“It’s there, but with only one bottle of Cuervo. We are totally out of Patrón.”
“I can’t believe one of the employees stole it. We have a good staff right now.”
“That’s what I thought, but we are definitely missing a few bottles.”
“What about the other liquor? How are we fixed for it?”
“We have plenty of everything else. Our thief is a tequila drinker.”
Maggie dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. She really didn’t need the added stress of a dishonest employee right now with everything happening. She wasn’t good at confrontation, but if they had to question each bartender and server about the missing tequila, that’s what they would do. They couldn’t afford a loss like that.
“Listen, I’m on my way back from Morgantown. I should be there in about forty-five minutes. We’ll figure this out.”
“In the meantime, I’m going to shake down the staff that’s here right now. Maybe a little intimidation will get their tongues wagging.”
Thank heavens for her pit bull of a sister. Penny had no qualms about getting in someone’s face. If only she had her backbone.
* * *
The next evening, Maggie sat alone in the little Italian restaurant. Its red-checkered tablecloths, wall mural of Venice, and opera drifting softly through the sound system combined to create the escape she had needed. Buddy was on his way back from Columbus, and they had planned to meet here. Brody and Carly had gone to pick up Travis from the hospital, and Maggie had left the house early to avoid seeing him. She didn’t want to be in a foul mood for her date with Buddy.
Her fiancé must have been just as anxious to see her. He arrived a few minutes early, rushing across the restaurant, sweeping her into his arms.
“There you are.” Buddy smacked a loud kiss on her lips. “You been waiting long, darlin’?”
“I got here a little early.” She kissed him back, but he still held tight. “Put me down. Everyone is staring.”
“Let ’em. They’re just jealous because I’ve got the prettiest girl in the room.”
“Oh, Buddy.” He sure knew how to boost her ego.
He finally released Maggie and pulled out her chair, taking a seat across from her at the small corner table. He plopped a blue velvet box on the table in front of her. “That’s for you.”
“Buddy, what did you do?”
“Got my girl a little something while I was in Columbus. Open it.”
The box creaked as Maggie lifted the lid, and she sucked in a surprised breath. “It’s beautiful.” Inside was a diamond-encrusted heart pendant on a gold chain. “I love it. What’s the occasion?”
“Do I need an occasion to show my love for you? Here . . .” He rushed around the table and draped the pendant around her neck, placing a kiss on her shoulder once it was clasped. His face was flushed with excitement when he returned to his seat. “You said you were ready to plan our wedding again, so I thought that little gem would be a good way to kick it off. You’ve already got an engagement ring.”
“I do, and I love it.” She admired the one-carat solitaire he’d given her the night he proposed. “You gave me a diamond necklace on our wedding day. You don’t have to spend so much money on me.”
“You’re worth it.”
“You’re so sweet.” She reached across the table and gathered his hand in hers. “And patient. I’m sorry about the way I acted at the hospital, and so sorry I haven’t spent any time with you this past week. I’ve just had so much on my mind.”
“No apologies necessary. I understand. But now that the whole Travis mess is behind you, let’s get back to getting married.”
“Yes. I have some ideas about that.”
“Let me hear ’em.”
“How about we get married the day after Carly leaves for college? We can drop her off in Columbia and drive to Miami. We’ll rebook our honeymoon cruise and have the captain marry us onboard.”
“What?” Buddy fell back against his chair, his face going slack. “What about the wedding we already planned? The pastor said he’d be glad to marry us any time.”
“I feel like those plans were jinxed. The reception went on without us—or me anyway—and all our guests would feel like they were repeating the same old thing. There would be no buzz of excitement or element of surprise.”
“But a cruise wedding? With a bunch of strangers? I want to get married ASAP.”
“We can wait a little longer, can’t we? Our wedding and honeymoon will be combined, and it will be a great way for me to get over Carly leaving home. I’ll start my new life with my wonderful new husband out on the open seas. Doesn’t it sound romantic?”
“Gosh, darlin’.”
“Just think about it. I don’t want to put a damper on tonight. Let’s enjoy dinner and each other. We don’t have to make any definite plans right now.”
“As long as you promise we’ll get married soon.”
“I promise.”
“I don’t need that,” Travis grumbled when Brody lifted the wheelchair from the trunk of his car. He had turned his body, placing both legs outside the car, ready to make his way into Maggie’s house on his own steam.
“Dad, the doctor said to use the wheelchair for another week or so.”
“Just give me the walker. I can do it.”
Brody rolled the wheelchair beside the car. “For once in your life would you listen to someone other than that stubborn voice in your head? Sit your ass in this wheelchair and let me get your inside.”
“The walker is only for getting in and out of bed,” Carly said, placing one hand under Travis’s arm and the other around his waist. “Let us help you into the chair.”
This was humiliating. His young daughter was helping him stand and his best friend was about to push him in a wheelchair. Talk about a blow to his male pride. He hoped to God Maggie wasn’t watching through a window.
“Fine. Just get me into this contraption and into the house.”
