Page 101 of King of Pride

There was something else in his eyes.

Something darker.

She reached up and gently cupped his face, turning his attention toward her.

“Don't accept them as your family,” she said quietly. “They're not your family.”

Maverick's gaze shifted to hers.

“Don't pay any attention to what he said. You deserve so much more than anything they could ever give you.” Her thumb brushed gently across his cheek. “You have your own home now. You have me. You don't need anyone else from them anymore, okay?”

Her voice was earnest, almost fierce with conviction. She couldn't stand seeing the hurt beneath his anger.

Slowly, the tension in Maverick's face began to ease.

The hard lines around his eyes softened, and the anger that had been burning there gradually faded as he looked at her.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at her.

Then his gaze dropped briefly to the hand still resting against his cheek.

“Why do you care if I feel bad?”

Rose's fingers immediately loosened.

Only then did she seem to realize how close they were.

A nervous flush crept across her face as she pulled her hand away and looked toward the window.

She hesitated for a moment before answering softly, “Because you're my husband.”

The words made her even shyer.

She turned her face toward the window, pretending to be suddenly fascinated by the passing city.

“Stop talking. I'm hungry.”

A quiet smile tugged at Maverick’s lips. He said nothing, but his gaze lingered on her flushed face as the car continued down the road.

***

It was getting colder in Manhattan, and over the past few days, the snowfall had grown heavier. A thick layer of snow covered the roads and sidewalks, turning the entire city white as the temperature continued to drop.

“Oh my God, I’m so full,” Zoe groaned as she walked out of a fancy restaurant, one hand resting over her stomach. “I haven’t had food this good in my entire life.”

Rose walked beside her, equally stuffed and barely able to do anything more than nod in agreement.

“I honestly didn’t expect all those rumors to be true,” Zoe continued happily. “The food really is that good. I could come here every single day.”

“Yeah,” Rose agreed with a small smile. “It’s a shame Maverick wasn’t there with us. I think he would’ve loved it too.”

Zoe suddenly stopped walking.

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Rose, a strange amusement appearing on her face.

Rose took another step before realizing that Zoe had stopped. She turned around, her eyebrows lifting in confusion.

“What?”