by Jean Oram
He unlocked the passenger door and held it open for her, closing the door once she was seated inside.
As Maggie buckled herself in, Isabella’s warnings ran through her mind. “He’s not the kid you used to know. Canyon’s a player—he goes through women faster than you or I change our shoes. If the rumors are true, he’s had more girlfriends than the population of Indigo Bay.”
While Maggie appreciated her friend’s concern, she didn’t believe the rumors. They were clearly exaggerated—there was no way Canyon had had that many girlfriends.
Her stomach twisted at the thought. She didn’t want to think of him with anyone else, much less many someones.
Canyon sat in the driver’s seat and started the car. “Does Daisy still live at the same house?”
“Yeah, her parents gave it to her and moved to a place closer to the water.”
Maggie studied him as he pulled into traffic—which meant all of five other cars. Canyon slid on a pair of dark sunglasses and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in time with the music. He was so sure of himself, not caring what people thought of him.
Her heart fluttered. She wished she could be so confident, especially in the face of people who thought less of her.
After Dan had dumped her, long-time friends and family started giving Maggie the same looks Isabella was giving to Canyon. People acted like there was something wrong with Maggie—and there was, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Dan wanted kids carrying his DNA, and she couldn’t give that to him.
There wasn’t just something wrong with her. She was defective.
Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them away.
No. She wasn’t defective. Dan was the one who had something wrong with him. He was an arrogant jerk who thought the world owed him.
In reality, he’d have been lucky to marry her. She had been a devoted girlfriend, and she would have been even more so as a wife.
“Are you okay?” Canyon’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“What?”
“You just sighed like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Maggie shrugged. “Just thinking. That’s all.”
“Anything I can help with?”
Kiss me like you did last night.
She cleared her throat. “No, but thanks.”
“Okay. Looks like we’re here.” Canyon pulled over and parked behind a line of cars. He opened Maggie’s door for her again, then they walked a block down the residential road until they reached the Nash home.
Music and laughter could be heard from the driveway. A group of people were gathered in the front yard, playing horseshoes.
Canyon and Maggie waved to them as they made their way up the walkway. The door was unlocked, so they went in, and again Canyon held it for her.
Laughter sounded from various directions. They wandered through some rooms, greeting partygoers. There were several card and board games going in a few rooms. A group of guys were playing Twister in the living room near some others who were deeply involved with a video game.
Canyon turned to Maggie. “What would you like to do?”
“Anything other than Twister. I hurt just watching them.”
“Hey, Maggie!” Daisy waved from a table in the dining room. “Come and join the game.”
She glanced at Canyon. “You want to?”
“Sure.”
They headed over to a card table that was filled with a board game and colorful pretend money.
“Monopoly?” Canyon asked.
“Pokémon Monopoly,” Daisy corrected. “Cate and Dawson are leaving. You two take their places.”
Cate pulled some red hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I’m losing.”
“I’ll take your place, then.” Canyon held out Dawson’s chair for Maggie. “Why Pokémon Monopoly?”
Daisy laughed. “Because that’s the only version I have around here. Obviously, it’s old.”
“Oh? I thought you bought it yesterday.” Canyon scooted Maggie in, then sat next to her.
“Always the kidder.” Daisy laughed again, and then the game got underway.
Maggie studied her cards and money, trying to figure out how well she was set up. It looked like Dawson had racked up some pretty decent properties.
Everyone continued laughing and having a good time. Maggie discovered she was in the lead and managed to hold her position. Canyon quickly went from losing to beating half the people around the table.
Just after passing Go once again, his hand brushed hers. Maggie’s breath hitched. Canyon glanced at her and gave a quick grin. Her heart skipped a beat, but she managed to return the smile.
As they continued playing, Canyon brushed her hand and arm several more times.
After a while, Daisy landed on one of Maggie’s properties and gave all her money to Maggie. “That’s all I have. I’m out. I think I’ll make nachos.”
“Then Charades?” Ella asked.
“Whatever everyone wants!” Daisy bounced over to the fridge and pulled out a bunch of nacho toppings.
Ella landed on one of Canyon’s properties. “I’m out, too.”
Canyon nudged Maggie. “They’re dropping like flies. Looks like it might be between you and me. Think you can beat me?”
“Sure do. Hope you don’t mind losing to a girl.”
“My ego can take it, but luckily it won’t have to.” He winked and placed his hand on top of hers.
A warm tingle ran up her arm. If he kept doing that, she wouldn’t be able to concentrate long enough to stay in first place.
Chapter 15
Canyon stared at his pile of money, then Maggie’s. It was about equal, and it had been at least half an hour since anyone else had been in the game. “Call it a tie?”
She tapped her chin, looking deep in thought. Then she locked her gaze on his. “I kind of wanted to see you lose to a girl.”
