Bitter Sweet Heart (Lies, Hearts & Truths #2)(67)

After Sophia and I have a non-burned brunch, she heads upstairs to her apartment to pack, and I return to my bedroom to do the same. While I’m looking forward to seeing my parents, what’s going on with Maverick weighs heavy on my mind. Twenty minutes before Sophia and I leave for the airport, he messages.

Maverick: Can I stop by real quick?





I stare at the message for long seconds before I respond.

Clover: We leave for the airport in fifteen minutes.





His response is immediate.

Maverick: I’m parked down the street. I’ll be two minutes, won’t hold you up.





My heart keeps skipping beats, telling me how much of a mess I am over this man.

Clover: Yes. Come.





The dots appear and disappear a couple of times, and then there’s a knock at the patio door. I rush down the hall and open it, letting in the cold winter air along with him. His gaze moves over my face on a slow, assessing sweep. “How are you?”

“Okay. You?”

“Worried you’re going to do a lot of thinking over the next two weeks, and it’s not going to be in my favor.”

I smile, but it’s strained, and I drop my head, struggling with the emotions that have been plaguing me all day.

Instead of saying more, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest. “Whatever you need from me, I’ll give it to you.”

“It was a close call this morning.”

“You’re freaked out, huh?” I feel his lips against my temple.

“Nothing about this is simple,” I murmur against his chest.

He releases me and takes my face between his warm palms. “Well, one thing is simple. We share some pretty wicked chemistry.” He slants his mouth over mine, and I grip his wrists, allowing myself to stop thinking about all the ways this could go wrong. Instead, I get lost in the kiss and wish we had more time.

“Okay! I’m all set to go. Oh! Hey now.” The sound of Sophia’s voice has Maverick releasing me and stepping back, elbow hitting the door, his expression full of concern and questions.

“She knows,” I assure him.

He looks back and forth between us, tips his chin in my direction and asks Sophia, “She say good things about me?”

“Says you’re the best she’s ever had.”

He grins. “The best, huh?”

I give Sophia an incredulous look. “Seriously?”

She shrugs. “That’s what you said.”

“Like he needs his ego inflated.” I poke Maverick in the chest. “Wipe that smirk off your face.”

“Sorry, Professor Sweet . . . as pie.” His grin widens.

I purse my lips. “We need to leave for the airport.”

“I know. I’m heading to Lake Geneva soon. Open this on Christmas Day.” He tucks a small box into my purse. “I’ll be thinking about you. A lot. Mostly while I’m in the shower. And bed.” He tucks his finger under my chin and angles my head so he can kiss me. Chastely this time. “Call me when you land.”

“Okay.”

“Later, bestie.” He winks at Sophia and slips out the back door.

“So, just a fling, huh?” Sophia says as I lock the door and follow her down the hall.

“I’m in the middle of a divorce. It can’t be anything more than that.”

She’s undeterred. “You’re in deep already, aren’t you?”

I sigh. “I think so.”

“Well, no matter what, you deserve to have this. Better to have lusted and lost than never to have lusted at all, right?”

I laugh, but it’s already so much more than lust, even with all the boundaries I had in place until now. I have no idea what condition my heart is going to be in by the time it ends.

As much as I’d like to be able to cut ties and walk now, to not come back for New Year’s, my body misses him already. And my head? Well, it’s a mess.





Twenty-Four





Home for the Holidays





Maverick





As I arrive in Lake Geneva late on Saturday night, a full day and a half after my siblings, I get a message from Clover telling me she’s made it to Florida and that she needs a little time to think things through.

That gnawing feeling that settled in my gut when I had to sneak out of her house this morning like a sordid secret grew all day long. Even when I had a chance to drop off a Christmas present and say goodbye, it didn’t ease up.

And now I know why.

I can’t blame her for needing time—not when she’s still trying to get out of her marriage and her ex is showing up whenever the fuck he wants. While there isn’t anything wrong with what we’re doing, I get the issue. I’m sleeping with my hot former professor. She’s sleeping with a former student.

Six months from now, she’d be sleeping with a professional hockey player.

Timing is a real jerk.

I park my truck beside my sister’s car and send a single message in return:

Maverick: Backing off. I’ll wait to hear from you.





The humping dots appear and disappear several times.