Maverick (Carter Brothers Book 5) Read online

  CHAPTER TWO

  TEAGAN

  Mondays at the flower shop my nan owns are usually peaceful.

  Not today.

  My nan has slowly been driving me nuts all morning about my new accommodation. It doesn’t matter that the place is in a better neighbourhood; that it’s closer to Faith’s, my five-year-old daughter’s, school; or that we finally have fully functioning central heating and other appliances. Not only that, but Faith has her own bedroom, something she’s been begging me to have.

  “Please, Nan, just drop it. We’ve settled in nicely and Faith loves it.”

  “You got attacked,” she deadpans.

  She has me there.

  As scary as that day was for me, I’ve been through a lot worse in my life. I was concerned for Faith’s safety more than anything else. She’d been so scared, so terrified of the drunken man who attacked me that it took me days to calm her down. I wasn’t even planning on telling my nan; I knew she’d freak the hell out, like she’s done ever since Faith blurted it out to her.

  “Nan, the neighbourhood is better than where we lived before. Plus, it can’t be that bad. How long have you owned this place?” I ask, gesturing to her small but perky flower shop. It’s only a ten-minute walk from here to mine, so she doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

  “Thirty-six years,” she tuts, picking up a bucket of roses. “Teagan, it’s above a strip club, and Colene said it’s been in the paper for drug raids.”

  Glancing up from the morning’s deliveries I was going over, I roll my eyes at her. Colene is an old gossip who makes it her business to know everyone else’s. Half the time it’s true. Other times… not so much. I’ve told Nan to stop listening to everything she tells her on more than one occasion; it’s getting old. Hell, she knows most things before it’s even posted on Facebook. I’d warn Nan to stay away from her, but out of all my Nan’s friends, Colene is actually the tamest.

  “Possible raids,” I correct, going back to work.

  Hearing her sigh, I glance over, watching her snip away at the rose stems furiously. “Okay, I’ll let it be. Maybe now you can stop working at the doctor’s office.”

  Ah, my job at the doctor’s.

  I’m only a receptionist, but the job is taxing. I don’t even work that many hours, yet when I’m there time drags and I’m utterly miserable. The place drains the life out of me.

  The women who work with me are cruel and judgemental, and a few times since I started there over a year ago, I’ve heard them trash talk me. We’ve never clicked; even the doctors look down their noses at me. The only reason I’ve put up with it for so long is because I needed the money to support Faith and me. Having a kid and bills isn’t cheap.

  But now I have a more affordable place, so I won’t need the job. I’ve also saved a ton since I moved in by not having to eat out every day.

  “Yeah, maybe,” I tell her absently, going over ways to tender my resignation. I’d love to be the person who can throw it in their faces, make a scene by telling them what I really think, but it’s not who I am. I hate confrontation of all sorts. I’m the quiet one, always have been. The wildest thing I’ve ever done is lose my virginity, and even then, that wasn’t by choice but from necessity.

  “How’s me bitch?” Tish, my best friend, booms as she walks through the door. With her wild black afro, huge knockers, hourglass figure and out-there personality, she certainly makes an impression. Her hair is her best feature―for me, anyway. It still astounds me how many ways she can have it. She’s always getting something different.

  My smile brightens at seeing her. There’s never a dull moment when she’s around, and I’ve missed her.

  I’ve hardly seen her since the move. We’ve both been busy, but secretly, I think she’s still pissed at me for moving away. We only lived a few streets from each other before. She hates it.

  “Language,” Nan scolds her, but there’s no heat in her tone. Plus, she swears more than anyone I know―except maybe her friends.

  “My bad, Connie,” Tish says, then glances at me, winking, a grin spreading across her face.

  And that is why I love her.

  Tish and I have been best friends from the moment we met six years ago. She literally bounced into Nan’s house without knocking, walked right up to me and said, “Yeah, you’ll do.” After that we became inseparable.

  She lived next door with her grandparents, situated in a small old people’s housing community. When I arrived, she was stoked about having another kid around.

