Josh took another surreptitious look at Maggie, whose head was tilted back as she took a long, slow drink of Coke from a can. He tried to imagine a woman with that much sensuality with straight-arrow Warren. He failed.
“If she’s still furious with you, maybe it’s not about her ego at all,” he suggested slowly, hating the idea even as he voiced it. “Maybe she really did have a thing for you.”
Warren shook his head. “Maggie needs the kind of man who’s a challenge. Someone a little mysterious and edgy.” He gave Josh a speculative look. “Someone like you, as a matter of fact.”
Josh stared at him. “I doubt she’d appreciate you trying to hook her up with me or anyone else.”
Warren shrugged. “It was just another observation. I think I’ll go have another chat with your mother. I’ve always wondered what Las Vegas is really like.”
For a moment Josh was tempted to order the man to stay the hell away from Nadine. He had the perfect excuse. He needed another man to help with some of the framing work he was trying to get done today.
Instead, he decided to stay out of it. Hadn’t he always believed that his mother was in serious need of a shrink? Maybe Warren Blake could fix whatever it was that drove her to make so many foolish mistakes when it came to men.
Maggie planted herself in front of Josh and waited until he met her gaze. “What are you up to?”
“I’m building a house. What about you?”
“You know that’s not what I’m talking about,” she said impatiently.
“Then you’re going to have to spell it out for me. I don’t have my decoder with me today.”
“Warren and your mother, for heaven’s sake! What are you thinking?”
“I didn’t have anything to do with him deciding to spend time with her. He seems fascinated by the whole Vegas thing.” He gave her a curious look. “Which seems odd since you couldn’t be less flashy.”
She frowned. “He told you about the engagement,” she said flatly.
“He did. I’m still wrestling with that one. I have to say it doesn’t make a lick of sense. What were you thinking?”
“I chalk it up to a momentary lapse in judgment,” she admitted. “Not that there’s anything wrong with Warren. He’s a wonderful man.”
“That’s a given,” Josh said, his amusement plain. “But isn’t he just a little bit too tame for you?”
“Well, that was certainly his conclusion.”
“And you? What did you think?”
Maggie considered the question for a long time before opting for the truth. “That he was perfect for my family.”
Josh nodded sagely, though there was a definite glint of amusement in his eyes. “Ah, one last attempt for parental approval.”
“Afraid so.”
He glanced in his mother’s direction. “At least that’s one thing that will never trouble me. Nadine’s standards aren’t that high. Not that she has any right to pass judgment in the first place.” He studied Maggie curiously. “Do you still figure your folks have that right?”
“It’s not exactly a right,” she said. “It’s just what they do.”
“And you care about their opinion?”
“To be honest, for years I did everything I could to show I didn’t. My rebellion didn’t turn out so well, so I changed course.”
“Which explains Warren.”
“Exactly.”
“Now what?”
“I wish I knew. I think celibacy may be the answer.”
Josh laughed. “I’ve come to that conclusion a time or two myself. Seems a shameful waste, though.”
Maggie grinned. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
She turned in Nadine’s direction and saw that Warren was beginning to look just a little shell-shocked. “I think I’d better get over there and rescue Warren. Your mother can be a little overwhelming.”
“Tell me about it,” Josh said.
Maggie had taken only a few steps when he called her name. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Thanks for being nice to her. She drives me nuts, but I do care about her.”
Maggie regarded him in bemusement. There was something in his tone she didn’t quite get. “She’s fun. Why wouldn’t I be nice to her?”
Josh seemed startled by her response. “I just thought…” His voice trailed off and his cheeks flooded with color.
“You thought I might consider her beneath me?” Maggie suggested, her tone cold. “I’m not sure if that’s more insulting to her or to me.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“She may not be polished or wealthy, but she has a good heart, Josh. Maybe you’re the one who should take the time to get to know her.”
She could feel his gaze on her as she turned and walked away. Hopefully, his face was burning with shame.
With Maggie’s disdain ringing in his ears, Josh felt about two inches tall. He was cursing himself every which way when he felt a tug on his pants at knee height. He looked down into Susie’s upturned face. Amanda’s four-year-old tended to pop up when he least expected her.
“Hi, Mr. Josh.”
He grinned despite himself. “Hey, squirt. What’ve you been up to today?” he asked, hunkering down so he could look into her eyes.
“I helped with lunch,” she said solemnly.
Ah, so that explained the mustard and ketchup streaks all over her bright pink T-shirt. Today’s menu had been burgers and hot dogs cooked on a grill by one of the volunteers.
“Was there any ketchup and mustard left after you helped?” he teased.
“Sure. There was lots,” she said, taking the question seriously. “And lots of chips, too.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“She’s giving Jimmy and Larry a talkin’-to,” she said with disingenuous honesty. “They’re in trouble again.”
“I see. What did your brothers do?”
Susie shrugged. “I dunno. Somebody told Mama something about a gun.”
Josh felt as if the earth beneath him had opened up. “Do you know where they are?” he asked, trying to keep the panick out of his voice.
“Over by the cars, I guess.”
“Let’s see if we can find them,” Josh said. “You want a piggyback ride?”