“That’s more like it.” Brody helped guide Travis to the wheelchair, not noticing the wince he held back. The simple maneuver into the wheelchair was like a knife to his side. The incision where they had taken out his spleen was throbbing, his head hurt, and pain ripped through his ribcage. He felt a hundred years old.
Carly unlocked the door as Brody pushed the wheelchair up the sidewalk toward a makeshift ramp.
“Did you build this?” Travis asked.
“It’s the one I built for Virginia after she fell. It’s been out in one of my barns.”
“Bet you never thought you’d need it so soon.” Travis clenched his teeth as the chair jolted over the lip of the ramp, but damned if he’d show it.
Brody rolled him into the foyer and around the corner to the living room. It had been a while since he’d been inside Maggie’s house, but there was no question she lived here. The furnishings reminded him of her. The walls were painted a light blue, the sofa and matching loveseat were pale green velvet, and floral drapes hung at the windows. The room was soft and feminine like Maggie. Framed pictures of Carly at every phase of life covered the walls and tables. He even spotted a portrait of the three of them on the bookshelf, taken when Carly was a baby. A lump formed in his throat.
“Want to see your bedroom, Dad?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll push you down the hall.”
“No, let me.” He squeezed his daughter’s hand tenderly until the smile returned to her face. “I need to do it on my own, in case you or your mom isn’t here.”
“Okay.”
“Speaking of which, where is she? I thought she’d be here to welcome me.” He chuckled in hopes of covering his disappointment.
“She’s out with Buddy.”
“Oh.”
“Brody and I will get you settled.”
Travis blinked a few times and took a deep breath, gripping the large wheels in either hand. “Point me toward my home away from home.”
“Right down the
hall.” Carly led the way, pushing open the bedroom door. He caught a glimpse of Maggie’s plush king-sized bed as he turned into the room beside hers, forcing away the images of her and Buddy in that space.
“This is it. We bought a new bedspread and curtains for the room. It had an ugly flowered one, and we didn’t think you’d like that.”
“You all didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”
“Trust me, that old spread needed to go. I picked this out. Do you like it?”
“It’s great, honey. You’ve got good taste.”
“Thanks. What do you want to do? Are you hungry?”
“I think I’ll lie down awhile.” Disappointed that Maggie wasn’t there, he suddenly felt weak and lifeless. She’d purposely made herself scarce thanks to his smart mouth. When would he learn to stop teasing her?
“Okay. I’ll let Brody help you into bed while I fix you some dinner.” Carly bopped out of the room, excited to take care of her dad. She was a good girl—thanks to her mother. Maggie had passed down her nurturing spirit and kind soul to Carly.
Brody pulled back the covers on the bed. “Ready for some help, bud?” He reached out his hands, ready to lift Travis from the chair, but he smacked them away. He didn’t want to be dependent on anyone.
“I’ve got this. Just be on standby in case I lose my balance.”
After a few groans and grunts, twists and turns, and a lift from Brody, Travis was securely in the bed with his back against the headboard. Sweat dotted his forehead as he concentrated on slowing down his rapid breathing.
“You okay?” Brody asked, pulling the sheet over Travis’s lap.
“I’m good. Just need a minute to recover.”
Brody dropped into the wheelchair and pushed with his feet, putting the cart in motion.
“How do you like those snap away pants Kate found for you?”
“Not exactly my style, but they’ll do for now. I’m hoping to get this cast through my jeans.” Travis reached down and patted the hard plaster covering his leg.
“Maybe you can cut the leg opening or wear a bigger size.”
“I’ll figure something out. Thank her for me, will you?”
“Sure. So, you think this will work?”
“Will what work?” A sharp pain sliced through Travis’s side as he sat back against the headboard. He closed his eyes until it faded.
“You living here with Maggie.”
“It’s only temporary. Besides, I doubt she’ll be around much.” Self-anger replaced the physical discomfort. “You notice she got the hell out of here before I arrived.”
“She had plans with Buddy.”
“Right.” His chuckle held no humor. “If she wanted to be here, she could’ve been.”
“You pissed her off pretty good the other day. She didn’t even speak to me.”
“Yeah . . . well.” Travis rubbed his forehead, knowing damn well he’d crossed the line. When would he learn to keep quiet?
Brody shook his head, pressing his lips into a thin line as he rolled back and forth in the wheelchair.
“What? You got something to say?” Travis had known his friend long enough to recognize when he was holding back. There was nothing Brody could say that Travis hadn’t already said to himself. “Let me have it.”
“Maggie was nice enough to let you stay here. You have nowhere else to go except rehab. Our house has stairs, Liza and Tuckers’s is a two-story, Derek and Riley, Darla and Jason, everyone has stairs. This is the only place for you.”
“And your point is?”
“You need to stop messing with her. I know you’re just playing around when you say stuff, but it hurts her feelings. Try being nice to her for a change. Keep your stupid comments about Buddy to yourself.”
Brody was right, of course. Travis folded his arms over his chest, trying to heed his friend’s advice. “But I can’t stand that guy. I don’t trust him.”
“I’m not a big fan either, but Maggie sees something in him the rest of us don’t. Keep your opinions to yourself. Kill her with kindness. She’s your daughter’s mother. Show her some respect.”
