Chapter 9

NINE

Maverick

Today was long and hot, but it’s over and is finally the weekend. We worked twelve-hour days all week to be able to take the weekend off. I’m sitting in my truck with the air conditioning on full blast when my phone rings. I hit the button on the dash to answer. “Yo,” I greet Ryder.

“What’s going on?”

“Just getting off work.”

“Yeah? Can I ask a big favor?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I’m at the boutique, and Jordyn needs some shelving moved around the stockroom.”

“I take it I’m your last resort?” I laugh. My brothers know I work long, crazy hours in the summer, so that’s usually the case.

“No, actually, you were my first choice.”

“Aw, you love me.”

“I thought I might need a bargaining chip because you’re probably drained after working in this heat all week.”

“Nah, you know I don’t mind helping out.” I pause. “But out of curiosity, what’s your bargaining chip?” It’s probably dinner. My stomach grumbles just at the mere thought of food.

“Stella.”

I sit up straighter in my seat. “What about Stella?”

“She’s here. Helping Jordyn after hours.”

“Got it.” I pull my seat belt on and back out of the parking spot.

“Drive safe, little brother.” He’s laughing as he ends the call.

I don’t even have it in me to be pissed off about it. It’s been two weeks since I took Stella out for her celebration dinner. We’ve texted a few times, but I haven’t seen her since that night.

Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up outside the boutique. I grab my phone and keys and make my way to the door. It’s locked, so I have to knock. Jordyn comes rushing over and smiles at me in greeting.

“Hey, Mav. Thanks for coming. My husband won’t let us help.” She rolls her big brown eyes.

“You know I don’t mind.” She leans in for a hug, but I hold my hands up to stop her. “I’m a mess from working, J. I probably smell like ass,” I joke.

“I’ll take my chances.” My sister-in-law wraps her arms around me in a brief hug. She steps back and smiles up at me. “Ry’s in the back.” She starts walking, and I follow her. My eyes scan the room, looking for Stella. I assume she’s in the stockroom with Ryder.

Sure enough, as we get closer, I hear the laughter of a baby, and I quicken my step. Stepping into the room, I see Stella holding Ada, and Ryder playing peek-a-boo with her. “Ada girl,” I say, and she turns toward my voice. When she sees me, she grins and reaches her arms out.

I walk to them and take her into my arms. “I’m dirty,” I tell her.

“It’s fine,” Stella tells me. “When we get home, she’ll be in dire need of a bath. She looks like she’s been rolling around with pigs. She’s had a long, tiring day.” A soft smile graces her lips as she watches her daughter in my arms.

“You got to come to work with Mommy, huh?” I ask Ada. She places her hands on my cheeks and grins. On instinct, I kiss her nose, making her giggle.

“Yeah, my grandparents are out of town until Sunday. They’re going with some friends to a winery and Airbnb.”

“That’s great that they do that,” Jordyn speaks up.

“Are you on call for the hardware store?” Ryder asks her.

“No. They have a great team. I guess if something comes up, I’ll handle it, but Gramps didn’t seem concerned.”

“Yeah, they take these trips a few times a year, right?” I ask. “I’ve heard George talking about them a time or two when I’ve been in the store.”

“They do,” Stella confirms.

“Have you been helping Ryder today, Ada?” I ask her.

Her reply is to lay her head on my shoulder and snuggle close. I rub her back gently.

“Aw.” Jordyn sighs.

“She’s ready for a nap, but there’s been too much excitement,” Stella tells me.

“She likes you.” Jordyn smiles at me.

“Of course she does. We’re best buds, right, Ada?” I hold her a few more minutes before handing her back to her momma. She cries and reaches for me.

“I’m so sorry. She’s exhausted.”

“Hey, hey.” I pull her back into my arms and rub her back. She rests her head on my shoulder and whimpers.

“Mav, why don’t you try to get her down for a nap? The Pack ’N Play is up in my office,” Jordyn tells me.

I look over at Stella. “You good with that?”

Stella bites down on her bottom lip and nods. Her face is sad. I don’t like her face to be sad. I step closer and wrap an arm around her shoulders. I have both of them in my arms, and when she smiles up at me, I know I did the right thing. “I don’t mind putting her down.”

“I’m sorry. She’s never done this.”

“It’s okay to let others help you, Stel.” I look down, and Ada’s eyes are already closed. “I’ll walk her around for a few minutes. She’s already out.”

“Okay.” She steps out of my hold, and I nod to Ryder. “Give me a few to get her down.”

“No worries. We’ll head back to the office so it’s quiet.” He laces his fingers with his wife’s and leads her out of the room.

“You keep saving us,” Stella says so softly I almost don’t hear her.

“She’s just tired, and I’ve got strong shoulders.” I wink at her.

“Must be the arm porn,” she mutters.

I bite down on my cheek to keep from smiling.

It”s a good thing my niece Blakely isn’t here. I’m sure they’d have a full-on conversation about said arm porn. I stroll around the boutique, gently rubbing Ada’s back. Her breathing is deep and even, but I give it a few more minutes before I try to put her down. Uncle Maverick has been burned by thinking my nieces and nephews were sound asleep, only to find out their little eyes pop wide open when I lay them down. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years.

