“Oh God,” Maggie whispered. If they should happen to end up in bed together, was there anything she could do to prevent his understanding her pristine state? What scared her most was that she’d heard all her life that the first time for some women was horribly painful. If she were in that category, Josh would know in an instant that he was the first.
Maybe she could pretend everything was wonderful, and really, why did she keep thinking it was even going to happen?
Because you’re going to make it happen, that’s why! It’s why you cleaned until midnight last night, and the reason there’s fresh linen on your bed, and why dinner is ready and just needs a few minutes in the oven, and why white wine is chilling in the refrigerator, and two bottles of red are uncorked and breathing on the kitchen counter.
It’s the reason that it’s going to take you at least three hours to get yourself ready for the evening. When you open your door to let Josh in, his eyes just might pop right out of his head, because he’s going to see a Maggie Sutter that he’s never seen before.
Maggie was working on her pedicure when the telephone rang. Walking on her heels so her toes wouldn’t touch the carpet, she picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mag. How’re you doing, kid?”
“Tim! Oh my gosh, it’s so good to hear your voice. How are you?”
“Couldn’t be better. But you didn’t answer my question. How are you doing?”
“I’m great. Working hard and loving my job.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“I ask how you’re doing and all you can talk about is your job? Baby sister, what about Mr. Perfect? Haven’t you met him yet?”
“Are you trying to get me married off?” Maggie teased, though her heart had begun thumping over Tim’s reference to the perfect man for her.
“Of course I am. That’s what big brothers are for. Seriously, you must be seeing someone. Tell me about him.”
“Sorry, but my dates have been only casual events for years and years. How’s Laurie and the boys?”
“The boys are healthy, happy whirling dervishes, and Laurie is pregnant.”
“Pregnant! Oh, Tim, I’m so happy for both of you. You’re hoping for a girl this time, aren’t you?”
“Laurie is. We’ll know if it’s a boy or a girl in about another month. I’ll let you know, okay?”
“You bet it’s okay.”
“So, what’s going on with your job. Working on a big case?”
“Actually, yes. It’s a homicide, and…and…” Maggie knew the only way to say this was to dive in headfirst. “I’m working with Josh Benton on the case.”
“Josh! Hell’s bells, is he still on the force? Say hello for me, all right?”
“Why not call him and say hello for yourself?”
“Maybe I should do that. Do you have his number?”
“Sure do. Hold on.” Maggie was back with Josh’s business card in seconds. She read off the numbers, assuming that Tim was writing them down. “It’s too bad you two lost touch,” she said. “If memory serves, you were pretty tight.”
“To some degree. Oh, we had some good times, that’s for sure, but Josh came by to see Ma as much as he did to see me.”
Maggie was floored. “I don’t remember him spending time with Mom.”
“Well, he did. His own mother died when he was in his teens, you know, and he took a big liking for Ma. She thought the world of him, too. Used to cook his favorite dishes when she knew he’d be there for supper. You don’t remember any of that?”
“No,” Maggie said quietly. “Obviously my mind was elsewhere when that was going on.” Yes, it sure was. It was dreaming about Josh Benton noticing that you were all grown up and dying to be kissed by him.
“Next time I see him I’ll tell him to expect a call from you,” she said before ending the call.
Maggie found herself even more unnerved about Josh coming over tonight than she’d been before Tim’s phone call.
Maybe her upset stomach was because she’d lied to her brother about never having met Mr. Perfect. After all, she’d met him ten years ago, when he’d dropped by the house to see her mother!
Chapter 5
“Nat, I’ve gotten myself into the most ridiculous mess. Before I explain, let me ask how you and your new guy are getting along.”
Natalie sighed dreamily in Maggie’s ear. “He’s wonderful…absolutely wonderful. I think I’m in love.”
“I’m glad. Are you seeing him tonight?”
“He should be here any minute. Why, Maggie?”