  She never judged me for my lack of fashion, which consisted of clothes two sizes too small, stained and worn out. Nor did she judge me when I found out I was pregnant. She was there every step of the way.

  “Hey, Tish. How are you doing?” I smile, finally getting a word in. Leaning over the counter, I kiss her cheek.

  “I’ve come to get the deets. I was speaking to my girl, Ronnie, and she said the manager at V.I.P. is hot. As in H.O.T. Spill it, girlfriend.”

  She winks at me, and jumps up on the counter, swinging her legs. I try to push her off, but she doesn’t budge. Instead, she ignores my attempt and just stares at me, waiting for an answer.

  “He’s all right,” I shrug, looking down at the order forms like they hold the answers to world peace. I can’t tell her that he’s more than hot―he’s beautiful. She’ll be staking the place out until she gets an eyeful. And if the package tenting in his joggers this morning is anything to go by, then she’ll get more than she bargained for.

  I wouldn’t put it past her to start stalking him. She’s done it before.

  My face flushes as I remember the intense stare-off we shared this morning. He looked right at me with those mocha chocolate eyes and I felt like he was staring into my soul. It’s the first time I’ve felt like anyone actually saw me. It unbalanced me.

  I’d been taking the rubbish out, minding my own business when I noticed a bare, muscled, tattooed back glistening with sweat. I’d been so startled to see someone there and so caught up ogling the way his back strained and arms flexed as he lifted his own rubbish bags that I hadn’t been watching my step. I ended up kicking one of the bins, bringing his attention on me.

  The air left my lungs when I saw it was Maverick, my landlord, the same person who had chased down my attacker on the day of my interview. He had the same effect on me as he did that day, only this time I had a chance to really check him out.

  He had muscle everywhere, places I never even knew muscles could exist. I’ve only ever seen bodies like his on the front of book covers, or in magazines, but even they don’t compare to his.

  And his tattoos… they’re drool-worthy, totally completing the bad boy image he has going on.

  I’d slowly taken him in, tracing every line, every dip and ridge of muscle on his glorious body.

  It was then I realised my body was responding to him, tingling all over and coming alive in ways I’ve never felt or experienced before. But there it was in the pit of my stomach, pulling me towards him.

  I wasn’t the only one. No, he was certainly checking me out too. At least I think he was. Although, for all I know he could have been gawking at the fact that I was only wearing a pair of bed shorts and a thin white tank top that showed my muffin top and stretch marks.

  I’d frozen, becoming so self-conscious that I’d ended up embarrassing myself. But I think the fact that I wasn’t wearing a bra and the top was basically see-through made the whole situation more awkward.

  He must have gotten a right eyeful.

  He didn’t appear to be disgusted though; if anything, he seemed to be turned on. His eyes were molten, pupils dilated when he finally looked up, and I couldn’t help the thrill that ran through my body. It made me feel indestructible, sexy.

  Then he saved my little girl and my attraction skyrocketed. There was no way I could’ve gotten there in time to catch her, let alone react as quickly as he did. The fall would have done some serious damage.

  Which reminds me,
I need to pop into the DIY shop tomorrow, since it’s my day off, and see if I can find something to put there to make it safe.

  “I know that look. Get it out, girl.” Tish grins, clapping her hands.

  “What?” Feigning innocence, I look away, unable to meet her eyes.

  She grins wider, looking to my Nan with a wink. “This is going to be so much fun. Our little Teegy has a crush.”

  “No, I do not,” I snap, feeling my cheeks heat.

  She scoffs. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll just go round there. Maybe I’ll even give him a strip tease,” she jokes, messing with me.

  “Don’t,” I warn her, pointing a rose stem at her. “He’s…. Crap. He’s hot, okay? He’s gorgeous, like Chris Hemsworth gorgeous, just better-looking. I saw him….” I shake my head, waving away my thoughts. I can’t let her know how I perved on him this morning, checking out his rock-hard, delicious body, or that when he looks at me my stomach flutters like crazy. She’d be there in a flash.

  “You saw him what?” she asks, leaning in, her eyes lighting up.

