Page 34 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

ATTIKUS

Vanessa and I had eloped to get married. It was better this way. My mom and sister wouldn’t like it, but they’d forgive me when I gave them the news after the fact.

I sat inside Happily Ever After Boutique, waiting for Vanessa to try on her dress. We’d arranged a private appointment, so no one else was there.

While I sipped the champagne offered by the manager, I thought back to our conversation.

I wasn’t lying to Vanessa when I told her I’d rearranged my life because of her.

I didn’t fully understand why I had done it.

All I knew was that I had to protect her.

In doing so, I had to shift a few things on my priority list so that Vanessa was at the top.

Somehow, she had become more important than Ashton.

Nothing had swayed my vendetta until her.

The attraction between us had grown exponentially. I couldn’t wait for her to admit she wanted me.

After having her in my home, I couldn’t imagine anyone else there.

This morning had been a lovely surprise I didn’t know I needed.

I woke up early like I usually did. While making coffee, my security system informed me someone was in the yard.

The motion detector had picked up squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs before, but when I went to check on the computer, I saw my fiancée skipping in the yard and talking to the flowers.

She had those curlers in her hair that looked ridiculous yet insanely sexy.

I never thought hair curlers would turn me on, but since Vanessa, I found myself attracted to odd things.

Her thin T-shirt had given me an unforgettable view of her gorgeous rack.

I stood frozen as she danced and skipped in the yard outside the kitchen, my dick hard.

I wanted to strip her so I could touch and taste those breasts. This unpredictable woman had brought me more joy than I could ever have imagined.

The door to the changing room opened, and Vanessa walked out, knocking the breath out of me. I swore my heartstopped beating for a moment as I absorbed her beauty in the elegant gown that hugged her body and flared out at the bottom.

Smiling, she twirled. “What do you think?”

This was the dress she’d picked from the website and the dress I’d had in mind.

“It’s perfect.” I got up from the chair, grabbed my cane, and walked over to her. “You’re perfect. Stunning.”

“The dress is gorgeous on you,” said Chloe, the manager. “It’s from our new collection.”

“You think so?” she asked, then leaned in and whispered, “The price is too much for you-know-what.”

“I don’t care about that. If you love this dress, get it.”

She chewed on her bottom lip and glanced at herself in the mirror. “Let’s try on the other two dresses.” She turned to me. “I’ll decide after.”

The other two dresses didn’t suit her the way the first dress did. Her eyes didn’t light up, but she liked the more affordable price tag, saying she didn’t want me to waste money on a fake wedding. I’d pay anything to see her wear that perfect dress and promise herself to me.

“Get the first dress,” I told her. “I like it better on you.”

“I have to agree,” Chloe said. “Other women have tried it on, but it doesn’t look as good on them. I’m not saying it to make a sale. It’s the truth.”

Vanessa offered her a warm smile. “The other two are nice as well.” She looked at the dresses hanging on the rack.

“I know you prefer the same dress I do.” I inhaled a breath. “If you choose another, I’ll buy all three.”

Her mouth dropped open, and Chloe looked to the floor, hiding her smile.

“That’s wasteful and makes no sense at all.” Vanessa pouted.

“What’s wasteful and makes no sense is not buying the dress you love for your wedding, Lily Pad.” I offered Chloe my credit card. “Ring it up.”

Chloe looked at Vanessa. “Would you like to look at the shoes, veils, or jewelry?”

Vanessa glared at me for a moment. When she knew I wouldn’t budge, she sighed. “Okay. Let’s rack up his credit card so he can stop being so bossy.”

Chloe whispered, “Most women want their men to shower them lavishly. You don’t?”

“I’m not most women. I’m an artist. I’m used to being poor.”

After paying for the dress, shoes, veil, and jewelry, we left the boutique to explore the surrounding retail area.

“Should we take everything with us now?” Vanessa asked outside on the street.

“No, someone will take care of it. A hair and makeup team is arriving tomorrow morning. They’ll bring the dress.”

She stared at me and shook her head. “You’ve planned everything, huh?”

“I’m a master at it.”

“You’re the maverick, an unconventional man who likes to do radical things like buy expensive wedding gowns for a fake wedding.”

She knew me more than she realized.

“I’ve always been an outsider,” I said. “The norm is too boring. Just enjoy this vacation with me. Don’t worry about anything.”

The weather in Maui couldn’t have been better. Vanessa had worn khaki capris with a floral shirt. I wore jeans and an aqua polo shirt.

I bought a pink lei made of orchids and plumeria for her, and she bought me a jasmine lei.

“Stop paying for me.”

“I don’t mind.”

“But I mind. Just because you have all the money in the world doesn’t mean you should spend it carelessly.”

“It’s not careless when I’m spending it on my stunning fiancée. She deserves to be spoiled.”

“I can’t argue with you.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s why you shouldn’t. You should obey my every demand.”

She laughed and elbowed me in the ribs. “Dream on, Whistler.”

We walked to a beach with tables and umbrellas. Several vendors sold food on the side. A band played in a nearby restaurant.

