Page 132 of Savage Heart

Maverick’s fingers flex against my back. “Okay.”

I knock lightly on the door. Mom sits slumped against her pillows, head tilted slightly to the side. Her hair is limp and gray, and she’d hate it.

“Hi,” I say softly.

No response.

I step closer. “It’s Iris.”

Still nothing.

Maverick stays by the door.

I turn slightly so she can see him. “I brought someone with me today.”

Her eyes flicker, sluggish. Her head turns a fraction, her gaze drifting to Maverick.

“Well,” she rasps. “Look at you.”

I blink, startled.

Her gaze drags back to me with painful slowness. “You snagged a looker. Took you long enough.”

Heat crawls up my throat. “Mom.”

Her mouth twitches. “What? I’m not dead.”

Maverick takes a step forward. “Hello, Cherry. It’s Maverick . . . Harrington. Good to see you.”

Her eyes sharpen. “Well, well, so it is.”

I brace myself.

Her lips twitch. “What did you do to make a man like that look at you like you’re worth the trouble?”

I swallow hard.

Maverick’s thumb strokes across my knuckles. “She’s always been worth it,” he says. “It’s me who hasn’t been, and I’m trying to make up for lost time.”

“Hmm,” she mutters. “Well. Don’t mess it up.”

“I’m going to do my best not to,” Maverick says, his eyes on me.

Chapter 34: Surprise Shenanigans

Maverick

I roll over in bed and stare at the ceiling, listening to the life inside the house.

Footsteps that aren’t mine. A cupboard opening and closing. The faint thump of Linc hurrying down the hall. Iris humming.

It’s only been a few days since they moved in.

Iris’s voice floats in from the hall. “Linc, are you really putting syrup on your eggs?”

His voice comes back, seemingly innocent. “Sometimes eggs need a little dip.”

I grin into my pillow.