Page 100 of Crack the Ice

Tom pushes through the kitchen door, eyes hardening when they land on Sheila.

“Why are you here, Ms. Rivers?”

I smile, jackpot. “I had the same question. It seems to me that Sheila is stalking these kids. Or me, maybe Mav too, Tom. They literally just left. We had a bit of fun, you know, a food fight of sorts.” I cup my hand around the corner of my mouth like I’ve got a secret. “I can get you the camera footage. It was pretty funny. Lily has mad aim.”

I jut my chin in the direction of the kitchen camera. Reveling in the fact that Sheila’s face is now white as a ghost.

“But Sheila here decided to come in here and threaten me, saying that covering the kids in food was considered bullying and abuse.”

“I—” she stammers, but Tom simply holds up his hand.

“I don’t care, Ms. Rivers. This is out of line and out of your job requirements. You are to do home visits and work with the school should any behavior issues arise, not show up at Ms. Samuels’ place of work to intimidate her.”

He turns to me, giving me a curt nod. “I’ll take care of it, okay?”

“Thanks, Tom.”

He looks around the room and smiles. “Looks like you had a good time. I’ll send you an email with my question. Let me get this one out of your hair.”

And with that, he puts his hand on Sheila’s shoulder and all but pushes her out of my kitchen. Holy shit.

I pull out my phone, quickly firing off a text to Mav.

Sheila showed up.

Thankfully Tom came back for something and handled it.

Call him if you want the details. I need a minute to decompress before I try to relive it.

Are you okay?

Yes, and so are we.

I love you.

I love you more.

Lana

Can you meet me at Beautiful Pour?

Sure. What time?

Half an hour?

OK.

“Hey, Mav?” I say, walking around the corner to a shirtless Maverick, bent over the stove cooking bacon. What a freaking delicious sight.

“Morning, Cecy baby.” He sets the tongs down and meets me halfway, sliding his hands up the sides of my neck until they’re cupping my cheeks, and pulling me in for a kiss.

His lips are soft, the fresh taste of his winterfresh toothpaste mixes with the spearmint flavor of mine as his tongue sweeps into my mouth. I slide my fingers into the waistband of his shorts, pulling him closer. God, I love this man, the way he empties my mind just by being here. I was stupid, a damn fool for ever thinking that I could live a life without him in it.

“I love you,” I whisper as we separate.

He kisses my forehead, only moving back to the stove when the bacon pops in the pan. “I love you too, baby.”

I wring my hands in front of me, and he does a double take before moving the pan off the burner and giving me his full attention. “What’s wrong?”