Love Inspired June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: The Cowboy's Homecoming\The Amish Widow's Secret\Safe in the Fireman's Arms (48 page)

He chuckled. “Good to see you, too, Maggie.”

She wiped her chin with an oil rag and fought to ignore him, though her traitorous eyes continued to sneak glances at his profile.

“Actually, I'm here in an official capacity.”

“Of course you are,” she mumbled. Apparently he hadn't spent restless hours thinking about their kiss. No, the man was all business on a Monday morning.

“The sheriff called me. He's had a few complaints that your customers were parking in the fire lane.”

“You handle traffic, too?”

“I'm the fire marshal.”

Silence stretched.

“Earth to Maggie?”

“Hmm?” She reached for a Phillips screwdriver. Jake's hand covered hers.

Maggie jerked back at the contact and met his gaze.

With a small frown, Jake reached out and held her chin.

“What are you doing?” Maggie asked, as she attempted to pull away.

“Hold still. There's grease on your chin.” He took the rag from her hand and gently wiped her chin before releasing her.

“Thank you.” Face ablaze, Maggie turned away.

“What's going on in that computer-processing head of yours?”

“I'm appalled and humiliated that there was a line of men outside the shop this morning.”

“Ah, the picture in the
Gazette
. That explains why you're hiding behind that ball cap and those baggy coveralls.”

She picked up the patch of oil-stained rag from the counter. “I'm not hiding. I didn't want to get my clothes dirty, so I changed when I got to work.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat. “What happened?”

“Ralph Meyer—the butcher—brought me bacon. Not ordinary bacon, either. It's specially cured with a tad bit of maple syrup and honey.” She sighed. “Andy Pickering, the librarian, gave me flowers from his garden.” She met Jake's gaze. “And Duffy. Duffy was at the head of the line. He brought in a laptop. In about one hundred pieces.”

“I'll take care of Duffy, but there's nothing I can do about the rest of them.”

“I'd like to know who wrote that article. Who thinks I'm looking for a husband?”

“Are you?”

Maggie jerked back. “No. I only just got rid of...” She stopped when she realized Jake was grinning.

“I'm glad you find this so amusing.”

“Not amusing. More like eye-opening. Seeing you all worked up, that is.”

She took a deep calming breath. “What can I do for you, Fire Marshal MacLaughlin?”

“I came to ask you to remind your customers that parking along Main Street is only for thirty minutes and never in the fire lane. Ever.”

“You want me to police the streets of Paradise?”

“A friendly reminder when they come in. That's all.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Maggie said as she tossed the rag in her hand down.

“You do that.”

Maggie gritted her teeth at the laughter that underlined his words.

“Look, I've had a really bad morning,
Chief.
To top it off, I spoke with my parents earlier. They felt the need to reiterate their platform, which is, of course, that I should move back home like a good little girl.” She slapped the counter with her open palm. “I won't do it.”

“Whoa. You're full of surprises, Maggie.”

“Am I?” She frowned. “Not really—normally I'm as uncomplicated as vanilla ice cream.”

“I like vanilla ice cream.” He leaned closer to the counter and waggled his eyebrows. “Quite a bit as it happens.”

She pointed to the door. “Stand in line.”

“You're not good for a man's ego.” He glanced over at the duffel bag and sneakers in the corner. “Those your running shoes?”

“Yes. Sometimes I go running after work.”

“Really? Care to go for a jog with me sometime?”

“You run?”

“Yeah. What do you say?”

“Maybe.” She gave a noncommittal shrug as she rested her arms on the counter. She couldn't think. Her mind was swirling in a thousand directions at one time.

“How about this Sunday, after church?”

“I don't know.”

“Maggie, I'm not asking you to marry me. It's two friends getting together to enjoy the great outdoors.”

Two friends.

Was that all they were?

Then she remembered her conversation with Bitsy. Maggie shot straight up and slapped her forehead.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked.

