Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set

by Maddie James

  “This is nice. I’m so glad you’re here. It’s a post project celebration, you know.”

  “So I’ve heard.” He leaned forward and she felt the couch cushions shift as he did so. “You getting all mellow on me, Chloe?”

  “Mmm. Maybe. Just feeling delicious.”

  “I imagine you are. Delicious, I mean. It’s been a while since I had a taste.”

  She raised her heavy eyelids. Greg’s face was just inches from hers. Her breath caught. “Need another taste? Just to be sure?” Unintentionally, but in anticipation, she licked her lips. She set her glass on a low table and turned toward him. He was so handsome, and so dear to her. Yet something wasn’t quite right. She needed to know…

  “Greg. Why didn’t you call? After we talked that day when I picked up LizBeth Ann, I thought things were better. I thought you would call.” And it hurt like fire that he hadn’t.

  He frowned. “Well. Wasn’t sure. Of you or of me.”

  “You’re still confusing me with that other woman.”

  “No. You’re nothing like her. And I’m not the same guy I was back then.” Greg stood and began to pace. “I got to thinking about it, after you and I talked a few days ago, and you know what? Although she used me, I was using her, too. Her family had connections that could make my business a big success. That’s an issue with us, if there ever could be an ‘us.’ You’re a McClain, and your family can make or break my business. Plus you’re like famous or something… I guess I don’t want anybody to get the idea that I’m using you… Sure don’t want you to get that idea.”

  She laughed. Threw her head back and laughed. “You have got to be kidding me! I’m not anybody special. I’m just a girl who paints pictures and is up to her eyeballs in debt. I have a big family, but if you’ll pardon the colloquialism, we’re just folks. Not any better than anybody else. Everybody is important in Legend. Everybody is special. We all do our part, and genuinely care about each other. That’s what makes this such a wonderful place to live—what makes it home. Not the buildings or the scenery, wonderful as those are. The real Legend is the people.”

  “Even people like me?” He was genuinely concerned about this. And at least he had stopped pacing.

  “Especially people like you, Greg. Come here.” She stretched out her arm, palm up, and he took her hand and sat next to her on the couch. “Especially people like you. You’ve tried very hard to hide it, but you really care—I’ve seen it in the way you deal with your crew, the way you were playing with LizBeth Ann the other day. The way you’ve helped me, after your paid job was done. You wear a pretty believable mask with that pirate costume, but I know what’s under the mask. A wonderful guy who was badly hurt and isn’t quite over it.”

  He raised a hand and caressed her face, teased her lips with his thumb.

  “You see that in me?”

  “That and more. Let me show you.” She got up and walked across to an antique secretary, opened the hinged door and took out the figure. Returning to him, she laid it in his palm. “This is you.”

  Greg picked up the Little Legend figure of himself and looked closely at it. “This one looks different than the one you have in the case downstairs.”

  “Had in the case. I painted over it. Just made the glass clear on the Deluxe Home Improvements building. This little guy,” she said, gesturing toward the figurine, “is going to be standing outside.”

  Greg looked down at the miniature of himself. It didn’t look scruffy like the fellow who’d been in the window. “Why’d you make a new one?”

  “The other Greg was one-dimensional. When I painted that, I didn’t know you. This one is three-dimensional. Like you.”

  “Not only does this guy look less like a criminal, he looks happy.” He glanced at Chloe. Were those tears in her eyes?

  “I painted his face the way I remember you the day you brought donuts. You were happy and relaxed and teasing. That’s the real you, isn’t it, Greg?”

  He looked away. “I guess. Used to be, anyway.” Greg tried to focus on the framed needlepoint piece hanging on a wall. “Home Sweet Home” it told him. “Yeah, I used to be that kind of guy.”

  “That’s the person I fell in love with.”

  What? What did she say?

  “You kidding me?”

  “No. Absolutely not.” She took the little figurine and set him on the table next to her wine glass. “I am in love with you, Greg Andrews. You’re going to have to deal with it. Love me back, or tell me you’re not interested. It’s up to you, and I’m tired of wondering.”

  “Well then.” Taking her into his arms, he kissed her softly, slowly. Then he leaned away, sat up again. “I choose to love you back. You and your dangly earrings. You and your cute little butt. You and your wonderful way of capturing a moment in time and saving it forever with your art.” He sighed, full of hope. “I definitely choose to love you back.”

  And that’s what he did, for a very, very long time.

  THE END

  Magdalena Scott

  Magdalena Scott lives in her own fantasy world of Magdalenaville, Indiana, and spends her time writing stories with small town settings. As a lifelong citizen of small town America, Magdalena knows that life in a “burg” is seldom dull—if you’re paying attention. There is mystery, romance, scandal, and the occasional unexplained occurrence. Step into Magdalena’s world and find out what’s hidden just below the surface of those tiny dots you can barely see on the map. Visit Magdalena at www.magdalenascott.com.

  Books by Magdalena Scott

  The Blank Book

  Ladies of Legend books:

  Midnight in Legend, TN

  Christmas Collision

  Under the Mistletoe

  The Holly and the Ivy

  Where Her Heart Is

  Short Story

  “A Piece of Her Soul” in Something Spooky This Way Comes

  If you liked this boxed set by Turquoise Morning Press authors, you might also like the following sets:

  Love in a Small Town (sweet to sensual contemporary romance)

  Unforgettable Heroes (sweet to sensual contemporary romance)

  Sex, Lies & Murder (romantic suspense, sensual to sizzle)

  Love Finds A Way (women’s fiction)

  Heat Wave (erotic romance)

  The Emerald Isle Trilogy by Renee Vincent (sensual to sizzle historical, Viking romance)

  Perfectly Matched by Maddie James (sensual to sizzle romance, comedy)

  Watch for more boxed sets in the coming months!

  Turquoise Morning Press

  Romantically Yours

  www.turquoisemorningpress.com