“Seems fair. When I win, I’m going to tell everyone I know I beat you with one hand. See? One hand?” She gave him a goofy grin.
He sighed. “I can already tell this is going to be a long game.”
“I slaughter all those who oppose my dominion!”
“I totally see where Emily gets her evil side.”
She snickered.
The game took a long time, because both Reggie and Maggie thought nothing of taking cheap shots rather than going for a quick victory. She talked a lot of smack, so he felt okay to do the same. Not having to hold back was fun, and it made him realize he’d kept his competitive nature in check a lot when with Amy, letting her win or being gentle about a victory so as to not hurt her feelings.
With Maggie, he didn’t even try. And she seemed to prefer it that way, gloating, smirking, and basically being a poor winner.
“Ha. Sucker.”
He raised a brow. “You do realize this is my house and my car that brought you here?”
“Whatever. Two words for you Reggie—second place.”
He couldn’t help staring at her. She was so damn cute, and frankly, sexy, acting out like a punk.
“I’m sorry, remind me again of what you do for a living?” he asked, trying not to laugh.
“I teach second graders.” She flipped him off. “Now you see why I need to let out my true self. Being nice and caring for a living takes its toll.”
He laughed. “Oh man. Don’t I know it.”
She cleared the board and put it away.
To Reggie’s surprise, an hour and a half had passed. “Hey, are you hungry for lunch?”
“I thought you already ate.”
This is what you get for lying about Neal.He tried to play it off casually. “Neal didn’t have time for a meal. We just hung out for a little. I have stuff for sandwiches.”
“Oh, sure.” She joined him, standing close enough he had to force himself not to reach out and caress her cheeks. He loved how soft she felt and how her eyes had melted when he’d cupped her face. “Can I help?”
Sure. Jerk me off while I fix you a ham sandwich.“No.Nope.” He forced a smile. “Ham and cheese okay?”
“Great. I’ll be right back.” She left, and he soon heard the bathroom door close.
After fixing them sandwiches, adding chips and refills for their drinks, Reggie took the plates outside. The sun was high overhead, the day a perfect beginning to August. Butterflies visited the cosmos and lantana by the wooden fence in the back. And the maple gave the grass in the corner a nice bit of shade. When Maggie joined him, she sat next to him at the table, watching the butterflies flit in the warm summer sun.
“Wow. It’s like a mini paradise back here. I’m jealous.” She bit into her sandwich. “Yum,” she said, her mouth full.
“Today is exceptionally nice. I’m glad I’m not working. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. But it’s tough to be inside the engine, riding around in the heat with the uniform on, on a day like today.”
“I’ll bet.” She looked around the garden, seeing the thriving plants he’d worked hard to seed. “Did you do all this?”
“Yep. Green thumb, like my dad.”
“I’m terrible with plants. It’s a flaw.”
“Oh?”
“Sadly, though I love to eat, I’ve never grown my own veggies.”
“Too bad. It’s fun.”
