Three words that packed a powerful punch, and it was a hit that Maverick felt in his bones.
He cleared his throat, not taking his eyes off of Connor. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Connor’s fingers started tapping along the keys. Not hard enough to pull out a note, but his fingernails made a clack-clack-clack sound, as if he was typing out his emotions.
“He died out there.”
Maverick wasn’t exactly sure what Connor meant and kept quiet, watching him closely.
“We were together. In there.” Connor banged out a couple notes—hard angry notes. “I was with him.”
Maverick was shocked. Utterly shocked. He reached forward and gently placed his hand on Connor’s shoulder. The little boy banged out a couple more angry notes and then let his hands fall to his side.
“My daddy liked songs.”
With those words, Connor Samuels managed to burrow deep into Maverick’s heart. He inched closer to the boy, wanting to comfort him but not really knowing what to do.
So he did what he’d do if he were with one of his cousins, or his brother Cooper. He patted the little guy’s shoulders and when Connor eventually deflated and rested his head against Maverick, he drew him into a hug and didn’t let go.
Not for a long, long time.
Chapter Twenty-four
By eight o’clock Connor was tuckered out. Several days of fresh air had caught up to him and Charlie took him to bed. Truthfully, she needed a few minutes away from the man who’d done nothing but occupy her thoughts all day.
Maverick Simon was a man who lived in a world she couldn’t imagine and he was also a man who was used to women much more sophisticated than she could ever be.
Seriously. Donovan James and Elle Mason? Really?
“Don’t do this to yourself,” she muttered as she tucked Connor into bed. She kissed her brother’s brow and folded the top cover under his chin. His cheeks were rosy, his eyes bright, and she marveled at the change in him.
“You had fun today, didn’t you?” she asked softly.
He nodded, those pale eyes of his wide and suddenly serious. “I like Rick.”
Should she be surprised? Not really.
Should she be concerned? Hell yes.
“I do too,” she replied. “But he’s just a friend and we don’t know how long he’ll be in Fisherman’s Landing. You understand that, right?”
Connor watched her intently for a few moments and then nodded. “I still like him.”
/> Charlie didn’t really know what else to say, so she swept one more kiss across his brow. “You’ve got school tomorrow, sweetie, and I know you need at least eight hours of shut-eye. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
Charlie made sure Connor’s nightlight was on and then headed downstairs. Rick was in the family room, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans as he stared out into the night. His back was to her, so for a few moments Charlie had the luxury of drinking him in, unnoticed. Her gaze moved from the thick waves atop his head, down to his wide shoulders, long torso and tapered waist. And his butt. Wow. The man had a nice ass. His legs were spread and every single inch of him was all, hard-bodied man.
From her vantage, he looked larger than life. Or maybe she just wasn’t used to having a man in the house. Okay. She knew she wasn’t used to having a man in the house, and she reminded herself that she’d better not get used to it.
He turned suddenly—as if he knew she was there—and she swallowed at the look in his eyes.
“Come here,” he said. It wasn’t a request, and her feet were moving before her brain could even process his words. She slid into his arms as if she belonged there and closed her eyes, wanting to believe that very thing.
Rick held her close, his heart a steady beat near her ear. It sounded corny, but she could have stood like that for hours. Just feeling him. Listening to him. Enjoying the presence of a man in her home.
“Hey, you’re shivering,” he murmured against her hair.
And she was.