Maggie gave her friend an abbreviated explanation of her dilemma. “I invited Detective Josh Benton to have dinner here tonight. He thinks there are going to be other guests. There aren’t. Or there weren’t going to be. I can’t do it. He’s going to end up thinking I’m a total moron. Could you possibly bring your boyfriend and act as though I invited both of you yesterday?”
“Oh gosh, Maggie, we have tickets for that big fund-raiser concert everyone’s been talking about. Dozens of music and movie stars have donated their time and talents, and Tom paid a fortune for the tickets. I can’t disappoint him. I mean, how could I disappoint him?”
Maggie had heard about the big affair for weeks now. It was great that Natalie was getting to go to it. “You can’t,” Maggie said, adding, “I can’t believe I got myself into this.”
“Wait a sec. What time is your detective supposed to show up?”
“I told him seven.”
“Well, the concert starts at nine. Tom and I could come by, talk about the concert and how excited we are about attending it, eat a bite if you want us to and leave. Actually we could already be there when Detective Benton arrives. I can walk out my door the minute Tom gets here, and he’s such a sweetie that I’m sure he wouldn’t mind going to your place first. Would that help you out?”
Relief flooded Maggie’s system. “Immensely. Nat, I owe you, big-time. Come over the second Tom gets there.”
“This Benton guy must be important to you.”
“I don’t know if he’s important or simply a challenge. We…we have a history. I’ll tell you about it the next time we get together, after tonight. Anyhow, I nearly made a huge mistake. Thanks for the rescue, Nat. I won’t forget it.”
“See you in a few.”
“Right.” Maggie hung up then checked the time. She had about an hour until Josh got there, if he was on time. Thank God Nat and her friend Tom would precede his arrival.
Maggie, Natalie and Tom were sitting in the living room, talking, laughing and sipping wine when the front door buzzer went off in her kitchen. After the third refill Maggie no longer had to pretend to be having a good time but now her stomach did a flip-flop. Josh had arrived.
Maggie excused herself and went to the kitchen intercom. “Who’s down there ringing my bell?” she asked brightly.
The lilt in her voice startled Josh, but then it pleased him. Obviously the party was already in process and Maggie was enjoying it. Great. She was usually far too serious.
“It’s the big bad wolf,” he growled playfully. “Let me in or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in.”
“Which big bad wolf? There’s more than one in this neighborhood.”
“This one happens to be your boss, my dear,” Josh said in his best imitation of a villain in a melodrama.
“You just said the magic words, my dear,” Maggie drawled back at him. She laughed and pressed the button that would unlock the front door.
She checked the table that was set for four, turned on the oven and then returned to the living room. “He’ll be right up,” she announced.
“Maggie, we can only stay long enough to meet him,” Natalie said with a concerned expression. “I didn’t know it when we talked on the phone, but Tom promised to pick up several of his friends on the way to the concert. They’ll all be waiting, and…well…”
Tom spoke up. “I’m really sorry we can’t stay for d
inner, Maggie. We’ll do it some other time, I promise.”
Maggie’s stomach sank, but she forced a smile. “I understand. I’m glad you were able to come by at all, considering your plans for the evening.”
They were getting into their coats when the doorbell rang. Maggie let Josh in, introduced the trio, then said good-night to Natalie and Tom. Natalie hugged her and whispered in her ear, “He’s gorgeous. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Maggie closed the door and leaned her back against it while she looked at Josh. His overcoat was wonderful. He was wonderful. Wonderful looking, at least. No telling what he would say or do when the truth came out.
Josh stood there in his overcoat and wondered what in heck was going on. As far as he could tell, there wasn’t anyone else in the apartment. Was he late? Had everyone already eaten and gone? Maggie had said seven, hadn’t she?
