Take Two: A Modern Love Story Short (Modern Love Story Shorts Book 1) by Daisy Prescott Page B

something delightful.” Glee danced in her green eyes.
    I quickly adjusted and zipped my jeans. “As a matter of fact—”
    “Maggie was about to make a pie.” Gil interrupted.
    Selah’s head turned as she studied the kitchen. A few full boxes sat on the counter and empty boxes laid on their sides, scattered across the floor. There was no flour, or other baking supplies, in sight. She returned her focus to me and arched her eyebrow. “Really? We’re going with the pie euphemism?”
    My cheeks heated.
    “Well, that blush, and the fact you can still blush at your advanced age, tells me everything I need to know.” She patted my hair, which was tangled from Gil’s fingers.
    After swatting away her hands and then smoothing down my hair, I opened the fridge to cool my face, mumbling about krakens and Beetlejuice. “Want something to drink?”  
    “No, can’t stay. Just stopping by to drop off your house warming gift.”
    “I’ve lived here for years,” Gil said.
    “You don’t count. Okay, it’s more of a shacking up gift.”
    “Please don’t let it be a sex swing or restraints, or other kinky stuff,” I said mostly to myself.
    “As if I’d buy you two a sex swing.” She looked up to the ceiling. “I’m not sure these plaster ceilings could handle it.”
    “I don’t know whether or not to be insulted,” Gil said.  
    “Oh, I know the best place to get one if you want me to take this back.” She placed a red gift bag on the counter.
    “You have a sex swing?” My voice revealed both my fear and fascination about her answer.
    “No, not me. Whatshisface from the tech startup did. You know all those successful businessmen, captain of industry types, are into the kinky stuff.” Her sigh held an unspoken nostalgia.
    “Before this turns into Cougar Confessions, are you sure you don’t want a beer or wine? Coffee?” Gil walked over to my newly organized cupboard and grabbed a pint glass. He held it up and smiled at me.  
    I rolled my eyes.  
    “Okay, fine. Twist my arm. I’ll have coffee.” Selah settled herself on one of the counter stools.  
    While the scent of brewing coffee filled the kitchen, Gil and Selah chatted about their upcoming classes and who had the worse teaching load for spring semester.
    “What’s happening with your beach cabin while you two play love nest down here in Portland?” she asked, adding cream to her cup.
    “I was going to leave it empty for the winter, but Quinn called from New York asking for a favor. A friend of his and Ryan’s needs a short term rental. Bad divorce. How could I say no?” When Quinn called and explained about his friend Diane’s bastard soon-to-be-ex-husband, I couldn’t turn her away. Divorce was tough enough when it was amicable or apathetic. I knew from experience.
    “Is she hot?” Selah asked.
    “Are you asking for yourself?”
    She scoffed. “No, for John. I’m sure he misses flirting with you every day.”
    Gil grumbled from his corner of the counter.  
    “I hadn’t even thought about John. The whole thing happened so quickly. Guess I should let him know.”  
    “I’d hate for John to show up for his morning Maggie—sorry Gil, I mean coffee—and be devastated.” Selah smiled with her typical twinkle in her eye. The finger twirling a short lock of her hair was the tell that she was up to no good and deliberately pushing Gils buttons.
    Gil growled and muttered, “I’m sure the lumberjack will be fine on his own.”  
    “Does the caveman thing turn you on, Maggie?” Selah laughed. “Cause it’s working for me. I didn’t know if you had it in you, G.”
    “Works for me, too.” I winked at her and wrapped my arms around his hips. He leaned down to kiss me softly on the lips. I kissed him back for a moment, rekindling what Selah had interrupted.
    “Gah, you two are like horny teenagers.” She coughed.
    I smiled up at the man I loved. His hair had silver sprinkled through the dark, but his eyes were the same ones