Tangled Hearts

by Tea DeLuca

  “You do?” Tantrum momentarily averted, but arms still tightly grasping the dog, her attention was entirely on the nice lady in the store. “Do you play with her?”

  Mags laughed. “She knocks me over a lot. I walk her in the park, but you know what? She’s a lot of work.”

  The child stroked the stuffed dog. “I want a puppy just like this one.”

  Mags was tempted to give it to her, but she couldn’t know if she was helping or making matters worse. “This puppy has a home here on my shelf. Do you want to visit and play with her when you come back for your dress?” She seemed undecided.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Stacy interrupted. “Come on, baby. We have to go.” She reluctantly handed Mags the dog, arguing with her mother as they left the store.

  Stacy, Mags read the card again. She thought the woman had been in her store once or twice before for herself. Maybe her idea for the children’s section was a good idea. She had already sold several of the expensive dresses. The little girl looked beautiful even in her ponytail in her flower girl dress. She was a sweet child, a child who wanted a puppy. She walked back to her office with the dog still in her hand. She rested it on her computer and found Craig’s card in her pocket. She wanted children, but she didn’t know if that was even possible, and Craig had grown children. If they… Would he want a child with her?

  Thank you. The flowers are beautiful. How do you feel about small spaces, a big dog, and dinner cooked by a store manager?

  Just tell me when, came his reply.

  Tomorrow night? She’d have to get to the market.

  Great. I’ll bring the wine. She’d have to tell Craig since she hadn’t had a drink since she met him, and if he wanted to walk, she’d understand, but if he hung around… Her mother would be so thrilled.

  Chapter 19

  Mark took off his suit jacket and hung it behind his chair. The weather was already warming to bright sunshine and too much humidity, and even with his air-conditioned office, he felt hot. Maybe it wasn’t just the weather, either. His court case had been postponed, he’d had several back to back clients all afternoon, and he couldn’t get Mags out of his head. Melissa had sent two more texts throughout the afternoon that he continued to ignore, and at random moments he had caressed the paperback he had bought that day in the bookstore, her romance novel. It landed on his desk as a constant reminder, as if he needed one, that she was minutes away down the street. He opened the novel and skimmed the first few pages.

  It was dark, but he could still make out her shadowy figure in the moonlight. Her pale skin, shimmering brown hair, eyes that sparkled like diamonds. He groaned quietly. Why do women read this stuff? He wanted to approach her but could only watch from a distance, captured by her movements as she lowered her body into the water. The waves surrounded her as he wanted to and slowly he forced himself to walk away. Bullshit. What an idiot. If you want to see her, dumbass, go for it.

  He sat for several minutes before adding several papers to his briefcase and her book. “I’m leaving for the day,” he told his secretary. He parked several blocks away from the dress shop, took a deep breath, and entered.

  The woman at the register smiled broadly. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “I’m here to see Ms. Blossom. Don’t bother. I know where her office is, and she’s expecting me.” He strolled confidently down the short hall and knocked.

  “Mark, what are you doing here?”

  His heart fluttered. Her silky blouse in a pretty shade of lavender and the pearls at her throat, the slim line of her skirt, and the soft shade against those plump lips sent his blood south. He cleared his throat, trying to think. “This is a professional visit. I have some papers for you to sign.”

  She looked at him curiously as he rifled through a file folder. “Papers? A legal matter?”

  “Yes,” he tried to contain his lawyer-like demeanor. “A contract. The custody agreement for Rufus.” He laid the papers directly in front of her.

  She stifled a laugh and tried to play along. “Everything seems to be in order. I’m glad you took care of this quickly. I’ve been concerned about our dog’s well-being.”

  “I as well. You can see where I have liberal visitation for walking and playing with her, and also responsibilities if she needs vet appointments for vaccinations or illness.”

  He looked so serious, and Mags finally had to laugh.

  “This isn’t a laughing matter, Ms. Blossom. Please sign here and here on your copy and in the same two places on my copy.”

  Mags obediently signed the papers. “Is that it, Mark?”

