Missing Maverick

Cricket McBride packed up without warning, ditching their small town and the life they were going to build together, leaving Maverick with a kiss on his cheek and an empty heart that had done nothing but hardened over the years.

Maverick’s life wasn’t what he thought it would be, but he’d long since accepted it for what it was. He was content working on his family ranch and being the best father he could.

When Cricket returns, one look was all it took for him to admit he still cared, but it wasn’t until he saw the marks on her skin and the pain in her soul that he realized just how deep that love went.

PROLOGUE

Maverick

Of all the things I’d been through in my life, the people who had come, and more importantly gone, I was rarely surprised anymore. So when I found out I had a ten-year-old daughter, it was safe to say surprised was an understatement.

I didn’t have time to process all I was feeling about it because I was too busy figuring out how to navigate my life with another kid. I wanted to make sure Aubrey felt comfortable in my home, her new home, so I’d gotten started on redoing the extra bedroom right away.

I had already emptied the closet and was in the process of going through the dresser drawers when my fingers brushed against a velvet box I almost forgot was in here. Knowing exactly what it was, I hesitated to pull it out.

The bright red material was dusty, and I closed my fist around it and sat on the end of the bed. My leg was bouncing nervously and the back of my neck was sweating as my heart rate kicked up a dozen notches. My knuckles were white and I squeezed my eyes shut as I fought back the memory of what was in that box.

But when I did that, it had the opposite effect, and a scene from almost fifteen years earlier played out in front of me like a movie…

“Do you want a bite?” Cricket held out the giant pretzel I just bought for her from the stand in the mall. I leaned over and opened my mouth, and when the salty snack touched my lips, I took a bite. “Where do you want to go next?” she asked as I tossed my arm around her shoulders and continued walking.

I wanted to go anywhere but here, but she loved shopping, so that wasn’t what I said. “Wherever you want to go.”
“Let’s go check out Claire’s. I need some new earrings.”

She didn’t, but I followed her regardless. On the way, I stopped outside an actual jewelry store and peeked inside. “Let’s look here for earrings.”

“I can’t afford anything in here.”

Neither could I, but if she wanted something, I’d find a way to get it for her. “Let’s just look.” I pushed her in, and we were greeted by a worker, but they never even came over to ask us if we needed help. I’m sure they knew two teenagers wouldn’t be buying real diamonds, so they didn’t waste their time.

I had my finger hooked in her jeans pocket as we walked around. I watched her as she glanced into the display cases, studying her facial expressions. She was trying to act like she didn’t like the jewelry, but I knew when something caught her eye because she bit her lip and tried not to smile. And when she couldn’t fight a grin any longer, I looked away from her to see what she saw. And when the pink and yellow diamond wedding ring came into view, I had a really weird feeling in my stomach.

I knew I loved Cricket, and I never even noticed another girl. As far as I was concerned, I wanted to be with Cricket forever, but I guess I didn’t actually ever think about what it meant to be married to her. And when the image of me putting that ring on her finger came to mind, I saw it vividly.

And I wanted it… badly. I wanted her to have my last name, to bear my children, to be at my side until the day I died, and I intended on making that happen as soon as possible.

She bumped into me when she kept moving, but I was still stuck at that point in time because that was the exact moment I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Cricket McBride was mine.