“I almost forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

Here she was discouraging Jake, when Bitsy wanted her to encourage him. She swallowed, gathering courage. The important thing was to not mention Bitsy. Jake had a knee-jerk reaction when Bitsy's name was mentioned.

“Maggie, are you in there?”

“Yes. Yes.” She mustered up a smile. “Maybe you could help me.”

“You're smiling. What's up?”

“My life is spinning out of control and I really want things to settle down. I'd like to go back to flying under the radar and living my life without complication.”

“And that involves me...how?”

“You said we're friends, right?”

“Ye-e-ss.” He said the word slowly, almost as if he realized that they were about to step into dangerous territory.

“You do things alone and I do things alone.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Maybe we could do some things together. Friends and all.”

His head jerked back a tad at the unexpected words. “But you just said... Wait a minute. Are you asking me out?”

“No,” Maggie huffed. “Oh, never mind.” She waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I knew this was a ridiculous idea.”

“Hang on there. No need to get all worked up. Give it to me one more time. I'm a little slow today. Chuck had an emergency last night.”

“Is Chuck okay?”

“Yeah. Turns out he managed to pull the laces off my boots and swallow them.” Jake winced. “Everything came out all right eventually, according to the vet.”

“Glad to hear that.” Maggie grimaced. “I think.”

“So run that by me again,” he said.

“I'm asking you to be my escort around town. Join me for dinner and such.”

“I didn't know you could cook.”

“That was a hypothetical example. I can do carryout, you know.”

“Right. And toaster pastries.” He shook his head. “What's going on, Maggie?”

“I need my life to return to normal.”

“Define normal.”

“I want that line outside to go away. I want people to say ‘Maggie who?' when my name comes up in conversation.”

“This is Paradise. Good luck.”

Jake crossed his arms and stared thoughtfully at her. “However, we are friends and I am willing to give your plan a shot if you think it will be good for your mental health. Because when you're distracted trouble always follows.”

A delicious shiver raced over Maggie as he stared at her; then reality slapped her in the face.

Jake MacLaughlin was now on Team Maggie. She'd be spending more time with the man who ignited crazy sparks of unfamiliar emotions inside her. She took off her glasses and rubbed the throbbing place in the middle of her forehead.

Two friends helping each other out. That's what she told him. Now all she had to do was convince her heart that's all they were.

* * *

Jake washed his hands in the sink before reaching for the truck keys. His stomach growled and the thought of a nice thick steak made him quicken his pace in anticipation. Monday meant the surf-and-turf special at the Prospector.

He was out the door and unlocking his truck when he remembered his conversation with Maggie this morning and her crazy idea about hanging out together to quash her suitor problem.

Thinking about Maggie went deeper than her goofy plan. Maybe even deeper than that kiss on Saturday, though he'd given that some thought, too. It had been a chaste kiss, as far as kisses went. Still, once his lips touched hers and he'd tasted the softness, the sweetness, the goodness that was Maggie, he realized he was in trouble.

They'd avoided discussing the kiss, but eventually it would come up again, because he couldn't help but want more even with the sirens and warning lights blazing all around the woman.

Yet, with Maggie it was more than the possibility of kisses. He enjoyed her smiles and the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. Enjoyed their conversations. She was one smart woman and kept him on his toes. Made him forget that he was nearly eight years older than her.

He wracked his mind trying to think of a legitimate excuse for dropping by the little house. Should he call? No, that would sound premeditated. Though she was the one who said they should do their alone stuff together. Dinner more than counted, right?

“I was in the neighborhood.”

He practiced the line several times before rejecting it as lame.

Okay, he'd head over there and hope he thought of something really clever before he arrived.

When he pulled the truck to a stop in front of the cottage, he spotted her sitting on the front porch. “Hi,” he said, strolling up the drive.

She looked up from the stack of papers in her hands and smiled.

Definitely a welcoming smile. He'd take that as a good omen.

“I thought we were going running on Sunday?”

