“We always seem to end up this way,” he said against her lips.
She brushed her mouth against his. “Mmm.”
“Tell me to slow down.”
“Slow down.”
“That wasn’t very convincing.”
“We’re just kissing.”
“You wanted to go slow.”
“Stop talking.” She reached up and took his mouth, her fingers sliding into the hair at the nape of his neck. She didn’t want to rush things. But his kisses were like a drug. He swept her away, filled her with sensations she’d never had. Or maybe she just couldn’t remember. A thought for another time and place.
Right now she just wanted to relish the reverent way he touched her face. Savor the soft exploration of his mouth. Wallow in the way he made her feel so wanted and adored.
“So this is how it is!”
They sprang apart at the shrill voice.
It took Maggie’s drugged mind a moment to clear.
Then the light snapped on.
And like a bad dream, there, at the threshold of the entryway, stood her mother.
Chapter 32
Of all the times to leave the door unlocked. Maggie blinked against the sudden brightness.“Mom?”
Her mother’s eyes swung to Josh and flew open wide. Her hand shot to her mouth. “Oh!”
Maggie sprang to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re—you andhim?”
“Lower your voice, Mom. Zoey’s sleeping in the—”
“Maggie!” Mom grimaced. “Dear God in heaven, what can you possibly be thinking?”
Josh rose, his face like stone. “She asked you to lower your voice, Mrs. Hughes.”
Mom narrowed her eyes at Maggie. “Howcouldyou? He’s yourbrother. It’s immoral what you’re doing. What would Ethan say about this?”
Maggie’s face went nuclear. Not only because of her words but because Josh was hearing them too. “What are you doing here, Mom? You can’t just barge in and—”
“What amIdoing here? What ishedoing here, alone with you, making out on the couch with you like you’re a couple of teenagers?” Her gaze drifted pointedly over Maggie’s hair.
Face burning, she smoothed it down. “Mom, this isn’t a good time.”
“I can see that! If you’d simply returned my calls, this could’ve been avoided. I came to talk some sense into you regarding Derrick. But now I see the truth. I can’t believe this has been going on behind my back all summer.” She clutched her heart and muttered something to herself—possibly the Hail Mary prayer, though she hadn’t set foot inside a Catholic church for forty years.
Josh stepped between mother and daughter. “Maybe it would be best if you got a hotel room tonight. You and Maggie can talk in the morning after you’ve settled down.”
Mom’s spine stiffened. She tossed her short black hair. “Don’t you tell me when I can speak with my own daughter. She clearly hasn’t the sense God gave her.”
Maggie closed her eyes. If only the floor would open up and swallow her. “Please don’t, Mom.”