“Did they leave early or am I late?” he asked. He couldn’t stop his eyes from wandering over Maggie, down, up, down, up. She looked ravishingly beautiful in a blue skirt and blouse that were very close in color to her eyes. Her hair was exactly the way he’d been wanting to see it, loose, bouncy and framing her face. Her skirt was short, with the hem about two inches above her knees, and her legs in hosiery were stunning. This was a Maggie he’d never seen before, and he liked the view immensely.
She pushed away from the door. “Let me take your coat. Natalie and Tom had previous plans. They left early. You’re not late.”
“And the other guests?” Josh handed her his overcoat.
Maggie hung it in the tiny foyer closet. “There aren’t any.”
“Your other friends were all busy?”
“So it appears.” Maggie stepped into the living room. “Come and sit down. Would you like some wine? We’ve been drinking this bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, but I also have some white wine in the refrigerator.”
“The Cabernet is fine.” He noticed the one unused wineglass upturned on a napkin, which told him that Maggie had expected only three guests. Four wineglasses, including her own, were all there were. Obviously her spur-of-the-moment dinner party hadn’t panned out.
But he didn’t mind being the only guest, he didn’t mind it a bit. In fact, as he sat on Maggie’s sofa and sipped her wine, he began feeling cozy and contented. Sort of like he was sinking into a big, soft, warm pillow. Not that he’d actually ever done that, not literally, but the sensation was delicious, all the same. Here he was, alone with a beautiful, sexy woman, drinking wine and hearing soft music along with the wail of the wind beyond the walls of the building. Could heaven be more pleasurable? he wondered with a smile at Maggie.
That smile said a thousand things—Lord, he was a stunner!—and discombobulated Maggie. Nervous again, she stammered, “Uh, dinner is warming in the oven as we speak. We’ll be able to eat in about ten minutes.”
“Whatever you say. Anything you say.”
He was much too sweet and affable tonight, not at all the man she’d been working with these past few days. Even his face was different. Still outrageously handsome but without the granite his gray eyes usually portrayed. In fact, there was softness in his eyes that she certainly hadn’t seen before. Not even the morning he’d almost kissed her.
He’s on the prowl, you ninny! You could have him in your bed tonight with one small hint from you that he’d be welcome! Wasn’t that what you wanted to happen? The reason for this farce of a dinner party? After all, do you want to die a virgin?
No! But I don’t know what to do.
Just…just smile and feed him! He’s a man, isn’t he, and haven’t you heard for most of your life that men basically want two things from women, sex and nurturing? He’s not stupid. Be nice and he’ll catch on, and when he does, watch out!
Maggie nearly choked on her swallow of wine over that wild and woolly progression of thoughts. Her head was spinning more than it should be. She’d consumed too much wine on an empty stomach. It was time to eat.
She got up. “I’m going to put the finishing touches on dinner. You sit back and relax. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.” She started for the kitchen, never dreaming that he would do what he did next.
“I’ll help. I’m not the kind of guest who lets the hostess do all the work,” he said smoothly. Josh was no more than one step behind her when they entered the tiny kitchen. “Oh, you have the table all ready. What else needs to be done?”
“Nothing. I mean, nothing big or…you know…important.” This was not going well, although she honestly didn’t know how to improve the status quo. Her stomach was in knots and her head was spinning, but the peculiar sensation down very low in her body was by far the most disconcerting symptom of whatever malady had attacked her at the very same moment that Josh had stepped inside her apartment. It was, of course, his fault.
“Sit down,” she said, deliberately sounding curt. She went to the refrigerator and brought out the bowl of salad she had prepared earlier. She removed the plastic wrap from the bowl before setting it on the table. Then she dared to look directly at her guest. “You’re not going to sit?”
“I will when you do. Besides, there are four place settings. Where would you like me to sit?”
“Oh. Sorry.” Such a small oversight should not have been an embarrassment, but Maggie felt her face flame. Instantly she became defensive. She wasn’t perfect, especially in this sort of situation. She should have removed two of the place settings from the table before doing anything else in the kitchen. “If you’re still looking for something to do,” she said a bit sharply, “you can gather two of the place settings and put them on the counter.”