The sparkle in her eyes fired a spark in him. He’d move any mountain to give her what she wanted. “Is that really what you want?”
Maggie nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“Okay.” Canyon scooped up all his money and cards and dumped them in her lap. He rose and bowed to her. “Maggie is the reigning champion! I bow to her greatness.”
She laughed, with a slight pink coloring her cheeks, then she emptied the contents of her lap and curtsied. “Thank you, kind sir.”
Canyon held out his hand, and she placed hers on top. He threaded his fingers through hers. They walked through the house, checking out the other games. The wild game of Twister was still going, but now with onlookers chanting. Several board and card games were in full swing in various rooms and there was a competitive round of Charades taking up one room.
“What do you think?” Maggie asked.
He studied her full lips, wanting to kiss them. It took all his effort to pull his gaze to her eyes. “What do you want to do?”
“We could see if anything’s going on out back.”
“Sounds good to me.”
They made their way to the back door and found the backyard empty. Little Tiki torches lit a path that led to a reflection pond.
Canyon squeezed Maggie’s hand and led her to the walkway. They walked slowly. It took a few moments for his ears to stop ringing from the sudden quiet.
“This is nice.” Maggie gave him her dazzling smile.
His heart jumped into his throat. He nodded, unable to find his voice until she turned to look at the pond. “It really is.”
They stopped walking once they reached it. She leaned against him and stared at the water.
Canyon put his arm around her. “I’ve really been enjoying my time with you.”
“So have I.” She drew in a deep breath. “I haven’t told anyone around here about why Dan left me. Not even Aunt Lucille knows the reason.”
His heart broke for her, knowing how much it had to have hurt her. “Have you told anyone else?”
She didn’t ans
wer right away. “No. I was going to tell my parents and sister after Dan, but after he broke up with me, it was too much to deal with all at once. Then I decided I’m never going to marry, so the kid thing became irrelevant.”
“You really shouldn’t let that stop you from getting married—if that’s what you really want. Any man worth his salt would love you regardless.”
Maggie shrugged.
“You don’t believe me?”
She didn’t answer.
Canyon turned to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and held her gaze. “I’m serious, Maggie. You’re beautiful and smart, and a whole lot of fun. Any guy would be lucky to be with you.”
Her eyes misted. “That’s really nice of you, but—”
“But nothing. I mean it. Any man would be proud to be with you. Your ex? He’s a complete idiot.”
Maggie’s eyes widened, then before he realized what was happening, she pressed her soft, sweet mouth on his. Once he realized she was kissing him, he pulled her closer and took in her sweet scent and the feel of her in his arms.
He wanted to hold onto everything about the moment in his memory. There was something about Maggie that made a simple kiss feel monumental. It made his pulse catch fire and his breath hitch. One sweet kiss was more thrilling than anything else he’d ever experienced.
If he could go back in time and erase the past seven years, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
He rested one hand on the small of her back and kept the other on her arm, making sure to keep himself in full control.
Maggie pulled back and stared into his eyes. “Thank you.”
In reply, he placed his lips back on hers and dipped her slightly. She tightened her fingers around his arms, and he flexed a little. Then he stood up straight and held her gaze, getting lost in her blue eyes—they seemed brighter than before.
Canyon took her hand again and led her over to a tree, and they sat at the base. His mind raced, thought after thought vying to be the one spoken, but he let the silence between them say everything.
Maggie leaned her head against his shoulder and rested her hand on his knee.
Again, the small innocent gesture sent a wave of excitement through him. Being with her was like sweeping him back to a time before he’d ever kissed a girl. Everything was new and special.
She was new and special.
He played with a ringlet of her hair. “Everything I said earlier was true.”
“You’re too good to be true.”
Canyon laughed. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” There was a smile to her tone.
“I’m pretty sure you’re the only person to think that.”
“Well, you’re the only one who has bothered to find out why my engagement fell to pieces. Everyone else just wants to fix me—push me to forget about it.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to forget about him, but I get that you have to heal from what he did to you.”
“See? You’re perfect.”
He kissed her temple. “If you keep saying that, I’m going to start to believe it.”
“Good.” She squeezed his knee.
Canyon took a deep breath and held it before letting go. “There are rumors running around town about me.”
“I know.”
His heart pounded. “Do you know what they are?”
She nodded. “I’ve heard them, Canyon.”
“Which ones?”
A beat of silence. It felt like an eternity.
“That you were a womanizer.”
His stomach clenched hearing from her mouth, but he liked how she put it in the past tense. He swallowed. “The rumors are true, Maggie.”
She turned and stared into his eyes, her expression inquisitive and maybe a little hurt, but without any judgment.
It pained him to hold her gaze. “If I could take it all back, I would. If I had ever thought I had a chance with you, I never would have made the choices I did. Not that I think I deserve a chance with you.”
