Page 35

Maverick

W alking back to the bed, I fluff the blankets for the millionth time, wanting to get this right. Ava’s texted a couple times that work was a rough one, they had to fly out a patient, another one puked on her. Needless to say, she deserves a night to get her mind off it all.

I went to town earlier today and picked up a frozen pizza, and every single candy I could think of because I don’t know her favorite but I wanted to have my bases covered.

Laying out all the snacks, I take a look at the spread and hope it’s enough to turn her day around.

I’ve got bowls of Reese’s pieces, Swedish fish, sour patch kids, and red hots sitting in a line on the counter.

An empty bowl for the popcorn I’ll pop when she gets home and then let her pick out whatever movie she wants.

Walking back into the kitchen, I light her favorite candle, making the house smell like lavender.

I grabbed her a bouquet of flowers when I was in town too, every pretty girl deserves some pretty flowers when the day gets the better of her.

I pull them out of their packaging and into the brand-new vase I bought.

Their sweet aroma fills my nose as I lean down and smell them.

Pink, red and white roses, baby’s breath and lillies make one hell of a smell .

Selfishly, I think I’m also looking forward to this. I love nights alone with her. The simpler the better. I’ve lived a busy life, and the thing I value most now is spending time with the ones I love.

Ava’s headlights shine through the front windows, letting me know she’s home. My heart thumps a little wildly in my chest, I get excited every time she comes home. It has me feeling like a damn dog.

The front door swings open, and I can tell it’s been a day by the look on her face. There are dark circles under her eyes, and the girl just looks exhausted. Her hair sits lopsided on the top of her head, little strands of blonde hair shooting everywhere.

She looks around the room a little, her cute little brows furrowing in confusion. “What’s all this?”

Walking to her, I place a peck on her full lips and grab the lunch bag and water bottle out of her hands.

“Well, you said you had a rough day, and I want to make it better.” I smile sheepishly, knowing that when it comes to her, I’m about as pathetic as they come, but I don’t give a damn.

I’m obsessed with the woman in front of me.

“Go hop in the shower and I’ll get dinner in the oven.

” I place another quick peck on her cheek before I nod my head toward the bathroom, making sure she takes the hint.

“Well alright, don’t have to tell me twice. I probably reek.” She looks down at herself and shakes her head.

“I’m just glad you said it so I didn’t have to be the asshole.” I shoot her a wink and she slaps my shoulder before rolling her eyes and walking to the bathroom.

After dropping her stuff off on the kitchen counter, I turn toward the bathroom as soon as the water starts to run to snag her towel and throw it in the dryer .

Before long, the smell of pizza overpowers her candle, and my mouth is watering. I pull open the oven to see the cheese bubbling and pull it out as the buzzer on the dryer goes off.

The dryer is probably from the 90s, and it’s small as hell, but it does a good job of warming up her towel.

The water turns off as I open the bathroom door. Steam encases me as I step in and close the door behind me. The shower door whips open, and Ava practically jumps out of her skin.

She places a hand over what I can guess is her thundering heart. “Maverick, what the hell are you doing?”

With the towel still in one hand, I hold my hands up in defense. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just bringing your towel back.” I hold it out to her, getting an eyeful of my wife. Her body flares at all the right places, my hands itch to touch her but tonight isn’t about that.

“Eyes up here, cowboy.” My eyes leave the sight of her perfect tits and snap up to her face, to see her smirking at me with an eyebrow quirked. “It was really nice of you to warm up my towel. And is that pizza I smell?”

“It sure is, get your PJs on, we’re having a junk food and a movie night.”

“Sounds perfect.” The smile on her face makes me beam with pride. I’m not the most romantic guy in town; I have a tendency to think with the wrong head, but with Ava, I want to get it right. And that smile on her face says I did.

Backing out of the bathroom, I mentally catalogue the image of my smoking hot wife with water droplets running down her for a rainy day and head to get her dinner plated up .

A few minutes later, she walks out of the bathroom, looking refreshed. The smile on her face puts one on mine.

“Feeling better?” I turn my head and ask before pressing start on the microwave for the popcorn.

“Much.” Her arms come around my waist and the warmth of her presses into me. I rest my hands over hers. “You’ve got quite the spread here. Lots of choices.”

Turning around, I slip my hands around her, and she moves her hands to my chest. “Well, when I was at the store, I realized there was a lot I don’t know about you. Your favorite ice cream, your favorite candy, what’s your bad day pick me up, so I uh, got it all and hoped for the best.”

“Well, for ice cream, I don’t discriminate, but a good cherry chip can turn any bad day around. Candy, sour patch kids, or a salted nut roll. Pineapples do not belong on pizza, so you can do pretty much anything but that and I’ll eat it. What about you?”

My gaze stays locked on her baby blues; if I were having a bad day, this girl is all I’d need to turn it around.

“A heavy dose of you will turn a day around for me. Food-wise, cookie dough ice cream, Reese’s for candy, I love chocolate, and pizza we're on the same page, so you’re in no danger of having pineapple on your pizza.

” Leaning down, I kiss the tip of her nose. “Alright, let’s get you fed.”

She grabs the pizza I had plated for her and grabs a small bowl out of the cabinet, piling candy in it before hopping on the bed and tucking her legs under her. “So what movie are we watching?”

“Anything you want?” I grab the remote off the side table on my side of the bed and pass it to her. I lean against the headboard and cross my legs in front of me before passing the remote .

“You’re going to regret that,” she sing-songs, turning on the TV and picking out Miss Congeniality . Lord help me. Watching the tension ease from her shoulders as she laughs at the terrible jokes makes it all worth it.

She scarfs down her snacks and pulls the popcorn down from the counter, before she scoots between my legs and leans her back against my front, using me as her own personal pillow and I love it.

This is the most relaxed I've ever felt in my life, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe it is time to quit the road life.

I could have nights like this every night if I did.

Plus, it would take a load off Ava’s shoulders.

That last accident left her more shaken up than I realized.

Hopefully, this will be the year I win it all, and then I can start my next chapter with Ava.

My hands run up and down her arms, her head starts nodding off to the side, and before long, it stays there as she dozes off. I reach for the bowl in her lap and move it to the side. I should change the movie, but I just can’t. If she likes it, then it’ll stay on.

My lips press into the top of her head, causing her to stir and hum in contentment. The mumbled words, “I love you,” come out of her, and my heart swells. Fuck, am I in deep with this woman.

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”