Page 27 of The Maverick’s Forever Home (Montana Mavericks: Behind Closed Doors #2)

Being a big brother is a big responsibility, Ma. She nibbled on her lower lip. She’d done this. If she and Braden hadn’t gone on that date, Cody wouldn’t be making huge assumptions about what the future would look like.

He was watching her. “Talk to me.”

Should she tell Braden? No. This was something she needed to sort out with her son. If she told him, he’d want to help and that wouldn’t help her fight the whole falling in love thing. “I’m just…tired.” She wasn’t tired, she was panicking.

He was wearing that adorable concerned expression again. “You okay to go home? I can drive you.” His hand cradled her cheek, his blue eyes searching hers.

“I’m fine.” It was hard to get the words out. “Like I said, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“But I do and I am.” He smiled. “Get some rest, Maggie. Take good care of yourself. We can get together later on, when you’re up to it.” He opened the driver’s door of her SUV. “Text me when you get home?”

His words had her heart beating at an alarmingly fast rate. “I will.” She got into the car.

He closed the door and patted the roof of the car.

She tore her gaze from him and backed out of the parking spot. No matter how hard she tried not to, she glanced his way.

Braden touched the brim of his cowboy hat.

She shook her head. For years, she’d been content on her own.

But now? Why did this handsome cowboy get to her like this?

Was he even real? How could he be? He was too good to be true.

Too sweet, too thoughtful and entirely too gorgeous.

Just look at him. He being a single parent to a little girl wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for all women.

He was the total package. Any woman would want him.

But that crooked grin—the one he was wearing right then and there—was for her.

And even though this was scary and new and uncertain, she was happy. Braden Parker made her happy.

* * *

Braden had never felt this way before. With Maggie, things were simple and…not.

He was slowly coming to terms with his new normal. It was the same with Delilah and Maggie: he didn’t have a choice about his feelings for either one of them. They just were. Unshakable and irrefutable.

When it came to Maggie, this was both maddening and satisfying.

It was the little things that revealed how far gone he was.

If she smiled, he was happy. If she was tired, he wanted to take care of her.

If she kissed him, he wanted to love every inch of her—over and over.

There was nothing he could do about it, either.

Not that he wanted to. Truth be told, he liked feeling all those things.

Over the last few days when the four of them had gotten together to make pine cone bird feeders, he’d found a way to steal a kiss—or two.

At the last football game, he’d held her hand under the blankets.

After they’d discussed every inch and element of Cody’s diorama, he’d made sure to sit beside her to watch a movie—wedged tightly beside her.

Whatever excuse he could find to see her, he’d use it.

He thought he’d been sneaky but he’d been wrong.

It was his mother who told him it was time to take Maggie on another date—just the two of them.

When Maggie said yes, his mother took it up a notch and offered to keep Delilah overnight.

Miles and Hayes had given him so much hell for that, too.

While they were making jokes about whether or not he remembered how to have sex and to be sure he had plenty of condoms, he knew better.

He and Maggie were in a good place. Sex changed things.

And while there was no denying he wanted Maggie something fierce, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to change things between them.

When he knocked on her front door to pick her up, he hadn’t expected to be nervous. But he was. He was shifting from foot to foot when she pulled the door open. All Braden could do was stare.

“You look incredible.” Braden felt like someone had a hold of him by the throat—making it hard for him to speak or breathe.

Maggie was always beautiful, but she’d never dressed up like this before.

Her hair was loose and soft about her. The red sweater she wore matched her red lipstick.

Her jean skirt hugged her hips and ended just above her knees.

And her boots? Damn, but she looked good in cowboy boots.

“Thank you.” Her cheeks were a darker shade of pink when she pulled the door shut behind her.

“I was thinking we could go to The Library, in Bronco.” He wanted tonight to be about them. That meant going someplace where they weren’t likely to run into someone they knew or be interrupted. Bronco made sense. He took her hand, bent and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

“You’re not worried about getting red lips?” She laughed.

He shook his head. “It shows everyone you’re with me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re being a sweet talker again, aren’t you?”

“Nope. Telling the truth.” He helped her into his truck.

