The Widow's Bachelor Bargain

by Teresa Southwick

  “He’s right.”

  “Maybe. But during this discussion I pointed out that the one in my bedroom was fine. He said he wouldn’t know about that because he’s never been in my bedroom. And I said if he was waiting for an invitation he’d be waiting a long time.”

  “Oh, dear...”

  “Yeah. He said that sounded a lot like I was challenging him to take me to bed.” She hated to admit it, but getting her there wouldn’t be much of a challenge.

  “He’s obviously interested in you, sweetie.” There were questions and a whole lot of concern in her mother’s eyes.

  “I get that, Mom. But I can’t trust it.” Or herself, for that matter. “And I’m not looking.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I missed Daddy when he died.” Maggie would never forget that awful day when her father had collapsed in this house. It had been a massive heart attack and suddenly he was gone. For a long time this place had felt sad and lonely but that had passed and laughter had come back. “I know you were devastated after losing the man you loved. And you never remarried. I lost Danny suddenly, so if there’s anyone who understands why you didn’t, it’s me.”

  There was a sad look in her mother’s eyes. “So pushing Sloan away has nothing to do with the fact that he uses women, then discards them like tissues?” Her mother shrugged. “After you told Josie and me about that kiss we Googled him.”

  “His reputation is a consideration,” Maggie admitted.

  “Doesn’t it just suck that the first man you’re attracted to since your husband died is—how did you phrase it? Oh, yes, all flirt and no depth. A playboy.”

  “Yes, there are pictures and stories verifying that he has been photographed with many women.” The statement neither confirmed nor denied that she was attracted to Sloan.

  “I’m so torn, sweetie. On one hand I’m glad there’s a man in the house and you, Danielle and Josie aren’t there all alone. Call me old-fashioned, but in my day women weren’t so hell-bent on proving they can run the world without a man.” She sighed. “On the other hand, I wish he looked like a garden gnome and had the personality of a troll.”

  “I see you’ve met him,” Maggie teased.

  “You bet. I stopped by your brother’s office on the pretext of him taking me to lunch, then insisted he introduce me to Sloan.” Suddenly her mother looked fierce, ready to rip someone’s head off. Possibly Sloan’s. “He’s handsome, wealthy and has too much charm for my peace of mind. That makes me nervous for you.”

  “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be careful.”

  “Sometimes being careful isn’t enough. That type of man can draw you in before you even know what’s happening. He’s a wolf and you’re a vulnerable widow.”

  She was a widow. That was a fact. But vulnerable? Not so much. She could tell the good guys from the bad. Maggie felt the most ridiculous urge to defend him. Or throw herself at him. The complete opposite of what her mom was telling her to do.

  What was she? Sixteen? Where was this rebellion coming from?

  “It’s getting late, Mom. I need to get my baby girl home now.”

  “I hate to see you wake her. Are you sure you don’t want to leave her here tonight?”

  “Thanks, but no. You’ve got your volunteer work at the library tomorrow with Josie. It’s better if I keep to her morning routine.”

  “Okay. Everything’s packed up in the diaper bag. Her shoes are in there, too.”

  Maggie thought about that. “I don’t think I’ll put them on her. It will be hard enough not to wake her when I slip her sweater on. Then there’s getting her in the car seat. If she sleeps through that, it will be a miracle. After this nap, if she wakes up, she won’t be ready for bed until midnight.”

  And that would be Maggie’s penance for not accomplishing the mission for which she’d asked her mother to babysit. If she’d taken Sloan up on his offer, that new faucet would be in. But she might have ended up with the playboy in her bed.

  Danielle stirred but didn’t awaken when Maggie picked her up, slid the diaper bag over her shoulder and headed for the front door.

  Her mother opened it and smiled lovingly at both of them. “Good night, baby girl.”

  “Thanks again, Mom. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She kissed the woman’s cheek. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  On the drive to her house, Maggie thought about the conversation with her mom and her own defiant reaction. Maybe it was knee-jerk, a habit of pushing back because her mother was always right. That would imply this time she hoped Maureen was wrong.

  Did the reaction have anything to do with how close Maggie was to crossing a line with Sloan? If she did, there was no going back. So staying far from that line seemed like the best plan.

  The truth was that she wouldn’t have to work very hard to keep her distance after the inhospitable way she’d behaved when he’d offered his help. It was unlikely he would be inclined to ask her out.

  That thought was far more disappointing than it should be.

  Chapter Eight

  Sloan was in position behind a lectern that faced a packed town hall in order to give a presentation to the chamber of commerce and all interested citizens about the virtues of green building. The standing-room-only crowd was proof that these people really cared about their town, and he was here to convince them that he did, too.

  He didn’t have time right now to wonder about the why of it, but in this capacity crowd Maggie was the first person he spotted. Had he subconsciously been searching only for her? What with leaving before breakfast and not returning until late, he hadn’t seen her for a few days. He’d been putting a lot of hours in preparing this talk. It was important to convince the community to trust him. That he was committed to reducing the environmental impact in building a project that would benefit the town.

