Chapter 40

At Crownview Plaza, Maverick turned off the engine and glanced toward Heidi in the passenger seat. She was touching up her lipstick in the vanity mirror on the sun visor. The vivid red spread across her lips. She pressed them together once, bright and striking. She'd used to wear softer shades—the kind that was gentle, accommodating, and meant to please. But who was that softness even for? Now, she chose a bold crimson instead, as if to ward off bad luck and bad people alike. "We're here," Maverick said as he unfastened his seat belt. "Okay." Heidi snapped the mirror shut, tossed the lipstick into her bag, and said, "Let's go, Captain Cadwell. In and out." She pushed the door open and got out. Maverick watched her back, his brow creasing slightly. On the rare occasions they went shopping together, Heidi usually clung to him like an accessory. Now however, she was walking faster than ever. There was about three feet of space between them. They were like strangers who happened to