The drive to Bronco was an hour and a half long but it didn’t feel like it.

They shared childhood memories and parenting challenges, and sang along to a couple of songs on the radio.

He learned Cody played the piano because she played the piano.

Her favorite candy was cherry sours. She hated mustard, though she didn’t know why.

He thought this funny. She loved animals but hadn’t kept a pet since she’d started traveling for work.

And, someday, she wanted to take a gondola ride along the canals in Venice.

The more he heard, the more he liked her.

She said she was awkward, but he thought she was unique—in the best way.

The thing he liked most was how easy it was between them.

It gave him hope that it would last. At some point, he’d accepted that what he wanted most was a future with Maggie and Cody. His very own Brady Bunch in the making.

The Library was a restaurant housed in Bronco Valley’s old library.

Camilla Sanchez, the owner, had made sure to preserve the old architecture and bookshelves while repurposing the historical building.

Soft music played overhead and each table was illuminated by vintage brass lamp with bottle green–glass shades.

Overall, the place was warm and inviting enough to ease some of his nerves. Hopefully, Maggie would like it, too.

After they ordered their dinner and drinks, he sat back and watched her looking around the restaurant.

Maggie caught him watching her. “I’ve never been here.” Her voice was soft. “I feel like I need to whisper—you know, like you do in the library?”

He chuckled. “If I recall correctly, I got in a lot of trouble in the library. Too loud.”

She rested her elbow on the table and leaned forward to prop her chin on her hand. “Not because you were making out with girls behind the bookshelves?” He liked the mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

“Not once.” His brows rose. “My library experiences sound very different from yours.”

“No. I never.” She shook her head, pressing both hands to her cheeks. “I didn’t mean—”

“I’m teasing you, Maggie.” He grinned. “You don’t have to cover your cheeks. I like it when you blush.”

She ducked her head. “Because a beet red face is such an attractive look.”

“You look good in red.” He reached across and took her hand. “And I think it’s cute when you blush.”

“So you think I’m cute all the time.” Her eyes went wide, and she tugged her hand from his so she could cover her whole face. “Can we pretend I didn’t say that? I’m going to stop talking now.”

He was laughing. She had no idea how right she was—he did think she was cute all the damn time.

But cute didn’t do her justice. Maggie was a whole bunch of things rolled into one.

Pretty, no, beautiful. And, when she bit her lip or her eyes flashed with hunger so fierce he could scarcely breathe from it, no woman was sexier.

No matter what, she drew him to her like a moth to the flame. He reached for her hand.

Maggie sighed and took his hand, her fingers threading with his.

He was struck by how intimate this felt. Their fingers twined together. Their gazes locked. At the moment, there was no one else in the world. And, hell, he liked it.

“Evening.” Camilla Sanchez stopped beside the table. “Have you ordered?”

Maggie tugged her hand from his. “Oh, hello. Yes.” She pressed her hands to her lap.

“You’re Braden Parker, aren’t you?” Camilla turned to him. “It’s been a while. How are you? I see your sister, Rylee, every once in a while, now that she’s married Shep. You’re up in Tenacity, aren’t you?”

“It’s home.” He nodded. “This is Maggie, Maggie Cooper.”

“I’m guessing you’re Mike Cooper’s sister? I’ve met him once or twice when he’s come in with Daniel. Nice guy. There’s a family resemblance.”

“That would be him. He is nice—most of the time. We’re twins.”

“That explains it.” Camilla nodded.

“How’s the family?” Braden regretted it the minute he’d asked. Camilla’s family had been through hell—more than once. But, last he’d heard from her cousin Luca, who lived in Tenacity, things were calming down.

“Pretty good. My great-uncle Stanley is so happy being married to Winona.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Is it true that Stanley was instrumental in finding Barrett Deroy a few months ago? And cleared his name from any of that missing money business?”

Thank to Stanley and his niece, Nina—who was eager to clear the name of her high school sweetheart, Barrett Deroy—Tenacity’s years-long scandal had finally been solved.

Unfortunately, the truth had torn two families apart when Barrett Sr. admitted to an affair with the mayor’s wife, and in doing so also revealed that June Woodson had stolen the money—in the hopes of running away and starting a new life with Barrett Sr.