After I’m pretty certain she’s sound asleep, I walk back to the counter where Stella is folding scarves. I feel her eyes on me the entire time. She’s a momma bear, and that’s such an endearing trait.

“I think she’s ready,” I whisper.

“Okay.” She drops the scarf she was folding and leads the way to Jordyn’s office, where she nods toward the Pack ’N Play. Gently, I lean over and lay Ada down. She stretches but stays asleep.

“Jordyn has a baby monitor,” I whisper. Turning toward the bookshelf, I grab it, turn it on, and then take the receiver and nod toward the door. “We’re all set up to babysit,” I explain. “You never know when someone is going to need help, so we like to be prepared. Especially at the rate my brothers and their wives are popping out babies.” I smirk, and she smiles.

With the baby monitor in one hand and the other pressed lightly against the small of her back, we walk the short distance down the hall to the stockroom.

“All right, what do we need?” I ask my brother and his wife.

“Baby?” Ryder addresses Jordyn.

“I want to move that row of shelves over here against the other two. Make this one long wall of shelving. That leaves the other shorter wall for the table to open and unpack boxes. Then I’ll order more shelves and make another row to give us more storage space.”

“On it.” Ryder kisses her cheek, and he and I get to work, bringing her vision to life by moving the shelving where she instructed.

It doesn’t take us long to get everything where she wants it. “What else you got for us, J?” I ask her.

“That’s it. I wasn’t very prepared, or I would have had the other shelves here to put together.”

I nod. “Ryder, let me know when you’re ready to start assembling.”

“Definitely. I’ll call in the cavalry, and we’ll have them put together in no time.”

“I’m going to order dinner,” Jordyn says. “Is everyone okay with Mexican?”

“Yeah, but they take forever to deliver on Friday nights. I’ll go pick it up. Just call it in.”

“I should get home,” Stella speaks up.

“Nope. You’re letting me feed you for all of your help today. It was your day off.”

“I wasn’t much help with Ada being here.”

“You were a tremendous help. Besides, you still haven’t given me an answer about tomorrow.”

“I did.” Stella sighs. “I told you that I can’t go. My grandparents are out of town, and I don’t have anyone to watch Ada.”

“What’s going on tomorrow night?” I ask, inserting myself into the conversation.

“Girls’ night. We’re all going to the Willow Tavern, and I’ve been trying to convince Stella to go with us.”

“You should go,” I tell Stella, leaning my shoulder into hers.

“No sitter.” She shrugs.

“I’ll watch her.”

“What?” She whips her head around to look at me.

“Ada loves me. I can watch her.”

“That’s—no. I can’t ask you to do that.”

“I thought I just heard him volunteer.” Jordyn grins.

“I’ll even go over to his place to help,” Ryder offers. “We’ve watched our nieces and nephews lots of times. Besides”—he slides his hand over Jordyn’s still flat belly—“I need all the practice I can get.”

“I don’t need the help, but if it makes you feel better, sure.” I shrug. “Ryder can help me.”

“Maverick,” she sighs my name.

“Stel….” I drag out the word with a smile. “Go have a good time. You deserve it. You know Ada loves me, and she’ll be fine. You can call and check on her whenever you want, however many times you want.”

She opens her mouth to, I’m sure, turn down my offer, but Ryder speaking up stops her. “I promise you that your baby girl will be in good hands,” he assures her. “I can’t imagine how hard it is raising her on your own. Declan was a single dad to Blakely before Kennedy came along. He had eight brothers, our cousin Ramsey, and our parents to rally around him. You can’t do it all, Stella. You know, they say it takes a village.” He smiles kindly, and I turn to her.

I watch her closely, and I can see the minute she gives in. Her shoulders fall as if she has no more fight in her.

“Okay,” she agrees.

“Yes!” Jordyn whisper-shouts. “I’m so excited. Now, what does everyone want to eat?”

Stella reluctantly gives Jordyn her order, and they say ten minutes.

“I’ll be back. Do we need anything else?” I ask them.

“No. I have drinks in the break room.”

“Got it. I’ll be back.”

I rush out to my truck and head across town to the Mexican restaurant. The food is ready as soon as I get there, and as I’m climbing into my truck, I see the diner across the street. Changing course, I cross the street with our bag of Mexican food in hand and walk up to the counter. I order Ada some mashed potatoes and gravy. I’m not sure she eats Mexican, but I know she loves her mashed potatoes.

“Can I have a large glass of milk as well?” I ask. I’m sure Stella has that covered, but maybe she’s stayed longer than she intended. If she’s got milk, she can just put it in the fridge and take it home with her for later.

Bags in hand, I step up to the door of the boutique, and Ryder is there, pushing it open for me. “Damn, that smells good.” He pulls the door shut and makes sure it’s locked back up since it’s after hours.

“Right? My stomach has been growling since I stepped into the restaurant to pick it up.”

He leads the way back to the break room, and I place the bags and the cup on the small table.

“That’s a Dorothy’s cup.” Jordyn points at it. “Don’t tell me you stopped to get one of her sweet teas and didn’t bring one for the rest of us.”

