“You defended me,” he pointed out.
She stopped trying to break the sidewalk with her high heels and put her hands on her hips. “He made me mad.”
“Yeah—I can see that.”
She cocked out her hip in response.
“Maggie, what you said …” He stared, not sure how to ask her if she was still in love with him as much as he was still in love with her.
She flicked a hand. “I’d have your baby to put that guy in his place—don’t read into it.”
Cash reeled back. “You want kids?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s what you got out of that? Of course I want kids. Don’t you?”
“Yeah, but … You never said anything before.”
“I was seventeen years old.”
“Yeah. I mean, yeah. Can you believe that guy?” He needed to get out of this too-close-to-his-heart conversation, and fast.
Laughing at his verbal stutters, she linked her arm in his. “Forget Mr. Grumpy and his threats. That house belongs to you, fair and square.”
Cash forced his cheeks to spread into a smile. She’d stuck up for him, not because she loved him, but because it was the right thing to do.
They made it to her rental, and she let go of his arm easily—like it wasn’t a lifeline or like she wasn’t affected by his touch.
“What’s with this car and the, er, pants?” His face reddened as he realized what he’d just asked. It really wasn’t any of his business how Maggie decided to dress, but she’d surprised him today.
She lifted a shoulder. “I figured marrying you was the craziest thing I’d ever do. So when the guy at the rental counter offered this beauty, I decided to take it.” She patted the top of the car.
“It’s nice. You look good.”
Her forehead wrinkled again—like she was trying to figure him out.
“In the car. I mean, the car looks good. It’s a good car.”
“Yeah.” She opened the door. “I’ll follow you out to the house. I’m dying to see this kitchen. It’d better be stunning.” She slid her glasses on and started the engine.
Cash shut her door and hurried to his truck. He didn’t want her to beat him to the house. Every late night and early morning working on the kitchen would be worth it—if he got to see Maggie’s face when she walked in.
She tore out of the parking lot, and he swore. Seemed like he was always daydreaming how things were going to go and Maggie turned it all on its head. Well, not this time.
He picked up his phone. “James? Yeah, I need you to do me a favor …”
Chapter 7
“But I’m married to Cash.” Maggie lifted her left hand and showed off the magnificent ring Cash had slipped on her finger during the ceremony. The large diamond had been quite the surprise. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t walking out of there with a rock on her finger.
The gift had thrown her off her game. She’d wanted to put up walls around her heart so she could say “I do” without being undone. But then he’d slid that ring on her finger, and the whole experience felt … different. It was like there was love in Cash’s eyes. Which was absolutely ridiculous to even consider. He was the one who’d broken up with her—without a care for how her heart bled out.
Yet … he’d picked this ring. For her.
So when he’d teased her about kissing, she’d seized the moment to show him exactly what he’d been missing out on all these years. At first, she’d had the upper hand and control of the kiss. He’d been in shock and hadn’t responded, but once he had, she’d quickly been taken captive and lost in the moment.
She should have pulled back and slapped him. He had no right to kiss her with such adoration after breaking her heart, no right to lace it all with regret for letting her go. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it because—gulp—she liked kissing him.
More than liked it. Craved it.
