God, the way he said my name. I know there was nothing sexual about it, but, damn.
I braved a step closer to him, our bodies close but not touching. In order to hold his gaze, I had to tilt my face up towards his, putting our faces close. “I came out to see you,” I said, my voice low, sultry.
His brow furrowed, the usual scowl on his face deepening. “Why?”
“Dear God, Maverick…do I really gotta spell it out for you?” I asked, meeting his stare once more.
His head cocked to the side, a look of pure confusion on his face. “Spell what out?”
Ugh. Case and point. With a loud sigh, I rolled my eyes and pressed a hand to his chest. Maybe he’d getthat.“I’ve been trying to flirt with you all night, from the moment you walked in. Why do you think I asked you to dance? To drink? Why do you think I’m out here talkin’ to you?”
“Why me?” That frown dipped lower, those light eyes full of disbelief. On one hand, it was absolutely adorable that he was that humble, that earnest, and oblivious, but on the other… It would be nice if the guy could take a hint.
I shook my head, my hand still pressed to his chest. His hard muscles feathered beneath my touch. Dear God, the guy was cut. What I’d give to run my hands over his chest without his crisp, black, long-sleeve on. Despite the deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes, something else lingered there too. It was deep, but there was no doubt in my mind, desire lurked there. “Do you even know what a catch you are, Maverick? Tall, dark-haired, broody…hell, all your missin’ are some tattoos and shadow magic and it’s like you’d have stepped out of a fantasy romance.”
“I don’t…I don’t understand.” He shook his head, managing to back out from under my touch, placing at least a foot of distance between us.
Annoyance, and, let’s face it, a bit of embarrassment, welled within me, choking some of the confidence I’d worked up coming out here.
“You know what?” I snapped, some of my anger getting the best of me as I threw my hands up in the air. “Just forget I said anything.” I turned on my heel, muttering a string of curses under my breath as I stomped back for the main doors, passing by a whole group of cowboys staring my way.
Too bad they weren’t the cowboy I wanted.
I’d barely made it inside when I bumped into a familiar face.
“Whoa there, darlin. Why you look so pissed?” Cash’s words were light and slightly slurred as he bumped into me. Those hazel eyes of his held a glassy sheen to them. He wasn’t drunk yet, but definitely buzzing.
I sighed, glancing back over my shoulder, like I could still see Maverick through the doors, and rolled my eyes. “Your cousin is either an absolute idiot, or just too damn nice to tell me he ain’t interested.”
“What happened?” he asked, a winning smile lighting up his face.
I shrugged, throwing up my hands. Damn, I needed a drink. Or five. Five sounded like a fun time. “I guess I came off a little too strong and scared him.”
Cash barked an obnoxious laugh and put his hand on my shoulder. “What do they call them people that can’t read?”
“Cash Mooney?” I guessed, quirking an eyebrow at him.
Another laugh.God, he sounds like a donkey.“No…itinerant….illigerent?”
“Illiterate?” I frowned at him, not sure what he was trying to say.
“That’s it!” He lit up. “Maverick is like…illiterate of women. Like he can’t read you at all. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t like y’all, he just doesn’t understand.”
“Okay?” I started to walk away but he moved in front of me.
“It’s like—I heard…Or, well, someone told me there was these books where—” He paused to chuckle. “Where like elves fuck and stuff. Like just a bunch of beautiful elven women with big tits fucking all the time, ya know? And like, I wouldn’t probably be able to read one, not cuz I’m illiterate or nothin’, just cuz I don’t read so good. Can’t keep my attention. But it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to hear the story. You know?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
“He likes you.” Cash swayed on his feet. “I can tell. He just…He can’t. Ya know?Hedon’t realize it cuz he’s all hung up on that fuckin’ Ashleigh bitch. Ya know?”
I wondered who Ashleigh was. Maybe that’s why he’d been so weird. Was he dating someone else? No… Maverick didn’t seem the type to cheat or two time. Maybe she was an ex he was hung up on. Either way, it didn’t change anything. Not really.
“Thanks… I think.”
“You okay?” His smile faltered.
I shrugged again—ugh, how very Mav-like. “It’s fine. I’m just hot is all. Gonna go get myself a drink.”