“I haven’t had that in a while.” Vanessa gestured to the vendor selling coconut drinks.

We found a table with an umbrella.

“You sit.” She pointed to the chair took my cane, and leaned it against the table. “Let me treat you to a coconut drink, okay?”

“Okay. Since I’m obeying you, does that mean I get a reward later?”

“Yeah, a straw to drink from the coconut.” She smirked.

No woman had made me smile more than her.

As I sat and watched her walk up to the vendor to place her order, peace filled my heart. I hadn’t felt that in a long time. I inhaled the ocean breeze and took in the pretty blue sky.

As she walked back, a man wearing a red backpack rushed up to her and shoved her to the ground. Anger shot through me as I clasped my cane, rushing over to her. No one else was near to help her.

“Get off me!” She scratched him.

I whacked him on the head with my cane and yanked him off her.

The man looked at me with glazed eyes. “Must kill!” He whipped out a pocketknife and swung it at me.

I dodged him and tripped over the coconut Vanessa had dropped. He leaped onto me, but I punched him. His nose cracked, and blood poured out of it, but he showed no pain.

Vanessa picked up my cane and whacked his back. “Help us!”

Her scream for help appeared to enrage him even more. I shoved my knee into his balls. That should have been a painful blow, but he rolled off me and lunged at Vanessa.

I gripped his leg, making him fall.

Three men approached and helped me subdue the madman. They held him down by the legs, arms, and shoulders while I examined Vanessa.

“Are you okay?” I asked her.

Though her hands trembled, she said, “I’m fine.”

The police arrived and apprehended the man.

“The fucker is high,” said the man with the purple shorts who had helped us.

Two EMTs examined and released us.

“You have a cut on your ankle!” Vanessa exclaimed in concern. She crouched on the ground to examine the minor cut I didn’t even feel.

She huffed, looking toward the ambulance where the madman was restrained. We could still hear him shouting nonsense.

I’d gotten his identity from the EMT and had already passed it along to my team. Who was he? Why did he attack Vanessa? Was this a random event?

“Come on.” She offered her hand for support. “Lean on me. I’ll drive back to the house.”

I slung an arm around her as she assisted me back to the car. Though my cut didn’t affect my walk, I took advantage of the opportunity to let my fiancée take care of me.

“Does it hurt?” she asked when I settled into the car.

“Not really.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to pretend to be all macho if it hurts.” She pulled the Land Rover into the street and headed to our private oasis, which wasn’t far from the shopping area. “Everyone gets hurt, and it’s okay to say so. You won’t embarrass yourself.”

I supposed it would be inconsiderate of me not to comply with my concerned fiancée. It wasn’t my fault she wanted to hear me moan in pain, even though I wasn’t experiencing any.

“I can massage your ankle with the hot and cold ointment. Where’s the closest drugstore?” she asked.

“The medicine cabinet at home is fully stocked. There should be some in there.”

Vanessa pulled into the driveway, got out, and rounded the hood to open the door for me, offering her hand to assist me.

I’d never received this kind of attention from any woman I’d dated. I could get used to it. Once inside, she helped me into the living room. I pretended my leg gave out and fell onto the couch, dragging her with me.

“Oh, my gosh! Are you all right?” She pushed herself up, sitting on my lap.

“I’m fine.” I held her in place when she wanted to get off. “Don’t move. I need a moment to breathe.”

“Does it hurt if I move?”

No. “A little.”

She flicked me an inquisitive look. “Are you misbehaving?”

“I wanted to know what my fiancée would feel like sitting on my lap. This was the perfect opportunity.”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “You got hurt because of me. So I’m going to be nice to you and sit here for a bit. Then I’m going to head back out to the car to retrieve your cane.” She shifted and straddled me. “Is this better, Whistler?”

“A lot better.” I gripped her hips with my hands. My cock grew, and she gasped, looking at me. “You do this to me all the time.”

Her eyes darkened. “All the time?”

“Every time I think of you.”

“Really?” She moved her hips back and forth, driving me crazy.

“Don’t stop.” My hands lowered her buttocks. “I’ve forgotten all about the pain.”

“Will you be okay for the wedding ceremony?” She gyrated her hips.

I gathered every ounce of control so I didn’t burst. “Nothing will stop me from marrying you tomorrow.” I jerked my chin to the beach beyond the sliding door. “It’s going to be out there.”

She placed a hand on my cheek. “Thanks for planning this.”

I remembered her trembling hands earlier. “Are you really okay after the attack?”

She got off my lap and sat next to me, her hand still in my grip. “I’m okay now. The attack brought back an awful memory.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

She looked at me. “Maybe after the wedding. We’re on vacation, so I don’t want my past to ruin it.”

I wanted to break the man’s bones for making her suffer. What had happened to her? Did this have anything to do with the man she claimed to have murdered? That was a story I needed to know sooner rather than later.

“When you’re ready, I want to know everything.”

She smiled warmly. “Let me get your cane and the ointment.”