I gather my nerve and look at him fully. “Isabella, Bell for short.”
Before I can even say anything else, Lani gasps dramatically behind us and I turn around to check on her, she’s holding her stomach. “I just had a contraction.”
That sets everyone in motion, they take off running towards their vehicles. We offer to clean up and lock up the house for them as the guys put up the tables and chairs.
River and Jessica stand next to me, looking at each other. “Mom, Maverick is nice.”
I blush at them, acknowledging that I was nervous around Maverick. “He is nice.”
“Would you ever consider going out on a date with someone?” River asks.
“I think I would. I’m just not sure how you do all of that,” I answer honestly. I’ve never been on a date in my life. I was just married—my only everything was with my ex-husband.
I don’t want to think of him, but that’s all I have to compare. Honestly, I don't think I’ve been properly kissed in my life. All I know is his lips smashing against mine as he did horrific things to me.
I know it’s not meant to be like that, relationships, but that’s all I know and that’s sad to me.
I walk outside and spot Chase talking with Maverick. Jessica puts her hand on my back, like she’s trying to give me strength.
When we reach the guys, Jessica gasps dramatically. “Oh no, Mom, how will you get home?
Maverick steps up. “I can take her home, if you don’t mind riding on the back of my bike?” He grins at me.
My heart starts beating so hard, I can feel it in my ears. I look to Jessica and then to Chase, before I say, screw it. Nothing can happen to me that hasn’t happened to me before. “That’s fine, thank you.”
He looks slightly surprised that I agreed. “It’s my pleasure, darlin’.” I step up next to him, and he puts his hand on the small of my back, leading me to his bike.
The hand on my back burns me. It’s so large it’s covering my back almost completely.
He leads me to a beautiful bike, which he straddles like he’s done it a million times and I’m sure he has. “Alright, darlin’, with your right leg lift it over the back and slide on.
He lifts his hand out for me to hold. I stare at it for a few seconds before I place it in his.
I look clumsy as all get out as I get on, but I do it.
Maverick looks back at me and smiles. “Here, darlin’.” He hands me a helmet to put on and I clip it into place.
His hands wrap around my calves, scooting me flush against his back, and I stop breathing being so close to him.
I try not to panic, swallowing it down, knowing that he’s just trying to help me and that he’s not being mean or aggressive.
Maverick turns around so he’s fully looking at me. “Hey, you don’t have to go with me if you’re not comfortable, darlin’. We just met and I understand.”
In a split second I feel safe with him. He gave me a voice and a choice. A choice to do what I want.
I smile and it’s one that reaches my eyes, because I mean it. “No, I’m comfortable.”
His face softens as he studies my face before he smirks at me. “I’ll go as slow as you need, darlin’.” He winks, and I almost fall off the bike, his words and that wink more than affecting me.
He starts the bike and the vibration startles me. I can feel all kinds of parts of my body tingling—I didn’t even know it still worked.
“Hold tight.” He gently takes my hands and pulls them around his waist.
He pats my knee before he takes off and I am hooked. The second I feel the warm breeze on my face, I am in love. It’s complete and utter freedom.
We pull out onto the highway and he speeds up. I laugh loudly, my stomach dipping as he turns around a curve slightly.
Maverick glances back at me, flashing a smile. His eyes glow with happiness, then he speeds up a little more on the open road.
“Hold on, darlin’,” he yells over the loud thundering of the bike. I tighten my grip on him, resting my chin on his shoulder and closing my eyes, just enjoying the feeling.
We pull up to a red light, my mind going crazy that this is actually happening.
Sometimes I honestly pinch myself because my life feels like a dream. It’s like I’m in slow motion and I have to let myself catch up with everything.
But the thing that’s blowing my mind most of all is that I’m on the back of a motorcycle, Maverick in front of me with my legs wrapped around him, and I am not terrified.
This is something small and insignificant for most people, but not when you’re a survivor. Every little feat should be celebrated.
“Do you want to get some food since our dinner got interrupted?” he asks, waiting for the light to turn green.
“I would like that,” I answer honestly.
I catch the small grin on his face when I agree. It makes me happy that he’s happy with my answer.
We drive through town. I notice right off the bat that he gets a lot of female attention and I laugh at a few of them almost wrecking. It’s hilarious.
He pulls up outside of a known steakhouse in town that I’ve eaten at a few times with the girls.
“Let me have your hand, darlin’, to help you off the bike.” I slip my hand in his and he grips slightly. I slide my leg over the bike.
He doesn’t let go as I think he will. Instead he holds on as he gets off himself and tucks my hand deeper in his. My hand is swallowed by huge one.
Honestly, he is huge all over. The tattoos on his arms, neck and his piercing brown eyes would scare anyone.
I don't feel scared though. I just have major butterflies swarming my stomach like I’m fourteen again, before my life became absolute hell.
He opens the door for us, the cool air hitting as we walk inside and I shiver from the sudden cold. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness in the room.
The hostess at the entrance looks at Maverick’s cut and she grabs two menus and waves for us to follow her.
Maverick pulls out my seat for me, scooting it in as I sit down. He sits in front of me, facing the room.
“You’re a gentleman.” I smile sweetly at him, loving that he thought to do that.
He chuckles, before licking his lips, resting his elbows on the table and leaning closer to me until we’re face to face. “Only sometimes, darlin’.” He winks and arches an eyebrow, resting in his seat and giving me a look that promises so much more.
My face burns and I fumble, trying to look at the menu. My heart is racing in my chest.
“I wonder how far that blush goes, darlin’.”
My menu falls to the table and my eyes widen in shock. He busts out laughing, holding his stomach, his beautiful eyes on me.
I don’t even care that he teased me. If he continues to look at me like that, I don’t care what he says.
“You’re absolutely beautiful, darlin’. Do you know that? Right down to that blush.”
I blink at him in shock. Somehow those words healed a small part in my fractured heart and gave me a piece of myself back. “Thank you, Maverick,” I whisper softly.
His face softens. He reaches out and pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s nothing, darlin’.”
But it so is; it’s everything.