The Maverick's Summer Sweetheart by Stacy Connelly

Author:Stacy Connelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-03-13T19:00:58+00:00

* * *

His ex-wife.

Hank’s words were still ringing in Gemma’s ears as the music changed to a faster beat, and they both agreed to head back to their table. Natalie and Garrett had taken to the dance floor, leaving them the spot to themselves. Although Gemma didn’t exactly feel like it was just the two of them. Though she tried not to, she shot a glance over to Anne’s table. Not only Anne, but all of her friends, seemed equally interested in glancing back at her and Hank.

So much for “What happens at Maverick Manor stays at Maverick Manor.”

“What was that?” Hank asked.

Not realizing she’d muttered the words out loud, Gemma shook her head. “I was just thinking... It’s so easy to pretend we don’t have lives outside of the hotel, but we do. In your case, right outside. I can go back to New York and pick up my life right where I left off, as though nothing has changed...”

Her throat closed over the words. Could she? Could she really go back without feeling like she would be leaving a piece of herself behind?

She waved a hand at the people in the bar. “I’ll never see any of these people again,” she said, strangely disappointed by that realization, “but you live here.”

A slight smile tilted Hank’s lips as he set the beer bottle down. “Why, Miss Gemma, are you worried about my reputation?”

“Yes! No. Maybe...”

His deep chuckle had the muscles in her belly clenching. “You know how everyone’s always sayin’ what a nice guy I am? Well, maybe I wouldn’t mind giving ’em something else to say.” Gemma figured the gossips would have plenty to talk about as Hank dropped a twenty on the table and tipped his head toward the exit. “You ready to head back?”

If he wasn’t worried about the two of them leaving together, then neither was she. Catching Natalie’s gaze on the way out, Gemma pointed toward Hank and then the door, letting her new friend know she’d found her own ride back to the manor. The blonde gave an exuberant thumbs-up that had Gemma laughing beneath her breath until she stepped out into the cool night air and found herself alone with Hank.

“The place was busy tonight. I had to park a few blocks away. If you want to wait here, I can go get the truck.”

Away from the raucous beat booming from the jukebox, they no longer needed to lean in to hear what the other had to say. And yet Gemma still found herself whisper-close. “There you go again, Mr. Nice Guy.”

“Damn.” How was it that his deep drawl seemed to stroke every one of her nerve endings? “I really need to work on that, don’t I?”

The Ace of Hearts sign in the bar’s front window cast a neon glow across his handsome features, and Gemma didn’t think he needed to change a thing. From where she stood, Hank Harlow was just about perfect.

The doors swung open as a group of laughing

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