Page 16 of The Maverick's Homecoming

Sheepishly, his heartbeat roaring in his ears, Finn slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Kenzie went straight to Rufus. When she reached him, they shared a few words. The EMT was on his way to the gate before Finn’s racing heart finally slowed to an easier rhythm.

Kenzie spotted him then. She gave him a wave and a dazzling smile. He waved right back as Barrett asked, “All good?”

“Yeah,” Finn replied with a long, slow breath. He wanted to jog right over there, but he held himself back. It was obvious that Kenzie’s routine doctor’s appointment had been just that. She didn’t need him falling all over her no matter how much he longed for absolute proof that she and the baby were doing fine. “Everything’s great,” he said. And it was. Now wasn’t then. Kenzie’s baby was safe and so was she.

He tipped his head toward the hardworking players as they pushed through a sprint and then dropped to the ground for burpees. “Think they’re ready for a break?”

“Couldn’t hurt,” Barrett said with a nod. “I’ve worked them pretty hard.”

“Okay, let’s take a huddle and talk aims and objectives…”

* * *

Kenzie’s house, on the east side of town, had a cute picket fence around a tidy patch of lawn and a cozy front porch complete with a porch swing. The welcome mat was printed with bright flowers.

Kenzie opened the door before he had a chance to knock. “Right on time.” She stepped back. “Come in, come in…”

“This is nice,” Finn said as she closed the door behind him.

He took in the open living area. There was a stone fireplace, oak floors and gorgeous wool area rugs woven with decorative vines and geometric shapes. The sofa and chairs faced the fireplace. Through the arch at the back of the room, he could see a dining area with a Craftsman-style table. Beyond that there was an island that marked off the business end of the kitchen.

“Homey,” he said. “And I mean that in the best way.”

“I like it here.” She glanced around, grinning. “And since Tate couldn’t wait to get out of town, he had zero problem agreeing that I should get the house. Come on. I’ll give you the ten-cent tour.”

He followed her into the kitchen, which was as cozy as the living area, with two windows on the sidewall looking out on the thick trunk and leafy branches of a mature oak tree. She had an office space on the main floor.

The primary bedroom was there, too. It was nice and roomy, that bedroom. She had a king-size bed with nightstands on both sides. There was a rocking chair by the window, a walk-in closet and a good-size attached bath.

From there, she led him upstairs, where there were two more small bedrooms, another bathroom and a loft area.

“It’s a great house,” he said when they’d reached the main floor again.

“We were lucky to get it.” She frowned. He wondered if she was thinking of her ex-husband, of the life they had shared in this charming bungalow. But then she grinned. “And now, it’s all mine.” She hesitated a moment before she said, “I guess we should probably head for the restaurant, huh?”

Was she nervous? Because all of a sudden, he sure was. Absurdly so. He allowed himself one last glance around her cozy, inviting living room and gestured her ahead of him. “After you.”

As they went down the front walk to Finn’s waiting pickup, Kenzie suggested, “It’s nice out and it’s only a few blocks to the restaurant. Why don’t we just walk over there.”

“Great idea.” He dared to tuck her hand in the crook of his elbow…and felt like a million bucks when she wrapped her fingers around his arm.

Satterfield’s Steak House, on Central Avenue not far from the Grizzly, had a heavy wooden front door painted a lustrous black with leaded glass lights on either side. Inside, booths lined one wall of the dining room. On the other there were tables covered with snow-white linen tablecloths. A small bar ran half the length of the back wall and copper pendant lights gave the place a warm, inviting glow.

“I like this,” Kenzie said as the hostess led them to one of the two unoccupied booths.

The woman—the owner, as it turned out—introduced herself as Ruby Satterfield. “Just call me Ruby.” She was slim and tall with lustrous black hair and dark brown skin, and she might have been anywhere from thirty-five to fifty. “We’re new here and we’re so glad to be a part of this community,” she said.

“Your restaurant is beautiful,” Kenzie replied.

“Thank you—best steaks in the Treasure State,” Ruby said. “I’ve put my name on the place, so you know I’m not kidding.”

Finn was nodding. “You’ve made a big hit in town. Everyone says the food here is excellent.”

“That’s what we like to hear.” Beaming, Ruby handed them menus, rattled off a couple of specials and assured them that their server would be right with them.

Once she was gone, Kenzie leaned toward him. “Things are definitely looking up in Tenacity.”