Page 4 of Legacy

Maverick lifts his chin my way, and I slink over to him. He resists the urge to ruffle my hair like he does when we aren’t at work. His hand twitches. “Do you have plans tomorrow? Mom wants to come over and make dinner at your place.”

“Why my house?” I counter.

He shakes his head. “You know she loves the kitchen at your house. Don’t argue, let her come over and cook dinner. Marley has cheerleading practice, but she’ll come over when it lets out. A nice family dinner. Like the old days.”

My sister is in her senior year of high school and I know my mom is feeling the empty nest rapidly approaching. The family dinners get a little farther spaced out and their house quieter as Marley spends more time with her friends and doing her extracurricular activities.

“Okay,” I say. “I have a date tonight, but she’ll be gone by tomorrow morning. Come over any time after noon.” Mom will want to hang out all day. She likes my kitchen, but she also loves my pool.

Maverick’s dimples appear. “Dog.”

I hold up one finger. “It’s a second date, so not a dog. More of a boar.”

He winces. “You know your date could stay and you could introduce her to your family? That’s a novel idea. A second date must mean business.”No, she’s an amazing fuck and has a body meant for speed.

I don’t introduce my family to any of the women I date. Even in high school, I kept my dating life close to vest. It felt like something I didn’t want to share with anyone because no relationship was permanent. My dad had a hell of a time in the woman department leading up to meeting my mom, so I know when he sees me being cagey about my love life, he’s hoping I’m not fucked up like him.

“That’s like fourth date stuff, Mav,” I say, grinning. “Tell Mom we’re on for dinner and I’ll love her forever if she makes strawberry shortcake for dessert.” It’s his favorite, too so I know he’ll put in the good word. He grins.

His gaze flicks around the room, and then he ruffles my damn hair before walking out of the oversized building, heading back to the offices to find Liam Dempsey. He’ll want the play by play.