Susie nodded at once, then frowned. “I don’t know what that is.”
“You come around behind me and climb up my back, then hang on tight.”
Her expression brightened. “Okay.”
As soon as Susie’s little hands were linked in a death grip around his neck, Josh went in search of Amanda and the boys. He couldn’t imagine anyone being stupid or careless enough to bring a gun onto the work site, but he wasn’t about to take any chances that Susie hadn’t heard correctly.
He heard Amanda before he saw her.
“What were you two thinking?” she demanded, even as Caleb tried to calm her down with soothing words that Josh couldn’t make out.
Larry and Jimmy, hanging their heads, didn’t reply.
“I asked you a question,” Amanda said, her voice escalating.
It was Jimmy who finally looked up, his chin quivering. “We just wanted to help.”
“Did Josh show you what to do?” Amanda demanded. “Did he?”
“No, ma’am.”
“And isn’t that the rule? That you only do what Josh tells you to do.”
She apparently caught sight of Josh then and turned an apologetic look on him. “I am so sorry. It won’t happen again. I’ll arrange for a baby-sitter next time.”
“But we’re supposed to help,” Larry protested. “You can’t leave us home.”
“Please, Mom,” Jimmy begged, his eyes filled with tears.
“Okay, guys, calm down,” Josh said quietly, shooting a questioning look at Caleb, who merely shrugged. “Maybe you’d better start at the beginning and tell me what happened. Susie said something about a gun.”
“Oh, my Lord,” Amanda said, staring at her little girl. “Not a re
al gun, sweetie. A nail gun.”
Josh breathed a sigh of relief, though a nail gun could be just as dangerous in the hands of a kid who didn’t know how to handle it. Both boys turned to him.
“We thought we could figure it out and then we could be a real help,” Larry explained. “I watched you and saw how to use it, so when you walked away, I got a board and we were practicing.”
“Why didn’t you ask me to show you?” Josh asked.
“Because then you would have thought we were babies,” Jimmy said.
“Any man who’s responsible takes the time to learn how to use his tools the right way,” Josh scolded.
“I had Josh show me,” Caleb added. “That’s just being smart.”
Josh met Amanda’s still-worried gaze. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, thank goodness. But I’d say they wasted a lot of nails.”
“Nails can be replaced,” Josh said.
“I can pay for more,” Larry offered, sounding seriously grown-up for an eight-year-old. “Mom can give you my allowance for a whole month.”
“Mine, too,” Jimmy piped up eagerly. “We don’t get much and we won’t have anything for candy or ice cream, but that’s okay.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Josh said, holding back a grin. “But I do think maybe you boys should go home now and think about what I just told you.”
Larry looked shattered. “You’re sending us away?”
Josh had seen how much they loved being at the site. They were always underfoot. Still, he forced himself not to relent. “Just for today. Next week, I’ll show you how to use the nail gun properly and then you can do it as long as Caleb or I are around to supervise. Not on your own ever again. Understood?”
They nodded.
“You’re not really mad at us, are you, Mr. Josh?” six-year-old Jimmy asked plaintively.
“Not mad, just disappointed. I’m a lot like your mom, you know. It would make me feel awful if something happened to either one of you. You might want to tell her how sorry you are that you scared her.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” they chorused dutifully.
Then Larry launched himself at Josh, causing him to stagger backward. “I’m sorry, Mr. Josh.”
“Me, too,” Jimmy said, his arms tight around Josh’s leg.
“Okay, then,” Josh said, stunned by the emotions that welled up in him. Thoroughly disconcerted, he lifted Susie over his head and handed her off to Caleb. “See you guys next week, then.”
He walked away before any of them could see the unexpected tears that were stinging his eyes. Crazy kids. He’d known they were going to cause havoc. He just hadn’t expected it to be with his heart.
He’d barely gone two feet, when Nadine appeared in his path.
“You have a thing with the single mom?” she asked, studying him curiously.
“Hell no,” he said.
She nodded. “That’s good.”
He studied her curiously. “Why?”
“She’s all wrong for you,” Nadine pronounced with authority.
Josh glowered at her. “You figure she’s better than me?”
Nadine’s lips curved. “Would my opinion matter?”
“Of course not.”
She grinned. “Didn’t think so.”
He studied her and tried to reconcile this conversation with his earlier fear that she was going to try to set him up with Maggie. Maybe he’d gotten that wrong. “Don’t try any of this reverse-psychology crap with me, Mother. I am not interested in Amanda. Period.”
“Whatever you say, Joshua,” she said sweetly, then walked away.
Josh muttered yet another curse under his breath just as he was joined by Maggie.
“Nice talk,” Maggie commented. “Especially when there are children nearby. What did Nadine do now?”
“Exactly what I warned her not to do. She’s matchmaking.”
Maggie glanced from him to Amanda and unexpected patches of color appeared in her cheeks. “I see,” she said, her manner suddenly stiff. “Well, then, I just came over to tell you that I’m leaving. See you around.”
She was gone before Josh could figure out what the hell had just happened. “Women!” he said in frustration. Not one of them made a damn bit of sense.
