Her throat clears. “Do you, uh…drop Nova off at school every morning?”
I keep my eyes trained on the road, my voice even. “No, not usually, but my sister just got cleared to go back to work part time. I’ve been helping her out where I can.”
She nods. I can tell she wants to ask more, but she’s holdingback. She’s pressed against the door now, as far as possible from me.
Good—it’s for the best, I tell myself, even though it stings a little bit, having her so far away.
Her hands fiddle in her lap. I've noticed she does that when she’s nervous. Her voice comes out soft. “And Nova’s dad?”
My molars grind at the thought of that piece of shit. “He’s not in the picture. It’s not my story to tell, but I assure you, it’s not a fun one.”
She lets out a breath. “I see. Well, it looks like Nova’s well loved, so that’s all that really matters. She’s a special little girl.”
“She is,” I reply without hesitation. “She and her mom are my whole world. I don’t know what I would do without them.” I’m not sure why I say it. I’m not usually one to open up, but Maisie has a way of breaking through all my barriers.
I risk peeking over at her, and she looks lost in her own head. There’s a faint smile to her lips, though. I trace the curve of her cheek with my eyes, down to the delicate dip of her throat that bobs once when she spots me studying her. I quickly train my eyes back on the road, approaching the ranch.
I’m not sure why she does it, but she decides to share a little piece of herself back. “Lan—Oakland is that for me. My whole universe, really. It's us two against the world, always.”
Lan, the man she mentioned at dinner. Is he her lover? A friend, maybe? It pains me how much I need to know the answer.
Maisie notices my rigid jaw and lets out a small, breathy laugh. “Lan has been the only consistent love in my life. He gets me like no one else ever has or ever will.” My jaw ticks again, my teeth gnashing together at the thought. “He’s my b?—”
“Boyfriend,” I finish for her before she can drop the bomb herself.
Her eyes blow wide, the most glorious laugh fanning through her puffy lips. “Brother,” she corrects me.
“Brother?” I mumble under my breath, feeling like an idiot. Itshouldn’t matter to me, but that doesn’t stop the ugly, jealous monster in my head from settling at the news.
“The one and only. He’s my Laine and Nova, and I would do anything for him. I’m trying to get him to come visit the ranch soon, but he’s…well, let’s just say he’s a very busy man.”
My fingers relax around the steering wheel as I park my truck up at The Den. I’m out of the truck in two seconds flat, running around to open Maisie’s door before she’s even got her seatbelt unbuckled.
Her brows pinch. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m opening the door for you. You act as if no one has ever done that for you before.” She looks confused. “Hold on. You’re not telling me you’ve never had your door opened for you? I knew to do that for a woman by age ten, even without my mama teaching me.”
Her cheeks heat, and now, I feel like a total dick. “Of course, someone has opened my door for me,” she scoffs, grabbing her purse to sling it over her shoulder. She jumps out of my truck, ignoring my outstretched hand. Ever Miss Independent. I’m starting to wonder if she’s so used to doing everything on her own, she doesn’t know how to accept help, even when it’s thrown in her face. Finding her lost in the forest last night was indication enough. She couldn’t even bring herself to ask me outright if she was going in the right direction. Newsflash: she wasn’t—not that she would admit it.
I’m not sure this day could get any worse. I’m definitely in need of a second cup of coffee, so I head inside.
Maisie breezes past me, skipping up the steps, I’m sure off to find Roxy again. I follow closely behind her, only because I really wasn’t lying about needing a second cup of coffee before heading out for the day. I’m already behind schedule from dropping Nova off at school, so the extra caffeine is much needed.
I fill a steaming thermos of coffee, grabbing a second one to fill for Maisie without thought. Just as I’m tipping the coffee pot, the woman herself breezes back in, an energy drink in hand.
“What’s that?” I point at the metal tin in her hand.
She looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. “Caffeine?”
I look back at the mug in my hand, feeling stupid now. “We have coffee if, uh, you wanted some.” I slide the extra mug back, hoping she doesn’t see it from her angle.
She wiggles her drink in my face, a small twitch to her lip. “Not a coffee drinker. I’m more of a chemical guzzler myself. Scored this bad boy from the back of the beer fridge. Pretty sure Ches hid it there, because his name is written on it in Sharpie, followed bydo not touch.” She makes a zipping motion over her lips. “You saw nothing, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am. You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m a good listener.”
Her eyebrow quirks up at that. “Good listener, huh? Does that apply everywhere, or just in reference to keeping my dirty secrets?”
My dick twitches, the little traitor. Two can play this game. I step closer, our chests almost touching. She inhales when I reach around her, grabbing the sugar shaker off the counter. “Not only am I a great listener, but I’m a quick learner too,honey,” I whisper into her ear before withdrawing to dump a hefty amount of sugar into my cup.