  “He was shirtless and I saw him. Now shut up,” I tell her, wanting to die of embarrassment.

  “You like him?” she asks, all teasing gone.

  I look up at her, my expression serious. “Yeah, I do.”

  Her eyes soften and I try to blink away the pain. She knows why I don’t date. It’s not just because I have a daughter to think about, or a busy schedule, but because I don’t trust people―mostly men.

  After my mum died, I was sent to live with my uncle. It was a living nightmare, my own prison full of torture.

  He ruined the last part of my childhood and made me lose faith in men altogether. Hell, I’ve only ever had sex once, which ended up with me being pregnant with Faith.

  But there’s something about Maverick that makes me want to try.

  “Just ask him out on a date. What do you have to lose?” Tish asks.

  “No!” There is no way she is going to talk me into this. Tish has a strong personality and could convince anyone to do almost anything. She blames her strong nature on her ethnicity, but really it’s all her. She’s as wild as they come, just like her hair.

  “Why not?” she whines as she grabs a nail file out of her bag and starts nail filling her claws. Jesus, they get longer every time she has them done.

  “Because….” I pause, not actually able to come up with a good excuse.

  “Oh hell, girl, you need to get some lovin’, clean the cobwebs and all that shit. If he’s as hot as you say he is, what’s your problem? Does he have funny-lookin’ teeth?”

  Teeth?

  What on earth!

  “Tish, his teeth are fine.” I roll my eyes.

  “Just checkin’. The blind date I went on last night? The dude had teeth that looked like he ate glass for breakfast.” She shudders, looking disgusted as she points her manicured hand my way. “So, why not ask him?”

  “I… I don’t know him, okay? Maybe if we knew each other.” I’m totally lying. There would be a zombie apocalypse happening before I gained enough courage to ask someone out, especially a man that good-looking.

  Tish opens her mouth, but Nan butts in. “Latisha, go make an old lady a hot brew, will you,” she orders. That’s my nan, always bossing others around.

  “Okay,” she moans, never able to say no to Nan.

  I laugh, earning a smack on the arse from Tish. Turning back to Nan, I’m about to thank her for saving me from the third degree, but from the look in her eye, I can see I’m in for a lecture from her too.

  “You need to start trusting men sometime,” she tells me, placing her hand over mind.

  I smile sadly. “Maybe. I just… He’s really nice, and I wasn’t joking about the hotness, Nan. He’s freakishly hot. I don’t stand a chance. Plus, he works in a strip club. Why would he want frumpy me when he can have hot girls with big knockers?”

  Nan smiles back, shaking her head. “Oh, darling girl, you look just like your mother. You’re beautiful, inside and out, and if he can’t see that, then he isn’t the man you should place your heart and trust with.”

  “I guess,” I whisper, wondering if I should tell her about the darkness I saw in his eyes. That he holds a sadness inside him so strong that when he looks at me, I feel it to the depths of my soul. It hurt my heart to see his internal suffering fill those eyes.

  Although, there’s no denying the overwhelming sense of safety I felt both times I’ve been with him. I knew the first time I laid eyes on him that he’s the type of person to protect those he loves. I envy those people.

  It also added to the major crush I have.

  “Right, bitch, we’re talking about me now and my horrendous date last night,” Tish announces as she prances back into the room, and I shake Maverick from my thoughts.

  Nan shakes her head as she walks back to the window, rearranging the flowers on display with a smile on her face.

  “Okay.” I laugh, grabbing my mug off Tish, enjoying the smell of fresh brew as I stand back and listen to my bestie fill me in on one of her many dates.

  *** *** ***

  I hold Faith’s hand as we walk side by side across the car park, listening to her chat about her day at school.

  “The teacher said I was the bestest one to read out loud,” she tells me again.

  I look down at her and give her a bright smile. “I’m so proud of you. You do read brilliantly, baby.”

  My heart melts when she rewards me with a wide smile. Her face splits into an even bigger grin when we reach our place.

  Max, the weird, overactive lad who interviewed me, is standing at the bottom of the stairs to my place, holding a plank of thick wood up for Maverick.

