Page 33 (1/2)

“Listen, if you decide this isn’t working out, just let me know,” I tell him “At any time”

He furrows his brow “Why wouldn’t it work out? There’s lots of room here We’ll be fine”

“I prouest list for the parties I throw under a hundred people And I’ll keep therestricted to the kitchen only”

“You’re a peach”

“Seriously,” I say, “if there’s anything I can do to help out, say so I don’tand I can cook simple stuff”

“You don’t need to cook for me, Gia”

“Well, I want to do so”

“Poker lessons,” he says, his gaze focused on the road ahead

“Really?”

He nods and glances over at ht I was okay at it until I saw you play Can you teach ht?”

“Of course” I take a deep breath and exhale, releasing the nervous energy I feel being so close to hiht?”

He gives me a confused look “I assume you wouldn’t live with someone you hated”

“No, I mean…” I put a hand on his knee “I mean I like you”

“I like you, too A lot You know that”

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a tiet involved with a ht be just a few months away And if I can, you’re the only man I want”

Maverick’s hand flexes on the steering wheel of his truck “Are you asking me to wait?”

“I…don’t know,” I admit “I won’t lie It would break uess I just want you to know that I’et involved…it’s real, and it’s i for years, and I’m almost there”

“I’ anywhere, Gia”

He rests his right hand on the center console between us, pal on the road I hesitate for a second, and then put er ones