Maverick (The Family Simon 3)

Okay. It sounded lame even to Maverick. He felt like a foolish, horny, teenager. Games weren’t his thing and he was starting to think that Saturday night was a bad idea.

“Sweetie, I know you’re not going to like to hear this, but it sounds to me as if things could get complicated. I mean, you’re lying to this woman about who you are. It’s not right, Maverick.”

“You’re the one who just told me to go out and get laid. And for the record, I haven’t lied. I just haven’t offered up anything of a personal nature. I’m here to disappear, Donnie. That’s it.”

“Well you can’t disappear if you’re fooling around with someone.” Donovan glanced over her shoulder and nodded to someone before leaning in close. “Are you going to see her again?”

Grudgingly, Maverick nodded. “I’m supposed to go to a function with her tomorrow night.”

“Then you need to be upfront with her and if blowing your cover is more important then being honest with this woman, maybe you should back off.”

“It’s not just about me. Cooper…”

He groaned. How the hell had he already gotten himself in the middle of a mess? “If people know who I am, then it won’t take long for them to figure out that the guy who owns this place is Cooper. He’s not ready for that and I promised him that I would keep his identity quiet.”

“Then you have no choice.”

Mood once again black, Maverick stared at his friend. What exactly was he hoping would happen with Charlie? Did he just want

a night of diversion? A night out so that he didn’t dwell on the sad state of his personal life? Or was he looking for a night of hot sex with a woman he found attractive?

Charlie had a kid brother that she was responsible for. She sure as hell didn’t need someone like Maverick complicating an already complicated life. Especially when he was only here for a few weeks.

“So what are you going to do?” Donovan asked.

“Guess I’ll find something else to do Saturday night,” he said tightly.

Damn, but he hated when Donovan was right.

Chapter Six

Charlie was an idiot.

There was no other explanation, or at least none that hit the nail on the head quite like that one word. Idiot. Had she really thought that Saturday night with the guy-with-no-last-name was what she needed? That in fact it might be kind of fun? That maybe the guy-with-no-last-name actually was interested in her?

Damn right she had.

Why else would she have let Ava drag her off to the city for a morning of shopping and an afternoon of pampering? Because of Ava, Charlie had dropped more cash than she should have on black leather leggings, new boots that were about as far away as you could get from her comfy Doc’s, and a slinky, sleeveless—not to mention nearly backless—top.

Because of Ava she had ret hot toenails and matching fingers. Sure the nail technician had sighed heavily when she’d seen the state of Charlie’s hands, but still, they didn’t look bad.

Because of Ava she’d been waxed in places that made her blush. Her. Charlie Samuels. Bare down there (Who knew that Ava could be so damn pushy?).

She’d let Ava do her makeup and hair. She’d allowed herself to get excited at the thought of seeing the mysterious and hot Rick. Hell, she’d even admitted to herself that not only did she look damn good but the whole, bare down there, thing wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be. In fact she felt sexy and desirable and that was something she hadn’t felt in ages.

She’d gotten her hopes up and then she’d crashed and burned.

Rick hadn’t shown and when she’d finally dug out her cell phone from beneath a pile of adverts and flyers on the table in the hall, she’d found messages and missed calls from Davis and Rick—messages that she would have gotten so much sooner if she hadn’t forgotten her phone at home.

Rick had called her cell and then sent her a text at noon, apologizing for the late notice but something had come up and he couldn’t make it (Obviously he’d gotten her cell phone number from Davis).

Davis messaged just after, pissed on her behalf. He’d told her that he was keeping Connor overnight regardless of the fact that Rick had cancelled, and to go out and have fun anyway. She deserved a night out. He’d also sent a second message threatening to kick her ass if she didn’t at least go to the dance with Ava and her date.

So here she was, standing near the bar at the Valentine’s dance, watching Ava get up close and personal with Seth Rogers, while the glaciers reflected in Charlie’s eyes kept any man who looked her way at bay.

Happy Freaking Valentine’s Day.

This stuff shouldn’t bother her. Not with the thick skin she’d grown into over the last few years.