Page 26 of The Maverick’s Forever Home (Montana Mavericks: Behind Closed Doors #2)

I t had been two whole days since Braden had kissed her like his life depended on it.

And for two whole days, Maggie had found herself daydreaming and—according to Cody—looking foggy a lot.

It wasn’t intentional. But, whenever Braden popped into her mind, she was done for.

From his smile to his calloused touch to his delectable scent, she happily lost herself in all the warmth and tingles those memories inspired.

When she wasn’t daydreaming of him, they were texting. Short and sweet texts. She woke to his “Good morning” texts and went to bed after reading his “Sweet dreams” texts. Every time her phone pinged, she was filled with anticipation.

It had been surprisingly easy to give in to the feelings she’d been resisting.

And it scared her. Instead of keeping her guard up, she’d tossed aside all restraint.

The practical side of her kept looking for a flaw or red flag to cool her ardor.

But the passion-driven, emotional side of her—a side she’d boxed away for the better part of ten years—was charging full steam ahead and headed straight for Braden.

By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, she was missing him.

“You’re driving Cody to school?” Her mother glanced at the kitchen clock. “Has the bus already come?”

No, it hasn’t . But if she took Cody to school, she might run into Braden, and she really, really wanted to run into Braden.

“Yeah, Ma. I can take the bus.” Cody finished off his glass of chocolate milk.

“You’re looking a little red-eyed, sweetie. Might do you some good to rest.” Her mother’s brows rose, and she used her assertive nurse voice.

“I will.” Maggie wasn’t going to argue with her mother—or explain why she was taking Cody to school. “After I get back.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed but she let it go.

Cody chatted the whole way into town. He was almost done with the diorama he’d got for his birthday, and even Maggie thought it was awesome. “Can we invite Delilah and Braden over to see it?”

“Sure.” Now she wouldn’t have to come up with an excuse to get together.

“Thanks, Ma.” Cody grinned. “She’s really getting into dinosaurs. She’ll think the diorama is cool.”

“Cody, if you think it’s cool, she will think it’s cool.” Maggie met his gaze in the rearview mirror as she parked in the school parking lot.

“Uncle Mike says you always looked up to him growing up.” Cody shrugged. “Delilah’s like that. Being her big brother is a big responsibility, Ma.”

A what? Maggie froze. Big brother? Cody thought of Delilah as his little sister? When had that happened? And should she put a stop to it?

“Come on, Ma.” Cody unbuckled and got out of the car.

Maggie was still processing Cody’s words after she’d dropped him off at his classroom.

This was exactly the sort of thing she’d been scared of.

One kiss—lots of kisses—and she was setting aside her motherly duty to protect her son from getting hurt?

Yes, she and Braden enjoyed spending time together, but it was too early for Cody to be thinking about being a big brother to Delilah.

“Maggie?” JenniLynn Garrett walked out of a nearby classroom. “How are you?” She hugged her.

“Good.” She hugged the woman back—she’d always liked JenniLynn. She was one of those rare individuals who was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. “It’s been a while.”

“I’m so glad I ran into you. I was actually planning on calling you this week.” She took a deep breath. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re not working right now?” She paused until Maggie nodded. “That’s great news because I need you on my staff.”

“On your staff?” Maggie wasn’t even sure what JenniLynn did for a living.

“You’ve always been one of the most organized and driven people I’ve ever known.

How many clubs did you run? And your mother told me how your last job was all about coordinating fine details and getting things done.

I need that. I need you. You see, I’m running for mayor.

” She shook her head. “It is still so weird saying that.”

“You are?” Maggie smiled at the woman. “That is the best news.”

“I hope the rest of the town thinks so.” She smiled.

“I’m looking for someone to be my volunteer coordinator.

It’s a lot of scheduling, mostly.” She gave Maggie a breakdown of what she was looking for.

“Will you think about it? Or are you going back to your old job and traveling again? I guess I should have asked that first.”

“I don’t know.” Which was the first time she’d admitted that to herself. It was just…her promise to Angelique. Could she really live with herself if she broke her word? “I will think about your offer.”