“And what will I get in return?”
“Maybe . . . Maggie.”
Chapter 13
“I’ve interviewed every person on our staff, and no one will admit they stole the tequila. I even tried to trick them into confessing, and nothing.” Penny threw her hands in the air in frustration.
Maggie and her sister were sitting at a window table in Sit and Sip, drinking coffee and sharing a muffin. The usual Monday morning crowd was lined up at the counter while the sidewalks outside bustled with people on their way to work. Maggie fiddled with the heart-shaped pendant around her neck as she considered an explanation for the missing liquor.
“Our employees are a tight bunch. Not a one would throw the other under the bus,” Penny said, breaking off a piece of muffin. “Believe me, I used all my best interrogation techniques.” She popped the morsel in her mouth and chewed ferociously.
“You should talk to Derek about joining the FBI.”
“There’s nothing they could teach me.”
They shared a laugh at the truth in her statement. Penny could be intimidating when she wanted something. And she was uber-observant.
“What’s that? New necklace?”
“Buddy gave it to me last night.”
Penny whistled as she held the sparkly pendant in her hand. “That’s some chunk. It must’ve set him back a few thousand.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. Maybe a couple of hundred. Buddy couldn’t afford something that expensive.”
“I’m telling you this isn’t a cheap piece of jewelry. Where’d he get it?”
“In Columbus. I’m not sure where. But I’m sure it hadn’t cost much. He works on commission, remember? He has to watch every cent.”
“You should stop over at the Jewel Box and get an appraisal. You might need a rider on your insurance policy. Did you ever get your engagement ring appraised?”
“No, I need to do that.”
“You always say Buddy can’t afford things, but he sure has spent some serious cash on you.”
“The diamond belonged to his grandmother. He had it reset into an engagement ring so it didn’t cost him much. And as far as the necklace, I guarantee it’s not as expensive as you think.”
“Want to bet?”
“No, I’m not betting you.” They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate the muffin and sipped coffee. Maggie watched the people walking by the shop, raising her hand in greeting to Sam Smiley and Arthur Hansrote as they crossed the street to City Hall.
“So how’s your new boarder?”
“Settled in, I guess.”
“You guess?”
Heat flushed Maggie’s face. She was embarrassed and feeling a bit guilty for avoiding Travis. “I wasn’t home when Carly and Brody moved him in, and he was still asleep when I left this morning. It’s best we avoid each other as much as possible.”
“That’s not going to be easy. Your house isn’t big.”
“I know. But I figure if I leave early enough and—”
“You’re being stupid. Why are you avoiding Travis?”
“I don’t want to fight with him.”
“But that’s your thing. That’s what you do.”
Maggie’s cup stopped midway to her mouth. “That’s what Travis does,” she hissed.
“No . . .” Penny leaned across the table, poking her finger into Maggie’s shoulder. “That’s what you both do. It’s your jam. You love getting under each other’s skin.”
“Untrue. He always starts it.”
“And you love dishing it back at him. Builds the sexual tension.”
Coffee spewed from Maggie’s lips. “You’re insane,” she protested through the napkin pressed to her mouth.
“It’s your way of flirting. Kind of primal.”
“What?” Maggie slammed her coffee cup to the table.
“You’ve seen those nat
ure documentaries. A male and female wildebeest snip and snarl at each other, and then next thing you know, they’re mating.”
“When have you ever watched a show about wildebeests?”
“Okay, maybe that’s not a good example, but I watch the birds and squirrels in my backyard, and they’re always fussing at each other. It’s foreplay.”
“And that’s what you think Travis and I do?”
“Absolutely. You both get off on it.”
“You’re sick and I’m not listening to this anymore.” Maggie slung her purse over her shoulder, grabbed her paper cup, and shoved her chair against the table. “Travis Kane hates me, and that’s why he picks fights with me. I only play along to defend myself.”
“There’s a fine line between love and hate.”
Stomping her foot in frustration, Maggie grabbed the last of the muffin before she rushed through the coffeehouse door. Her sister was certifiably nuts, and she wasn’t going to listen to her delusions anymore. If her theory was true, why hadn’t he made a move? Their animalistic foreplay, as she called it, would have resulted in a sexual encounter by now. Travis hadn’t touched her in all that time and didn’t seem the least bit interested in doing so.
Why did everyone keep implying he had feelings for her? She didn’t see it. The only reason Travis had anything to do with her at all was because of Carly. Their daughter was the last thread that bound them together. Once she left for college, they’d have no reason to speak at all. Maggie looked forward to the peace that would bring.
* * *
After driving halfway to the Brass Rail, Maggie realized she had left her cell phone at home. She hoped he was still asleep. Carly had left a note on the kitchen table, letting her know a home health aid was coming today to help Travis and that she would be home early. Finals were this week and students could leave after completing their exam.
Maggie slid her key in the front door lock as smoothly and silently as possible so not to awaken the beast in her guest room. With any luck, she could slip in and out without running into him.
Whatever Love Means Page 12