  And it was time to start.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sloan Holden. I’m with the Holden Development Company and in charge of construction on the condominium, hotel and retail resort project.” He looked around the room, then let his gaze rest on Maggie, sitting on a folding chair, dead center in the third row. “It’s obvious from this amazing turnout that each and every one of you is intensely interested in the project and how it will affect your town and quality of life here in Blackwater Lake.”

  As he gazed around the room, he saw people in the audience nodding their agreement. “I’ve provided a packet of information so you can follow my remarks and take it with you for further review at your leisure.

  “What’s new about green building is that costs can be the same, or less, than building a conventional structure with far less consequences for the environment. When you consider the energy savings, construction quality and lower maintenance over time, a sustainable building really is paying you back. This will benefit businesses that lease retail space and condominium owners.

  “But I suspect most of you are here to get a sense of how this venture will impact the mountain site and the breathtaking scenery surrounding it. Holden Development specializes in minimizing site impact and construction waste. That starts with a design that uses less land. We’ve hired a local architect. I’m sure most of you know Ellie McKnight, and her work is brilliant. Who has more skin in the game than someone who lives right here in Blackwater Lake?”

  Sloan went on for another fifteen minutes explaining the company’s objective of conserving energy and natural resources. He’d worked hard to include the right amount of detail and information but not so much that it would make their heads explode.

  “In conclusion, I want to assure you that we are committed to building smart, building green. Not only to preserve the beauty and natural resources here, but in a global way.”

  He
looked around, trying to gauge the reaction, and again his gaze settled on Maggie. Big mistake. That pretty face made him think about kissing her, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted.

  “There’s more information in the material I provided, including the phone number of my office. If there are any questions after you’ve thoroughly reviewed everything, feel free to contact me. Also, I encourage everyone to research Holden Development. I’m confident our outstanding reputation will withstand intense scrutiny and ease any misgivings. Thank you for your time and attention.”

  There was polite applause and then Sloan gathered up his notes from the lectern. Mayor Loretta Goodson-McKnight made a few remarks in support of the building project before ending the meeting. With so many people standing at the back of the room, it took a few minutes for the rows of people in the chairs to file out toward the rear exit.

  In the center aisle, Sloan was waiting his turn to merge with everyone. As it happened, that turned out to be perfect timing. He was there just as Maggie made her way to the end of her row.

  “Hi.” He held his hand out. “After you.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled and moved in front of him.

  And there it was, that tightening in the gut that always happened whenever she was near. Somehow it seemed stronger tonight. Maybe because he hadn’t seen her for a few days. Even so, that didn’t mean he could get her out of his thoughts.

  He’d really missed the sound of her voice, the scent of her skin. The way her eyes sparkled. Her sense of humor. From where he stood, there was a pretty nice view of her sunny yellow cardigan, faded blue jeans and navy flats. Those jeans hugged the curve of her butt in the best possible way.

  Finally they made it outside, where the cool, fresh air chilled the heat his thoughts had generated. “Where are you parked?”

  “In the lot by city hall,” she said.

  He knew it was a couple blocks from here. “Me, too. Mind if I walk with you?”

  “No.”

  He’d half expected her to shut him down and was glad she hadn’t. Above them, old-fashioned streetlights illuminated the sidewalk in front of the town’s community center. People headed in different directions, so the crowd was melting away. The echo of voices faded and soon there was just the sound of their footsteps on concrete.

  Sloan fell into step next to her, walking on the street side. “What did you think of my presentation?”

  “Very informative.” She glanced up at him and the moonlight revealed her teasing smile. “On the plus side, I didn’t hear anyone around me snoring.”

  “Ouch. That boring?” He slid his right hand into his slacks pocket to minimize the temptation of linking his fingers with hers. “Or are you mocking me?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I don’t want to know,” he said.

  “Actually, you did a good job of giving the facts without too much embellishment. Short and sweet.” She held up the packet of material that had been handed out. “This was a good move. If anyone wants to know more, they can read it or Google Holden Development as you suggested. Because everyone absorbs information differently.”

  “How so?”

  “Some people are auditory and a speech works for them. Some are visual and need to read things in order to internalize it. I’m one of those.”

  “Oh?” He liked that she seemed in the mood to talk, and he was content to listen, hear the sound of her voice.

  “And here’s an example. Have you ever made the mistake of agreeing to take one of those phone surveys?”

  “Can’t say that I have.”

  “Right,” she said drily. “You have a layer of protection from annoying calls. Okay. I’ll explain. Someone asks you to take a survey, then reads several paragraphs and wants you to evaluate it on a scale of one to ten, one being very likely and ten being highly unlikely. By the time they’re finished reading, I can’t even remember the rating system.”

  “I’ll have to tell my assistant never to put one of those calls through to me.”

  She laughed. “I suspect she doesn’t really need a directive from you.”

