Page 63 of The Maverick's Homecoming

She unbuttoned his shirt as he walked her backward to the bed. Laughing, she pushed the shirt off his shoulders. “I mean, I can stay alittlewhile…”

“I am so glad to hear that.” And then he kissed her again.

One kiss became another. They helped each other out of their clothes, dropping them to the bedside rug as they peeled them off. She was the one who paused to pull back the covers.

“Come down here,” she whispered, catching his arm.

He went. They fell onto the white sheets together.

Happiness, he thought.Thisis happiness.Holding Kenzie. Kissing her. The happiness he’d known all those years ago. The happiness he’d left behind because of the terrible loss they’d suffered. Because at that time moving on had seemed more important than their young, wounded love.

He knew better now. He knew what really mattered. And this time, he wouldn’t be throwing his happiness away.

“What is it?” She captured his face between her soft hands and looked up at him, frowning. “What’s the matter?”

He put on a grin. “Not a thing. In fact, right now every­thing is pretty much perfect.”

And he kissed her again, a long kiss, slow and sweet.

* * *

The doorbell rang.

Finn opened his eyes to the beautiful sight of Kenzie sound asleep on the other pillow. The room was dim, but the beginnings of daylight slipped through on either side of the heavy bedroom curtains. It was enough light to see by and he loved what he saw.

Kenzie slept curled on her side, facing him. He could feel the warmth of her, hear her soft, even breathing, make out the shape of her body beneath the blankets.

She was going to be freaked when she woke up. She’d meant to leave last night but he’d kept convincing her to stay.

“Just a little longer,” he’d whispered at around 10:00 p.m. It couldn’t have been much later that they both fell asleep.

He probably should be feeling guilty that he’d kept her with him overnight. But in fact, he was mighty pleased at the way things had turned out.

The doorbell rang again.

Kenzie stirred. “What’s going on?” she asked sleepily. “What time is it?”

He rolled over to grab his phone from the nightstand. “Six ten a.m.” He reached out and switched on the light.

She sat up with a gasp. “I stayed the night.”

“AndI’mglad you did—and I know, I know. You have to go.” He pushed back the covers and swung his feet to the floor as the doorbell chimed for third time.

“Who’s that?” she demanded.

He bent close and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Not a clue. I’ll go find out, though.”

“And I’ll get dressed and get moving.” She blinked up at him owlishly. He just had to kiss her again. So he did, on that sweet mouth this time.

Gently, she pushed him away, then shoved her tangled hair back off her face and swung her bare legs to the floor. She wore nothing but a tiny frown. He looked her up and down slowly, taking in every lush, rounded inch.

“Finn?”

“Hmm?”

“The door?”

“Right…” He snatched his jeans off the floor, then pulled them on as she rose and started grabbing her own clothes. “Listen,” he said, “you can leave the cats here. We’ll hang out for a while and then I’ll take them to your place.”