Page 18 of Maggie’s Match

“Do you have any idea how to manage all this?” He waved to the piles around him.

Maggie’s smile was quick and almost stopped his heart.

“Besides baking, organizing is one of my favorite pastimes.” She rubbed her hands together and walked into the room.

“You’re a very sick individual,” he murmured under his breath, and she laughed.

“So I’ve been told,” she said, motioning for him to vacate the chair.

He stood up quickly and bumped solidly into her. His hands wrapped around her hips to steady them both.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. He got a whiff of her sexy perfume and felt his entire body vibrate with want.

How was it that she’d always had a hold on him like this? She could always make his body respond in ways he convinced himself was his imagination when he was all alone.

“Maggie,” he said, his eyes going to hers.

“Did you really come here for me?” she asked quickly.

“Yes,” he admitted, unable to lie or to hold anything back. Not when she was so close to him that he could see the small trail of featherlight freckles that powdered her nose and cheeks.

“Why now?” she asked, her hands moving slowly up his arms, sending little bumps to rise all over his skin.

And here is where not thinking always got in him trouble.

“Because I want you,” he managed to blurt out. He mentally kicked himself when Maggie’s eyes narrowed and she dropped her hands and took a step away from him.

“Wanting something doesn’t mean that you deserve it,” she said dryly as she moved around him and sat down in the chair.

“I didn’t think—” he started, stopping when she glared up at him.

“And therein lies the problem you’ve had your entire life.” She turned away from him again. “Now, show me what you’ve gone through already.”

He knew better than to try and continue the conversation. Not once in the entire time that he’d known her had he ever won an argument with her. Somehow, that knowledge had him smiling.

Leaning on the side of the desk, he explained his filing system only for her to redo the entire thing.

“I got an email from my uncle,” he said, opening the file and scanning it. “He’s highlighted a clause that allows you to get out of the lease, and he suggests that you walk away.” He glanced up at her. “How much have you put into the place so far?”

Maggie thought about it. “Actually, all we have done so far was clean up and paint two walls. The electrician and plumbers were scheduled to be there next week.”

“Perfect.” He went back to reading the message from his uncle. “If you agree with breaking free of the lease, he can file the paperwork himself for you. He thinks that having it come from a lawyer’s office will help your case and possibly win you back some of your deposit money.”

“That would be great.” She relaxed back in the chair. “I’ll run it by Becca later, but from the sound of it, she and my aunt are all for this other possibility. I even called my mother to have her put an official offer on the vacant land. She confirmed that it is zoned for commercial use and even did a search and sent us information about the codes to move an existing building onto it. My aunt and Becca are going over that information now.”

“That’s good.” He scanned the rest of the email from his uncle. “It appears my uncle has you covered in that area too. He spoke to your mother.” He showed her his phone. “The lot you’re looking at is technically outside of Bottle Creek city limits. Which means you won’t have to get a city permit to move the building.” He smiled. “You will still need permits to hook it up to utilities, but he’s going to help you handle that with the utility companies.”

“Seriously?” She gasped and held onto his phone, scanning over every single word more than twice. Then she laughed and jumped up from the chair and did one of those happy booty dances she always did that entertained him and made him horny as hell. “I have to go tell Becca.” She sprinted from the room, still holding his phone.

When she returned, she was still smiling. “Sorry,” she said, handing him his phone. “Thank you for helping us out.” He tucked his phone back in his pocket. “We’re very lucky you showed up.”

There was a glint in her eyes that made him want to tell her everything. How he felt about her. How he’d been a fool all these years. Instead, he stood there like a statue as she glanced around.

“We never did find that folder with the offer my uncle was talking about,” she said, looking around the room.

“No,” he agreed. “But we haven’t checked in any of the cabinets or drawers yet.”

“Why don’t you go grab us some of the pie my aunt just sliced and some sweet tea, and I’ll get back to work?” she suggested.