Chapter 26

AVA

After another quickie in the shower, Maverick left me there to finish up. I took my time, using his shampoo and body wash, basking in the scent that surrounded me.

His scent.

After I dried off, I came back into the bedroom to get dressed and found he laid out another T-shirt. I smile and pull it from the bed, holding it close, the softness and his smell wrapping me like a hug. This is the second time he's done this, so it must mean something to him. I throw it on and walk down the hall to meet him in the kitchen. When I round the corner, I find him leaning against the counter, legs crossed just like that first day he stayed over at my house. The scene takes me by surprise because it obviously feels familiar, having done it once before, but it also feels right. And like something I want to see each morning.

"I was hoping you'd put it on." He pushes from the counter and walks right to me, throwing his arms around me and pulling me in close. "I made us coffee. Do you want to see how I like to start each morning?"

"You mean what we just did isn't how you like to start each day?"

He laughs, his chest vibrating against mine. "What we just did actually just became my new favorite way. But let me show you my second." He grabs two mugs of coffee and walks me back out to the deck, and when I step out the air is cool and so is the wood under my feet. "I know it's cold, and we won't stay out long, but I need to have just a few moments."

I shake my head. "It's fine. I want to be here." The sun is sitting low in the sky, making its entrance known, and the rays are warm on my face. I hear the birds chirping about and even some croaking of a family of frogs. "Oh, this is gorgeous." I step away from him and look over the railing again. The water on the lake is like a mirror and is perfectly still.

"It sure is." I turn to take one of the coffee mugs, needing to wrap my hands around the hot mug, inhale the scent of the coffee, inhale the scent of the air, and let myself fall in love with Magnolia Point. Instead, I fall in love with Maverick. His three little words answering me about the beauty of this place mean so much more. "I've never read a romance novel through from beginning to end. Jay mostly sent us screen shots of the sex scenes, hoping to entice Wes and I into reading. But he also sent us sappy parts, you know, the eye-opening point in their life. There was one scene in particular that stuck with me, and it turned into me imagining my own turning point in my life."

I sip from my coffee, desperately holding onto every word he says. I live to write these moments, and the fact it's happening in real life, to me , is something I don't want to miss.

"Would you share that scene with me?"

"I'm doing it right now, Ava. You and me on my deck, at the most peaceful part of the day, enjoying a cup of coffee with each other. You in my T-shirt completes the scene. There's something about you turning my simple life into something sexy and sweet that makes me want to make this all a reality."

My heart is racing at his words. I feel lost for breath and suddenly I'm sweating. Never in my life could I imagine this conversation happening.

"Maybe you should be the romance writer." I smile and feel the air around us shifting into something I didn't know I wanted, and yet I don't know if I'm ready for it.

"Maybe," he says with a grin. "As much as I don't want you to take off my shirt, let's get ready and we'll grab another coffee on our way."

"Where are we going?" I furrow my brows.

"To get a Christmas tree! You said you'd go with me last night, or were you so caught up with my hands on your body that you forgot already?"

"Don't flatter yourself." I roll my eyes and head for the sliders with him hot on my trail.

In a feminine voice, he says, "Oh, Mav, what are you doing to me?" I shake my head and open the door but he steps in my path, leaning down in my ear, and, again in the same voice, says, "I need you like this every night!"

I laugh and swat at his chest, but he captures my hand and pulls me in close, wrapping his arms around me and rocking back and forth. "I understand the attraction, princess, and I don't hold it against you." He gives me quick kisses before spinning me away, giving me a quick spank and leading me back into the house. Everything Maverick does leaves me feeling breathless.