Page 19 of Maggie’s Match

He nodded but didn’t make a move to leave. “Maggie?” His voice cracked slightly. It was getting more difficult to hide his feelings for her, something he had no problem doing years ago.

“Yes?” she asked, her voice only a whisper.

Suddenly, he lost his nerve and blurted out, “I’m glad things are working out for you.” Then he turned and walked out of the room.

“Boy, you’re a damn fool,” Becca said, meeting him in the hallway with her own slice of pie balanced on a plate.

He rolled his eyes at her and continued down the hallway to the kitchen. When he walked into the kitchen, Bridget was slapping Bent’s hands away from a slice of pie that she’d cut.

“Oh good,” Bridget smiled at him. “Here, these are for you and Maggie.” She held up two plates for him. “Would the two of you like some coffee?”

“Iced tea, if you have it?” he asked, taking the plates.

“Sure, I’ll have Bent bring them in.” She nudged her son’s shoulder. Bent groaned but then walked over to the fridge.

“Thanks,” he said, glancing around. “Where’s your husband?”

Bridget sighed. “He’s outside. He got it in his mind to sit outside on high alert all night in his hunting gear with his night-vision goggles. He thinks he’s going to catch whoever is killing our cattle red-handed.”

“I’m heading out in a while to watch over another part of the herd,” Bent said with an eye roll. “Which is why I need the extra sugar,” he pointed out to his mother as he poured two glasses of iced tea.

“Fine, but only if you take your father one too,” Bridget added, earning a kiss on the cheek from Bent.

“I could—” Rick started, but Bridget shook her head.

“No, Bryson has assured me that he and Bentley have things under control. Besides, you and Maggie have been working so hard in the office. You’ll need your rest.”

He wanted to argue, but in truth, he was tired. Besides, they still had to find the folder with the offer in it. Who knew how long that was going to take.

“Here.” Bridget pulled a tray from the pantry and set the plates of pie and the ice teas on it. “Think you can manage?”

He nodded and took the tray. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. It’s a relief knowing we have a veterinarian on the property through all this.”

When he walked back into the office, Maggie was all alone and making her way through a stack of things that she’d pulled from one of the drawers.

“Break?” he asked, setting the tray down on the edge of the desk.

“Yes.” She sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Becca saw all the work we’ve done in here and claimed that this is the cleanest this room has been in her entire life,” she added with a smile.

“Think it will stay this way?” he asked, pulling up a chair and sitting beside her.

“One can hope.” She laughed and then took a sip of her tea.

“Do you like where you’re at?” he asked suddenly, causing her to frown. “I mean, living above your parents’ garage?”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s okay for now, though. Aubrey’s been pestering me to move out so she can have the apartment instead.”

“Why haven’t you gotten a place of your own?” he asked. If she had enough money to open a franchise, she could have easily purchased a place in Fairplay instead. “You could buy yourself a house instead of helping your cousin out.”

She waited to answer until after she’d taken a bite of her pie. “I suppose it isn’t that important to me. At least not yet. Right now, I’m focused on making my businesses flourish.”

“I’m thinking of building a home on my land on Saddleback,” he told her.

She glanced over at him with surprise in her eyes. “You’re sticking around this time?”

After a moment of silence, he said, “Yes, I am.”