Page 131 of Savage Heart

I sigh. “I know. I felt bad about it, but it was too hard not to. You were talking about me!”

Linc looks at Maverick and holds out his hand. “Well, now what?”

Maverick laughs. “I’ve got something for her,” he tells Linc, stepping back from me. “Would you grab it for me? That blue box on the table.”

Linc nods and runs in the barn to get it.

Maverick’s eyes are dancing as he looks at me. “It was delivered right before we started feeding, and I couldn’t wait to open it.”

Linc runs back out, and my eyes widen when I see a Tiffany & Co. box.

Maverick’s smile grows. “I was going to save this for later, but turns out tiger eyes has got elephant ears.”

“Hey now.” I laugh, and so do they, especially Linc.

He hands me the box, and I open it, gasping when I see a large double-lock silver necklace. I lift it and hold it up to my neck.

“I love it,” I whisper. “Wow. I can’t believe you.”

Maverick clasps the necklace, and I run my hand over it.

“You’ve always held the key to my heart,” he says, kissing my fingers. “And if you look back in the box, I’ve added a few other keys.”

We’re all grinning cheesily at each other.

“What is it, Mom?” Linc asks, trying to peer in the box.

I look down and lift the next layer of tissue paper. There’s a Tiffany blue heart-shaped key ring with several keys already hanging on there.

“This is the Lovestruck Key Ring,” Maverick says. “I thought that was fitting.” He lifts one of the keys. “And this is our house key.” He lifts his eyes to meet mine. “If you both agree to live with me. I’ve heard one yes already,” he adds, lifting another key. “This is to the big house. And this one is to my truck. What’s mine is yours.” He puts his hand on my cheek. “Will you and Linc please move in with me?”

He looks at me with a hopeful expression. I glance at Linc, eyebrows raised, and he nods eagerly.

I laugh and dab my eyes because, dang it, they’re running again. “Yes. We’ll move in with you.”

Maverick holds his arms out wide, and Linc and I both hug him back.

I don’t know if my heart can get any happier than it is right now.

And then he says, “And how about we ask Otis how he’d feel about moving onto the property? He could live in the house with us, or we could build a cabin for him somewhere on the property if he wanted a little more space. Hell, if he’s attached to the trailer, we could move it here.”

“Yes!” Linc yells. “Yes, yes, yes.”

“I don’t know. Was that special enough? It wasn’t over a fancy dinner like I’d hoped, but . . . we can still do that too.” He glances at Linc, and Linc nods proudly.

I lean my head against Maverick’s chest and reach out for Linc’s hand. “It was just right. Not that you have to give me fancy things. I have everything I want right here.”

“What’s she usually like?” Maverick asks as we walk into Shadowbrook.

“Depends . . . on how she slept, the phase of the moon.” I try to joke, but it comes out flat. “Whether she remembers she hates me.”

Maverick’s hand slides to the small of my back, firm and grounding.

“She . . . isn’t herself a lot. Sometimes she’s sweet.”

“And when she’s herself?”

I blow out a breath. “She’s . . . still my mom.”