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But is that because he saved me? Or because of who he is?

MAVERICK

One Week Later

By the time Saturday night rolls around, the bar is packed. Honestly, it’s been like that every single day this past week. Most of them have never even set foot in my bar before. They’re merely here because word spread through town about Sadie, and these nosy people can’t help but want to see for themselves.

I’ve even been grilled a time or two about her, to which I responded with a single glare and a pointed, “Buy a drink or get out.” After the first few days, people just stopped asking. Though the traffic hasn’t let up.

Not that I’m complaining, it’s been a profitable week for sure.

I finish wiping down the bar top, then hit the switch for the music. “Time to clear out!” I call out to a series of complaint-filled groans from a group of women on the dance floor and a handful of guys in the corner.

There’s another man at the end of the bar, who has been nursing a whiskey sour since he sat down an hour ago, though he doesn’t make a sound as he gets to his feet, tosses a few bills on the bar, then heads out.

Ryker stands at the door, holding it open as people leave. I’ve been especially grateful to have my bouncer back—even if it is temporary. Having him here means extra protection for Sadie, who is currently upstairs, sleeping in the apartment right across from mine.

Sadie.

Just the thought of her has me desperate to finish this night as quickly as possible. That way, I can get to sleep and wake up to the coffee she’s been brewing whenever she gets up. Which, since I won’t let her stay up and help me until she’s fully recovered, has been quite a few hours before me.

Still, every morning, when I come down about nine thirty, she’s sitting at the bar top, a fresh cup of coffee in hand, with more waiting for me in the coffee pot. Her Bible is always open, as is the notebook she’s been scribbling notes in since I gave it to her last week. From the looks of things this morning, she’s going to need a new one soon.

We spend nearly all day together, and while I would have thought it would eventually get old, I’ve only begun to crave her attention more and more as the days have stretched on. She has even been reading parts of the Bible to me, and I was surprised to catch myself actually listening.

Seems I’m craving more of that, too.

“All empty, Mav,” Ryker says as he comes out after checking the bathrooms.

I straighten, trying to figure out how he got from the door to the bathrooms without me noticing. “Thanks.”

“Yeah. You good?”

“Fine. Just pre-occupied.”

“By a particular brunette upstairs?” he questions.

I glare at him. “Just because all of you happened to marry and/or commit yourselves in the last couple of years, it does not mean I’m planning to do the same.”

He laughs. “I had no intentions of it either, brother. But sometimes things happen when we least expect them.”

“Hmm,” I grunt, then continue wiping down the bar top.

“Speaking of,” he murmurs. “Hey, Sadie, good to see you.”

“Hi, Ryker,” she greets, sleep still lacing her voice.

I turn as she moves into the bar, wearing a pair of loose sweats and a baggy t-shirt. Her hair is in a messy bun, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. As always. The woman could be wearing a cardboard box, and she’d be stunning.

“You’re supposed to be asleep.”

She turns toward me and yawns. “I know, but I happened to wake up and heard you shut the bar down.”

So you decided to come down here and distract me? Who am I kidding? I’m thrilled I don’t have to wait until tomorrow to see her again, and equally frustrated because I seem to care so much.

All I know is that this past week has me seriously wishing we’d met under different circumstances. Then again, I’m so stubborn and determined to die alone that I likely wouldn’t have done a single thing about it even if we had.

“Isn’t that handy?” Ryker says. He grins at me, clearly enjoying this far more than I wish he were.