a dirtbag.

“Fuck no. I had a romantic stroll with Baylee and the two of us bumped into Nicole at my building. I don’t know how someone could confuse the two. We were pushing a damn stroller.”

His hard stare softens. “Sorry to be an asshole, but I needed to hear the denial from you myself.”

Jace chuckles. “Don’t underestimate the women of this town. My guess is Nicole called this one in herself.”

“Or her mother,” Rhett adds. “Remember when Lorraine wanted Nicole to win the church bake-off and stuffed the ballot box?”

“Poor Judd. No wonder his eyes look dead.” Jace shakes his head. “Mine would be too if I was married to a woman like Lorraine.”

I pour a cup of coffee. “Baylee and I had a rough night before this article got posted. I can’t imagine what she’s going to say once she reads this.” For the millionth time, I check my messages. There aren’t any from her.

“Gotta go check the mamas,” Rhett says as he grabs his gloves. “Want to get your hands dirty today, golden boy, and you can tell us all about your girl problems?”

“As long as I don’t have to stick my hand up a cow’s ass, I’ll help.”

Jace and Rhett laugh as we head out to the barn.

I greet the horses. One by one they stick their long necks out of the stalls.

I lean my head against theirs and rub behind their ears.

God, I’ve missed this. When I get to my horse, Stardust, I smile.

Baylee named her when we were kids. She whinnies when I pet her.

“ Sorry, darlin’. It’s been too long.” She has more gray in her coat than when I left for New York.

Rhett hands me a sugar cube to give her. “Beau rides her all the time. She’s getting plenty of exercise. When you’re healed up, you two can go out for a ride.”

My brothers saddle up two horses, and Rhett tosses me the keys to his truck. “You probably shouldn’t be riding since you broke your pretty little neck.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I roll my eyes, and he smiles.

I might bitch about Gus, but I have some damn good brothers who always looked out for me.

Hopping in Rhett’s truck, I drive down to the pasture where the pregnant cows are grazing. I roll down the windows and breathe in the cedar and early hints of mountain laurels. If they were in full bloom, I’d climb up a tree and grab some flowers for Baylee because those are her favorite.

I keep replaying that conversation in my head from last night. The look of devastation and heartbreak in Baylee’s eyes will haunt me if I don’t make this right.

After I park the truck, I slide through the fencing and join my brothers. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.”

“No need to explain,” Rhett says as he heads toward a heifer and scratches her behind her ear. “Hi, honey,” he tells her sweetly before he turns back to me. “The roads are bumpy as hell, and I’d rather you not hurt yourself, so take your time. You probably shouldn’t be out here today.”

I squint at the bright sky and take in the rolling hills that spread as far as the eye can see. “It’s funny because when I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up and leave, but now…”

“Now you miss it.” Rhett nods. “Ranching’s in your blood, Maverick. I’m glad you had football when you were young, but you’ll always have this place when you’re ready.”

I can’t really explain the sense of relief that washes over me. “ Thanks, bro.” Rhett hands me a clipboard to take notes while he and Jace check the cows.

“You gonna join us at the Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch Rodeo in three weeks? I know you can’t compete, but it would help morale if you could cheer on the team.”

“Count me in. I can patch up all your booboos when you’re done.”

“Little shit.” Rhett laughs, but then he frowns. “So what’s going on with Baylee?”

Taking off my baseball cap, I wipe my forehead.

“We had a memorable conversation with Nicole last night.” I recount what happened, and by the time I’m done, Rhett’s face is grim.

“Things had been going really well otherwise. The only sticking point is Baylee being on the fence about dating me long distance if I’m able to play again. ”

“You ready to choose a life that doesn’t include her?”

The mere thought makes it hard to breathe. “I don’t see why it has to come down to that. Why can’t we play it by ear?” Even as I say that, I know that’s not what I mean. I love her, and one way or another, I want this to work out.

“Because she’s a single mom, Maverick, and single moms need to know you’re not yanking their chain.”

“I’m not yanking her chain. I never would’ve gotten involved with her if I was just screwing around or sowing my wild oats. I got that out of my system a long time ago.”

“Thus, the lovely reunion you had with Nicole last night.”

“It was awful. I felt sick. And then Baylee and I had this huge argument afterward, and she slept in the nursery. It took me forever to fall asleep, and then I didn’t hear Leo wake up for his two a.m. feeding, so she must be exhausted today.

” And she left before my alarm went off and hasn’t responded to my texts.

Rhett crosses his arms. “Look, it’s gonna take time to smooth her ruffled feathers. But in the meantime, every single woman in a fifty-mile radius has her sights set on you now. Maybe it’s a good time to be more public with your girl so you can let everyone know you’re off the market.”

“That’s a great idea.”

Jace pats my shoulder. “As long as you’re not ‘shoplifting the pootie.’”

I shove him away, grateful nothing in my shoulder pinches. “Bro, give Jerry Maguire a rest. And I’m not ‘shoplifting the pootie.’ Jesus.”

The asshole chuckles. “Just fucking with ya.”

I’d tackle him to the ground and rub dirt in his face if I didn’t have to worry about my injuries.

Though, speaking of Tom Cruise flicks, that gives me an idea. “Do you think y’all could stop into town this evening?”

I explain what I want to do, and after they give me shit about my plan, they agree.

We’re just about finished when I spot a mama under a tree on the far side. There’s a shadow beneath her. “I think there’s a new calf over here.”

My brothers look up, and I point to the distance.

When we approach, the calf stands on wobbly legs. “Whoa, baby. We just need to take a look at you. Make sure you’re okay.” I hold my good arm up and her tail wags. I pet the mama first and then kneel down by her baby, who looks up at me with big brown eyes.

By the time I head back to town, I’m filthy and exhausted, but I’m happier than I’ve been in months. I stop by my condo to shower and change before I make one more pit stop.

It’s time to prove to Baylee that she’s the only woman I want.