Okay, time to sit somewhere else.
Maggie grabbed Polly’s arm and tugged her away from the counter. It was for Joel’s safety. “We’ll have two of your pancake stacks, Basil,” Maggie called over her shoulder.
They sat around one of the tables. Polly was still seething. “Can youbelievethat guy?”
“I told you to order it.”
“That’s not the point, Maggie. He only ordered it because he knew I wanted it.”
It was true. Joel had baited her.
“I could kill him. I could—” She stopped, her gaze on the door. “Oh my God, Jesusdoeshate me.”
Maggie followed her friend’s gaze to see Polly’s mother, Olivia Mack, stepping inside, and beside her, a man who looked to be in his mid-forties.
“Do you think if I duck they won’t see me?” Polly asked under her breath.
Maggie glanced back right as Olivia looked their way. Her eyes lit up, and she tugged the man toward them. “Too late.”
“Polly, I didn’t know you were coming here this morning!” Olivia gushed when she reached the table.
Polly wrinkled her nose before rising to her feet. “Hi, Mom.”
Her mother pulled her into a hug. The woman was in her early fifties but looked at least twenty years younger. Polly said it was all the Botox, but the makeup definitely helped.
“And Maggie. My darling girl.”
Maggie rose and let the other woman pull her into a hug. “Hi, Olivia.”
“How many times do I need to tell you, it’s Liv. Olivia makes me feel old.” She turned and tugged the guy beside her forward. “Maggie, this is Jonah. Jonah, this is Polly’s best friend and basically my second daughter.”
Maggie smiled at the man. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he replied, nodding. He had a few slivers of gray in his black hair, which made him look distinguished. Or maybe that was the black suit jacket.
Olivia swiped a lock of hair behind her ear with her left hand.
Maggie saw it the same time as Polly.
Oh no.
Polly gasped. “What’s that?”
Olivia’s grin widened. “We’re engaged! I wanted to tell you last night, but you canceled our dinner so…I guess this is as good a time as any.”
Polly’s mouth hung wide open. “You’ve been dating fortwo months.”
“It feels like longer.” Olivia looked up at Jonah, eyes softening, almost glazing over. “Plus, you don’t get a choice in how fast you fall.”
“You sure as hell do,” Polly growled.
The man slipped his arm around Olivia, and even though Maggie couldn’t see exactly where he was touching her, Maggie was pretty sure it was her ass.
Polly obviously saw it too, because she looked like she was going to throw up. Or maybe that was from the engagement news.
“We were going to get our pancakes to go, but we could stay? Pull up a chair?” Olivia suggested.
When Polly just stood there, face pale, Maggie cleared her throat. “We would have loved that, but Polly was helping me with some business stuff and we’re on a bit of a time crunch.”
