He muttered, “You’re more like a barracuda hiding behind the dimples of a perky brunette.”
“Hey.” She did her best not to smile.
Chapter Ten
“Reggie, you take that back. I’m not perky.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Maggie did a double take when she saw where his gaze had wandered, noting the smirk on those firm lips. She leaned closer to whisper, “Reggie Morgan. You did not just say perky and look at my breasts! My daughter is over there.”
“What does that have to do with boobs? It’s not like she’s responsible for them, is she? Technically, that would be your bra.” He sipped his coffee, his look sly. “Your face is really red.”
“There had better be a big stack of bacon with my name on it, mister.”
He bit back a grin, barely. “If I say how cute you are right now, will you hit me?”
“So hard, you won’t stand for a week.”
“You’re a little scary, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.” He watched her with caution, and she smiled at him through her teeth. “Ihateperky.”
“Fine, I’m sorry. You’re limp, dull, and boring. So, so boring.” He eyeballed her breasts then wisely said nothing more, drinking his coffee.
Not what she had been going for, but she’d won the argument. She thought. “Thanks.”
“Mag-Mom, look! Frank can sit.”
After the twelve times her daughter told the puppy to sit, he did.
“Er, nicely done, honey.”
Reggie clapped, and Emily took a bow before returning to Frank and his mound of toys.
“Now that I have freely admitted you are anything but perky, let’s get back to your discussion with Benny. What did you tell him? You never said.”
“I told him to say he was sorry and to grovel. Oh, and it’s not only men who like that. Women like it too when the people who’ve wronged them grovel.” She gave him a look.
His eyes crinkled with amusement. “Duly noted.”
“Good. I also told him that he either trusted Doug or he didn’t. And he does, he’s just going through some stuff that’s making him doubt himself. It’s more about Benny than Doug.”
“It usually is when one part of a couple is distrustful.”
“Have you had issues like that in your past?” She genuinely wanted to know. “I was married, and I’ve dated, but I’ve never gone out with a cheater. Well, that I knew of. That would really hurt, I think.”
Reggie nodded. “Happened to me once, and only once. When I was a lot younger, I dated a woman for a while. I thought we were happy. I was in the military at the time.”
“You were?” She hadn’t realized that. “What service?”
“Navy. I was a sonar tech. Anyway, I thought things were good. Turned out she was screwing around on me when I was out training. Wanted to get married for military benefits, and apparently some side benefits with an ex-friend of mine who happened to be married at the time. We broke up soon as I found out.”
“Good for you. I’ve never understood why people cheat. I’m not trying to be judgmental or anything, but if she was unhappy, why didn’t she break up with you? You weren’t married, no kids, nothing but feelings keeping you together, right?”
“That’s what I said. I did everything for her. Helped her with bills, always paid when we went out. And she used me.” He frowned. “I always play the role of caretaker in my relationships.”
“Huh. Me too.”
