‘Are you warning me off?’
‘Isn’t that what you’re trying to do to me?’ He tossed the question right back at her, hating himself for using a legal tactic to avoid flaying himself wide open. Maggie was digging into places he preferred to keep locked up tight.
A flash of anger slid across her face and Chad knew if he didn’t take a leap of faith right now she was going to walk out. ‘I’m sorry. That was crass. I’m not good at this.’ With a wry smile he gestured at them both.
‘Nor am I,’ Maggie admitted. ‘It’s probably why we’re both considered Reject Table people in the first place.’
Chad burst out laughing. ‘You’re great for my self-image I must say,’ he jibed, ‘there’s no danger of ever getting an over-inflated ego around you. And I mean that in the best possible way before you get offended.’ She grinned right back at him, a wide glorious smile that sent a flash of desire zinging right through him.
Maggie glanced at her wristwatch and frowned. ‘I hate to say this, but I need to go and check on Emily.’
‘Don’t apologise. The best thing is that you said you hate the idea of leaving, so it’s all good.’
He ached to kiss her until they both forgot everything else. Timing. Chad. Timing. It’s lousy. Give the woman a break. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
She gave a shy smile and shook her head. ‘You’ve no idea how much you’ve done already.’
Tell me. Chad yearned to pin her down and ask exactly what she meant but sensed she’d already gone further than she’d intended. Frightening her off was the last thing he wanted to do. ‘I’ll take you home.’
This time the silence between them as they left was comfortable and easy. Maggie rested her head against his shoulder as he drove as slowly as possible until they reached her house. He parked outside and she didn’t object when Chad got out to walk in with her.
Suddenly the front door opened and a black plastic bag flew out, bursting open as it landed at Chad’s feet and spilling men’s clothes all over the path.
‘Get out, and stay gone this time,’ Emily shrieked, pummelling on a well-dressed, blond-haired man who was struggling to hold onto her.
‘Oh, God, it’s Jonathan. Now it’s going to be World War Three,’ Maggie groaned.
Chapter Thirteen
Maggie strode briskly up the path. ‘Get inside now, both of you, we’re not arguing out on the doorstep.’
‘But, Maggie, you don’t know what he said …’
‘I don’t care, Ems, do what I say right now.’
Emily wriggled out of Jonathan’s grasp and stomped into the house.
‘I’m sorry, but it is my …’
She pinned Jonathan with her fiercest glare. ‘You too. Inside. Now.’ Maggie glanced over her shoulder and caught Chad stifling a grin. ‘I could do with some moral support so you might as well come too.’ She gestured towards the clothes and rubbish bag. ‘Bring all that.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ His mischievous smile almost cracked her attempt at being stern but she managed to hold it together.
Everyone bundled into the kitchen and Emily immediately sat down and slumped over the table with a petulant expression. Jonathan propped himself up by the sink and folded his arms across his chest.
‘This is our private business. Who’s he?’ Jonathan asked, pointing at Chad.
‘A stray Yank my dear sister picked up at a wedding yesterday,’ Emily replied with a nasty smirk.
‘Apologise right now.’ Maggie’s blood boiled over. ‘I don’t care how bad you’re feeling or what problems you’ve got there’s no excuse for being rude. You should be very grateful to Chad for helping us out with the cake. He saved us from looking like a pair of fools.’ She grabbed hold of his hand and tilted her chin up in the air. ‘Plus I happen to like him very much. More than like. So there.’ A surge of embarrassed heat flooded her face.
The sucker punch caught Chad right in the gut and he struggled to keep his wits about him. He stuck out his other hand. ‘Chad Robertson.’ Jonathan gingerly took it and gave them both a bemused look. ‘Music attorney from Nashville, Tennessee.’ He gave Maggie a big wink. ‘Equally smitten with this lovely lady.’ Chad bent down and kissed her, right on the mouth.
Oh, heck. She knew he’d taste delicious, but …
‘For goodness sake, Maggie.’ Emily’s disgust was obvious. ‘I’m pregnant and have been deserted by my baby’s father, and all you can do is throw yourself at some man you haven’t known for five minutes.’
