The Maverick's Sweetest Choice by Stella Bagwell

Author:Stella Bagwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-05-28T20:02:16+00:00

* * *

Much later, after the lasagna had been consumed, along with a few treats Kendra had brought home from the bakery, she and Dale carried their coffee to the couch in the living room. Mila managed to coax the kittens into following her and now she was stretched out on the floor tossing a toy mouse back and forth to the kittens. The felines’ silly antics had her giggling with delight.

“Normally at this time of the evening, Mila would be begging to watch TV or play a video game. I’d much rather see her playing with the kittens than staring at a screen.” She looked at Dale, who was sitting close beside her on the couch. “I have to admit, you were absolutely right.”

“I was? Which time?”

Chuckling, she said, “About having two cats instead of one.”

His grin was nothing but humble. “Shoot, that was an easy deduction. Everything is better in pairs.”

As though to prove his point, he reached over and clasped his hand around hers. The touch of his fingers only added to the warm vibes she’d been getting from having his long lanky body so close to her.

She said, “I, uh, used to think in those terms, Dale. I thought everyone and everything needed a companion. But that was before my marriage ended.”

A moment of silence passed before he gave her hand a light squeeze. “I should have said everything is better with the right pair.”

Her gaze was drawn back to his face, and the tender expression she found on his features melted a few more spots of her frozen heart. These past few days she’d felt herself growing closer and closer to him. Now, sharing things about her life with him felt right and even necessary. If she ever expected their relationship to grow into something meaningful, she had to be brave enough to expose her past mistakes. Otherwise, they’d only be two people spending time together.

She nodded, then glanced at Mila, who was too far away and too preoccupied to hear their conversation. “Bryce and I were the wrong pair right from the start,” she told him. “I just didn’t realize that until it was too late.”

His expression somber, he studied her face. “How long were you married?”

“Two years,” she answered, then let out a rueful sigh. “I realize it sounds like I didn’t give the marriage enough time. But in the end, it was too much time.”

“I’m sorry it wasn’t good,” he said.

She lifted her gaze to his. “The problem was that I was expecting a traditional marriage like my parents have always had. You know, a typical home where spouses share everything. Before we were married, Bryce promised he would give me those things. But it didn’t turn out that way.”

His blue gaze continued to delve into hers. “I’m sure you believed he’d carry his promises through.”

“I did believe him. He seemed eager for us to get married. Now, when I look back on things, it was his deception along with his indifference to Mila that hurt the most.

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