“You will?” JenniLynn hugged her again. “You have made my day. Really.” She glanced beyond Maggie. “Braden Parker, stop eavesdropping and join the conversation.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping.” Braden brushed her arm as he came to stand at her side. “You two are having a conversation in the middle of the elementary school hallway.”

“Fine.” Jennilynn’s phone started ringing. She glanced at it, then Maggie. “Okay, I’ll call you in a day or two. Think about it.” She paused to text. “There are a lot of perks, you know? Working with me to better Tenacity. From home . I’m sure your family would agree.”

Maggie’s parents would be over the moon. Mike and Cody, too. “Thanks for thinking of me, JenniLynn.”

“You were the first person I thought of.” She glanced at Braden. “Help me convince her, okay, Braden? I’ve got to go.” She waved before answering her phone and hurrying out the front door.

“You should take the job.” Braden stared down at her. The stubble along his angular jaw made him sexier than ever. When that crooked grin started, the corners of his blue eyes creased just right.

No matter how tempted she was, she would not pounce on him in her son’s school hallway. She was pretty sure the school administrators would not approve. She took a deep breath. “You did your due diligence, now you’re off the hook, Braden. I’ll tell her you tried to convince me.”

He kept right on staring at her. Not his usual desire-laden stare, but a gentler, sweeter and far more emotionally charged and unnerving stare.

“Stop,” she whispered.

“Stop what?” He stepped closer.

She closed her eyes. “Looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” There was a smile in his voice.

She took a step back, slipped on something and started to fall—

“Gotcha.” Braden’s arm was strong and heavy around her waist. “Might want to keep your eyes open, Maggie. A runaway crayon almost took you down.”

Her eyes were open now and glued to his face. She was very aware of the rock-hard chest she’d been caught against—and the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palm. His heart was beating almost as fast as hers.

“Are you okay?” A teacher came running out of her classroom.

“I saw you falling. Good thing you’ve got such good reflexes, Mr. Parker.

Last week, one of our first-grade teachers tripped over a backpack and there wasn’t anyone there to catch her.

” She looked back and forth between the two of them.

“Well, then. I’ll get back to my class. You two…

take care now, you hear?” And she left as quickly as she’d appeared.

Maggie stepped out of his hold and hoped she’d stay upright.

Really, didn’t he know what he did to her?

After the way she’d wrapped herself around him on Saturday night, surely he did.

Thinking about Saturday was a big mistake.

Now, she was remembering his kisses and scent and the press of his hand against her back.

She took a steadying breath. “I… I should go.”

“Let’s go.” He walked with her to the door, held it open and followed her to her car.

“Are you trying to keep me flustered?” She fumbled with her keys.

“Do I fluster you?” Was he concerned? The way his brow furrowed and his mouth turned down, he seemed to think this was bad news.

“Yes.” She glanced around the parking lot. There was no one around, so why was he standing so far away? Where did that come from? “You make it very hard for me to focus on anything other than you.”

His frown grew.

He was handsome even when he was frowning. “Hugging you and kissing you.” She shook her head. “Things we can’t do here.” She pointed at the school building behind them.

He stepped close, putting her between him and her car.

“I don’t see a problem with it.” He bent his head and dropped a kiss against her forehead.

Up close, the tenderness on his face and in his eyes was too much.

“I hope you will think about JenniLynn’s job offer.

Selfishly, I’d like you to stick around. ”

He would? She shook her head, her throat too tight to speak.

She was too focused on fighting against an emotion she wasn’t prepared to name.

It was too much. Too big and real and heavy.

There was no denying she enjoyed his company or that she was very definitely attracted to him.

But falling for him? It was so fast. Some—most—would say too fast. She couldn’t.

It would be a huge mistake to rush this.

But that didn’t stop her from wanting to.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you don’t seem happy about it.” His hand brushed her curls from her shoulder. “You okay?”

No. Yes . She shrugged. But his hands closed on her shoulders, and it helped. His touch steadied her—or drove her out of her mind with want. Either way, his touch affected her deeply.

“Delilah’s been asking to see you.” He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “If you’re not too busy?”

“Cody got a dinosaur diorama for his birthday, and, now that he’s turned Delilah into a dino fan, he thought she’d want to see it.”

“I’m sure she would.”