Page 17 of Falling for the Maverick

Brandt Dry Cleaners was among the first in the state to use an organic cleaning process, free of chemicals and toxins. Lucas spent the next twenty minutes explaining the numbers he’d worked up for the next site in the franchise, then gave his father a hard copy. He logged off the laptop, slipped it into a leather case, then pushed to his feet.

“I’m going to leave now because I want to get back to Tenacity before the weather gets any worse.” It had been raining nonstop for two days with temperatures dropping several degrees each night.

Phillip also stood. “I’m going to wait for Tiffany to come back from her honeymoon, then me and your mother will to come to Tenacity to spend a few days with you guys.”

“If the weather’s nice, then I’ll grill outdoors.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Phillip said, resting an arm over his son’s shoulder. “I’ll walk you out. And I’m going to give you a little advice, son. Thanks for overseeing my business but you need to slow down and enjoy life, because right now you have a lot on your plate running the ranch.”

“I promise I will, Dad.”

“Don’t promise, Lucas. Just do it.”

Lucus hugged his father, then got into his SUV to drive back to Tenacity. Halfway through the ninety-­minute drive, he dialed Michelle’s cell phone.

She picked up after the second ring. “Hello.”

“Hello to you, too. I’m calling to let you know I’ll pick you up at your parents’ house when we go to the crawl.”

There was complete silence before Michelle’s voice came through the speaker again. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

Tapping a button on the steering wheel, he turned the wipers to a faster speed because the rain was coming down harder. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Because there will be a lot of eyes on us if we go together. If it’s all right with you, I’d like for us to meet up there.”

Lucas briefly considered asking Michelle whether she felt embarrassed or ashamed to be seen with him, but he quickly dismissed the thought—after all, they were together at the pumpkin chucking event. He didn’t know what had happened to make her change her mind, but whatever it was, he was willing to go along with it. He just wanted to see her again.

He exhaled. “You’re right about a lot of eyes, and it could be a bad move to let our families know that we’re having a date so soon after the weddings. After all, it’s just a casual thing.”

“Thank you for understanding where I’m coming from,” Michelle said. “What time do you want to meet?”

“What about seven?”

“Seven is perfect. I’ll be waiting for you in the Grizzly Bar.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there.”

Lucas ended the call, frowning. He didn’t want to think of walking into a bar to find Michelle as if it were a pickup. He’d agreed with her about their families, but he wanted to remind her that they were adults who didn’t need anyone’s permission to see each other. Then, he realized they might have siblings who opposed their involvement. Lucas knew his brother Ethan had warned him about getting involved with Michelle, and he was certain Aaron didn’t want him to get close to his sister.

Well, both would get their wish, because his date with Michelle would not only be their first but also their last. He had no intention of becoming embroiled in a family feud that would impact the lives and futures of the Brandts and the Coreys. And his father was right about having a lot on his plate. He was committed to the success of Big Doggo Ranch and his parents’ business, and that meant romance would have to take a back seat for now.

Chapter Five

Michelle was fortunate to find the last open parking space behind the rows of stores and applauded herself for leaving early to meet Lucas. Downtown Tenacity was packed with people of all ages. Most were glad that the rain had finally stopped, and with seasonable fall temperatures, everyone appeared to be in a festive mood. Twinkling lights, banners attached to lampposts, and music coming from speakers had turned Central Avenue into a party scene.

She walked around to the Grizzly Bar, smiling when a man with whom she’d attended high school reached over her head to open the large orange door for her. “Thank you.”

He touched the brim of his Stetson. “Anytime, beautiful. Are you meeting someone, Michelle?”

Please don’t come on to me just because I thanked you for opening the door for me. Right then, Michelle wished she hadn’t told Lucas to meet her and instead just let him pick her up at her house. Well, what was done was done, and now she was forced to reject the cowboy with the perfect toothpaste-ad smile.

“Yes. I’m meeting a friend.”

He winked at her. “If your friend doesn’t show up, maybe we can hang out together.”

Michelle wanted to tell him even if she wasn’t meeting Lucas, she wouldn’t have accepted his invitation just because they’d shared several classes in high school.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, because I’m her friend.”