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“You did. You totally thought I was perfect.”
“I did not say that!” My voice echoed off the walls of the pantry. I scanned the shelves for the cinnamon for some cinnamon rolls, but I was grabbed from behind by two large hands and squealed instead. “What are you doing?”
“What’s up with you?” Maverick spun me around and backed me up so I was trapped against the shelving.
“If all my flour falls off, I’m holding you personally responsible.” I stared up at him. “Unhand me, you hooligan.”
He laughed, dropping his head. “No. You said I was perfect.”
“I damn well did not.”
“You did.”
“No. I said you weren’t perfect.”
“So you thought I was perfect at one point.”
“That is a very large assumption,” I said, jutting my chin out. “One I prefer you didn’t palm off onto me, thank you very much. Maybe you’re the one assuming I’m perfect.”
“Hm, no. I’ve seen your empty fridge.”
“Rude.”
Maverick grinned. “So what’s wrong?”
“Are you trying to have a heart to heart in my pantry?”
“What’s wrong? You’ve been weird all morning. You’ve talked non-stop about what you’re doing to the point I gave up trying to keep up with you and read the sports news, and then you ask me out of nowhere what my worst habit is. That’s weird.”
“Actually, it’s perfectly reasonable. You’re here for research. I told you not to talk but I never said I wouldn’t.” I clicked my tongue. “And asking someone what their worst habit is isn’t weird.”
“You are a terrible liar.”
“Thank you. That’s my worst habit.”
“Blondie. What’s up?”
He wasn’t going to let this go, was he?
“I spoke to my brother last night.”
Maverick’s expression faltered just a little. “Okay.”
I wrapped my arms around myself and looked at our feet. My ankle-height Ugg boots were old and tattered next to his pristine white sneakers. “Colton told me everything yesterday. What happened on the hike. How you left.”
“Great.” Maverick stepped back. “And I lied to you.”
“I don’t care.” I followed him out from the pantry. “I know you did it so there wouldn’t be an issue between us, and don’t be mad at Colt. I didn’t tell him you’d said it was fine.”
“So that’s why you’ve been acting strange.” He turned and met my gaze. “I get it, Piper. He doesn’t like me. It makes your life difficult. I’ve always said to you that this goes at your pace while you figure out where you are, and if this is too tough for you—”
“No. Don’t go there.” I held up a finger and closed the distance between us, then pressed my finger against his soft lips. “I yelled at Josh. A lot. I told him it wasn’t appropriate for him to act that way. That he had no business talking to you like that when he didn’t even know you. I know after your book was optioned and you became like this crazy popular author you went a little wild, but so do a lot of people. You changed it, though, and the way you’ve acted with me ever since you admitted you have feelings for me?” I shrugged one shoulder. “I know that’s not who you are.”
He reached between us and lowered my finger from his lips, then cupped my cheek. “I can’t believe you yelled at your brother because of me.”
“He deserved it.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Yes, he did,” I said firmly. “Until yesterday, all he knew was whatever world he’d built up inside his head. He didn’t know you, he didn’t know what kind of relationship we had, and he definitely didn’t know that we already knew each other quite well.”
He groaned, dropping his hand. “You told him about that one-night stand?”
“Not exactly. I implied it,” I said honestly. “But no matter who you are, Mav, he doesn’t have a right to speak to you like that.”
“Look.” He led me over to his stool and sat me down, cradling my face. “He’s looking out for you. That’s all. He’s your brother. That’s what brothers do. It’s awkward and uncomfortable but the last thing I want is to come between you and him.”
“You didn’t.” I covered his hands with mine. “He came between me and him.”
He sighed, dropping his head. He tried to take a step back and lower his hands, but I wouldn’t let him. I gripped onto his wrists and stood up, kicking the stool back.
“I’m starting to really like you. A whole lot,” I said quickly. “I’m not great at talking about how I feel. I show people I care through pie and cake and bread and all this.” I jerked my head to refer to the food that was cooling. “And I’m not great at relationships because of it. Josh isn’t that wrong. I haven’t had the best choice in guys in my life, but you…” I looked down. “You feel different.”
“Piper…”
“You don’t expect anything of me. You make me laugh, and you understand that I need time and things to be slow and steady.” I peered back up at him and met his eyes. “And I do really, really want to see where this goes.”
