MAVERICK
“Why are you here?” I instantly felt his presence, smelled his cologne, and the mattress shifted as he joined me in bed.
My senses awakened. My heart began pumping fast. My breathing held in my lungs as I felt his large hand on my arm.
He could have felt my body tensing, but every time he came near me, a fire lit inside me that took all my strength to push my excitement back in place. I admitted our situation was getting complicated. At least, that was what I felt as I began to like Lake.
Behind that playboy charismatic, charming, and overconfident Lake Winston, he was a good, caring, and thoughtful person. Before I entered into this arrangement, I thought I would be living in hell for 365 days, but so far, aside from being obnoxious and controlling, he was more tolerable than my ex.
I had forgotten entirely about Heath. Lately, Lake had occupied my brain most of the time. And I knew this arrangement was going to screw me up over.
“Can you at least turn and face me?”
It was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. The room went silent as I met him in the eye. His brutal and confident exterior was gone. His gaze lingered for a moment before he dropped to my lips, which had me swallowing and my anger sheathed in silence.
“I’m sorry.”
“You awfully apologized a lot lately for an employer.”
I watched his nose flare. His jaw ticked. “You are not my employee. Yes, we have an arrangement, but you are also legally married to me. I know I overstepped that’s why I am here-”
“Swallowing your pride because you realized you made a mistake.”
“Yes. And stop interrupting me.”
“You said it yourself. I’m legally married to you. So I can talk to my husband like a legal wife. Am I not?”
“I suppose you’re right.” His eyes twinkled as if he thought something naughty. Lake was undoubtedly the sexiest and hottest guy I’d ever met. But my fantasy should stay as fantasy.
My anger died away. “Apology accepted. I’m also wrong. You have the right to know about my life. You are heir to a multi-billion dollar empire and are just being thoroughly careful. You have a name to protect.”
“At that moment, I didn’t care about my family name or how much money I was worth. I thought you might want to know since I have all the resources at my disposal. I’m sorry if I opened old wounds.”
“I thought whoever he was wanted nothing from my mother since I was too small to talk about my father. So I kept it that way, and I don’t think Nana even knows who got her daughter pregnant at eighteen.”
“Eighteen? Wow.”
“Yeah. She went to college at twenty-one and left me with her boyfriend.”
He sighed shakily as he opened his arms. “Come here.”
My heart gave a lurch. At first, I fought the urge to throw myself in his arms, but I needed someone to hold me right now, and it just so happened Lake was here and willing to comfort me.
I moved closer, and he wrapped his strong arms around me securely, and I settled into him right away like we did this a thousand times. My body tensed for a few moments until I felt his lips pressed on top of my head.
All my nerves washed away, and I sagged against his firm and hard body as he cocooned me protectively.
No doubt, Lake went to the gym, religiously worked out, and did heavy lifting. I saw him half-naked once. It was merely a glimpse, but the image of his naked ripped shoulder, broad chest, and hard-as-concrete abs was forever inked in my head. He was hard everywhere, even down there. His bulge was growing, becoming prominent, and he was gigantic.
“It’s going to be okay, Maverick. I promise. You’re not alone anymore.” Until when? Until this arrangement was over? “Did I tell you you are the strongest woman I’ve ever met?”
“I don’t recall.” My voice was muffled as I said against his chest. Lake always smelled so good, and he felt so good, too.
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Well, you do now.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I will do anything for you. You saved me and gave me a chance for the position.” Of course, I almost forgot.
“It’s a win-win situation for both of us.” I pulled away from his arms and faked a yawn. “I have to check Nana in the morning.”
“Of course. Will you join me over a dinner with my mother?”
It took me a while to reply, and I reminded myself that this arrangement was purely business. “Sure.”
He chuckled, almost painfully. “It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”
“I promise by next week, I will be ready for any engagements if you need a wife beside you. Sometimes, I forget the reason why I am here. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He moved out of bed. “Good night, Maverick.”
***
“What are all these?” My grandmother stared at the plastic bags I had unloaded from my car and the new BMW Lake bought me. She picked up two bags at a time, helping me bring them into the kitchen.
“Nana, let me do this.”
“I’m not disabled.”
“I know that.”
When we were finally done, she unpacked the groceries and placed them in the fridge and cabinets.
“I got the blood work result. Dr. Webbs told me to continue the same treatment.”
“So I’m not improving.”
“You are, Nana.”
“I don’t see the point of taking pills anymore.”
“Oh, common. You’re stronger. Maybe if I’m at your age, I wouldn’t be able to lift some grocery bags.”
She turned to me sharply. “Where did you get that car? Did you snatch some rich old man, Ricky?”
“Nana! You’re mean.”
“I raised you, Augustine Maverick! And you never lied to me, but it all began last week.”
I blew a harsh breath. “It’s not an old man. I’m seeing someone. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me? To get a life?”
“Is he treating you well? I need to meet this man.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Did he give you that ring?”
“We’re-”
“Are you engaged to this man? What’s his name?”
I couldn’t respond for a moment. “Nana, okay, I lied, but it’s a white lie.”
“It’s still a lie, young lady.” She continued to stare.
“I’m sorry for not telling you, but we’re dating. Okay? Easy. Don’t get mad so quickly. We just had a doctor’s appointment. Jeez.”
“With his ring around your finger.” She shook her head as she finished up and shut the fridge close. “He better be a good man, or I swear to God, I will use your grandpa’s gun and put a hole in his head.” Grandpa was a war veteran but died when I was just an infant.
I laughed as I walked out of the kitchen.
“What’s his name? This young man.”
“Lake.”
“What kind of parents gave a boy named Lake?” she quipped.
“I could say the same thing. Why’d you and my mother name me Maverick?”
“I’m a fan of Top Gun. I thought I’d name my grandson Maverick, but your mother gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and it suits you, honey.”
“Thanks.”
“So this Lake man. What does he do for a living?”
I looked at her for a second. “You never asked anything about Heath. Why are you so invested in Lake?”
“He seems like a good guy.” She looked at my finger again. “You’re not married to him, Ricky? Don’t break my heart, young lady. I wanna watch you walk down the aisle.”
Oh, God. “I got to go. The Bazz is busy on weekends.”