“Glad to do it.” Josh could tell she was terribly uneasy. Almost clumsy, in fact, when at work she walked and moved with the utmost grace. He moved the extra settings to the counter then turned to look at her. She was just about to open the oven door when he asked quietly, “What’s wrong, Maggie? Do I make you uncomfortable?”
She straightened, stared wide-eyed at him and then humiliated herself beyond belief by getting tears in her eyes. “I…I’m so…stupid,” she whispered, and grabbed a paper towel from the roll near the sink and dabbed at her wet eyes.
Josh took one big step and clasped her upper arms. “Why would you say something like that? Why would you even think it?”
“You make me think it.” Her voice was thick from emotional unshed tears.
Josh studied the moist depths of her eyes. They were standing no more than six inches apart. His hands on her arms were like a live-wire connection, and he felt the desire for her that had been badgering him off and on since the night of the murder taking control of his system, including his ability to deny how much he wanted her.
“If I’ve been doing that, then I’m sorry,” he said huskily.
“I…I don’t think you mean to do it,” she whispered. “It’s me, and…”
“And what?”
Maggie slid her eyes away from his. “I’m sure you didn’t know it, but I…I had an awful crush on you when…when you and Tim were friends.”
“And that makes working together now tough for you?” Josh laid his hand on her cheek. “Look at me.” She brought her eyes back. “First of all, I knew all about that crush. I also knew it wouldn’t last and that teenage kids seem to love torturing themselves with crushes…”
“That’s not true! It lasted…forever!”
They stared into each other’s eyes. Josh dampened his lips with his tongue. “You’re not saying those old feelings are still making your life miserable, are you?”
Again she angled her gaze away. “Something is,” she said in a shaky little voice.
Josh was astounded. “Maggie, I’m ten years older than you!”
“And that’s important because?” she asked with heavy sarcasm.
“I could almost be your father!”
“Oh, for crying out loud. Don’t overdo the drama, Benton. Who ever heard of a ten-year-old father?” She wriggled free of his grasp and went to the oven. “Sit
on the far side of the table. We’re going to eat.” She took the hot dishes from the oven and placed them on the table.
Then she brought out a bottle of chilled white wine from the refrigerator and set it and a corkscrew near Josh’s plate. “Do the honors, if you don’t mind,” she said and brushed away one more errant tear.
Josh didn’t know what to do. Maggie couldn’t seem to stop crying, dinner was on the table, and he felt like pond scum, although he didn’t know why he should. So what if she’d had a girlish crush on him ten years ago? It was a common enough occurrence and shouldn’t be bothering either one of them at this late date.
But it was. It was the reason Maggie couldn’t keep her eyes dry, and maybe had a lot to do with why he wanted to haul her off to the bedroom instead of sitting down to eat the fine meal she had prepared.
Just to do something with his hands, he opened the wine and poured some into the stemmed glasses by each plate. Then they sat and Maggie said, “Help yourself. The chicken is baked and I’m sure you’ll remember that vegetable casserole.”
Josh looked at it. “You’re right. Your mother used to fix that.”
“It’s her recipe. You know, Tim called today and he said something that sort of surprised me. He said that you used to come by the house to see Mom, as well as him. Is that true?”
“Probably. I like your mother. How is she?”
“Dead.”
“My God, Maggie, you didn’t have to say it like that!”
“Fine, I’ll try to say it in such a way that it won’t affront your tender sensibilities. She passed away at age fifty after one hell of a battle with cancer. Is that better?”
“It’s terrible. I never knew.”
“Well, after Tim moved to California, Mom got a better job in Detroit, so we moved, too. It never occurred to me that you would come by after Tim left, so you probably never knew. Unless Mom talked to you.”
“No, she didn’t. I went by your old place about a month after Tim had gone, and someone else was living there. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I thought you and Lottie had also moved to California.”
Body of Evidence Page 6
