Page 84 of The Roommate Subtext

At that moment, Rachel returned. “Is there a problem?” she asked, looking between the couple and Chauvel.

“This man was just leaving,” Maggie said, taking a sip of her water. “I’m sure he can find his own way out.”

Arnold Chauvel grimaced, looking like he’d swallowed something terrible. He turned and stalked from the restaurant.

Maggie’s shoulders sagged as soon as he was gone. “Oh, thank god,” she said.

“Are you all right?” Rachel asked. “Do you want me to get a manager?”

“I’m fine.” Maggie gave a short laugh that sounded on the verge of hysterics. “We still haven’t looked at the menus. I’m sorry. Could you give us a few minutes, please?”

“Of course.” Rachel stepped away.

“You were amazing,” Blake said. “You rolled with it perfectly.”

“How did you know he wouldn’t figure you out?” Maggie asked.

He shook his head. “It was a hunch.” He blew out a shaky breath, adrenaline still pumping. “I’m used to being stereotyped. The Pimpernel has a certain mythos. Chauvel would never expect a nerdy guy in a sweater vest.”

Maggie nodded. “Plus, he knew you as my boyfriend from the gala.”

“Fake dating and inaccurate assumptions save the day.” He raised his water glass with trembling fingers and took another sip. “I’m starting to wish I’d gotten something stronger.”

Maggie laughed, and her voice sounded as shaky as he felt. “Maybe one drink.”

“That sounds good.”

Maggie couldn’t stop glancing at the door, even though Chauvel had long since stalked off into the night. Her heartbeat was finally beginning to return to normal.

“You know, he’s not going to be through with this,” Blake said.

“No, probably not.” Maggie gave one final glance past Blake’s shoulder and resolved to stop looking for Chauvel. “But we’ll take that as it comes. I have a good lawyer.” Chauvel had already written Blake off as not the Pimpernel. If they were both smart about it, he’d have no more evidence. Plus, Giselda said that maybe Chauvel was going to get what was coming to him. She could only hope. “I’m going to have to get a new phone.”

And just like that, the weight of Chauvel lifted off her. She felt light, free, and suddenly, suddenly aware once more that she was sitting down with the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Their server Rachel returned with a smile. “Have you figured out what you’d like to order?”

Blake looked up at her. “Oh my gosh, Rachel, I’m sorry. We keep getting distracted.” His eyes crinkled again when he laughed, ducking his head sheepishly. “Can you tell me what the specials are?”

Rachel listed off a few options, smiling at Blake, clearly charmed. He already had her under his spell, just from that exchange. His magnetism was palpable. How had she never noticed it before?

“Maggie, do you need a few minutes?” Blake’s warm brown eyes invited her to take all the time she needed.

She had never gotten flustered around him before, but it took her a moment to find her words. She ordered the filet special and a glass of wine, and Blake ordered the same.

After Rachel had taken the specifics of their order, she left, and Blake watched her go, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know,” he said, “Once I realized it was you, I wasn’t sure how to proceed.” He turned back to face her again, his expression so open and unguarded it made something ache inside Maggie’s chest. “I wasn’t sure if it had all been about the article.”

Maggie swallowed around the lump in her throat. “You thought I didn’t mean it.”

“I did wonder.” He smiled, and that smile was sad, too, the different possibilities warring against each other. “And even more than that, I didn’t know if you’d want it to be me.”

“I didn’t know if you’d want it to be me,” Maggie echoed, her fingers wrapping instinctively around the edge of the table, like she was in danger of falling off her chair, like the world was tilting out from under her.

And maybe it was.

“Maggie.” Blake’s voice was soft and so, so tender. He reached out, hand hovering above hers, and met her eyes. It was all the confirmation she needed. She turned her hand palm up, and when he took it in his, the lump in her throat went away.

A laugh tumbled out of her, a laugh of relief and hope with a touch of anxiety mixed in. “I’m not going to run away.”