Page 125 of Maverick

Nan pulls back, her eyes searching my face. "I've been so scared," she says, her voice thick with emotion as she wipes away tears.

I swallow hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know, Nan. I'm so sorry."

She cups my face in her hands, her touch gentle but firm. "Don't you dare apologize, Cadence Hayes. None of this is your fault. I'm just so grateful you're okay."

I nod, unable to speak past the tightness in my chest. The weight of the night's events crashes over me, and I lean into Nan's embrace once more, drawing strength from her familiar warmth. "I was so scared," I whisper. I don't mean for him to hear it, but Maverick's wince makes it clear that he did.

She sniffs and pulls back. "Well, of course you were. You're not a fucking idiot, and only an idiot wouldn't be afraid in a situation like that."

Janey and Cara are hovering behind Nan, looking relieved. I pull Nan in for another hug, and mouth 'Thank You' to them. They nod and smile, giving us a little hug as they pass. Connie stands, her canetap tappingon the wood floor as she stops in front of us. "Glad you're in one piece, kid," she says, then gently pats Nan's arm. Then she stops in front of Maverick, waving him down for a kiss on the cheek. Then it's just the three of us left standing in the middle of the living room.

Nan looks up at me and brushes her fingers along my cheek. "Do you need anything honey? A cup of tea? Want to sleep with me tonight?"

"I'm okay Nan. I promise. I think I just want a shower, and bed."

She nods, looking between Mav and I. "Take good care of her, yes?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he says in a voice so low that the words are barely audible.

With one last hug and a shuddery exhale, Nan heads to her room, the door closing softly behind her.

I stand awkwardly in the living room, my body tense and my mind racing. Maverick's presence looms large beside me, but I can't bring myself to look at him. The silence stretches between us, thick and uncomfortable.

Finally, Maverick moves. He takes my hand in his, his touch gentle. "Let me take care of you tonight. Please."

I nod, not trusting my voice. He leads me to his bedroom, closing and the door. The soft click of the lock echoes in the quiet room.

In the bathroom, Maverick moves with slow deliberate purpose. He turns on the shower, steam slowly filling the air. The sound of running water is soothing, grounding me in the present moment.

He returns to me, his eyes soft but guarded. Slowly, reverently, he begins to undress me. His fingers brush against my skin as he removes my tiny uniform, piece by piece. I shiver, but it's not just from the cold.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I... I don't know," I admit, my voice trembling.

He nods, understanding in his eyes. "It's okay not to know. You're safe now."

Maverick guides me into the shower, the warm water cascading over my skin. He's meticulous, washing every part of my body with tender care. His fingers work through my hair, making sure no glass remains. No one's ever washed my hair like this, not since Nan did as a child. But his care isn't sexual. It's full of tenderness, and carries a weight of emotion that I desperately need right now.

As he rinses the shampoo from my hair, a sob escapes my lips before I can stop it.

Maverick freezes, then makes a low sound, tugging me into his arms, holding me tight enough to keep me together. That's when I realize he's still fully clothed, his shirt and jeans soaked through.

A laugh bubbles up through my tears. "Mav, you're all wet," I say, my voice muffled against his chest.

He pulls back, looking confused, then glances down his body, a sound of surprise rumbling through his chest. "I guess I got a little distracted."

I pull back slightly, looking up at him. Despite everything that's happened, I feel a spark of desire ignite within me. I reach for the hem of his wet shirt, slowly peeling it off his body.

"Cady," he breathes, his eyes darkening.

"Let me take care of you too," I whisper, my fingers working on the button of his jeans. The damn things are nearly impossible to get off, but thankfully he's totally willing to help.

As I undress him, the air between us changes, charged with a different kind of tension. When he's finally as bare as I am, I lean in, pressing my lips to his.

The kiss is passionate, desperate. It's a confirmation that we're both here, both alive. Maverick's hands tangle in my wet hair as he deepens the kiss, and for a moment, I forget about everything else.

That's not true. I do remember one thing.