  “Legally, yes. Are you, all right?”

  She nodded. “Thank you for last night.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, but …” His eyes fell on the roses. “Secret admirer?”

  “Craig.”

  Lawyer pose. Don’t give anything away. “Anyway, I’ll be exercising my rights soon. We can take Rufus to the park.”

  “Any day but tomorrow. I have plans.” Her eyes met his in a long pause.

  “With Craig?”

  Her cheeks flushed as she fiddled with something on her desk. “Yes.”

  “I actually have plans tonight and maybe tomorrow so we’ll plan later in the week. Good for you?”

  “Of course. Mark, you don’t have to do this. I’m all right now.”

  “Do what? We have a legally binding contract, Mags, no matter what else happens.”

  Out on the street, his phone chimed again. If we are over, Mark, you need to tell me like a man. It was time to talk to Melissa and make plans as he had told Mags. Time to move on yet again.

  Chapter 20

  Clear across the country and western bar, Mark saw Gayle. She worked for a fashion company as a buyer and traveled extensively. Her willowy frame and sharp dark eyes were every photographers’ dream. She modeled some in Europe and New York and often made the pages of the fashion magazines. She was already on her way to an alcoholic tank, singing with the rest of his friends and drinking her bottle of beer. They were all there to welcome back one of theirs that most hadn’t seen in years.

  “Mark, Mark. You’re finally here.” She grabbed him in a bear hug and rested against him.

  “My favorite drunk girl,” he laughed. “You didn’t even wait for me.”

  “I sure did,” she grinned. “Your turn to buy. I’m on empty.” Perry turned from the pretty waitress, batting her baby blues at him. “Next round is on pretty boy at the end of the counter.” A roar of agreement from the rest of his friends.

  “Hey,” Gayle leaned in close. “Have you seen our girl?”

  He swallowed the cold ale and glanced toward Perry. “She’s okay, honey, but she has a story to tell.”

  “Thought so.” She turned to the others around her. “A toast to all of us loving and understanding each other over the years.” The bottles clinked together.

  “Getting all mushy on us, Gayle?” Krista laughed, giving her a little hug.

  “Nope.” She rose to her feet. “I’m meeting a friend at the bar whom I haven’t seen in a long time. She can’t stay, but I’m giving you fair warning especially you, Perry…”

  “What?” He threw up his hands in surrender.

  “Don’t be a dick to her, or I’ll have Mark beat the hell out of you.”

  “Gayle, this isn’t a good idea,” Mark whispered, tugging on her arm.

  “You didn’t invite her here, did you, Gayle?” Perry hissed. “That bitch…” The entire group joined in, most agreeing with Perry.

  “Shut up, my favorite asshole.” Gayle finished her beer. “She doesn’t know you’re here so let’s leave it that way.”

  From his vantage point Mark saw Mags enter the bar. Despite the heat, she looked cool, crisp, and beautiful. He nudged Gayle who flew across the bar and grabbed Mags in a hug. “Maggie, Maggie. You’re here. You’re so thin. What have you done to yourself?”

  “Perpetual dieter,” she teased. “You know me.” It
had been too long since they had stayed up nights, talking and sipping several bottles of wine. She had missed Gayle.

  The bartender brought over a beer for Gayle. “Courtesy of one of the guys from your table.” She waved her bottle in the direction of the back corner, and Mags saw all of them. Mark’s friends and Mark partying with their wandering friend.

  “Get the girl a drink,” she ordered the bartender.

  “No, thank you. I can’t stay.” She saw Perry rising, and Mark intercept him. “I shouldn’t have come with all of them here.”

  “They can blame me. I wanted to see you,” Gayle said stubbornly. “How have you really been?”

  “We’ll get together and talk soon,” Mags promised. “That would be better than this.”

  Gayle’s voice lowered and sounded remarkably sober. “Life’s been hard for you, hasn’t it? I can tell. You’re going to tell me everything.”

  “I will, my friend. It’s so good to see you again.” She hugged her again. The tears misting her eyes.

