THE CRAZY GOOD SERIES - Rachel Robinson Page 0,136

know I’ll have her naked on the floor in minutes, and that’s not what this is about. Well, it kind of is, because I want her…and I haven’t had sex since her, but that’s not part of my great plan. I wasn’t even expecting her to surrender her lips to me tonight.

“I made dinner,” I explain. Her eyes are wide, pupils dilated, and the soft pink of her cheeks are the telltale sign—she’s ready right now. That fact flips a switch. I want her in all fucking ways. Which means I’ll need enough restraint for both of us. I focus on controlling my uneven breathing. Looking around the room, Windsor sees the flowers for the first time, and eventually the couch. Her jaw drops.

“This is what you were doing? You bought me a couch?” she asks, her voice loud. I can’t determine whether it’s a happy or a what-the-fuck question.

“If you don’t like it we can switch it for something you do like,” I say, thinking the couch was a horrible idea. She shakes her head, her hair swinging across her back.

“No, I love it. Thank you. Gretchen must have told you I’ve wanted this one for a while. It’s too much,” she says, sitting down on it next to Goose. She picks him up and cuddles him against her chest, rubbing the leather with her free hand. She makes a few exclamations about how much she likes the sofa and then follows me into the kitchen. The couch isn’t nearly enough. She doesn’t know that yet, though.

“You didn’t have to do all of this Maverick. You had me at I’m a stupid man, Windsor Forbes. It’s a version of I’m sorry I haven’t heard yet. You get beaucoup points for creativity.”

I exhale. Easy. Being with Windsor is easy. I think any other woman wouldn’t forgive this easily. But then again, if they aren’t Windsor, I don’t need or want their forgiveness in the first place.

We eat dinner in a sexually charged atmosphere, eyes fucking when our bodies can’t. I can taste it in the air. The need to be close to her in any capacity is stronger than anything else. The conversation is light and flows effortlessly. When you have months and months to catch up on, I guess that happens.

She’s also relentlessly curious about my time spent with her mother. There really isn’t much to say about that. I wanted to get to know the woman who raised Windsor. They are polar opposites, something I’m sure Windsor is grateful for. I know I am. Behind every single insult Kathy slings her way, behind it all, is undying love. It’s just her weird, fucked up way of showing it. Knowing that fact comforts me. It gives me hope for my own parents. I called them and we talked. It was minimal and just the basics, but the lines of communication are open. If I was going to take Stone’s advice about Windsor, I want to take all of his advice. Sober Maverick is going to attempt to fix everything.

Her eyes are downcast as she whispers. “I’m glad you feel better, but you can’t be magically cured, Mav. I saw what drinking made you do. Even if I didn’t see it, Morganna gave me first hand accounts of the situations she dealt with. You know, when you didn’t want me in your life. My love for you isn’t some magic pill. I saw exactly how intoxicating being intoxicated was for Kathy. Is it the same for you? Should you get more help?”

Heavy words—heavy, but so true. I don’t feel like drinking right now. When I have to go home to my empty house tonight, I’m not so sure what I’ll feel like. I know I can control myself. The problem is wanting to. What happens when I can’t fall asleep because I can’t stop the memories? “It’s a work in progress, Win. You give me a reason to stay sober. When Stone died, a lot of fucked up shit crossed my mind. Drinking got it off my mind. I told you I have addiction problems. I need you to trust me. I can do this. We can do this. Tell me I can’t and watch what happens,” I say, smiling big and wide. Windsor laughs, exposing her perfect white teeth.

She stands, sauntering over to sit directly in my lap, her legs dangling off the side. I groan and laugh at the same time. It’s so unexpected and so right at