As much as she needed the money, she needed to be alone more.
“I-I’d like to go for the day.”
“Of course. That’s fine. Katya can handle the rest of your tables.”
Ugh, she wouldn’t get her tips. But she couldn’t handle going back out there. So be it.
“I don’t think you should drive, Maggie.” Shorty turned to Luke. “I can handle things if you want to take her home.”
“Thanks, Shorty.”
“But my car—”
“I can walk back.”
As shaky as she still felt, Maggie decided not to argue. “Okay.” Shorty disappeared then reappeared with her coat and purse. He handed Luke a brown leather jacket, who slipped it on. Of course he had a leather jacket. Why couldn’t he have something that made him look less attractive?
She slipped into the hallway and slid her arms into the sleeves, zipping it up. Hopefully it would warm her up. Maybe she’d take a hot bath back in her room. That sounded like a great idea.
“Let’s go out the back.” Luke led her through the back door to her car, where she passed her keys over to him.
“Where do you live, Maggie?”
“I’m staying at the Haven.”
Luke’s eyebrows jumped. “Oh, you’rereallynew to town.”
Her chin dropped to her chest as she looked away. “Yep.” Opening the passenger door, she slid inside and fastened her seat belt.
Luke didn’t say anything else in the five minutes it took him to drive her to the Hawthorn Haven. She hardly noticed the Queen Anne come into view. He put her car in park in the guest parking and held her keys out.
“We’re here.”
“Thank you.” She accepted the keys, but didn’t move to get out of her car. Instead of a bath, should she just pack back up and move on now?
Her door opened while she was pondering, and she lifted her face in surprise. Luke was holding her door for her.
“Maggie, I’m so, so sorry. I feel terrible.”
She shrugged. “Accidents happen. I know you didn’t mean to splash me.”
Luke huffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s more than that, I feel… like I upset you.”
Maggie shook her head. “That’s not on you.”
“I’d like to make it up to you. We could get dinner sometime?”
Immediately she backed away towards the B&B, her head shaking a mile a minute. “No, that’s… that’s not necessary. Accidents happen, I’m fine.” Her heart raced again. She refused to date another man while still tied to Sean. Even if he was on the other side of the country, she couldn’t risk it. He had access to things most people didn’t, and she would never put Luke in danger like that.
“I… I have to go.” She turned and bolted up the porch steps to the front door without looking back. Thankfully no one was behind the reception desk to see her run of shame up the stairs.
Maggie unlocked her door and slammed it shut behind her, panting as she flipped the locks and drew the chain across. She was in her room. Sean wasn’t here. She was safe.
Finally, she could fall apart. But she found, she didn’t feel a need to anymore. The tears didn’t come. Maggie turned and looked at her reflection in the antique mirror. Had Luke held hertogether? She placed a hand on her cheek, thinking of his hands wiping her tears away.
He was so … kind. It had been ages since she dared even look at a member of the opposite sex that wasn’t her husband, but she could admit she found Luke attractive. He kept his dark beard neatly trimmed, and his lips looked soft and inviting. She was pretty sure he had a dimple hidden in there somewhere. The way he’d cradled her face, like she was precious…
Maggie hung her head and let her hand drop. Luke wouldn’t look twice at her if he knew how weak she was. And he struck her as an honorable man; if he knew she was still married he wouldn’t touch her again.