  “Probably not.” Still, as someone who’d lived here all her life, he valued her opinion and wanted her thoughts on tonight. “How do you think the audience in general responded?”

  “Favorably. The people around me were smiling and nodding.” She looked up at him. “But they were women who could just be taken in by your charm and good looks.”

  “You think I’m charming?”

  She turned right into the city hall parking lot. “Do you really want me to answer that? Are you a quart low on ego?”

  “Maybe.” He laughed and realized that was what he’d missed most. Her making him laugh.

  “All I’ll say is that you are pleasant company.” She stopped by the familiar SUV. “Here’s my car.”

  Sloan realized he wasn’t ready to give up her company and go back to the impersonal landlady/boarder existence they’d settled into. He wanted to talk to her, but the idea of asking her to spend time with him was a little nerve-racking. It felt a lot like being a teenager and asking a girl you had a crush on to the prom.

  Maybe he was a little low on ego.

  All she could do was say no.

  “Would you like to get a quick bite to eat before going back to the house? Or a drink if you already had dinner?”

  She had her keys out but stopped before pressing the button on the fob that would unlock the doors. Hesitantly, she met his gaze.

  When a few seconds passed without an answer, he filled the silence and gave her an out if she wanted one. “You probably have to get back to Danielle.”

  “Actually, Josie is with her. And I didn’t have a chance to eat before the meeting.” She smiled and said, “I’m pretty hungry.”

  He was, too, but not necessarily for food. Being with Maggie in the moonlight brought back memories of kissing her and the yearning to do it again. “Good.”

  “Really? You’re happy that I’m starving and could eat a horse?”

  “No. Of course not. I just meant good that you want to have something to eat with me.” Dear God, now he sounded like an overeager, inexperienced teenager in addition to feeling like one.

  “I know what you meant.” She thought for a moment. “What about Bar None? It will be less crowded than the diner and no one under twenty-one is allowed inside. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my daughter, but on the rare occasions she’s not with me, it’s kind of nice to go somewhere only grown-ups are allowed.”

  “Bar None it is.” He opened her car door for her. “See you there.”

  “Okay.” She smiled and shut herself inside.

  Sloan jogged to his car; he was in a hurry. Partly because he was looking forward to seeing her, but mostly because he was afraid she would change her mind.

  But ten minutes later they were sitting at a bistro table in the establishment on Main Street. Cardboard menus stood up on the table and they each took one. He studied the listed items and still managed to glance at Maggie when she wasn’t looking. She probably wouldn’t make the list of the world’s ten most beautiful women, unlike most of the ones he’d dated, but there was something about her that drew him.

  “I think I’ll have the soup-and-salad combo,” she said. “And a glass of white wine.”

  “A sensible choice.”

  There was a twinkle in her eyes when she said, “I bet you’re going for the B and B—burger and beer.”

  “What gave me away?”

  “It was the sensible part. And the fact that you’re a guy.”

  Just then, a waitress came over and took their orders. She told them she’d be back with their drinks and the food was coming right up. Then they were alone again.

  “What does being a guy have to do with orderin
g a hamburger?” he asked.

  “Don’t forget the sensible part. It implies that you are fully aware of more nutritional choices you could make. But nine times out of ten a man will get red meat and the only hint of healthy is the lettuce, tomato and onion that comes on it.”

  “You do realize that’s negatively profiling men,” he pointed out.

  “Profiles exist for a reason. Think about your guy friends. Tell me I’m wrong.”

  “It’s as if you’re psychic,” he teased.

  “Hardly. Danny used to—” Suddenly she stopped, as if she’d just revealed national secrets, and all the merriment disappeared. The expression on her face could only be described as guilt. “Never mind.”

  If it would help, he would encourage her to talk about the husband she’d lost. Because after she mentioned him, the carefree young woman who’d been enjoying herself was gone.

  He might be a selfish bastard, but Sloan wanted that young woman back.

  * * *

  Maggie had always enjoyed busy, mindless chores like cutting up vegetables for the following morning’s omelets. Tonight she realized it gave her too much time to think. She was doing that now as she put sliced mushrooms into a container, then pressed the lid on it.

  She should never have accepted Sloan’s dinner invitation.

  He’d caught her at a weak moment. The problem was that every moment around Sloan made her weak. Not only that, she hadn’t been ready when he’d asked her to get a bite to eat. She’d been so sure that he wouldn’t waste any more time on her. Then he’d surprised her and the word yes had come out of her mouth before she could think it through.

  At Bar None things had been going well. She’d been relaxed and that was when it happened. She’d started to tell Sloan that Danny had never listened to her warnings about limiting hamburgers. It felt wrong to talk to another man about him, especially because she felt something for Sloan. But it was as if she’d turned her back on her husband. If she and Sloan hadn’t already ordered food, she would have made an excuse and walked out. A hasty exit would have been better than the awkward conversation that had followed. Still, it was her punishment for saying yes in the first place.