  My gaze flickers only briefly across Maverick, but that damn flutter in my belly is still there, going crazy mad.

  Instead, I glance back at Max, trying to suss him out. I’m still unsure whether he’s sane or not. I wanted to ask his girlfriend, Lake, more about him, but I felt like it would be rude to, especially if he’s not all there in the head.

  The jury is still out on that one.

  Okay, now I feel like a complete bitch for judging him. There has to be a reasonable explanation.

  “Maxy,” Faith shouts as she starts running over to him. He drops the plank of wood he was holding, causing Maverick to curse down at him. Now my eyes are glued to Maverick, greedily taking everything in.

  I’m glad to find he’s wearing a shirt this time; I don’t think my heart could have taken it if he wasn’t. My eyes roam over his body, taking in every delicious inch before reaching his handsome face. His eyes light up as he watches Faith run into Max’s arms, and I stare, mesmerised.

  When I notice what he’s doing outside my door, my heart flips over, pounding hard in my chest. I take a step forward, gobsmacked. My eyes begin to sting, my throat tightening at the kind and considerate gesture.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, needing him to clarify, even though it’s blatantly obvious.

  Pulling his eyes away from Faith, he glances my way, then to the wood in his hand before finally looking back at me, his forehead creasing. “I’m making the stairs safe for Faith. I didn’t want her to have another accident. It’s no big deal. It was already on my list of things to do,” he explains while rubbing the back of his neck, looking nervous.

  He did this to protect my daughter. He cared enough about her well-being to go out and buy the correct supplies.

  “Thank you. I was going to get it done,” I rush out before I choke up.

  He raises a sceptical brow at me, amusement lighting his eyes. “And how was a tiny thing like you going to lift this up here, hold it, and nail it in place?” he asks, his gaze raking me up and down, making me feel naked under his inspection.

  “I… I don’t know,” I admit, sighing. I hadn’t gotten that far. I just wanted to make sure Faith wouldn’t have another accident. “Thank you. It’s very thoughtful.”

  Seeming uncomfortable, he shifts
on his feet, looking down at me. “It’s no big deal.”

  Max scoffs at my side, holding Faith upside down. “No big deal?” he says, shaking his head, a smirk teasing his lips. “He had to drive all the way to Warrington to get the right wood because B&Q didn’t have any in stock.”

  “She’s going to get nauseas,” I warn Max, and he grins, as if just remembering he has my daughter hanging upside down. Turning to Maverick and seeing him in a new light, I give him a shy smile. “Thank you. You really didn’t need to go out of your way.”

  “It’s all good,” he mutters, banging a nail into the wood before wiping sweat off his forehead.

  Christ, how can someone look so gorgeous when they’re all sweaty? It should repulse me, yet all I want to do is lick him and see if he’s as tasty as he looks.

  And now my mind is in the gutter.

  A dirty gutter.

  Sheesh, I’ve been hanging around Tish too long.

  “You little rascal,” Max mutters, chasing Faith around the bins. “Where’d you go?” he calls, teasing her, pretending not to know where she is. Although I’m still unsure about his sanity, he really is good with Faith. He seems to have a knack for making her laugh uncontrollably.

  Faith squeals and runs over to the stairs, making her way up to Maverick where she clings to his legs. He looks down at her, grinning, ruffling her hair. “You can’t get me now. Maverick will protect me,” she tells Max, giggling before sticking her tongue out at him.

  I’m beaming like a mad woman. When I look up to see how Maverick is taking her admission, I find him staring at me, his eyes soft. Flushing, I turn away, fixing my gaze on Max.

  “Such a cheat,” he pouts, glancing between Maverick and me with a mischievous look in his eye. “So, Mav, don’t you think T looks fine today?”

  “It’s Teagan,” I correct him, which is all I ever seem to do.

  “Should I be worried?” Lake teases as she walks out of the back entrance of the club.

  “No, babe, never.” He chuckles. “So, Mav? Answer or it’s going to get awkward real quick.”

  Maverick glares at him before scanning over me once more. “Yeah, beautiful,” he chokes out.