“It’s a pilot thing,” he told her when the waitress left.

“What’s a pilot thing?” she asked.

“The attitude. Being able to do something most people can’t makes you pretty dang confident,” he told her with another wink.

“Hmm. I think it’s a Maverick thing,” she countered.

“Want to get out of here?” The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. And her body responded to it instantly.

“I just ordered more drinks,” she panted.

He leaned over to the table nearby, slapped a couple of hundred-dollar bills down, told them to enjoy the drinks, and then stood up and pulled her with him.

“The table next to us says thank you.”

And with that, they were moving rapidly toward the parking lot.

Anticipation burned in Lindsey’s stomach as he practically tossed her in the truck and ran around to the driver’s side. Maybe tonight was going to be more than just foreplay.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Maverick was punishing her. She was sure of it. That’s why he’d gotten her body all revved up two nights ago and then had left her burning after a few hot kisses. He’d jumped into his truck and gone home. She’d wanted to make love to him, wanted to quench the fire he’d stoked.

But he said it wasn’t time yet.

And just like that, he’d left her standing there, royally ticked off. Then to make matters worse, he hadn’t called her the next day. If this was part of his mission, he was failing completely, because she didn’t feel better. She felt frustrated.

“I have a good mind not to see that man ever again,” she said through clenched teeth as Stormy sat on her couch nursing Aaron.

“You’re awfully wound up over a guy you don’t care about,” Stormy pointed out.

“He’s just so frustrating. He takes me on all these adventures, makes me laugh, really makes me burn, and then he just walks away like he’s not affected in the least.”

“Don’t let him walk away,” Stormy pointed out.

“He’s just a tad bit bigger than me, Storm. It’s not like I can stop him,” Lindsey told her.

“Make him unable to walk away,” Stormy told her.

Lindsey stopped and looked at her friend. “What do you mean?”

“Seduce him.” Her friend said it so simply, as if that were the easiest thing in the world to accomplish.

“How am I supposed to do that? I haven’t ever chased after a guy,” Lindsey told her.

“I’m not exactly the best teacher on the subject,” Stormy said with a laugh. “However, you have sex appeal oozing off you in giant waves. You’ve always been beautiful and confident. If you put your mind to it, you’ll have Maverick lapping at your feet like a starving puppy.”

“Hmm. Mav on his knees is sort of an appealing idea,” Lindsey said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, the boy is pretty dang delicious. Not quite as delicious as his brother, but I can see his appeal,” Stormy said.

“I love how much you adore your husband,” Lindsey told her. “I thought he was a hopeless case when I first met him, but I see that he would also do anything and everything for you. It’s pretty spectacular.”

“He’s my soul mate,” Stormy said simply, as if that was a common thing.

“You do realize that epic romances like yours and Cooper’s aren’t usual, don’t you?” Lindsey told her friend.

“That’s why it’s that much more special. I know what we have is rare, and I plan on never letting it go. It’s not always easy. People can forget how it felt in the beginning. Time can wear on a relationship. We can take advantage of each other if we aren’t careful. But I won’t allow that to happen because I love Cooper with all my heart and soul and I won’t ever let him go.”

“I don’t want that, Stormy. I don’t want to feel like I can’t live without another person,” Lindsey told her as she sat down, suddenly feeling drained of energy.

“Oh, sweetie, you won’t have a choice,” Stormy said with a sigh. “When you find your soul mate, there’s no choice other than to be with them, because you can’t breathe right without them at your side. Yes, it’s rare. Most people settle for what they think they want instead of for what makes them happy. But when it hits you, there’s no place far enough you’ll be able to run. You will find each other no matter what.”

“That doesn’t sound pleasant at all,” Lindsey told her.

“The pain you go through to find each other isn’t pleasant. But at the end of the road, when you’re in each other’s arms, it’s absolute bliss.”

“I think I want my old friend back, the one who likes to bitch with me about men,” Lindsey said, only half kidding.

“She’s long gone, darling. This is the new me, and I’m here to stay,” Stormy said with a laugh.

“Well, I’m more focused right now on satisfaction, so I think I’ll take your advice and attempt to seduce Maverick.”

“Maybe because he’s the one,” Stormy said with a knowing smile that Lindsey wanted to smack away.

“There’s no chance he’s the one. I’m not interested in the one. I’m interested in the one right now. Forever isn’t going to happen for me,” Lindsey insisted.

“If that’s what makes you feel better for now,” Stormy said.