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CHAPTER6
LYDIA
It’s been two days since Deedee attacked me. I had to get a rental car arranged, and my brother found out about the second confrontation. He’s angry and wants me to come home, but I gave him the excuse that the surgeon is here. I’m sitting in the lounge chair, lying back, as the May sun beats on my skin. The kids are playing with the others running around. The Maysons throw a pool party that is epic. There are so many people here, I’ll never remember all their names.
My eyes are closed behind my sunglasses as I try not to think about how crazy my life has become when a shadow falls across my body. I open my eyes and look at Maverick. He’s in board shorts that hang low on his hips. And he’s shirtless, showing off his tattooed skin. His jaw is tight under his more than a five o’clock shadow.
“What are you doing?” His voice is growly as his hand sweeps over my bikini clad body. I look down at myself and wonder if I look as bad as Colton always said I did. But then a shot of anger goes through my system.
“I’m sunbathing. If my body bothers you, there are plenty of other people you can talk to. Leave me alone. I can’t swim, so I’m going to get some sun.” I hold up my braced wrist.
He called and texted me numerous times yesterday to check on me. I thought it was sweet and even figured I should invite him over so he could check on me, but I ended up falling asleep early from the pain meds. Plus, the kids are still struggling with concern over me getting hurt.
He sits down at my hip and leans over me. His face is very close and I have a moment of déjà vu of him kissing me. Was that real or just something I’ve been fantasizing about so much that it feels real?
“I didn’t say you looked bad. As a matter of fact, you look amazing. I don’t like every other fucking man around here seeing you like this.” My eyes flare wide behind my sunglasses and my brows about hit my hairline.
“Who are you?” Micah says as he stands on the other side of me. “I saw you at my house the other night. What are you doing here?”
“Micah, this is Maverick Whitlock. He’s a Tennessee State Police officer and a friend of mine,” I say. My son has been overprotective since yesterday.
“So you know what really happened to my mama?”
I didn’t want to tell the kids and scare them. They don’t know that Colton cheated on me or that he has a fiancée who attacked me. I told them I got hurt at work.
Maverick’s eyes move from Micah to me and then back again. “I’m pretty sure what she told you is what happened.” I hate lying to my kids.
“So she fell at work. How did her lip get split?” I thought I’d been hiding that from them, but I guess I wasn’t.
“Little man, let’s go have a man-to-man talk. I’ll be back shortly,” Maverick says as he stands up, and together with Micah they move to where the coolers are sitting.
I watch them, wishing I could read lips. I hope Maverick doesn’t tell him everything. But I also pray that he can help me with Micah. He’s been acting up at school.
“Who is that?” Michelle asks as she cuddles into my side.
“My friend Maverick.”
“Krystal said he’s a police officer.”
“He is a Tennessee state policeman.”
“Why is he talking to Micah? Is everything okay?” Her little body tightens up against me.
“Angel, you are safe. He must know the Maysons too.” Sure enough, as I say that, Asher moves over and shakes hands with him. They talk for a bit before Micah is brought into the conversation too. I watch my son as he stands straighter, his shoulders back, his head held high. Asher messes up his hair and chuckles about something before Maverick rests a hand on his shoulder. They move back toward me, and my son is more animated as he talks. A smile on his face now.
“Mama, can I go with Maverick to the range some day?”
His words hit me hard because I don’t want my son around guns, but I also don’t want him to be afraid of them. Colton wouldn’t take him to the gun range and teach him even though they were all over our old house. Here is Maverick, a man who doesn’t have to spend time with my son, but still makes him feel important.
“We’ll have to see.” I smile at him and reach for him with my good hand.
Maverick takes the seat next to me, and for the rest of the day he doesn’t leave my side. When other men come over, he makes sure to let them know he’s there.
* * *
Maverick
When I stepped out the back door, it only took a moment for my eyes to zero in on her. The bottoms of Lydia’s brown bikini sat low on her hips, while the top pushed her full breasts up into perfect handfuls. I wanted to rush over there and throw a blanket across her body, but she isn’t mine to do that with. So instead, I sat by her side and scared every other man away.
