He nodded.
“I’d like that,” she said, amazed by the strength and certainty in her voice. There wasn’t a shadow of doubt in her mind that she wanted to lose her virginity to Maverick Storm.
“Okay, then,” he said, his own tone stronger now. “Okay,” he repeated, before laughing with a happiness so pure it took her breath away. Then he took even more away as he gave her a kiss that was equal parts passion and promise.
It was…perfect.
Chapter Five
Maverick walked into the tasting room from the kitchen, plate in hand, as he looked around for his brother Grayson. He’d taken a detour on the way here to ask Boone a question about the grapes.
Most days, he and his brother packed sandwiches and ate lunch in their offices at the winery, but at least once—okay, twice—a week, they treated themselves to Mila’s cooking at the tasting room. His cousin was the kitchen manager, helping to prep the food they sold at both the brewery and winery tasting rooms for the cooks, and there wasn’t a single person in town who didn’t agree she’d found her calling. Everything Mila made was amazing, be it the wings or fire-roasted pizzas or gourmet grilled cheese, which was what Maverick had sweet-talked her into whipping up for him today.
He spotted Grayson immediately. While his brother’s food was sitting at their usual table in the corner, he wasn’t. Instead, Grayson was standing just outside the large open bay doors on the patio, talking. Maverick drew in an unsteady breath as he took in Edith, looking up at his brother, the two of them laughing.
However, it wasn’t Edith who had his lungs suddenly seizing. It was the person she was sitting with.
Ella had her back to him, so all he could see was her face in profile, her long auburn hair hanging loose over her shoulders. She’d always had long hair, but when they were back in school, she wore it in tight ponytails high on her head. That night at Whiskey Abbey and now, she wore it down, and while he knew he shouldn’t, he was standing here imagining himself running his fingers through those thick tresses, maybe even closing his fist around it and tugging it until her face was turned toward his and he could?—
Maverick closed his eyes and fought like the devil to shut out that fucking fantasy.
It had been a little less than a week since she’d crash-landed back into his life. According to his calculations, because he’d been keeping track, her two-week visit to Gracemont should be wrapping up in four days.
He’d made it long enough that he thought perhaps he’d gotten lucky, and he wouldn’t see her again.
So much for that.
If it had been anyone else at that table, Maverick would have set his food down and gone over to say hello. But that wasn’t happening. He didn’t have it in him, so he claimed his and Grayson’s usual table, taking a large, somewhat aggressive bite of his grilled cheese.
Grayson glanced over and saw him, so he said his goodbyes before heading over to the table.
Edith caught Maverick’s eye, giving him a wave. Ella glanced over her shoulder, turning away quickly when she realized who Edith was waving to.
Grayson chuckled when he realized they’d both picked the same thing for lunch. “I know it’s just grilled cheese,” his brother said, “but how in the hell does Mila make it so damn good?”
Maverick shrugged, the response garnering a sigh from his brother. His sour mood, which had begun right after Levi’s reception, had grown even worse this past week. Now, he wasn’t just sullen and depressed; he was a moody fucking bear, snapping way more than he should.
Maverick wished he could feign happiness, but that was impossible with Ella sitting so goddamn close. He watched her and Edith talk quietly, sipping their wine. They’d selected the rosé.
Hisrosé.
Several minutes passed before Maverick realized his brother wasn’t even attempting to make conversation, the two of them eating in awkward silence.
Maverick forced himself to stop staring—glaring—at Ella’s back and focus on his brother.
“What’s your problem with Ella Decker?” Grayson asked.
He frowned. “What?”
“You keep looking at her like you want to kill herandfuck her. At the same time.”
Jesus. Grayson had hit the nail on the head. Not that Maverick was going to admit it.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He should have known his brother wouldn’t let it lie. While Grayson wasn’t the most talkative guy in the world, when he wanted the answer to a question, he persisted until he got it.
Since Maverick wasn’t offering anything, Grayson tried to puzzle it out on his own. “You two were in the same grade in school, weren’t you?”