‘It’s about twenty-seven hours if we’re splitting hairs,’ Chad observed.
‘I didn’t desert you either, well, not exactly.’ Jonathan stammered. ‘I mean, I didn’t know you were …’
‘Shut up, all of you,’ Maggie yelled. The room fell silent and three pairs of eyes stared at her in bemusement. ‘All of this upset isn’t doing Emily and the baby any good. I’m going to make a pot of tea and we’ll talk this over sensibly.’ Before Emily could do any more than open her mouth Maggie scowled and her sister shut up.
‘Well done,’ Chad whispered in her ear and the admiration in his voice gave her a bolt of much needed courage.
When everyone had their tea Maggie sat next to Emily. ‘First I want to hear what Jonathan has to say.’
‘But he …’
‘Thanks, Maggie.’ He shifted from one foot to the other then paced around the room, looking anywhere but at her sister. ‘I love Emily. Always have done.’ Jonathan hesitated. ‘But she can be a bit … difficult at times.’
‘Tell them what you did,’ Emily blurted out.
‘She pushed me to set a wedding date and I wasn’t sure we were ready.’
‘I was.’ She protested.
He came over to kneel on the floor next to her side and picked up her hands. ‘No, you weren’t, Emily. We’ve been having some issues and you know it but you were scared of losing me. I told you that wouldn’t happen.’
‘But it did.’
‘I couldn’t handle your erratic outbursts anymore.’
Emily paled. ‘So you went to a party, got drunk and slept with a tart.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’ Jonathan protested.
Maggie could see at this rate they’d be there until midnight and no further ahead. Succinctly she rattled off all the things Emily accused him of and asked if he’d done each one. He quickly said yes to the first two, but then went quiet.
‘Hey, pal, get it over with, you’re not helping yourself here,’ Chad interjected.
‘I wasn’t unfaithful to Emily. I couldn’t be. It would kill me,’ Jonathan protested.
‘But you told me you did,’ Emily said calmly. ‘Why did you lie?’
‘Because it was the worst thing he could think of.’ Chad took a chance and spoke up. ‘We men are idiots sometimes. Take pity on him, kid, and listen to what he’s really saying.’ He caught Maggie’s sharp intake of breath and knew she was waiting for her sister to go into tantrum mode again.
Emily sat up very straight. ‘Jonathan, we need to talk on our own.’ She glanced over at them. ‘No offence, you two.’
‘None taken,’ Chad said and slipped his arm around Maggie’s shoulder. ‘How about you and I go for a walk?’
‘A walk? But …’
‘They’ll be fine.’ He stared deep into her worried eyes, trying to convey his belief that it was time to let Emily deal with her own problems. ‘Do you want to change into something more comfortable? We can stop by the pub for me to do the same on the way.’
‘I suppose we could.’ Maggie’s reluctance couldn’t have been more obvious if she’d spelled it out in flashing neon lights. ‘Are you absolutely sure?’ She asked Emily.
‘Yes. I promise not to yell, hit Jonathan or burst into tears. Okay?’
Maggie sighed and nodded. Without saying any more she left the room and disappeared upstairs.
Chad considered going outside to wait, not wanting to make things more awkward than they already were.
&
nbsp; ‘Thanks, mate.’ Jonathan pulled out the chair next to Emily and sat down. ‘I bet you’re good at your job.’ He gave Chad a wry smile.
‘Most of the time.’
‘If you mess my sister around you’ll have me to deal with,’ Emily threatened before giving in to a tight smile. ‘You’ve witnessed me when I’m angry so that should be your warning.’
‘It certainly is,’ he jokingly agreed.
Maggie reappeared in the kitchen door and stared around at them all laughing, obviously convinced they were completely mad.
‘Everything’s fine. Off we go.’ Without giving her a chance to argue he seized her hand and whisked her outside. He had her settled in his car before she had a chance to protest.
‘You’re very domineering sometimes,’ Maggie groused without any real venom.
‘I prefer to call it decisive.’
‘Hmm. You would.’
He grinned and started up the engine, putting the car in gear and driving away before Maggie could change her mind and insist they go back inside to referee. ‘I love your hair loose.’ She’d left it undone today and the dark brown waves rippled around her face.
