Page 86 of Savage Heart

“Coffee?” she asks.

I nod, and she pours me a cup, sliding it toward me. I watch her hands, unable to forget the way she touched me.

“Thank you. I just—” I search for the right words and come up empty handed. “I couldn’t not come. I needed to see you and make sure you’re okay this morning.”

She sets the pot down with care. “I’m fine.”

“Remember when we told each other everything? When there was no awkwardness between us. We couldn’t be in the same room without gravitating toward each other. We’d ride all night sometimes.”

“That was a long time ago,” she says.

“I’ve missed you.”

Her eyes flick to my face. Searching.

“I’m not great at this anymore,” I say. “Being open. With anyone. I say the wrong thing, or nothing at all. But I want to try. With you.”

The bell over the door jingles again as a couple of regulars come in. Iris straightens, slipping back into her role.

“I don’t know how to do any of this,” she says. “I’m not sure what you expect of me.”

“Can we get to know each other again?”

She hesitates, then reaches out and tops off my coffee. A few people come to the counter and sit down, interrupting the moment. She hands them menus and doesn’t look at me again until she comes back to see if I want anything to eat.

“I had a big breakfast at the ranch already, but . . . it’s been a long morning. I guess I could handle some pancakes.”

She snorts. “Your appetite hasn’t changed, I see.”

“You used to put it away after a long ride too.” I grin.

She almost smiles. “Is Lady still—”

I nod. “You should come see her sometime.”

She pauses and wipes down the already-clean counter in front of me. “I’ve missed her.”

“More than me?” I ask, unable to help myself.

She rolls her eyes, but her lips lift as she looks down at the counter. “At least as much.”

I lean forward. “I’ll take it.”

Her eyes meet mine, and I see a flash of anger in them. “What do you want from me, Maverick?” she whispers. “I have a son to protect. I can’t do this with you and get hurt all over again. And I can’t hurt him in the process.”

She glances at the couple sitting a few places down, but they’re talking and not paying attention to us.

“You’re acting like maybe you want more than friendship with me . . . after we went twelve years being nothing at all. Unless last night was just an itch you needed to scratch.”

“You were never just a friend to me, Iris. I always wanted more.”

Her mouth parts, and her cheeks flush. “Why didn’t you ever say?”

I look down at the bar, not sure where to start. “After that summer when we kissed and you said we shouldn’t . . . we didn’t want to wreck our friendship . . . I was afraid to ever bring it up. And I realize I didn’t go about it the right way last night either.”

She puts her hands on her hips and stares at me. “I had no idea. I regretted ever saying we shouldn’t . . . I’d kind of like to wring your neck right now.”

I straighten and grin, nodding. “Yes. I deserve that.”