Page 140 of Pinch of Love

“Yeah. I don’t think that’s a good bet.”

Evie shifted her weight. “Then at least a T-shirt from the airport.”

I gave her another hug and started toward the door.

“Oh, and —”

Chuckling, I turned around to see Evie’s wide eyes. “I really am going to miss the plane. Text me any more bright ideas.”

She nodded just as the doorbell rang.

I pointed behind me. “Are you expecting someone?”

“I wouldn’t invite someone to your house.” She laughed. “At least not while you’re still standing in the entryway.”

I smiled and opened the door.

There, in front of me, stood the most beautiful woman ever.

Her big brown eyes looked up into mine, but I couldn’t say a word.

“Hey, stranger,” she said, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “I got your texts, and I thought it might be a waste for you to fly out.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.

Maya was beautiful with a heart of gold and more understanding than any human I’d ever met, and I’d let her go.

I just stared.

“I didn’t mean to ghost you,” she said, sucking on her bottom lip and drawing in a nervous breath. She had both hands behind her. “But I’m not easy. I’m a complicated mess who is working really hard to simplify herself.”

“I like your complicated mess,” I said, putting my duffle back down. “I like everything about you.”

“Everything?” She leaned over and put something on my porch.

I nodded as she glanced at whatever she had left.

“I’ve been lying to myself about a lot of things. About missing my mom. About being scared shitless of Rob. About...” She swallowed and looked back up at me. “About you.”

Maya’s gaze flashed over my shoulder, and she froze.

All the color drained from her face, and she parted her lips to speak but snapped her mouth closed.

I turned around to see what Maya was looking at, and my heart stopped.

“I should probably go,” she muttered. “I thought since you texted, you were into me and—” Maya nearly tumbled over her own two feet.

I grabbed her so she wouldn’t fall, but I didn’t let go.

“That’s my sister.” I smiled, liking that she had a reaction. It showed she did care. “Evie is my younger sister.”

Maya let out a huge sigh and looked up at me sheepishly. “I mean, you’re a grown man and can do whatever. It’s not like I—”

“I should never have let you leave,” I told her. “You looked like you had your mind made up, and I’d felt off and on that you didn’t really want anything serious.”

“I was a fool,” she said softly.

Maya brought her gaze to mine, and my chest tightened. “We both were.”