“Not on purpose.” Hunter was one of the best people Maverick knew, kinship aside, but the guy didn’t know the power he wielded over unsuspecting females. “Plus, you’re going to be busy with extra work this week.”
“I can multitask.”
“All right. Have fun, then.”
“Plan to.” He slipped down from the tailgate. “I do wish you’d join us out sometime. The hermit thing is getting old.”
Maverick nodded. He appreciated that his brother and friends wanted his company, but he preferred to spend time by himself on the couch with his dog or in the pasture with his horse. He ventured to town plenty on his own when it suited him.
“I’ll see you later.” Hunt waved over his shoulder on his way toward the main house for lunch, no doubt. A glance up at the sun told Maverick it had to be around noon. That meant a full meal waited for them in the kitchen.
He walked back into the barn, postponing food for now. Grabbing a carrot, he nuzzled up to Magnolia. “Think I can get away with laying extra low this week?” he asked her.
Magnolia made a noise of agreement as she chomped on the vegetable.
“Thanks for the support. I’ll count on you to keep me busy and hidden—how’s that? I don’t think there’re any scheduled lessons or horseback rides, so it’s just you and me.”
Another short, sweet neigh.
“That’s my girl.” He rubbed down her mane, camaraderie invading his body. Leave him alone with his horse, and Maverick felt at peace. Something he’d struggled with for the past three years.
He spent the next half hour checking on the three other horses they stabled, then looking in on the rest of the ranch’s menagerie. Their family of animals was small but mighty. Just one look at George, their smart-as-a-whip mule who half the time thought he was a dog, had visitors at the ranch gushing and enjoying themselves, whether they were animal lovers or not.
“Hey, George.” Not two seconds later, the mule stood all up in Maverick’s personal space, stepping on Mav’s toes—literally—nibbling on his arm in affection, and demanding ear scratches. George had absolutely no boundaries when it came to physical contact, which five times out of ten delighted people.
“You keeping an eye on Barley for me?”
George nodded. Seriously. And admittedly, the animal had a yes answer for every question, but the gesture still went a long way to bringing smiles to people’s faces.
Maverick canted his head to look around George. His sweet Barley lay in her usual spot in the sun, sleeping. The golden-shepherd mix was due to give birth in the next week, and everyone looked forward to having puppies on the ranch again.
The timing wasn’t exactly perfect for Mav, since he had a plane to catch in two weeks, but they’d be loved enough without him there. He gave George one last pat, then stepped around him to take a seat on the ground next to Barley, legs straight out in front of him.
If things had gone according to plan, Maverick would have a veterinary practice right about now. Most days he didn’t let the thought bother him, but seeing the dog he’d rescued on the side of the road, then nursed back to health, and knowing what anniversary loomed next week, he couldn’t help but let a moment of melancholy creep into his head.
Sensing his presence, Barley shifted and laid her head on his thigh. He gently petted her, her soft fur running through his fingers. “How you feeling, girl?” Her body temperature this morning registered normal, and she’d had no loss of appetite when fed, both signs labor hadn’t started yet. “We’ve got a pool going, you know. Date of birth and number of puppies.” He resisted the urge to palpate her tummy for a count. Chances were he’d miss one or two anyway and not know for sure until the little wigglers started coming out. “I’m down for five puppies on the tenth. Think you could make that happen? The stakes are high.”
Winner received a homemade pie from Baked on Main. And considering Maverick was leaving town for at least two months, he really wanted that pie.
Not that it was the best pie in town. No one baked better than his mom.
He should tell her that.
Maybe he would.
Probably he wouldn’t. Compliments from him made her tear up. Especially lately, since she knew he might not be back on the ranch for longer than those eight weeks.
He pulled down his cowboy hat to better shield his face from the warm sun, let out a deep breath, dipped his chin, and closed his eyes. He dreamed about what he always did when he felt especially wistful: a deep green meadow, long blades of grass beneath his feet, and the beautiful, extraordinary woman who laughed when she put her toes in the cold creek, and who had loved him until her last breath.
Chapter Four
Six days until the wedding
“Wake up, sleepyhead. We’re here.”
Kennedy opened her eyes in time to see a sign on the side of the road that read Windsong: Population 9230.
“I’m not sleeping. Just resting my eyes,” she clarified, staring out the passenger-side window. Rolling green hills dense with trees reminded her she wasn’t in the City of Angels anymore but on a mission—Operation Talk-To-Reed-Before-It’s-Too-Late. She’d tried again and again to reach him before hatching this out-there plan, but he still wasn’t answering any of her phone calls or texts.
“Sorry, Charlie, but the snoring gave you away,” her best friend, Andrew, said.
She rolled her head to the side to look at him in the driver’s seat. “I do not snore.”
“That’s what everyone who snores says.” He took his eyes off the road to flash her the smile that had earned him his first toothpaste commercial. Then, returning his attention to the road, he made a very loud, very objectionable snorty-grunty sound.
“Shut up! I do not sound like that.” Hopefully.
Friends since she saved him from choking on a hot dog in high school, they both knew his teasing was nothing new. They’d road-tripped numerous times over the years and he always drove so he didn’t get carsick. Which left Kennedy to passenger, and okay, occasionally sleep a little. Not that she’d just been sleeping. Or snoring.
She sat up taller as he slowed to drive through the quaint town of Windsong. Charming shops and restaurants lined both sides of the street. Massive oak trees stretched above rooflines, their branches grazing blue-striped awnings. Late-afternoon summer sunlight glistened off store windows. A line of people stood outside a shop called Baked on Main.
“Cute town,” she said. “Thanks again for coming with me.”
“No way was I missing this. You know I have a crush on the man.”
Kennedy laughed. Andrew had been way more upset than she was when she and Reed had broken up. “I hope I’m not making a mistake coming here, but I need one heartfelt conversation with him to make sure he’s okay.”