Authors: Lauren Dane
“How about the making out?” He gave her that wolfishly wicked grin—the one that sent a ball of heat straight to her gut—and she laughed.
Before too long they’d navigated out of the parking lot and were on their way back toward her house.
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“That too.” She tried not to grin so wide her face would split open. He made her feel giddy.
“So, did I pass?”
“Pass what?”
“Muster. As in, am I second date material?”
“Ask me and find out.”
“Maggie, can I take you out again? Like say, for ice cream on Tuesday night?”
“Ice cream, huh? It seems you’ve found out my secret. Throw something sweet at me and I’m putty.”
He pulled up in her drive way and started to get out but she patted his arm. “No, go on your call, I can walk to the door.” He rolled his eyes at her before getting out and walking around the car to help her down. “It’s not so urgent that I’d just throw you at your door.” At her door he kissed her quickly. “I’ll see you Tuesday then? I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Okay, be safe,” she called out and waved at him as he drove away.
Maggie walked into the restaurant where she met Dee and Liv for brunch every Sunday and her smile was apparent from across the room.
“So?” Liv asked before Maggie had even finished sitting down.
Maggie looked at both her friends. “So, it was great. We had a lovely dinner and then we went to the drive-in. We watched most of both movies, had a major,
major
kiss but then he got a work call and had to go. He did ask me out again. We’re having ice cream on Tuesday.”
“Oh my god! Of course you said yes.” Dee grinned back at Maggie.
“Of course she did!” Liv waved her hand as if it were a done deal. “So, is he a good kisser or what? Details, Maggie, we want details.”
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“Duh! I tell you I’ve been dreaming about kissing Shane Chase since I was in the fifth grade and he was in the seventh. It was better than any of the times I kissed my pillow, I can tell you that.”
“Dreamy. It’s so romantic, Maggie. You’ve got the man you’ve always wanted.” Dee sighed.
“I don’t
have
him. I’m dating him. Big difference, especially to a man like Shane Chase. I need to remember that superhot lust is not the same as love.” Maggie shrugged. She had a tendency to wear her heart on her sleeve and she knew Shane Chase had warning signs all over his very delicious body.
Liv nodded. “I’m glad you said it. It’s good to remember that, Maggie.
Sam was a dolt but Shane is big league because he’s a player. Not in a bad way, he’s not a mimbo, but he’s not a one woman man either. And he’s one of those men who’s sort of overwhelming with all that testosterone rolling off him. It’s really hot, but heck, it would fry my circuits, too!”
“I know. And I feel like a total hoochie for saying this, but I want to have sex with him. I don’t think I’ve been this horny. Ever.”
“You’re the farthest thing from a hoochie that I can think of. Jeez, woman, you haven’t had sex in a year! And this big old hard-bodied studmuffin strolls into your life. What woman wouldn’t want to have sex with Shane Chase?”
“Hey, if I didn’t have Arthur, I’d totally agree. But I do agree with the assessment that Shane is a nice boy to play with but he’s not the kind to set up housekeeping. You’re old enough to eat dessert first every once in a while, Maggie.” Dee laughed and turned to Liv. “And how was your date with Tom?”
“It was all right. I’d give the date a six and a half out of ten. Speaking of Chase brothers, I bumped into Matt this morning. He’s gotten even better looking since high school.”
“Yes indeed. He’s grown into his looks.” Dee waggled her eyebrows.
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“Certainly doesn’t hurt that he works with his body a lot as a firefighter.”
“I’ve contemplated setting my back deck on fire to get him over to my place,” Liv said around a mouthful of waffle.
They all laughed at the idea of Liv in her backyard with lighter fluid and a negligee on, waiting for Matt Chase to arrive.
“Why don’t you just ask him out?”
“Nah, he’s the kind of guy that needs to be in the lead.”
“Hmm, well, I’ll have to think of something to bring the two of you together,” Maggie said thoughtfully.
“Don’t you dare mention this to Shane!” Liv actually colored at the idea.
“Why not? Oh my god, did you just blush?”
“Because! Jeez, I’m not desperate, Maggie! I can trap a man without having you tell Matt’s brother that I like him. That’s so eighth grade.”