  “And I want to know why you and that handsome man aren’t together,” she continued.

  Mags shook her head. “That’s easy. He didn’t want me.”

  “Gayle, we need the guest of honor. No party without you, baby.” Perry hollered from the back of the bar.

  She waved him off. “I don’t believe that for a minute. You and Mark belong together, but I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Mags intended to leave; she intended to keep moving right through the double doors until something came out of Perry’s mouth. Something she didn’t completely hear, but bitch was in the sentence. Her back tensed and turning, she marched slowly towards their table. She stared down each one of them while avoiding Mark till she came face to face with Perry. “Hello everyone. Good to see the party spirit is alive and well in Charleston. Hope everyone is having a good time and making Gayle aware of how much we’ve all missed her. Oh, and Perry, nice to see you’re still the same arrogant asshole you’ve always been. Good-night.” Mark caught up to her just outside the door. She turned heat and anger on him.

  “Whoa, I’m sorry he’s an asshole, but …”

  “Are you?” she asked, yanking her arm away. “Or is it easier to sit there and let him call me names and treat me like shit?”

  He was always the one in the middle between them, defending one of them except there was no excuse for Perry. “Mags, he’s had too much to drink.”

  “He didn’t treat me any better when we were together,” she lashed out. “He was still an ass then, and you never did anything about it. You never stood up for me.” The heat in the parking lot intensified the heat between them.

  Mark’s eyes darkened angrily. “I broke all the rules for you, bringing you with me for this kind of shit, and I punched Perry a time or two when he didn’t know how to shut his mouth. You just didn’t know it.”

  “They’re your friends. Go back in there,” she added equally angry. She dodged a car pulling out of the lot to get to her own car.

  “Where are you going?” he demanded.

  Her head snapped at the tone. Who the hell did he think he was? “It’s none of your business but home. I have a date.”

  “I want to see Rufus.” He grabbed his only ace.

  “Not tonight,” she glared, sliding into her car.

  He squatted down beside her open window. Air probably still didn’t work on the piece of shit. “Mags.”

  Hands locked on the wheel, she stared ahead. “What?”

  “I don’t know why Perry’s such an ass.”

  Her lips puckered in thought. “You hit him…for me?”

  “Twice. You can ask Gayle if you don’t believe me.”

  She turned shiny eyes on him. “Play hitting like you didn’t mean it, or did you really hit him?”

  “Hit him good. I don’t hit like a girl ever. Perry can take a punch.” His fingers toyed with the soft strands of hair that barely touched her shoulders. His hand slipped behind her neck and pulled her through the window. Her eyes fluttered, and Mark watched them close. Invitation? Expectation? His lips covered hers, firm, warm, sending signals to every nerve ending in his body. She moved. He feared she was pulling away too soon, but she adjusted to the awkwardness of the door between them and gave him greater access. Her lips parted, a beacon guiding him to the moist heat, the sparring with tongues, and the need. He pressed back, his fingers still tangled in her hair, and her eyes still closed for several seconds.

  By the bar door watching them, Perry stood arguing with Gayle, but he didn’t care. “Can I see Rufus later in the week then?”

  She nodded and started her car. At least when she was with the cowboy tonight, she’d be thinking a bit about him. He backed away, watched her drive out of the lot, and met Perry’s hostile glare with one of his own.

  “Don’t go there, asshole,” Mark got in first.

  “You’re an idiot. You have a beautiful professional woman that wants you, and you’re still chasing that piece of trash.”

  Mark’s fist clenched and married Perry’s eye a few seconds later. He pushed past Gayle and returned to his seat. “Drinks are on me,” he announced to his friends. “Bartender, switch my drink order to whiskey.” It just became a whiskey night. Whiskey to shut out pictures of Mags and Craig out on a date.

