“She takes her hearing aids out at night.” Maggie told him. “I think we’ll be fine.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
When they were cleaning up their picnic, the chocolate cookies Grace had packed them eaten, Luke remembered something he’d wanted to ask Maggie. “Have you heard about the Spring Fling?”
“Hmm? What’s that?” She took a long drink from her water bottle and Luke had to swallow hard, thinking about where her mouth had been.
“It’s a dance the town puts on. It’ll be next month.” He paused while folding the blanket. “Would you be my date?”
She bit her lip. “Will you still be in town?”
Luke nodded. “I’m definitely here for the duration, until Mom can go back to work, at least.” Why had he added the ‘at least’? Ross had understood when he’d called about extending his leave, but how long could he actually stay?
Yet, how could he leave when Maggie’s rumpled hair caught fire in the sun and her eyes shone greener than the grass? When he knew how she tasted, had seen her face as she came, and heard the sounds she made? Fuck, he was in trouble.
“I’d love to.”
Luke threw the hamper onto his shoulder and grabbed her hand. “Let’s get back.”
Holding Maggie’s hand as they walked back to the car filled him with a sense of rightness. As though he’d found what he’d been looking for.
Life was a river, sure. And he felt like it had been bringing him to her.
Lukeparkedatthebakery, then walked her to her car. “We should do this again.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “I thought you said it gets busier in the spring?”
“Well…” he rubbed the back of his head. “Maybe not all of it.”
Maggie dropped her voice to a whisper. “Not in public.”
He growled and clutched her hips, pressing her to him. “Agreed. No one else gets to see you like that.”
She grinned. His possessiveness was a surprising turn-on. But only because she agreed. “No one else gets to see you either.”
“Of course not.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “How do you feel about PDA?”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Can I kiss you out here?”
The citizens of Hawthorn Hills were walking around, enjoying the feeling of spring in the air, and doing some shopping. Kissing her here would make it obvious they were together.
Maggie found she didn’t care.
“Yes.”
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her hard, but kept it PG. Heat suffused her cheeks when he pulled away, someone catcalling from the sidewalk. “See you soon.”
“Bye for now.” She watched that fine ass walk away, heading to take over The Busy Bee for the dinner shift. That’s how Grace nearly tackled her into the street.
“Ohmygoooooood!” Grace squealed. Maggie caught herself against her car and pushed her friend away.
“Hi, Grace.”
“Come upstairs. That’s an order.” She laughed as Grace pulled her into the bakery, through the kitchen and up the stairs, waving to Bobby as they passed.
Grace didn’t say anything else until she’d locked the door to her apartment behind them. “Holy shit, girl! He’s got it bad.”