8
“Magnolia Forsythe, what is this I hear about you working on some construction site?” Juliette Forsythe demanded the instant she walked into Images on Monday morning. Her arrival not five minutes after the door had been unlocked was a very bad sign. Juliette rarely left the house before noon, unless it was to have her hair done.
Maggie regarded her mother with dismay. She’d hoped that this whole volunteer effort would escape her mother’s notice. Juliette was all for charity and good deeds, as long as nothing more strenuous than writing a check or lending her name to a committee was involved.
“Good morning, Mother,” she said, pressing a kiss to Juliette’s cheek and hoping she could get this ordeal over with before either of her employees arrived. Both Victoria and Ellie respected her, but once they’d heard Juliette raking her over the coals as if she were ten, they might not. “How have you been?”
“Humiliated, that’s how I’ve been,” Juliette declared in a put-upon tone. “Wasn’t it enough that you insisted on opening this little shop of yours and putting some of our priceless family heirlooms on display for anyone to see? Wasn’t it enough that you let Warren embarrass us all by calling off the wedding? Now this! I can barely hold my head up.”
Maggie turned away before she snapped out a retort she’d regret. She knew her mother wasn’t nearly as mean-spirited as she sounded. Something or someone had stirred her up.
To buy herself the time she needed to get her own temper under control, Maggie said, “I was about to make some tea, Mother. Would you like a cup?”
“I didn’t stop by here to drink tea. I came for answers.”
Maggie ground her teeth. “Consider the tea a civilized bonus,” she bit out, and went into the back to heat the water. The coffee was already brewing, thank heaven, because she needed a very strong shot of caffeine before she faced the rest of this inquisition.
She put two Royal Doulton chintz cups on a tray, added a plate of paper-thin lemon slices, a bowl of sugar cubes, cloth napkins and silver spoons, then poured coffee for herself and tea for her mother. She carried the elegant service into the shop and set it on the low coffee table in front of her grandmother’s Queen Anne sofa.
When she finally faced her mother again, Juliette’s pinched expression made her look as if she’d sucked on one of those lemon slices.
“Is this the way you treat all your customers?” her mother inquired stiffly.
“If they have time to sit and chat,” Maggie said.
“It’s a gracious touch,” her mother admitted grudgingly.
“You were the one who taught me to be a good hostess, Mother. You should be proud that the lesson took. Please sit down and have some tea.”
Her mother sighed heavily and lowered herself gingerly to the edge of the sofa, then accepted the cup of tea. “If only some of the others had,” she said wistfully.
Maggie bit back a sigh of her own. “I wish I weren’t such a disappointment to you.”
To her amazement, her mother stared at her in shock. “A disappointment? How can you say such a thing? Your father and I may not understand some of the choices you’ve made, but you’ve never been a disappointment, Magnolia.”
“I didn’t marry Warren.”
Her mother shrugged. “Yes, well, that was lamentable, but perhaps in time you can work that out.”
“Not in a hundred years,” Maggie said with certainty.
“Stubbornness has always been your downfall,” Juliette scolded, the refrain more a habit than anything else. Surely she knew Maggie was unlikely to change at this late date.
Maggie grinned, her tension easing slightly. “Where do you think I got that particular trait?”
Juliette re
garded her indignantly. “Not from me, I’m sure.”
“We dislike most in others what we see in ourselves,” Maggie said. “I think you told me that once.”
Her mother looked genuinely flustered. “Well, that’s neither here nor there. I want to talk about this construction business. Why on earth would you get involved in such a thing? It’s beneath you.”
Maggie had a hunch that whoever had told Juliette had deliberately put a negative spin on the project. No doubt it had been one of those from Caleb’s congregation who opposed the construction of a house for Amanda. George Winslow came immediately to mind. He’d been lying low lately. Now it appeared he might be taking his case to people like her folks, hoping to get them to do his dirty work.
“Since when is it beneath me to help with a good cause?” Maggie asked, curious about her mother’s logic.
“Well, when you put it that way, there’s nothing wrong with doing a good deed, but this is something else. George Winslow spoke to your father. George is quite overwrought about the whole thing.”
Maggie sighed. “I thought as much. Mr. Winslow should mind his own business. He’s only trying to make trouble because he doesn’t want to see this house built for Amanda O’Leary. If it were anyone else, he’d never have said a word.”
Juliette frowned. “Well, you have to admit, he has a point. The woman does have resources of her own. Why should she get something for nothing when there are so many truly needy families out there?”
“I’m sure there are plenty of needy families, but if you’re referring to Big Max as her resource, he hasn’t spoken to Amanda in years. I’m sure you’re well aware that he cut her off without a dime. Now there’s a real example of stubbornness, if you ask me.”
Juliette’s gaze narrowed. “I knew there was bad blood between Max and his daughter, but he cut her off with nothing? I can’t believe that. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Maggie said, her expression grim. “He did it simply because he didn’t approve of her marriage. He’s refused to even meet his grandchildren.”
“I had no idea it had gone that far,” her mother said, her expression thoughtful. “That’s really quite shameful, especially now that things have gone so terribly wrong for her.”
Flirting with Disaster Page 10