“We are, but I was hungry for a steak. Can you take a break from your work if I promise you the best steak this side of the Rockies?”

She glanced at the paperwork and set it aside. “Your offer sounds better than an evening of paperwork.”

“Great. I'm thinking the Prospector restaurant in town. They have twice-baked potatoes the size of melons. Oh, and the salads. Fresh and crisp, with their secret ingredient—the house dressing.”

“Stop,” Maggie demanded. “You're torturing me.”

Jake grinned. “Good. So you're on board?”

“Like this?” She glanced down at her jeans and blouse.

“Overdressed. This is a down-home place. Just a bunch of Colorado cowboys.”

“Let me grab my hat and saddle up my horse.”

Jake laughed. And kept laughing, all the way to the restaurant. Maggie kept the conversation going throughout the meal, as well.

“Did you have enough to eat?” he asked when she slid her plate aside.

“Yes. I'm stuffed. Thank you.”

“That was local beef and local fish.”

“Delicious.”

“Ever do any fishing?”

“Fish? Sure, summers with my uncle.”

Jake nodded and raised a brow. “Live bait?”

“Of course.” Maggie smiled triumphantly.

“Bait your own line?”

“Do I look like a sissy to you?” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and leveled a haughty look at him.

“No, ma'am. No sissies here.”

The waitress cleared their table and took an order for the dessert of the day. Peach cobbler.

“I will forever think of Bitsy Harmony when I hear the word
peach
.”

“That's too bad,” Jake said, frowning.

“How long has Bitsy lived in Paradise?”

“She's a newcomer, only been here thirty-five years or so.”

“Thirty-five years?” Maggie sputtered.

“According to Mack, she came to Paradise to take care of her grandmother. Bitsy was a friend of my mother's, too.”

“Oh? Was Bitsy ever married?”

“I have no idea.”

“Don't you ask?”

Jake shuddered. “Are you kidding? Why would I do that? I don't want to know any more about Bitsy than I absolutely have to.”

“Oh, that's hilarious, Jake. You've known the woman all your life and you have no idea if she is single, married or divorced?”

“Yeah, and that's the way I like it. Our paths cross a lot professionally, but Bitsy and I don't need to know any more about each other's lives than what's necessary to get our jobs done.”

“Why is it you dislike her so much?”

“I don't dislike her. I'm just bothered by her. Regularly.”

Maggie folded her hands on the table. “Bothered is sort of vague.”

“I'm a private man, and the woman hasn't figured out that she needs to keep her business out of mine.”

He lowered his voice. “One thing you need to know about Bitsy is the more information you share with her, the more she figures she's got carte blanche to meddle in your life.”

“Still, aren't you a teeny bit curious about her?”

“I didn't say I don't know stuff. What I said is I don't need to know. There's a difference.” Jake shook his head and took a long swig of his iced tea.

“I see. I'm learning there are a lot of characters in this town, and life in Paradise is certainly not boring,” Maggie said after the waitress served dessert and coffee.

“Never that.” He pulled a piece of warm crust off his cobbler and popped it in his mouth.

Maggie looked around the restaurant. “This place is busy. I guess that's good for me.”

“I don't follow.”

“The Paradise grapevine,” she said.

It took Jake a moment to process her words. Once he did a heavy cloud of disappointment hovered over him. “Oh, your little plan.”

“This will help the situation. Don't you think?”

“Yes. I do.” Jake reached out and covered her small hands with his.

Maggie startled in her chair, her gaze meeting his.

“Enhancing the scene,” he said.

She carefully slipped her hands from beneath his. “You're quite the actor, but I need my hands to eat.”

“Right.”

An awkward silence stretched between them.

“You know what you need?” Jake asked.

“What's that?” Maggie asked. Her eyes were curious as she waited for his response.

“A dog.”

“Wow. That was totally random.”

“Passing thought.”

“You should have let it pass right on by, because I'm really not a dog person.”