“What?” He looked innocent, but there was that sparkle in his eyes.
“You weren’t frightened.”
The sparkle fled, and suddenly there he was, the man who meant business. The ranger that tracked and rescued people. The man who never backed away from anything.
I was once like that.
“I was scared, Maggs. But I was more worried about you than what was going on around us. Tell me what happened in that bank?”
She looked away. “Nothing happened, I was just shocked, and yes, scared.”
“Aww, there they are.” Joe wandered in with Bailey and their children. “So far I’ve heard there was a bank heist and you were forced at gunpoint to fill the bags with cash.” He pointed at Fin. “And you were used as a human shield as the armed robbers made a getaway.” His finger moved to Maggie.
Maggie giggled at Joe’s words.
“I like that sound,” Fin said softly. She ignored him.
“Then Mrs. L told us she was on the street when the car sped through town, and she had to throw herself clear or she’d have been run right over,” Bailey added. “The Robbins sisters told us they thought it was likely the Simon brothers from fifth grade, as they’d been bad then and nothing much has changed there over the years.”
Maggie couldn’t stop giggling. The laughter just kept coming. Fin joined her with his deep rumble, and soon they were laughing like idiots.
“Clearly they’re unhinged from the day’s events. Someone slap them,” Jack said.
Fin managed to get himself under control before Maggs. He then got off his stool to kiss Bailey’s cheek, because, well, that’s what he always did when he greeted his friends—the female ones anyway. He took Ella out of the stroller and sat again. Hot guy, sweet little girl in his arms. Maggie’s heart did not just sigh.
“Hey there, baby girl, I’m your aunt Maggie.”
Ella gave her a gummy smile.
“She loves me best already.”
“Not likely. I’m Uncle Fin, the one who makes funny faces and blows raspberries in her neck.”
She’d worked hard to control her emotions since the incident. Maggie had always been a bit volatile, and yes, spoke her mind, but after she’d been shot she’d also been weepy, scared, and had lost her confidence. Those emotions, she wanted to rein in. Today had not helped. At least she hadn’t screamed or sobbed uncontrollably. She’d done that in London.
“Maggie Winter!”
“Mrs. Howard is coming; I’m out!” Before anyone could stop her, Maggie got off her stool and headed for the door. “I have to head to the gallery. You all have a good day.”
She was out the door before they realized it and heading down the street for home.
…
The knock came on her front door early the following morning. She was up, but only just, and only because she’d fallen asleep so early and slept for hours. Good, uninterrupted sleep, the kind she’d not had a lot of lately. Tightening the belt on her robe, she answered the second knock.
“Hello, Maggie.”
“Mr. Goldhirsh. Is everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect. I just wondered if you’d like to spend some time with me this morning, dear. My wife”—he smiled—“I never get tired of saying that, is busy.”
“Oh, well—”
“It won’t be painful, I promise, and there will be a nice view and coffee, with the promise of cake.”
Like her friends, Maggs struggled to say no to this man. But she was suspicious. Mr. Goldhirsh felt it was his duty to get people exercising and didn’t care how much manipulation on his part that took.
“Hustle along now, Maggs. Pull on some leggings or something stretchy and comfortable.”
