Chapter 1

One

MAVERICK

Early November

Like most days, I'm awake at the crack of dawn. I jump from bed, grab my cup of coffee, and stand on my back deck that overlooks the small lake running through my backyard, breathing in the clean country air. There's something about watching those first few rays of sun peek through the sky in the morning that makes me feel alive, and for the first few minutes of each day I imagine standing here with my future wife. I've never admitted it out loud and I've certainly never told my two best friends, who would heckle me until the end of time, but I really want to find someone who fits me and my life right here in Magnolia Point. I live a simple, loving life, and I want someone who wants that too. A woman who wakes in my T-shirt and meets me on this deck, wrapping her arms around me as she joins me for a cup of coffee sounds ideal.

I place my mug on the small table I have out here, running my hand through my dirty blond hair then scratching the stubble on my chin before turning on my phone and waiting for the first few texts with details of each job we have going for the day. My best friend, Jay, and his cousin, Wes, own Parker & Sons HVAC, and they pulled me into the business out of high school. I make a good living, and I'm happy working with them.

The multiple pinging of text alerts me that more than just job details are coming through right now. I'm expecting Jay and Nina back from their vacation, and I can't wait to see them. I'm sure they're anxious to get home, but I know they'll stop here first with their big news, as if I don't already know.

I pick up my phone and see a text in our group chat.

Jay: 5 minutes out. Get dressed.

I smirk to myself and take a picture of my bare chest and send it back.

Mav: See what you're missing?

Jay:

I gulp down the last few sips of my coffee, take one more deep breath of the country air, and head inside. By the time I'm walking back into my living room with a shirt on, Nina and Jay are walking through my front door.

"Welcome back, guys!" I rush my two friends and fist bump my bestie then swing his new fiancée around. "Are you sure you want to marry this guy? I'm still available, ya know."

Nina swats at my chest. "Put me down!"

Jay, who has been my best friend since we were kids, is actually the nicest guy ever. But when his eyes narrow and he growls in my face for holding his girl, all I can do is laugh at his possessiveness shining through.

"Ha!" I bark out a laugh. "Damn, man. I knew when you found your girl, you'd be a goner. "

"I'm there." He eyes me then breaks into a smile. "We're just waiting on you now, Mav."

I smooth down the front of my shirt. "I'm good exactly where I'm at."

"We don't think so," Nina pipes up with a sly smile.

"What does that mean?" I cross my arms over my chest and widen my stance.

"We've got a perfect test for you," Nina sing-songs, and it makes me nervous.

"Test? At my age? Thanks for the invite, but that's a no."

"Okay, maybe not a test, but let's call it a learning opportunity," Nina says.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Since you think you're a romantic, you should ace the class."

"Enough of this cryptic nonsense!" I throw my hands in the air. "What is going on?"

"Okay, okay. So remember your girl, Bella Valentino, who you fell for at the National Read-a-Book event?"

My heart races just hearing her name. She was the romance author who was highlighted during the event at the end of summer, and she caught my eye instantly. With her beautiful dark hair and light green eyes, she was striking. I could easily see her being that woman in my T-shirt, on my deck, having coffee with me. But it wasn't just her looks, it was how she carried herself that really caught my attention: mature and in control of herself.

Nina and her cousin Hazel, fell into a fast friendship with Bella. And it was at Bella's book signing that Jay proposed. I tried to lay the moves down on her when we all went out after the Read-a-Book event, but besides a few sarcastic one-liner responses, she wouldn't give me the time of day, and she took off before I could get more information from her. What started off as a fun flirtation quickly turned into what felt like she was looking down on me with every word I spoke, so I stashed her in the princess category and moved along .

Jay and Nina thought it was hysterical that I couldn't score a date with her and told me I must be losing my touch.

But hearing Jay mention Bella's name now has her and her amazing curves crossing my mind once again.

"My girl? Hardly, but yes, I know who you're talking about."

"Her real name is Ava, by the way. Mav and Ava already have such a ring to it, right? MAAAVA!" She over exaggerates our blended names and puts her hands to her face, batting her eyelashes. "Anyway, at the signing in Colorado, apparently she and her author besties got drunk and started a book-boyfriend-builder business.

I narrow my eyes at Nina. I don't like where this is going. "Classy," I scoff.

She laughs. "I actually think it's an amazing idea. Who doesn't want a book boyfriend? I mean, I found mine. Now I want everyone to find their happily ever after!"

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "You're lovesick."

"I stand by my future wife. Check it out, Mav. What's it going to hurt? You wanted to know more about her, so let's see if you hit it off together," Jay says with a dare in his tone as he steps up next to Nina, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

"Having drinks together was a way to see if we hit it off. Taking a book-boyfriend-building class taught by her is a dead end. Why don't you sign Wes up?"

"Because Hazel would kick my ass," Nina retorts. I know this, but I have to try to save my own ass first. Wes and Hazel have had a thing for quite some time.

"So… what? She thinks she's going to teach me something I don't know?"

Nina brushes her long red hair back off her shoulder. "Maybe you could use a little refining."

I raise my brow at her, then pin my eyes on Jay. "Control your woman, bruh. Why are you trying to change me? And isn't it a red flag that this chick is trying to mold someone into what she wants instead of just finding someone who matches her energy?"

It's Jay's turn to bark out a laugh. "Like I said, I stand by her. We just want you to be happy. I think it will be fun."

"Fun? Sure. A book-boyfriend-builder class? What could Little Miss Romance Author Bella Valentino possibly show me that I don't already know?"

"What's wrong, Maverick? Afraid you'll flunk out?" Nina grins, eyes blazing, daring me to do this.

"Yeah, man. Now is the time to prove us all wrong!"

"You know what? I'll do it, but only because your wifey thinks it's a good idea." I glance at Nina and see her standing proud. "But when I destroy your friend's little business, don't come at me when she calls you crying."

"Maverick, you're not capable of destroying anything. I see you." She narrows her eyes and does that two-finger point between her eyes and me. It's like she's seeing into my soul.

Can a woman really possess that power?

"I'm not sure why you think I'm such a nice guy," I reply curtly, trying to dissuade them from this conversation.

"Pretend all you want, but I think this is going to be good for you."