Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“What’s next weekend?”
“The annual Kincaid men’s camping trip.”
“Ah, that’s right. Jordyn mentioned that. They’re having a girls’ weekend, I guess.”
“They usually do. Last year, we also started a Kincaid family camping trip. Everyone goes, and it’s a blast. It’s actually more fun than when it’s just us guys if I’m being honest. My sisters-in-law are all amazing, and the nieces and nephews are always a great time. It’s fun to watch them get to learn and experience the same things we did as kids growing up.”
“That sounds nice.”
“You ever been camping?”
I laugh. “No. My parents are more… stuck-up assholes, honestly. They look at something like camping as being beneath them. And I know damn good and well, my mom went when she was younger. I mean, come on, you know my grandparents. She married up—her words, not mine—and yeah, no camping for me.”
“I’ll have to take you some time. Ada would love it.”
“I’m sure she would, especially if you’re there. She’s really taken with you.”
“That’s because we’re best buds, right, Ada?” he asks.
She reaches for him. He shoves the rest of his burger into his mouth and pushes the wrapper into the bag before taking her from me across the picnic table. “You don’t have to give in to her every time, Maverick.”
“What?” He raises his voice as if he’s offended. “How rude,” he says, barely holding his laughter. He lifts his shake for a drink and takes a long pull while Ada leans in, wanting some as well.
“No, sweetie. You can have some of Mommy’s.” I lift my cup to offer it to her, but she’s having no part of it. It doesn’t matter that they’re both vanilla. She wants his.
“She’s fine.” He offers her the straw, and she takes what I’m sure is a slobbery drink. She’s not been drinking out of straws for long.
“You’re spoiling her.”
He shrugs. “That’s what we do. Just ask my brothers. It’s like our superpower.”
“You might not think that way when you have one of your own.”
“Like I’ll have a choice. I have eight brothers, and Ramsey, my cousin, who, as you know, is like a sister to us. I’ve spoiled their kids and bought them the loudest toys I could find. Payback is coming my way, and I’m good with it. When I have kids of my own, I’ll take it like a man.” He chuckles.
“At least you’re prepared.” I laugh. Ada thinks she’s missing out on the fun, and she reaches for me. Maverick hands her over across the table before gathering his trash and taking it to a nearby can. When he comes back to the table, he sits next to me, his back to the table so that he’s facing the lake.
Ada smacks at his shoulder, and he leans in, kissing her cheek. “I see you, Bug,” he says affectionately. She pulls on his shirt until he’s leaning in close. So close I can feel his hot breath fan across my cheek. “What’s up, cutie?” he asks her.
Ada kisses my cheek, then looks at Maverick like it’s his turn. A wicked smirk tugs at his lips. “You want me to kiss Mommy too?” he asks her.
She just tugs on his shirt harder. “She’s just playing,” I say, feeling my heart thunder in my chest. I can’t help but wonder if his lips are as soft as I remember.
“I don’t know, Stel. I can’t leave my girl hanging.”
My belly flips. I know he’s not calling me his girl. He’s calling Ada his girl, and that, too, makes my heart melt like hot butter, but the way his eyes held mine when he said it, my heart doesn’t seem to be able to separate my desire for him and reality.
He leans in close and presses his lips to Ada’s cheek, and then just as quickly, his lips are pressed to mine. His tongue softly traces my lips before he pulls away. Ada laughs, loving this game they're playing. She doesn’t have a clue that my heart is about to pound right out of my chest.
“It’s getting late,” I say, my voice gruff with desire. I have to shut this down.
“Yeah, I’ve kept you ladies out long enough.” He stands and holds his arms out for Ada. She goes to him without a care in the world. Somehow, I manage to stand on wobbly knees and follow him to the truck.
This is bad. This is really bad. I’m falling for Maverick Kincaid, and I don’t know how to stop it.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Maverick
There is nothing like sitting around a campfire drinking a cold beer. I look forward to these annual trips with my brothers. Now that we’re all older and have jobs and families, it’s harder to sit and just chill. Sure, we see each other every week, but it’s with the hustle and bustle of life surrounding us. This is our time, and I hope we never stop doing it.