‘It’s a mess, but I have to tie it back for cooking so I usually don’t bother when I’m free from work.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m envious of yours.’
‘Mine?’
She nodded and stared down at her knees.
Chad tried not to give in to a satisfied smile. ‘We’ll discuss this when I’m not trying to concentrate on staying on the right side of the road – or rather the left.’
A few minutes later they were back at the Black Prince where things were quieter now the lunch-time rush was over. He pulled into a parking spot close to the front door. ‘How about you go and sit in the public lounge while I throw on some jeans?’
‘I’d prefer to wait for you in the garden if you don’t mind. It’s too pretty a day to be inside.’ Maggie insisted and left before he could argue.
Chad hummed to himself as he took the stairs two at a time. He hoped he wasn’t reading too much into her confusion around him because he felt exactly the same way. Fumbling with his door key he let himself into the room. As fast as he could Chad kicked off his black dress shoes and quickly stripped off the shirt and khaki trousers he’d worn for lunch. He pulled on his old jeans, a dark green T-shirt and trainers and was ready to go.
He ran back down and hurried out into the garden.
‘There you are. Tonya’s here for your date.’ Maggie’s sharp tone of voice chilled him. She wasn’t smiling anymore.
‘Date?’ His gaze rested on his Reject Table nemesis, wearing another tight fitting dress, this one bright yellow with a neckline that plunged down to her waist.
Tonya gave a complacent smile. ‘I was telling dear Maggie that I’d come over to start showing you around Cornwall. I couldn’t let you go alone. We’ll start with Land’s End this afternoon.’ She took a step closer and trailed her glossy red fingernails down his bare arm. Chad jerked away and wrapped his arm around Maggie’s stiff shoulders.
‘Thanks, but I’ve already made other plans, Tonya.’
Her green eyes narrowed. ‘We had a little misunderstanding yesterday but things are different now, aren’t they Maggie?’
‘What’s going on?’ he murmured to Maggie but she pulled away from his grasp.
‘I need to go back home.’ Her voice broke. ‘I’ll leave you two alone to get on with your sightseeing.’ She took off running across the grass and Chad’s fury erupted.
He seized Tonya’s arm. ‘What the hell did you say to her?’
‘Only the truth.’
‘You’re a deeply unpleasant woman,’ he hissed. ‘I’m going after Maggie.’ Chad strode off.
‘When you catch up with her ask what she did to rip her family apart,’ Tonya yelled, but he didn’t turn around.
Chapter Fourteen
Maggie raced out through the pub, ignoring the stares she received from the few customers lingering by the bar, and hurled herself out of the front door. Halfway across the car park she stumbled on the rough gravel. From nowhere a strong hand grabbed her wrist and saved her from falling.
‘Are you alright?’ Chad’s concern tore at her and Maggie couldn’t fight any longer when he wrapped his arms around her. She allowed her head to rest on his firm chest and savoured the reassuring thump of his heartbeat. ‘I’ve no idea what all that was about but you’re going to tell me and we’ll sort it out. I hope you know me better than to believe I made any sort of arrangement with her?’
She couldn’t lie. ‘Of course I don’t.’ Maggie hesitated. ‘But I hate the idea of spoiling your good opinion of me.’
Chad eased back so she was forced to look up at him. ‘Don’t jump to conclusions. I told you I’m not perfect and you’re still here.’
If only it was that simple.
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, honey, but we need somewhere quiet to talk. How about we go up to my room?’
Despite everything she had to bite her lip to stop from laughing. Finally a gorgeous man invites her into his bedroom but all he wants to do is talk. Maggie allowed him to lead her back inside the pub and they headed up the dark staircase without speaking. He unlocked the first door they came to along the narrow hallway.
‘Welcome to my humble abode.’ Chad walked in first, hastily scooping up clothes from the floor and tossing them in a heap in the corner of the room.
Maggie glanced awkwardly around, her eyes drawn to the large bed with its garish floral bedspread and mound of lacy pillows.
‘Tasteful, isn’t it?’ He smiled and gestured towards a plush red velvet armchair over by the small bay window. Chad toed off his shoes and stretched out on the bed, plumped up the pillows and rested his hands behind his head.
