think you should do, so now you have to make a decision.”
“You make it sound so simple.” Maggie thought about the restaurant. If she left, would Mark even keep it open? Or would it turn from the upscale dining experience she’d brought St. Josephs to more of a quick sandwich shop. A place for people to grab lunch after visiting with the tigers. You can’t live two lives. Her mother’s old saying came into her head. When Maggie was a little girl, she’d tell her mom about all the things she wanted to be. A fashion designer, an astronaut, a chef, and mother to a dozen kids. Typically her mom had been folding laundry or making dinner during these discussions and Maggie remembered her laughter, not at her daughter, but at the dreams of being everything.
“It is simple.” Josh frowned. “Or is this just my dream? You can tell me if I’m over-stepping. I know we just met, but I think there is a connection between us. Am I wrong?”
Maggie hesitated, not because of her feelings, but because of the intensity of them. She saw a splash of pain cross over Josh’s face.
“I guess that’s my answer.” He turned toward the entry. “Look, I’m heading to the motel. I’ll be at the restaurant to work tomorrow, but you better find another chef. I’m leaving as soon as my bike is fixed.” He turned back and looked at her one more time. “With or without you.”
CHAPTER 9
The too-big bed felt cold as Maggie tossed and turned. How had Josh become part of her life so quickly? Her body ached, not just for the fevered touch when they made love, but more for the warm companionship of having him close. She’d never been one to spoon and cuddle in the afterglow. A habit that had gotten her in trouble with most of her short relationships. One guy in college had told her she treated sex like a dude, wham-bam-thank-you-sir, and she was done.
The trouble with those guys was once the sex was over, she hadn’t know what else they had in common. She hadn’t felt that way with Josh. They talked movies and books and food. They talked before, after, and heaven help her, even during sex. She could even imagine the cottage by the sea he’d promised her.
All she had to do was give up her life here.
Her cell buzzed as she lay on her bed, wondering if she even set the automatic coffee pot last night. She’d been so upset about the restaurant and Josh, she’d just gone through the motions. Watching television but not even remembering what shows she’d had on. Now it was time to act like a grown up and get ready for work.
She grabbed the cell off the bedside table and answered. “What?”
“Well, good morning to you too.” Brad’s voice was a little too chipper for—she rolled over and checked the time on her clock—eight in the morning.
She sat up and walked toward the bathroom. “What do you want Brad?”
“Okay then. Now that we have the niceties over, I want to talk to you about Mom. I’ve got that woman coming over this morning to interview for the assistant slot. I want you to talk to her too.”
Maggie stared at her bloodshot eyes and tousled brown hair. If she hadn’t known better, she would have said she had a bender last night. Instead, she hadn’t even finished the first beer she’d opened right after Josh left the house. No way would she admit to either herself or anyone else that she’d been crying. She focused back on the conversation. “What are you talking about? Did Mom change her mind?”
“Of course not. She’s as stubborn as that old mule we had when we were kids.” Brad chuckled. “What was his name again? Charger?”
“Steed,” Maggie answered absently. “So if Mom doesn’t want help, why are you interviewing her?”
“Because Mon needs the help. She just doesn’t know it. We’ll get her lined up and as soon as she comes to her senses, we have itin place. Shane isn’t going to be able to lift her off the floor if she falls. ” Brad slowed his words to add emphasis
“You make it sound so simple.” Maggie thought about the restaurant. If she left, would Mark even keep it open? Or would it turn from the upscale dining experience she’d brought St. Josephs to more of a quick sandwich shop. A place for people to grab lunch after visiting with the tigers. You can’t live two lives. Her mother’s old saying came into her head. When Maggie was a little girl, she’d tell her mom about all the things she wanted to be. A fashion designer, an astronaut, a chef, and mother to a dozen kids. Typically her mom had been folding laundry or making dinner during these discussions and Maggie remembered her laughter, not at her daughter, but at the dreams of being everything.
“It is simple.” Josh frowned. “Or is this just my dream? You can tell me if I’m over-stepping. I know we just met, but I think there is a connection between us. Am I wrong?”
Maggie hesitated, not because of her feelings, but because of the intensity of them. She saw a splash of pain cross over Josh’s face.
“I guess that’s my answer.” He turned toward the entry. “Look, I’m heading to the motel. I’ll be at the restaurant to work tomorrow, but you better find another chef. I’m leaving as soon as my bike is fixed.” He turned back and looked at her one more time. “With or without you.”
CHAPTER 9
The too-big bed felt cold as Maggie tossed and turned. How had Josh become part of her life so quickly? Her body ached, not just for the fevered touch when they made love, but more for the warm companionship of having him close. She’d never been one to spoon and cuddle in the afterglow. A habit that had gotten her in trouble with most of her short relationships. One guy in college had told her she treated sex like a dude, wham-bam-thank-you-sir, and she was done.
The trouble with those guys was once the sex was over, she hadn’t know what else they had in common. She hadn’t felt that way with Josh. They talked movies and books and food. They talked before, after, and heaven help her, even during sex. She could even imagine the cottage by the sea he’d promised her.
All she had to do was give up her life here.
Her cell buzzed as she lay on her bed, wondering if she even set the automatic coffee pot last night. She’d been so upset about the restaurant and Josh, she’d just gone through the motions. Watching television but not even remembering what shows she’d had on. Now it was time to act like a grown up and get ready for work.
She grabbed the cell off the bedside table and answered. “What?”
“Well, good morning to you too.” Brad’s voice was a little too chipper for—she rolled over and checked the time on her clock—eight in the morning.
She sat up and walked toward the bathroom. “What do you want Brad?”
“Okay then. Now that we have the niceties over, I want to talk to you about Mom. I’ve got that woman coming over this morning to interview for the assistant slot. I want you to talk to her too.”
Maggie stared at her bloodshot eyes and tousled brown hair. If she hadn’t known better, she would have said she had a bender last night. Instead, she hadn’t even finished the first beer she’d opened right after Josh left the house. No way would she admit to either herself or anyone else that she’d been crying. She focused back on the conversation. “What are you talking about? Did Mom change her mind?”
“Of course not. She’s as stubborn as that old mule we had when we were kids.” Brad chuckled. “What was his name again? Charger?”
“Steed,” Maggie answered absently. “So if Mom doesn’t want help, why are you interviewing her?”
“Because Mon needs the help. She just doesn’t know it. We’ll get her lined up and as soon as she comes to her senses, we have itin place. Shane isn’t going to be able to lift her off the floor if she falls. ” Brad slowed his words to add emphasis
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