The shiver of desire turned to one of fear, my stupid thoughts ruining the moment as quickly as it started. I tried to play it off, dropping my gaze and tucking a stray curl behind my ear. Hopefully he thought I was just being shy or something. If he noticed a change in me, he didn’t let on. For which I was grateful.
“Rodeo now, fuck later, you two! Come on! They’re about to release everyone’s picks!” Cash hollered, raring to go at the back of the trailer.
I rolled my eyes, even as a grin pulled on my cheeks. Maverick looked at me as if to say,after you.
“I’ll catch up.” I pointed to the Mooneys’ RV. “Gotta grab my hat.”
Despite the fact we weren’t far from home and wouldn’t be staying on the rodeo grounds for the two-day event, Mrs. Mooney did nothing half-assed. She’d forced Bad to get the RV ready so we all had a place to stay out of the heat and get ready for our events.
Maverick gave me a questioning look, his brow arching up.Are you okay?
I nodded, pushing up on tiptoe to give him a quick, reassuring kiss. “I’m fine, cowboy. I’ll be there soon.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t press. Not that he would. Not with him still not talking. For once, I was grateful for that.
I needed a moment. To focus. Center myself. It’s not like I needed to be there for the picks anyway for my event.
With a final look, he hurried off toward the rest of the group. Sighing, I made a beeline for the RV. I spied my hat box the minute I opened the door—right on the armchair Mrs. Mooney claimed as mine to put my things. Taking a few deep breaths, I focused on settling my heartbeat as I opened up the box.
Mrs. Mooney’s voice in the trailer damn near scared the piss out of me. “That was some good luck kiss.”
Holy hell, she was quiet. I hadn’t even realized she was in here. I’d figured she’d gone with the rest of the group. My heart thumped a wild dance against my ribcage as I whirled to face her. “Jesus Christ!” I clapped a hand over my mouth. “Oops, sorry. You scared me!”
A hint of a smirk drew on her lips, mischief and mirth swirling in her gaze. She glanced between me and the door, almost like she was watching Maverick walk away, something in her entire demeanor shifting, softening.
“How’s he doin’?” she asked, before turning to take me in once more.
I shrugged. “He’s doin’ better, I think. I just wish he’d talk, though, you know?” I bit my lip a moment before blowing out a loud exhale. “There’s just some conversations and questions I have that require a little more than a nod or a headshake.”
Like what was going on between us? What did he want? What did I want?
Mrs. Mooney offered me a sympathetic look as she moved to the ironing board she’d set up in the center of the RV aisle. She placed the American flag show shirt—Cash’s I assumed—on the board and began ironing. “Time and patience, honey,” she offered. “I know it’s hard, but push him more than that and he’ll just dig his heels in. Boy may not seem like it, but he’s stubborn. More stubborn than Cash, even.”
“More stubborn than Cash?” I balked at that. Sure, Maverick could be unwavering and relentless, but Cash was the epitome of stubborn.
Mrs. Mooney glanced up at me for a second before returning to her work. “Oh yeah. You see, Cash is difficult about ninety-nine percent of the time, which makes it pretty predictable that he’s gonna be stubborn. I always have a backup to my backup plans when it comes to dealin’ with him.” She smiled softly, setting down the iron so she could adjust the shirt before starting the process again. “Now, Maverick is the exact opposite. Most of the time you don’t have to worry about him pitchin’ a fit or puttin’ up a fight, but that one percent of the time always comes durin’ the least expected moment and over the least expected thing. It catches you off guard.”
I let out a little huff. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”
Mrs. Mooney grinned. “You learn a few things raisin’ up three very different kids. None of them are the same, and the way you deal with one, you may not be able to do with the other.”
“I can’t even imagine.” I could hardly take care of myself, I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what all it took to raise a kid. “I don’t think I’ve ever met—”
Mrs. Mooney cut me off. “Youhaven’tmet True. He doesn’t come around much.” I wouldn’t quite call the words cold, but there was certainly an unwelcome edge to her tone. I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded.
She glanced at me, her gaze drifting up and down my body, taking me in. She had this intensity about her that made me fidget. She’d been nice enough to me, and Ithinkshe liked me, but I wasn’t ever quite sure.
“Enough talk about them boys, how’re you doin’, honey?” Her words held a layer of concern I wasn’t expecting. It tugged on my heartstrings. This week had been such a whirlwind of activity and drama, what with the fire and Maverick’s silence, me moving in, and now the rodeo. It didn’t leave much time to worry about myself.
“Me? I’m fine, Mrs. Mooney.”
Her brow rose, the frown on her face saying exactly what she thought of that. “Girl, if you’re gonna lie, at least be convincin’.”
I don’t know why, but tears pricked in my eyes then. It’s like she saw right through the bullshit and down to the sadness and confusion I tried to bury deep down. I took a breath, fighting back the tears swimming in my eyes.Please, don’t let me cry.
“I’m a little stressed,” I admitted on a sigh. “The insurance company called this mornin’. They’re only gonna give me thirty-fivehundred dollars for the trailer and the product I lost for my business.”
“That ain’t much,” Mrs. Mooney said as she placed the ironed shirt on a hanger and hung it up on one of the cupboard knobs. She moved to a hat box sitting on the kitchen dinette next and grabbed out a cream felt cowboy hat and a brush.
