Maggie let out a slow, appreciative breath, a sudden spark of dangerous excitement lighting up her features. "Well," she said,looking around the table at her family. "It's certainly not every day we get to scheme together to take down a corrupt politician and his evil family."
LINDA
The dining room bustled with low, serious murmurs for a few more minutes as the group continued to discuss and make the final preparations to end the war at Hearts Hotel. It really did feel like a war, Linda thought.
She sighed. It would be over soon, and even though Darius hadn’t been truthful with her right from the start, Linda felt grateful for his help now. And honestly, it wasn’t hurting to have a giant like him with the force of the Wayne Group behind him.
Linda’s mind reeled with everything that had happened from the time she’d left Miami to arriving home in Sweet Blossom Bay. It hadn’t been that long, but it already felt like months. She turned to watch as Darius said a few last words, then made sure everyone knew what they were to do. And most importantly, he stressed the importance of remaining exceptionally vigilant and hyper-aware of their surroundings right now.
Darius and Baxter were going to continue playing their parts to ensure they got the Winebergs put in their place and pushed back to South Carolina once and for all, protecting both Gill’sfamily’s property in Charleston and Linda’s family’s precious Hearts Hotel legacy.
She let out a breath of relief as her brother and friends got up to start leaving.
“Do you need me to take you back to the hotel?” Michael asked Linda, who was standing back in the hallway as the rest of the people filed out into the sun.
“No, Darius and I still have some things to discuss,” Linda told her brother truthfully and gave him a big smile. “I’m glad to see how yours and Maggie’s relationship is progressing in such a short time.”
“Well, we’ve known each other our entire lives,” Michael reminded her, kissing her forehead. “We’ve loved each other since we were teens.”
“Have you made it official to Ryan, Brooke, and Lily yet?” Linda asked about his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
“No,” Michael admitted. “But I know Lily already knows.” He grinned. “And I’m sure she would have told on us to her mom and dad by now.”
“Not Lily,” Linda said with a big grin. “She’d never betray her grandfather.”
“I think someone did,” Michael told her. “Brooke kept hinting when they phoned yesterday to speak to Lily and me.”
Linda’s cheeks pinkened, and she gave him a sheepish smile. “Okay, that may have been me.” She pulled an oops-type face.
“Ahhh,” Michael said with a nod. “So my own sister betrayed me?” His smile was teasing.
“I was just so excited that you and Maggie had finally gotten together,” Linda told him. “But I didn’t say you were in a relationship; I said there were hints that you may be drifting that way. I’m telling you, both Ryan and Brooke were so excited for you and Maggie.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Michael breathed a sigh of relief, and it was then that Linda realized what he’d done.
Her eyes narrowed accusingly at him. “You were hoping I’d be the one to tell your son and his wife about you and Maggie!”
“I… uh…” Michael swallowed. “Well…” He fiddled with the collar of his shirt. “I was uncertain how to approach Ryan with the news.”
“Coward!” Linda scoffed at her big brother who towered over her, all broad-shouldered muscle. He made people cower and weep in courtrooms but was scared of having a conversation with his son and daughter-in-law.
“I was just worried about how Ryan would react to me being with someone else,” Michael admitted.
“Ryan is an adult with his own family,” Linda pointed out. “He would understand, and just a few months ago, he actually said to me that he worried about you growing old alone. Ryan knows it was not something his mother would’ve wanted for you.”
“Thank you,” Michael said softly, kissing her forehead once again.
“And I think Evelyn would’ve been happy that your second chance at love was with Maggie,” Linda’s voice was filled with emotion.
Michael cleared his throat and then went to catch up with Maggie.
Linda watched her brother go, stepping out onto the porch to stand right beside Darius. As the taillights of the cars flickered through the palms and pulled away from the driveway, she was struck by how right it felt to be standing there next to him like that. She froze for a split second, the sudden realization making her breath catch, before she gave herself a firm mental shake.
Don't get ahead of yourself, Linda,she told herself, forcing a quiet pep talk to steady her racing thoughts.Good grief, one kiss and you’re fawning like a teenager with her first crush.
Darius turned toward her, and her heart gave an unruly stutter. His eyes locked onto hers, deepening with a quiet, intense emotion as a slow, warm smile spread across his face.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Darius asked softly, his voice held a husky tremor. "We can order something in from the village and..." He gestured with an open hand for her to precede him back inside the house. "...carry on talking. Getting to know each other."