  They closed the bar hours later. Mark too drunk to drive still had enough sense to call Melissa for a ride. She didn’t seem the least put out or upset as she drove them back to her place. He wanted to sleep, shut down his thoughts, but Melissa was eager to catch up since they’d been together last. He vaguely remembered talking about her job, Stacy and Liddy, and the wedding. She was all over him in the bedroom, ditching her clothes quickly and working on his. She smelled good like some sort of flower and tasted of strawberries and whipped cream. He held her down with his body, burying himself, and finding a rhythm. She moaned beneath him and soared as he released as well. “Mark, I love you,” she whispered. He pretended he hadn’t heard as he tumbled away from her and fled to the bathroom. Love, this wasn’t about love. He only loved one person, the one woman he couldn’t have. Now, the only room he had left in his heart was for Liddy. What was he going to do with Melissa?

  The alcohol swirled in his gut and made him sick. Wrenching over the toilet, he heard her in the kitchen. His life was out of control just like before. Sex with the wrong woman that had led to Liddy. Now, sex with the wrong woman who said she was on the pill, at least. All for the same reason. Mags. He was losing his mind…again.

  Chapter 21

  She could hear the rain as she slipped on her trench and grabbed an umbrella. Not a light drizzle but a real soaking South Carolina rain. Even Rufus moved at lightning speed when she took her out in the morning before she was ready for work. She’d have to brave the weather. It could rain like this for hours, and she needed to get to the shop. She glanced quickly at her phone as she scanned the room for anything she might have forgotten.

  Sorry I couldn’t make it last night. Tammy broke her ankle at softball practice. Spent a while in the ER. Raincheck?

  She had been disappointed when Craig had cancelled their date at the last minute. It gave her too much time to think. Busy tonight?

  Tonight’s great. I’ll make it up to you.

  She patted Rufus’ head one more time, locked the door behind her, and headed downstairs. The entrance door flew open, and the startled mail carrier nearly ran into her. “Sorry, Ms. Blossom, but I’m glad I ran into you.”

  The rain was coming down in sheets. She wouldn’t make it to the curb without getting drenched.

  “You have to empty your box once in a while, honey. There’s three days of mail in there, and I can’t cram anymore in. I can’t leave it in a pile on the floor, and I sure as hell don’t want to carry it back to the post office.”

  Her cheeks flamed. “Sorry, sorry. I guess I forgot.” The box was indeed stuffed as she pulled out her mail and shoved it in her tote. It was always junk mail or medical bills, non
e of which she wanted to deal with. So, she’d skip it one day, maybe two, but the frustrated man had a point. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  “Looks like it’s letting up a bit. You might want to take your chances. It’s supposed to rain all day.” He turned his attention back to filling the rest of the boxes.

  The rain slowed everyone down that morning. She was a few minutes late opening the store, her sales ladies were more than a half hour late, and her customers were nonexistent. The store was dead. She stared out the small front window in her office and wished for a cup of coffee. So close, she smiled, but so far away. Where was her knight in shining armor to brave the bone chilling rain to bring her that hot first cup of the day?

  The universe was twisted. Mark had looked so handsome last night and kissed her like the last five years hadn’t happened. If she could have crawled through the car window… And Craig standing her up with good reason, but still leaving her too much time to think, to wonder what Mark was thinking. The inane custody agreement over Rufus, the stolen kisses that sent liquid fire to her core, and the accusations that she had discarded him. Both in a relationship of sorts, and both unable to break the magnetic pull that drew them back to each other, a pull that could never amount to anything. The doorbell in the store chimed. Customer? Maybe Sandy?

  “Hey,” a drenched and dripping Ronnie handed her a cup of her favorite coffee and a cookie.

  “Ronnie, I love you!”

  “Of course, you do, honey, but I was late anyway and thought you wouldn’t mind if I came bearing gifts.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s been slow. Deliveries are late, too.”

  “Good.” He tapped his cup against hers. “Then I’m going to dry off and enjoy my coffee.”

  Mags settled in behind her computer. She put the finishing touches on her end of the month reports and emailed them to corporate. As she relaxed in her chair with the last of her coffee, her eyes fell on the stuffed Rufus, still perched on her monitor. She quickly penned a short note and attached it to the ribbon around the dog’s neck.