“Dinner smells great,” I comment with a smile.
“Thanks! Hopefully, it tastes as good as it smells.” Maggie sets the baking sheet on the counter and crosses the kitchen to me. Her arms go around my waist, and she tips her head back and puckers her lips for a kiss. Gripping the back of her head, I pull her gently up to meet me. I devour her lips as if that’s the only thing she’s offering for dinner.
When I pull back, she smiles up at me and asks, “How was your day?”
The oven timer goes off. I release her and lean back against the counter, my eyes never leaving her as she spreads what looks like garlic butter on a loaf of French bread.
“My day was good. Work was busy, and I got a workout in after work with the guys.”
Maggie turns away to put the bread in the oven.
“How was yours?”
She pivots back to me with a grin. “It was great! Work was fun, and Ella called and asked if I would come to her final wedding dress fitting with her tomorrow. And I think a few other people are coming.” With a dreamy expression,she claps her hands together. “I’m so excited for their wedding!”
Their wedding is just over a week away, and Jack seems more stressed than Ella.
Maggie’s happiness today warms me. She’s always been amazingly resilient from what I’ve seen, but it seems talking to Pamela has been as beneficial for her as it has been for me.
“Did Ella tell you about the show tomorrow?” I ask.
Jack told me he was going to invite the girls to a show we’re working tomorrow night at one of the bars downtown. We’re hoping we can move away from taking contracts for events in the bars downtown, but it’s difficult because the revenue these jobs generate is substantial. Typically, Jack and I wouldn’t be working an event like this, but Jack knows the owner of the bar, and he asked Jack to take this job at the last minute as a favor due to some staffing issues with his in-house security team. And because the rest of our employees were on a job or had the night off, we decided to work it rather than ask them to give up their free night.
“Yes.” She wags her eyebrows at me suggestively. “I can’t wait to see you in action.”
“Technically, you saw me at the trial.”
Her smile fades a little, and I internally wince for bringing that up.
She recovers quickly, and her smile returns, even if it’s a little less bright than it was before. “That’s true, but I was distracted, so I didn’t get to admire the view as much as I would have liked.”
I push off the counter and saunter over to her. “You can admire me as much as you like.” Kissing her forehead, I pat her ass. “I’m going to take a quick shower before dinner.”
Feeling more at peace than when I first got home, alightness surrounds me as I walk out of the kitchen. I may not know what love feels like, but I do know this feeling, whatever it might be, is pretty fucking amazing, and I’m not going to question it.
I enter the bedroom and pull my phone out of my pocket.
Me: Franklin, I need another favor.
35
Maggie
“Maggie, you remember Nate’s sister, Pamela?” Ella has her arm around the woman.
“Yes, absolutely. We met at your engagement party. It’s great to see you again.” I smile, pretending I didn’t pour my heart and soul out to this woman two days prior.
“So good to see you, Maggie. I hear you and Ian are together. Congratulations!” She gives me a wink and moves in for a hug.
Ella gestures to Becky. “You remember Becky? I think you met at the Fourth of July party.”
“So good to see you again, Maggie!” Becky exclaims, giving me a big hug.
“You, too.” I return the hug, feeling elated that I get to spend the day with such a kind and welcoming groupof women.
We all walk inside, and Ella informs us that we have to wait until Olive and Lori, Nate’s other sister, arrive to start the fitting. We’re standing around chatting when we’re brought flutes of champagne. Excitedly, we all take one and thank the woman who brought them to us.
“Ella, do you have everything all ready? It’s almost time!” Becky claps her hand lightly against the stem of the wineglass in excitement.
