Free Saving Maverick by Debra Elise Page A

until later. Much later.”
    â€œTwo minutes ago you were grinding against me and now you want to put the brakes on? I gave you a chance to say no before I kissed you, Kelsey. It was your decision,” Maverick said.
    â€œI know, but you have to understand, I’ve got a lot at stake here and so do you. T.S. is like a brother. He’s counting on me and I don’t want to disappoint him. Or myself. There is no way this could work between us when I’m the one who needs to fi . . . to help you restore your reputation. In this case, business and pleasure can’t mix,” Kelsey pleaded.
    Maverick wouldn’t give up that easily. “So you want me to set aside any feelings I have for you and be what, a good little boy and take orders from you.”
    â€œWhatever this is between us, we need to ignore it for now. I can’t promise anything, but maybe after . . . well, let’s just wait until all of this blows over, okay?”
    He gave her a quick nod and ran his hands down his face. Damn, he was going to need a long, cold shower.
    â€œI’ll call you in the morning about that appointment with Dr. Sloane and we’ll talk more about the other ideas I have. Oh, and don’t forget to send that tweet.” She picked up the strap of her briefcase and placed it over her shoulder and turned and walked down the street toward the parking garage like nothing had happened.
    But something did happen. Something almost as important as their out-of-this-world kisses.
    She’d called him Maverick.

Chapter 9
    Maverick woke up the next morning thinking of Kelsey and her reaction to his kisses. He was determined to find a way to make it work with her both publicly and privately. After he’d gotten back to the hotel and taken a long, cold shower, he’d sent out the tweet.
    To my fans, teammates & new neighbors in Pineville. I’m sorry 4 my words & actions. I’m committed 2 this move. GO OUTLAWS! #USBL
    The response in a word: crazy. The retweets were in the thousands, and replies ranged from “Prove it, jerkwad” to “Maverick+Outlaws=Championship.” He had dozens of requests for interviews, which he guessed Kelsey would now handle. For once he was on the receiving end of some positive coverage. The morning news had flashed his tweet and conducted its own poll on his sincerity. He was just under fifty percent in the positive. Not bad.
    First, he needed to get packed up and over to his new condo after he texted Kelsey to find out how he should field the interview requests. She responded asking for his e-mail password, and saying that she would handle everything.
    That was it. No small talk about feelings or references to the kisses they shared. This woman was going to be a major challenge. His gut tightened in anticipation of breaking through all her defenses.
    He gazed around his temporary home. The view of the lake and snow-covered mountains was great to wake up to every morning, but he’d gotten over the five-star resort, as nice as it was. He needed a space where he could totally relax and not worry about women and paparazzi camping out in the lobby waiting for him to make an appearance.
    Management at the hotel had politely asked him yesterday if he was planning on extending his stay, and he reassured them that would not be the case. Maverick didn’t think he’d ever seen a person look as relieved as the manager.
    He called the company that had been storing his personal belongings to be sure they were on schedule to meet him in an hour. On the drive over to his new condo he began planning his strategy for the next time he saw Kelsey. His face was beginning to ache from all the smiling he did every time he pictured her coming unglued in his arms.
    His condo was in a retail-residential building in the area’s upscale planned development next to the Kokanee River. T.S. couldn’t have picked a better spot for his stadium, which was less than a