“I guess a Halloween party at my house and a game of spin the bottle is out then?”
They all laughed at the memory of the Halloween party that Dee had at her house when they were in the ninth grade. “That was my first official French kiss. Andrew Johnson, in Dee’s mom’s broom closet. Good times,” Liv said dreamily.
“Yeah well look what you did to him, Liv, he’s gay.” Maggie laughed.
“Clearly you were too much woman for him and it spoiled him forever for the rest of us.
“Seriously, Liv, I’m on it. I’m going to think of something because let me attest that a taste of Chase is worth the work.” Maggie waggled her brows suggestively and the laughter started anew.
Across the room, Matt and Kyle Chase ate their brunch while they watched the women laughing at their table. “What do you suppose all of that is about?” Kyle couldn’t stop himself from looking at Maggie Wright.
Damn,
he liked the way she looked when she laughed. But his brother
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liked her first and so he backed off. There were rules about this sort of thing.
“Looks like trouble but the kind of trouble a man enjoys in the end.” Matt sipped his coffee.
“So what did Shane say about their date last night?”
“I haven’t seen him yet. Maggie looks pretty glowing though.” Maggie looked over and saw them. Smiling, she waved. The other two looked around and waved hello as well before huddling together, the laughter starting again.
“Hmm.” Kyle grinned. “I do believe we’re the object of some female giggling, Matt. I think I like it.”
“Hell, Kyle, I
know
I like it.” When the women left they waved again. Kyle enjoyed the view through the big front windows as the three women walked together down the street.
Alex melted back into the doorway of the hardware store so he wouldn’t be seen. Someone had to watch over her.
He’d wanted to get Maggie alone but she was always with her damned friends. Or with that jerk Shane Chase. Oh he’d seen the man pick up
his
fiancée the night before. Saw the kiss when Maggie returned. But she did not let Shane in. His Maggie was still saving herself just for him. And Shane Chase was just a momentary distraction. Alex would make sure of that.
Olivia and Maggie decided to grab a bite at The Pumphouse before Maggie’s ice cream date with Shane.
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Arriving a bit early, Maggie saw Matt Chase across the street with Johnny Prentice. She gave a friendly wave hello and they returned the greeting with a few shouted hellos.
Still smiling as she turned back toward the door, she bumped into Alex. Fear slithered through her as she realized she hadn’t even seen his approach.
Shit
. She really hadn’t wanted to deal with him that night. She’d tried to call him to arrange to see him face to face to break things off. But he hadn’t returned any of her calls. It wasn’t like she was avoiding the issue but she certainly didn’t want to have the discussion in public in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Hi, Alex.” She gave him a wary smile, not at all liking the look on his face.
He grabbed her arm in a grip so tight she winced. “Hi, Alex? Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“What the heck are you talking about?” Her voice rose as she struggled to get free.
“The way you can’t help but talk to every man you see. I told you,
you’re with me
. You don’t need to talk to any other man. Are you trying to make me jealous, Maggie? You don’t need to play games. All it’s doing is really pissing me off. I don’t like my woman to act that way.” Still keeping a tight grip on her arm, he steered her into The Pumphouse. That grip was the only thing that prevented him from getting slapped as she tried to get free and keep her balance.
“What the hell are you talking about? I don’t need to talk to other men?” she demanded through clenched teeth. “Let me go this instant!”
“You heard me, Maggie. You’re my girl, I don’t want you all over other men like a slut.” He hissed and his grip on her arm tightened and caused her to gasp in pain.
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Hearing the words, she stilled for a moment. Fury replaced the fear.
“You did
not
just call me a slut!” Her eyes narrowed at him. “And I said—
Let. Me. Go. Now or I’m going to kick you in the junk!” By that point, the conversations around them had gotten quiet and for the second time in a few weeks, she was the subject of attention at The Pumphouse.
Noting that they were being watched, he let go and she took the opportunity to move away from him. But he stepped closer, filling the space between them. “You don’t need to be hanging all over other men.”
“I
waved
at them. I didn’t flash my boobs at them or blow a kiss. I waved hello. But even if I had,
you
don’t get to decide what I need to be doing, Alex.”
