Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
“You’ll go scaring the man away.”
“These were the kind of questions I should have been asking Hank, and look how that turned out.” Elliot turned his gaze back toward him. “Because let me warn you. I’ve got a shotgun, I know how to use it, and I’ve got no problem blowing your ass right out of my daughter’s life.”
Maverick knew he could respond with a smartass quip, or say something that made him an asshole and certainly put himself and Elliot’s potential friendship on the back burner for years to come.
“I’m in love with your daughter,” Maverick said. He decided in the scheme of things, it was good to just go with the truth. “I want to marry her.”
Freya’s parents looked at him in stunned disbelief.
“I know I’ve not always done the right thing, and I don’t have the best track record with you guys, but I would like you to consider the fact that Adele never got hurt when she was with me. She always got home on curfew, and that was hard to do, because she always wanted to break it. I have been in love with Freya for years. I’ve wanted to ask her out, and in all honesty, I know I’m the one getting the best bargain here. Freya can do so much better than me, but I love her. I’m devoted to her, and I will treat her right.”
Maverick didn’t have a speech prepared, or know what to say to her parents. All he did was go with what he felt.
“Oh, Elliot,” Tilly said.
He turned to look toward the woman, and he saw tears in her eyes.
“You say the right words,” Elliot said. “But we’ll see in time if your actions match up to your words.”
He knew winning over Elliot was going to take time, and he didn’t mind that.
“Dad, you’re not giving Maverick a hard time, are you?” Freya asked, stepping into the room.
Her father got to his feet, and she walked toward him and hugged him tightly.
“If I am, it’s because the man deserves it.”
She gave a little giggle. “Don’t.”
Elliot kissed the top of her head.
She pulled away and moved back toward Maverick. She offered him a smile and he mouthed the words asking her if she was all right. He got a nod in response, but he was worried. They had not talked about the future, or having babies, or what being together would mean.
“Well, that was fun,” Adele said. “And now I’m famished. Hey, Dad, how does it feel having Maverick here and you not wanting to shoot his ass?”
“Adele!” Freya yelled.
“What? I’m relieving the tension. Yeah, Maverick and I dated, and trust me, I’ve got no issues with the two of you being together. I just want to clear the air. Too much family time has been messed up by us not getting everything out in the open. Like my sister’s total dislike of Hank.” Adele laughed. “I should have totally listened to you.”
“I’m going to go and check on dinner,” Tilly said.
“Wait, honey,” Elliot said. “Adele’s right. We need to clear the air. We did have to divide our Sundays between our two daughters to make it work, and I’m not willing to do that again. If Adele’s happy with Maverick and Freya, then I am. I don’t want any more nonsense to come between our families. We’ve already lost enough time.”
Freya smiled up at her dad, and then toward her sister.
“And you were right,” Tilly said. “Hank was not a good man, and I cannot believe that … person had me and your father fooled like that. I honestly thought he was a good man. Hardworking, yes, but I had no idea he was such a callous … beast.”
Maverick watched as the family moved together and hugged. In that moment, he couldn’t help but think about his own father, and the fact he never got to apologize.
“Son, come on,” Elliot said. “It looks like you’re going to be part of this family now.”
“I can’t hold it,” Adele said.
“Adele, no!” This came from Freya.
“Freya’s pregnant. She needs to get a test to confirm, but we’re going to be grandparents and aunties, and I think she is kind of terrified about how Maverick will handle this.”
Chapter Seven
Freya was going to kill her sister. It was official. She wasn’t going to hold back, she was going to figure out a way to get away with murder. There were a lot of tools and chemicals at her disposal at the DIY store. It would be easy. All she’d have to figure out was how to do it without letting anyone know. The best course of action would be to assume she’d left town.
“Are you still plotting to kill me?” Adele asked, knocking at the door.
“Go away,” Freya said.
“Look, let’s face it, it would have taken you weeks to even approach the subject with Maverick. I know you, Freya. You’d be panicking and worrying. You think way too much.”