She ignored the chair and stood in front of him. She’d get this over with quickly – like ripping off a plaster. ‘Did Tonya say anything about me after I left?’ He didn’t answer right away and her heart clenched. Enough said.
‘Yeah. She told me to ask what you did to rip your family apart. I guessed she was simply being her usual annoying self. Do you want to join me?’ Chad’s eyes gleamed as he patted the bed. ‘Only if it’ll make things easier for you of course.’
‘You’re so noble.’ She played along and the knot of tension in the pit of her stomach eased its grip. Maggie slipped off her own shoes and perched on the edge of the bed.
‘I won’t bite.’ Chad bared his white teeth, ‘I promised Great Aunt Audrey.’
He reached over to cover her hand with his own and the comforting touch of his warm skin helped. ‘Do you remember when Emily was rude to me yesterday and you said I didn’t deserve being spoken to that way?’
‘Sure do.’
‘I had my reasons for disagreeing with you, I wasn’t simply being weird. When I was sixteen I went to a friend’s party after my parents told me not to.’
Chad pulled her gently down to lie with him and wrapped his arms around her, his clean scent both soothing and arousing her at the same time. ‘It’s okay. I’m here. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.’
Yes, it is, you’re going to hate me and I can’t bear it.
‘Tell me what happened.’ He’d been to enough unauthorised parties to know there must be more to Maggie’s story. Chad stroked her hair, playing idly with the silky curls and she softened into him. He steeled his body not to react to her nearness, but a light sweat formed on his forehead with the effort. You should’ve found a quiet spot in the lounge to talk, you idiot.
‘Emily wasn’t invited but she followed me there. I was sick of her always spoiling everything for me and I told her exactly what I thought of her. I told her to go back home.’ Maggie stammered and buried her head in his chest to avoid meeting his questioning eyes. ‘She got mad at me and then rang our mother to come and pick her up. Of course Mum came right away because all my sister ever had to do was click her fingers. Emily spotted her parked outside and ran into the str
eet,’ Maggie gulped. ‘My sweet mother saw a car driving towards them and pushed Emily out of the way.’
‘But your mother was hit?’ He ventured. Maggie’s shuddering sobs ran through him and Chad clutched her tighter.
‘Head on. She died a week later.’
‘Aw, honey, I’m sorry.’
‘Afterwards my Dad made it clear that continuing to look out for Emily was the least I could do. He passed away five years ago – they claimed it was complications from pneumonia but I think it was a broken heart …’ Her voice faltered.
Chad brushed away the slow trickle of tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘Have you and Emily talked about all this?’
‘We don’t need to.’ She shook her head. ‘She’s always made it clear I was to blame.’
‘That’s not fair.’
Maggie jerked out of his arms. ‘You don’t understand. Nobody can.’
He needed to tread carefully if she wasn’t to freak out at him. ‘Answer me one thing. If this had happened the other way around would you still hold this over Emily’s head?’
Deep frown lines creased her forehead and after several long painfully silent moments she half-heartedly shrugged.
‘I didn’t think so.’
‘But she’s …’
Chad rested his fingers gently on her trembling hand. ‘Different? Not in any insurmountable sense.’
‘It’s not that simple,’ she yelled and burst into tears.
‘Let it all out, Maggie.’ Chad gathered her back into his arms. ‘It’s fine, you don’t have to be tough all the time. Not any more.’ She glanced up at him, her blue eyes shining, and Chad cradled her face in his hands.
He pressed a soft kiss on Maggie’s lush mouth and her contented sigh encouraged him to deepen the kiss. Surrounded by her luscious vanilla scent Chad slipped one hand down to press against the base of her spine and ease her closer.
She’s worth more than this. You’re taking advantage.
Sometimes he hated his overactive conscience. Chad sucked in a deep breath, gritted his teeth and pulled away.
‘Why did you stop?’ Hurt ran through Maggie’s voice. ‘Was it so terrible you couldn’t bear to go on kissing me?’
The Wedding Reject Table (Choc Lit) (Nashville Connections Book 2) Page 7