Maggie bit her lower lip.
Canyon drew in a deep breath and held it. If she knew what that did to him, she would turn bright red. “Say something.”
She shifted her position. “You’ve always had a chance with me. I waited so long for you to make the first move.”
He gave her a double-take. “You did?”
Maggie gave a little nod. “I didn’t have the nerve to when we were younger. You were a year older and had lots of girls interested in you. I understood why you never saw me as anything more than a friend.”
Her words felt like a slap to the face. He needed to tell her how he felt, but it might scare her off. Maybe he should keep his feelings to himself. But she looked so conflicted. He needed to tell her. He took a deep breath. “You were the first person I fell in love with, Magnolia Lucille Kendrick.”
“Wh-what? You were in love with me?”
“Madly.”
Somehow her eyes managed to widen even more. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
He took her hand and ran his thumb across her palm. “You were way out of my league. I wanted to at least have you as a friend rather than risk losing you altogether.”
“Oh, Canyon.” Her words seemed to hold finality to them.
As though it was too late for anything to come of their love now.
“I’m sorry, Maggie. For everything—for being too chicken as a teen and for everything else I’ve done since then to ruin what we could’ve had.”
Chapter 16
Maggie’s heart thundered as she stared at Canyon and processed everything he’d said. He had been in love with her and had never said anything.
Canyon Leblanc had been in love with her.
With her.
It hardly seemed possible.
Oh, how things would have turned out differently if only she’d known. If he hadn’t run off and started working for the cruise line. If she’d had the chance to give things a try with him those years ago.
But now everything was different. She couldn’t allow herself to even consider a serious relationship. He might think that her inability to have kids wasn’t a big deal now, but he’d surely change his mind later. He deserved to have kids with his own genetics, and that was what mattered in the long run.
It was something she couldn’t give him, or anyone. All things considered, it was probably for the best that he’d never told her his true feelings all that time ago. Then it might’ve been him she’d disappointed when the doctor gave her the news.
Canyon cupped her chin. “What are you thinking?”
“I… I’m just processing everything.”
“Tell me this. What would you have done if I’d have told you how I felt back then?”
She swallowed, her pulse picking up speed. “I’d have been thrilled.”
“What if I told you my feelings have picked up where they left off and grown since the moment I saw you?”
Her breath hitched. She stared into his eyes, anchoring herself. “I’d say that would explain the kisses.”
Canyon tilted her chin closer to him, leaving only about an inch between their mouths. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“How do you feel now? About me?”
Maggie’s heart felt like it would explode out of her chest. She struggled to breathe normally. What was she supposed to say? There was no denying her feelings for him—they were stronger than they’d ever been for Dan.
In fact, if she was being completely honest with herself, her long-ignored love for Canyon had been a bigger problem for her and Dan than the doctor’s news. That just made them see all their problems for what they really were, even though she hadn’t thought of Canyon in so long.
“Maggie?” Canyon’s voice was practically a whisper. His eyes held an intensity that took her breath away. “Should I assume that your kisses also say more than words ever could?”
Without blinking, she gave a little nod.
His mouth gaped. “Yo
u… you feel the same way?”
“Yes, Canyon. I always thought you were too cool to like me like that. I was just happy being your friend, running around town all summer every year, telling each other everything.”
“Not everything,” he corrected.
“Right.”
Silence settled between them as they stared into each other’s eyes. Finally, Canyon spoke. “You really thought I was cool? Too cool to date?”
Her cheeks warmed. “I never thought I stood a chance. I figured you would want to be with someone more… I don’t know. Pretty. Popular. Funny. More athletic.”
“We were both idiots.”
She tilted her head, questioning.
“I don’t mean you’re an actual idiot. It’s just that, how do I say this? Who on earth could be prettier than you? You’re not only gorgeous, but the best friend a guy could ask for. And you’re both funny and athletic. Popular? Honestly, I never paid much attention to that stuff. All year long, I counted down the days until summer. Not because of being out of school, though that was nice. It was you. I had to see you in person, not just pictures online. Chatting over social media was never enough.”
Maggie’s limbs went weak. It was a good thing she was already sitting. She really had been an idiot.
Canyon rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “What about now? How do you feel now?”
“Too much.” She leaned against him, falling against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
Maggie’s mind raced. She hadn’t been expecting any of this. It had just been a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to a local game night.
Everything Canyon had said threatened to crush her. She could hardly process it, much less make any sense of what it meant for them now. For the future.
Her time with Canyon was just supposed to be a fun summer fling. Replaying times long gone with an old friend. But now it was so much more.
There was no going back from this conversation.
She couldn’t un-hear his declaration of love for her. Not just love, but a lifetime of longing.
Regret squeezed her. All those wasted years. If only one of them had opened up, things could’ve gone so differently.