Page 57 of The Maverick's Homecoming

She reached up and gently brushed his hair back off his forehead. “Nah. I just mean, you work hard. And I bet you have appointments today.”

“Not until this afternoon.”

“What about recovery practice.”

“It’s not till ten. We have plenty of time.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He pulled her closer.

She giggled like a little kid. “I can feel exactly how glad you are to see me.”

He nuzzled her throat, breathing in her sweet scent. “Let me show you how glad…”

She giggled again. Slowly, he slid hand down between them. Her giggle ended on a sigh.

* * *

Monday was Labor Day. That meant no school and no practice. Finn took the day off from selling real estate, too.

Too bad reporters never seemed to take a break. More than one of them had found Finn’s school email address and used it to reach out for an interview. He debated getting back to them and ended up deciding that a little properly managed PR would be good for Tenacity and for the Titans. He answered those emails and agreed to be interviewed via Zoom.

In total, he took five Zoom calls that day, two with reporters from Montana outlets and three with writers from out of state. They wanted to know all about the former NFL quarterback who just might be leading his home team to a state championship.

Once he’d finished the Zoom interviews, he called Kenzie and talked her into meeting him at the Silver Spur Café.

The cozy Western-style diner served breakfast and lunch. And as usual, it was packed. They lucked out, though, and got a deuce tucked back in a corner.

Too bad their private nook didn’t stop people from dropping by their table to talk football. Or to bring up how great it was to see the two of them together. Nobody added “after all these years,” but the look in their eyes said it for them.

“We’re just good friends,” Kenzie insisted more than once.

Nobody argued the point. But judging by their knowing grins, nobody believed her, either.

Finn certainly didn’t. He saw what everyone else saw. The two of them were growing closer. He really did want to take what they had to the next level. It was getting harder for him not to push for more.

Yes, she kept insisting that what they had wasn’t serious. But she was wrong.

He knew that they could make it work this time, the two of them…and her baby girl. He wasn’t some selfish, confused kid anymore. He knew what he wanted now.

And what he wanted was Kenzie. If she could see her way clear to giving him a second chance, he wouldn’t blow it. Not this time.

This time, he would get it right.

Too bad he couldn’t quite make himself have that talk with her. He knew damn well that if he tried for everything, he risked losing it all.

* * *

Kenzie got the call from Anna at Hoof and Paw on Tuesday morning. Tom and Ed had tested negative for toxoplasmosis. They’d also had their shots. She could bring her kittens home today.

As soon as she hung up with Anna, she called Finn to share the good news.

“That is just great,” he said.

“I know, right?”

“So then, what’s your plan?”