I nod, but deep down, I’m not nearly so sure. What Iamsure about is that our paths will cross again one way or another. And not just because Beau is dating her sister. There’s chemistry between Maggie and me. A charged sort of energy, if you will. I felt it when she stepped into her office doorway, and I felt it again in the refurbished train car. That type of potential demands to be tested, and I’d bet money that Maggie feels it, too.
“As for Meg,” I say, smiling as I mention Luke’s ex-wife, “she always liked me better than you. One drunken Christmas, in fact, she confided in me, saying shepicked the wrong brother.”
“Tsk,” Luke scoffs. “You’re almosttenyears younger. She’s not acougar.”
I grin. “Correction,” I say. “Meg said she picked the wrongtwin.” My gaze shoots to Liam in time to see his face turn redder than Luke’s hot wings.
“Is that true?” Luke asks in a shocked tone.
Itis, but he probably doesn’t need to know. “Nah,” I say, not bothering to sound too convincing.
The fact is, Luke wasn’t a good husband to Meg, and he knows it. And Gabrielle, Liam’s ex-wife, wasn’t great either; in fact, she treated Liam horribly. Meg rarely drank, but that year, she was having a particularly tough time dealing with Luke. She’d tipped back her second flute of champagne and said,‘why couldn’t I have wound up with Liam instead? He’s nice, I’m nice—we deserve each other. Luke deserves to have someone like Gabrielle. She’s as mean as he is.’
I glance about the table to see that both Luke and Liam have their gazes pinned on me, brows slightly furrowed, eyes deep in thought. I shift my gaze back out the window. I can’t be the only one who wonders if Meg and Liam will ever test the waters. Both are still single, after all, and I wouldn’t say either divorce is still fresh at this point.
Just then, my phone starts to buzz.
Beau leans far over to peek at the screen as I lift it. “Is it Maggie?”
I pull a smug grin. “Maybe.”
“Be nice,” Beau warns. “Nottoonice.”
“Don’t worry, she’s not my type.” I’m feeling extra cocky now, so I tap the speaker to let everyone hear. “This is Braxton.”
“Braxton,” comes a voice that’s decidedly not Maggie’s. “This is Chantel from the Coffee Loft. We’d like to go ahead with the renovation. When can you start?”
My brothers shake their heads, roll their eyes, and lean in slightly as I pause in answering.
“One moment,” I say, muting my voice with a tap of the screen. I look at Beau. “I’m going to tell her that if Maggie wants me to do the job, she’ll have to call me herself.”
Beau’s eyes bulge. “Don’t you dare?—”
I tap the unmute prompt, effectively silencing him. “Chantel?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Maggie seemed…hesitant when I spoke with her. Does she happen to be anywhere near? If you don’t mind, I’d like direct confirmation from her before I map out the time.”
Beau smacks his forehead with his palm.
Liam and Luke chuckle under their breath.
“Uhh…” comes Chantel’s voice.
I grin wider, almost knowing Maggie is hovering over the phone at her side.
“I’m right here,Braxton,”she says, practically growling my name.
Heat sparks low in my belly. “Hi, Maggie,” I say in a sing-song tone.
“We’d like you to go ahead with the project, please.”
Triumph swells in my chest. “Exactly as-is? Or do you want to make change?—”
“Yes, exactly as is,” Maggie blurts, sounding none too pleased about it either.
“So you’re saying that what I presented to you was, in a word, perfect?”