He grabbed her arm again and moved her toward her usual table.
“You’re making a scene. Sit down.” He shoved her into the booth.
Her eyes widened at that. “In the first place, you will not touch me ever again or you’ll draw back a stump. In the second place, you need to get a hold of yourself right now, Alex. No one talks to me this way. You don’t own me. Hell, we’ve only gone on three dates.”
“You don’t tell me to get a hold of myself when you’re the one acting like a whore!” he said in a stage whisper.
“
What?
” Grasping the water glass on the table, she dashed it in his face, taking his moment of surprise to push him back and scoot out of the booth. “I know you didn’t just call me a whore! How dare you!” She pushed up into his face, seemingly undaunted by the fact that he was several inches taller than she was.
Liv and Dee came rushing in with the Chase boys right behind them.
For a moment, they all stood and looked in the direction of the fracas.
Kyle’s face turned so red it was purple. He and his brothers, together with Arthur stalked over.
“How dare I? You’re a tease, Maggie Wright. You come on to every man you meet and now you don’t like it when you get called what you
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really are.” The viciousness in his voice made her skin crawl. He was like a completely different person. Reaching out, he grabbed her arm and yanked her to sit back down.
Shane stalked forward and grabbed Alex’s wrist, squeezing tightly until he blanched and let go of Maggie. “You need to let the lady go now, Alex,” he said in a voice that was low and threatening
“Are you all right, Maggie?” Kyle had moved around Shane so he could kneel in front of her. Slowly, he reached out and took her hand.
“That asshole called me a whore!” Maggie fumed but she knew her trembling was so bad that anyone looking could see it.
“I think you need to leave the premises, Alex, before I have to arrest you for assault.” Shane moved so that he stood between Alex and Maggie.
“Oh, so you can fuck her then? This is all about you getting into her bed isn’t it?” Alex’s voice broke, he screamed it so loud. Incensed, Maggie jumped up to get in his face but Kyle grabbed her, his arms around her waist, murmuring into her ear.
“You bastard! Don’t you ever call me or contact me again.” Shane dragged Alex to the door and tossed him bodily outside.
“You’re lucky I’m here as the sheriff today, Alex. If I was just here as Shane Chase you’d be spitting out teeth right now. Now you leave her alone just as she’s asked or you’ll be asking for a world of hurt.” Shane glowered at Alex and turned back into The Pumphouse.
Olivia and Dee spoke softly to Maggie, trying to calm her down.
Shane approached and put a hand on her shoulder. “Maggie, are you all right?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
Kyle looked at the staring crowd. “Okay, folks, I’m sure we don’t want to upset Maggie any more so let’s just get back to our beers and burgers.”
“Thank god you came in when you did. What made you come in?” Maggie asked them gratefully.
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“Matt saw you bump into Alex. He thought it looked like Alex had grabbed you. I was walking up the street with Kyle, Matt called out to us and we all came over. I’m sorry I didn’t stop him sooner. What happened, Maggie?”
“I don’t even know really. I was walking in here and saw Matt and John across the way and I waved. I turned around and bumped into Alex. I said hello and for whatever reason, it set him off. He started freaking out about me waving at Matt and John. He said I was acting like a slut, that I was his girl.” She rubbed her arm where he’d grabbed it.
“Then he grabbed me, twice, and shoved me into the booth and called me a whore. That creep called me, Margaret Elizabeth Wright, a whore! I should kick his sorry ass for that.” On the outside she was livid but she burned with humiliation.
Kyle’s face darkened. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. “I might have a bruise on my arm but other that I’m just pissed off.”
“Would you like to press charges, Maggie? It’s assault you know.” Shane knelt on his haunches in front of her.
“No, I don’t ever want to deal with him again.” Her bottom lip was trembling.
“Come on, let’s get you home. I have some time left on my shift.” He looked to Kyle. “Can you run her home? Just go through her place?”
“It’s not a problem. Really, don’t go out of your way.” Maggie chewed on her lip.
Kyle smiled gently at her. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not out of my way at all. And it’s certainly not a chore to ferry a beautiful woman around town.” He reached out to her to give her a hand that she took gratefully.