“It’s true, all right. That man is a force to be reckoned with. Things have been pretty quiet recently. For a change.” She laughed. “I’m almost scared to say it too loudly—don’t want to tempt fate. Anything exciting happening in Tenacity?”

“The big mayoral election is coming up.” Maggie shrugged.

“It seems like everyone is running, too. Acting Mayor Marty Moore, Graham Callahan, Ellis Corey and JenniLynn Garrett. Whoever wins, I hope they find a way to develop some economic incentives. Tenacity could use a little financial help to grow and shine.”

Camilla gave Maggie a long look. “You thinking about adding your name to the list of candidates?”

“For mayor? No, thank you. I can’t imagine taking on the job.” She laughed, shaking her head.

“I think you’d be great at it.” Braden meant it, too.

Everything he knew about Maggie Cooper told him she was the sort of person to get things done.

She’d gone above and beyond in her last position, risking her health to care for others.

While he didn’t want her in that position again, that sort of dedication was what made a good public servant.

“Maybe Stanley should run?” Maggie shrugged. “You said he was a force to be reckoned with.”

“He would do it and do it right, that’s for sure.” Camilla chuckled.

“Then that settles it. Stanley Sanchez for mayor.” Maggie smiled.

Braden had already accepted that Maggie’s smile was one of the top two smiles in the world—tied with his daughter’s.

But there was something extra special about Maggie’s smile tonight?

It reached inside his chest and grabbed a hold of his heart, wrapping it in pure warmth and love.

He loved her. He did. Her smile, like everything else related to Maggie, knocked him off his feet, scrambled up his insides, then settled firmly into place—that missing puzzle piece he hadn’t realized he’d been missing.

“I can see the two of you are here for a romantic evening, so I’ll stop bothering you.” Camilla winked at them. “And dessert is on the house. Try the tres leche cheesecake. It is divine.”

After dinner, a single piece of cheesecake was delivered—with one fork.

Maggie eyed the fork, the cheesecake and his mouth.

The cheesecake did look good but she looked better.

The way she was looking at him set him on fire.

His body ached to make love to her. But, for now, he’d make do with feeding her cheesecake.

He scooped up a bite and offered it to her.

“Hold on…” Her voice wavered and she stood. “I’m going to check in on Cody first.”

“Sure.” He set the fork down. “Go on. I’ll do the same.”

Maggie walked to the other side of the restaurant with her phone to her ear. She scanned the shelves, glancing back at him every now and again.

He pulled out his phone. “Mom?” Braden hoped his little girl was having a good time. “Delilah okay?”

“Happy as a clam. She and your father fell asleep watching TV.” She giggled. “You should see him, Braden. He is wearing one of her tiaras.”

Braden blinked. “He is not.” He shook his head, unable to picture it. “I don’t believe it.”

“I’ll take a picture.” She giggled again. “Stop worrying and start wooing, you hear me? Delilah needs a mother and you need a wife. I’ll see you in the morning—and not too early, either.” And she hung up.

He’d always thought he got his lack of subtlety from his father. Maybe not. He was still shaking his head when Maggie came back to the table.

“Cody’s fine. I’m ready for you to feed me cheesecake now.” She sat, leaned forward and opened her mouth

He liked the sound of that. “Yes, ma’am.” He held out the fork.

She accepted the bite and her eyes went wide. “Holy cow, that is so good.” She took the fork and fed him a bite.

“It is.” But he preferred feeding her. She had the most expressive face and eyes. Watching her enjoy herself was a full body experience for him.

She cleared her throat. “Cody’s asleep, so we…we can…” Her gaze dipped to his mouth and stayed there. “We don’t have to go home tonight.” She blinked. “If you… I…”

“You what, Maggie?” He swallowed hard, aching.

“I need to make sure we are on the same page, here.” He held his breath and hoped like hell they were.

He wanted her so bad he ached with it. If he enjoyed watching her eat cheesecake, he could only imagine how he’d feel when his hands were on her body and she called out his name.

And he’d make damn sure she called out his name—over and over.