AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think she was in your rotary club, dear.”
A lightbulb goes off in Patricia’s eyes. “Ah yes. Dreadful woman.”
Maggie snickers, and I pinch her leg under the table. She responds by kicking my ankle.
A middle-aged man emerges from what I assume is the kitchen and presents a bottle of red wine to Robert. Robert nods, tastes the first sample, and then approves of the wine, which the man serves to everyone in the glasses that were already at each place setting.
In a matter of moments, he returns with a rolling cart and starts serving us a meticulously prepared plated dinner.
“So, Maggie,” Patricia leans forward, her diamond earrings catching the light, “What do you do besides charming the socks off our hockey player here? Do you work? Volunteer?”
Maggie takes a sip of her wine, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Oh, I’m a professional gold-digger. Sawyer here is my latest victim.”
I nearly choke on my wagyu. Robert lets out a hearty laugh, slapping his knee.
“Actually,” I say, shooting Maggie a look. “My wife’s an artist. I’m constantly tripping over her mess of art supplies she leaves around the house. The things she makes are… interesting.”
“How fascinating!” Patricia exclaims, looking genuinely interested. “What kind of art do you create?”
“I make jewelry,” Maggie replies. “Mostly out of macaroni and glitter glue.”
This time, I can’t hold back a snort. The Thorntons look confused, but amused. “She’s joking again,” I explain, patting Maggie’s knee. “She actually creates beautiful, intricate pieces. You should see them.”
It’s only a white lie. She’s clearly talented, and the little things she makes have a lot of detail. They’re just weird, that’s all.
Robert nods approvingly. “A creative spirit! That’s wonderful. You’ve got a firecracker on your hands, young man.”
I grin, wrapping an arm around Maggie’s shoulders, squeezing her tightly. “That I have. She keeps me on my toes, this woman.”
“He’s loving it,” Maggie grunts. “Aren’t you, sweetums?”
Sweetums? Oh, she’s really spreading it on thick now.
“Absolutely…snookums,” I reply, crushing her into me and gritting my teeth. “I wake up every day wondering how. I. Got. So. Lucky!”
Maggie stiffens slightly but keeps her smile plastered on. “And I wake up wondering the same thing. Soooo… Lucky.”
The sarcasm in her voice is lost on our hosts, who are practically cooing at us now.
As the dinner progresses, the conversation moves to more mundane subjects. I’m starting to think I might actually survive this evening without Maggie completely torpedoing my career. That is, until dessert arrives.
“Oh, before I forget,” Robert says, setting down his spoon. “Sawyer, we’d love for you and Maggie to join us at our charity gala next month. It’s for a cause very close to our hearts.”
I nod eagerly. “Of course, we’d be honored?—”
“What kind of charity?” Maggie interrupts, her eyes wide with innocence. Too much innocence.
Patricia beams. “The Special Committee for the Conservation of Special Committees.”
“How wonderful! I love special committees,” Maggie exclaims. Then she turns to me, her face a mask of pure mischief. “Honey, we should donate some of your special brownies!”
I freeze, my spoon halfway to my mouth. “My…what?”
“You know, those ‘herbal’ brownies you make. The ones that make everything hilarious and food taste amazing?” She winks at the Thorntons. “They’re quite popular at parties.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. This is it. She’s finally done it. I’m going to be traded to a team in Siberia.
But to my utter shock, Robert bursts into laughter. “Oh, my dear! You are an absolute riot!”
