Gabby raised her arms akimbo. “Tell me about it. I sure have kissed some frogs.”
Maggie chuckled. “The arrangement is lovely but you didn’t have to personally deliver it to me.”
Her bright smile faltered. “Well, I’m the only one in the shop today. Until business picks up with weddings, I’m a little bit slow. I do have prom coming up so that will help.” She shrugged. “I put a be-back-in-ten-minutes sign on the door. And besides, I wanted to ask who the mystery man was. Actually, I think he had an assistant call in the order because the credit card name wasn’t Richard but some company name.”
Maggie laughed. “No mystery—just a client renting a cabin down by the river.”
“Right, and he sent you a huge bouquet of flowers? Dancing in the moonlight? I sure wish I had clients like that. Well, I’d want something other than flowers,” Gabby added with a tinkle of laughter. “I have enough of those. Give me chocolate!”
“Chocolate is the cure for anything!” Maggie smiled. She’d frequented Flower Power, loving the fresh scent and beauty of fresh flowers in her loft. Plus, she knew that until Wedding Row was up and running full steam ahead the shop was struggling a little bit. She’d gotten to know Gabby over the past few weeks. “You do wonderful work, Gabby.”
“Thanks!”
“What made you go into the flower business? Other than you have quite the eye for color?”
Gabby’s eyes misted over. “My mama. She was a single mom and worked so hard waiting tables at Sully’s just to make ends meet. I would bring her wildflowers I’d pick because I knew they’d make her smile. I’d put them in a mason jar and set them on the kitchen table so she’d see them as soon as she walked in.”
“That’s such a lovely reason, Gabby.” She smiled. “Tristan used to bring me dandelions. There’s nothing sweeter than getting flowers from a child, even if they’re weeds.”
“True, but it’s also pretty doggone nice to get flowers from an admirer,” Gabby said with a grin. “I sure wish my Prince Charming would come along.”
“Oh, he will. Most likely when you least expect it.”
“Ah, so there’s hope for me yet?”
Maggie nodded. “There’s
Gabby hugged Maggie and then stepped back. “I will. And make sure you come over for coffee and tell me all about Mr. Dancin’ in the Moonlight soon. Okay?”
“I promise.”
“Good,” Gabby said with her usually bubbly smile back in place. “See y’all later.”
After Gabby left Maggie tried to go back to the home plans but her eyes kept drifting back to the flowers. This time there wasn’t a twisted ankle or any reason other than Richard was anxious to see her. The knowledge sent a flutter of excitement dancing around in her stomach. They had been taking things slow but the pull of attraction was undeniable, even when they talked for hours into the night. Richard listened and seemed to really care about her, but she realized that there was so much more that she wanted to learn about him. Once in a while she sensed an edge of sadness and she vowed that tonight she would draw him out and learn more about his past.
Over the years Maggie had felt a pull of attraction here and there. She’d been on a few dinner dates, but while Tristan was young she didn’t want to upset the apple cart, since except for being studious and quiet he was well adjusted and excelled academically. Tristan’s well-being and making enough money to live a modest lifestyle had been Maggie’s main concerns. After Tristan had left for college Maggie could have made changes in her social life but the insecurity of not dating for so long made her incredibly gun-shy.
Maggie reached over and touched the soft petals of a purple iris. She supposed that her mother’s desertion and her father’s lack of love and affection had something to do with her reluctance to seek a relationship. When you felt unloved it was difficult to put your heart on the line to take a beating.
Maggie sat back in her chair, toying with a pen. Fear was such a powerful emotion and so tough to stifle. She inhaled a shaky breath. She needed to shake off the shackles of the past and conquer her fear of rejection. A trickle of fear slid down her spine, but then she sat up straight and tossed the pen down. She needed to stop being wishy-washy! She was attracted to Richard Rule and he obviously felt the same way. She needed to just go for it. Determination melted the cold ball of fear. After all, she and Richard were just two middle-aged people looking for companionship, and if it became more than that she needed to embrace it rather than run. This was her chance. She’d be crazy not to take it.
After all, thoughts of Richard had occupied Maggie’s daydreams all week long. Lunch with him on Monday when he’d brought the paperwork to her only made her think of him more. Long conversations on the phone lasted into the night, creating an intense sensual longing that had her tossing and turning in her bed. The vision of him shirtless, however, plagued her the most.
And the kiss . . .
Maggie heard a groan and then realized it had come from her own throat. She’d relived the sweet, sensual kiss over and over. That one kiss had the power to reach inside her heart and open something she’d kept locked tightly away for such a long time.
Desire.
“Oh, my . . . my.” The need to fan her face wasn’t from a hot flash.
Maggie finally gave up and shut down her computer. She locked the door and flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED. Instead of trying to work she might as well head on upstairs and take a long, hot bubble bath. She planned on exfoliating, shaving, plucking, smoothing, and primping. In anticipation of seeing Richard again she’d purchased some sexy lingerie. A trip to the cosmetic counter at Macy’s resulted in a sultry new fragrance and the knowledge of how to create a smoky eye. The eyeliner still proved tricky but she thought she’d finally gotten the method down. Blending, she had been instructed, was the key.
Maggie had always prided herself in presenting herself well as a mother and real estate agent, but this getting-sexy thing was fun! She only hoped she could pull it off. But Richard had a laid-back way about him that put her at ease. At lunch he’d had her laughing and feeling more carefree than she could remember. He’d requested that she bring jeans and tennis shoes along in the event they wanted to walk, and a bathing suit if she wanted to lounge in the hot tub. Of course, purchasing a new bathing suit had taken hours of trying on dozens of styles. She’d finally selected a modest one-piece halter-top style in a deep shade of emerald green.
The hot weather slipped into an evening warm enough for the baby-blue vintage scoop-neck sundress she’d bought at Violet’s. The sleeveless dress dipped low in the back, showing just enough skin to make her purchase a white, loosely knit sweater to wear over top. She’d remove it only if she mustered up the nerve. White wedge sandals and a matching purse rounded out the outfit.
Maggie looked in the mirror and fluffed her hair. She added more lipstick and then a bit more blush with a fat brush. “Not too shabby,” she said, trying really hard not to be nervous. In the back of her mind—and she kept it there—was the knowledge that this night could lead to more than a lingering kiss. They were adults, after all.
Maggie knew her body was far from perfect. Although she was no spring chicken, the sultry perfume, silky lingerie, and carefully applied makeup boosted her confidence. She gave herself one more once-over in the mirror and then looked at her watch. “Oh boy. Time to go . . .”
On the way to the cabin Maggie turned up the radio loud and sang along, partly because of her good mood but mostly to keep her mind off of getting incredibly, uncontrollably nervous. Because Maggie had made the decision that she wanted to make love to Richard Rule. Tonight.
But when she pulled into the lane leading to the cabin her heart started to pound.
“Just go with the flow,” Maggie whispered to herself as she pulled up in front of the cabin. “Dinner, maybe a dance on the back deck. You don’t need to be thinking about . . .
With that in mind she killed the engine, hefted her purse and tote bag over her shoulder, and then proceeded to walk with slightly shaky knees up to the front door. After taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and knocked.
“Maggie!” Richard smiled as he held the door open for her. “Come in.”
Apple and cinnamon wafted her way. “Oh, it smells heavenly in here.”