“No, and even if I did, you said you didn’t need anything else.”

“But I didn’t know sweet tea from Dorothy’s Diner was on the table,” she says with a pout.

“It’s a Dorothy’s cup, but it’s not sweet tea. I got Ada some mashed potatoes. I wasn’t sure about her eating our Mexican, and I grabbed a glass of milk in case she was almost out. I know you all have been at it all day.” A choking sound has me turning to look at Stella. She has her hand over her mouth, and her eyes are wet with emotion.

“Maverick Kincaid? How are you real?” she murmurs.

Jordyn moves to stand beside her, placing her arm around her shoulders. “It’s not just him. They’re all like that. Raymond and Carol raised nine amazing men.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” I tell them. I feel as though I’ve been saying that a lot lately. Having to defend my actions. It’s not my fault Ada is too damn cute for her own good, and I want her little belly to be full.

They both ignore me. “They’re all like this? All nine of them?” Stella asks, shocked.

“Pretty much. You could ask any of my sisters-in-law, and they will agree with me.”

“Maverick and Merrick aren’t married.” Ryder smirks.

Jordyn shrugs. “Stella can speak for him.”

I grin because Stella is beautiful, and if a woman has to speak on my behalf, I could do worse. So. Much. Worse.

“Let’s eat.” I pass out everyone’s food, leaving Ada’s in the bag for now. I scarf mine down, as does Ryder.

“Did you two even chew?” Jordyn asks with a laugh.

“I’m a growing boy.”

“Boy?” Stella scoffs.

“What?” I turn to her, flashing her the grin my momma says could get me out of anything. My brothers, they say it drops panties. I will neither confirm nor deny if the latter is true.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head and takes another bite of her burrito.

Gathering my trash, I stand to toss it away as Ada’s cries sound over the baby monitor. “I’m up. I’ll go get her. Finish eating.”

“I can—” she starts, but I’m already out of the room, headed toward Ada.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I move to lift her up. She has big tears on her cheeks, and she shudders a breath. “It’s scary waking up in a new place, huh?” I ask her. I wipe her tears with my thumbs, and she rests her head on my shoulder. “You’re a little snuggle bug, aren’t you?” I rub her back, soothing her until her whimpers quiet down. Reaching into the Pack ’N Play, I grab her blanket. At least, I think it’s hers. Either way, I grab it and offer it to her. She takes it, holding it close to her chest.

“Guess what?” I ask. Not that I expect her to reply. “You’re having mashed potatoes for dinner.”

I walk into the small break room and take my seat with Stella on one side, Ryder on the other, and Jordyn directly across from me. Ada lifts her head from my shoulder when she sees her mom but makes no move to go to her.

“Hey, sweetie. Did you have a good nap?” Stella asks her daughter softly.

Ada lays her head back on my shoulder.

“Hey, kiddo.” Ryder reaches over and grabs her foot, which makes her giggle. He holds his hands out for her, and she goes to him easily.

“You hungry, bug?” I ask Ada.

Reaching for the bag that has her food, I open the small container of mashed potatoes and gravy. I hand Ryder the spoon, and he starts to feed her.

“I can do that,” Stella tells him.

“Eat.” Ryder doesn’t pull his eyes away from Ada as he flies the spoon of mashed potatoes toward her mouth. She laughs and opens wide.

“I feel bad,” Stella announces.

“Don’t feel bad. You’ll get used to it,” Jordyn tells her. “They’re all baby hogs.” Ryder clears his throat. “Fine, we’re all baby hogs. Just relax and enjoy the break.”

“But I’m getting a break tomorrow when they’ll have her.”

“Relax, Stel.” Reaching over, I place my hand on her thigh. I give it a gentle squeeze. “We offered to do this. Today and tomorrow. Eat your dinner without having to worry about feeding Bug and relax.”

She sits very still, her eyes downcast. When she looks up, her blue eyes are glowing with an emotion I can’t name. “Thank you, Maverick. Ryder, Jordyn, thank you. Moving to Willow River was scary. I only had my grandparents and Ada, and I was worried about a job, and so many things. This job, everything Maverick has done for me. It means so much.”

Ada grunts and Ryder laughs. “Sorry, little one, Mommy was distracting me.” He goes back to feeding her, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Stella relax. Realizing my hand is still on her thigh under the table, I remove it before standing. “Is her diaper bag in the office? I’ll get her cup,” I offer.

“Her cup is in the fridge. There is a reusable water bottle of milk next to it.”

“We’ll just use what I brought, and you can take that back home with you.” I fill up the cup and hand it to Ada. She drinks greedily before opening her mouth like a little bird for another bite. We all laugh at the cuteness overload.

We chat while all three ladies finish their dinner. With plans for Ryder, Jordyn, and Stella to meet at my place tomorrow night, I walk Stella and Ada to her car. “Drive safe,” I tell her as I step away.

“You too, Mav.”

I grin at her using my nickname and wave as she pulls out. I watch until I can no longer see her taillights before climbing into my truck and heading home. I need a shower, and my bed is calling my name.