by Vella, Wendy
Maggie giggled at Joe’s words.
“I like that sound,” Fin said softly. She ignored him.
“Then Mrs. L told us she was on the street when the car sped through town, and she had to throw herself clear or she’d have been run right over,” Bailey added. “The Robbins sisters told us they thought it was likely the Simon brothers from fifth grade, as they’d been bad then and nothing much has changed there over the years.”
Maggie couldn’t stop giggling. The laughter just kept coming. Fin joined her with his deep rumble, and soon they were laughing like idiots.
“Clearly they’re unhinged from the day’s events. Someone slap them,” Jack said.
Fin managed to get himself under control before Maggs. He then got off his stool to kiss Bailey’s cheek, because, well, that’s what he always did when he greeted his friends—the female ones anyway. He took Ella out of the stroller and sat again. Hot guy, sweet little girl in his arms. Maggie’s heart did not just sigh.
“Hey there, baby girl, I’m your aunt Maggie.”
Ella gave her a gummy smile.
“She loves me best already.”
“Not likely. I’m Uncle Fin, the one who makes funny faces and blows raspberries in her neck.”
She’d worked hard to control her emotions since the incident. Maggie had always been a bit volatile, and yes, spoke her mind, but after she’d been shot she’d also been weepy, scared, and had lost her confidence. Those emotions, she wanted to rein in. Today had not helped. At least she hadn’t screamed or sobbed uncontrollably. She’d done that in London.
“Maggie Winter!”
“Mrs. Howard is coming; I’m out!” Before anyone could stop her, Maggie got off her stool and headed for the door. “I have to head to the gallery. You all have a good day.”
She was out the door before they realized it and heading down the street for home.
…
The knock came on her front door early the following morning. She was up, but only just, and only because she’d fallen asleep so early and slept for hours. Good, uninterrupted sleep, the kind she’d not had a lot of lately. Tightening the belt on her robe, she answered the second knock.
“Hello, Maggie.”
“Mr. Goldhirsh. Is everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect. I just wondered if you’d like to spend some time with me this morning, dear. My wife”—he smiled—“I never get tired of saying that, is busy.”
“Oh, well—”
“It won’t be painful, I promise, and there will be a nice view and coffee, with the promise of cake.”
Like her friends, Maggs struggled to say no to this man. But she was suspicious. Mr. Goldhirsh felt it was his duty to get people exercising and didn’t care how much manipulation on his part that took.
“Hustle along now, Maggs. Pull on some leggings or something stretchy and comfortable.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“It’s important to always be comfortable. I’ll meet you in the car.”
“But I don’t want to exercise,” she called after him as he jogged back down her path pretending not to hear her.
Suspicious and struggling to come up with a valid reason not to go, Maggs hurried to her room. She dug out her exercise leggings and top. Then pulled several layers over that. Lacing her feet into sneakers, she hurried to the front door.
“You’re not going to force me to run are you?” Maggs said, getting into Mr. Goldhirsh’s car.
“No running, dear. I’m injured.” He turned the car around, and soon they were heading down to where her gallery was.
“Ha, you injured is still fitter than me.”
“We’re going to work on that, Maggs. Because while you have no wish to talk about what happened, I know something did.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. He always saw what others didn’t. She went for “I’m all right.”
“No, you’re not. It’s in the eyes. I can tell you’re troubled.”
“I’m trying to change that.”
“Excellent.” He patted her hand. “And I can help.”
He pulled up in front of the rec center.
“Okay, I’m totally clueless why we are here.”
“Come along, Maggs. Today you are taking your first yoga class.”
“Oh, hell no!”
“Yoga is about cultivating self-awareness and spiritual development. It helps teach the body to self-observe.”
“Ah.” Maggs looked at the building before her like it housed fire-breathing dragons. “Can’t I self-observe from home?”
“Out you get now.”
“Do I have to?”
He chuckled as he got out of the car and came around her side. Opening her door, he held out a hand.
“How come Aunt Jess doesn’t have to do this?”
“She keeps fit by riding and walking the land. My girl is one of the healthiest—mentally and physically—people I know.”
“Of course she is,” Maggs muttered, getting out of the car.
“Life is about small steps, dear. This is just another one.”
She let him lead her into the rec center. Maggs stopped just inside the door. Every senior she knew was in the place, plus Fin and Luke.
“I don’t think I want to do this.”
Fin, who’d been stretching, looked up and found her. His smile was slow.
“I really don’t want to do this.”
As if sensing her panic, Fin started making clucking noises.
“Asshole. Sorry, Mr. Goldhirsh.”
“Not a word I’m unfamiliar with, Maggie. Now come along, I brought you a mat.”
He grabbed her wrist and tugged her forward. Buzz, she noted, had his own mat at the rear and was simply sleeping on it.
“There you go, take that spot between Fin and Luke. They can help you with the moves.”
“Can’t I go at the back with Buzz?” Maggs looked longingly at the sleeping dog. “I don’t need anyone to tell me how to do what he’s doing.”
“Just get down here, red,” Fin said. “We’re about to start, and I could do with a laugh.”
“I hate you,” Maggie muttered as Mr. Goldhirsh unrolled her mat. “I thought people did these kinds of classes in the evenings.”
“Morning, evening; we’re very liberal here in Ryker. We exercise all day.”
“Shut up.” She glared at Fin, then Luke as he snorted. “What the hell are you two doing here anyway?”
“Staying supple.” Luke was stretching his long limbs in a series of movements.
“With yoga?” Maggs sat on her mat, refusing to take off her jacket, sweater, or scarf.
“What’s the problem here,” Fin asked. “You don’t think men should do yoga? That’s very closed-minded of you, Ms. Winter.”
It was, she realized, and that just pissed her off more.
“Take off your coat, Maggs.”
“I don’t have to.”
Fin’s sigh was loud enough to reach all corners of the room. He then rose, pulled her to her feet, and wrestled her out of her clothes.
“He’s had practice at that,” Luke drawled. “It shows.”
“Don’t touch me again,” Maggs hissed.
“When I touch you that way, it won’t be just removing your jacket.” Fin leaned in to whisper the words in her ear. The deep, gravelly tone made her shiver. “It will be all your clothes, and slowly.”
“They have names for men like you” was all Maggs could manage, as her tongue seemed to have stuck to the roof of her mouth.
He simply smiled and threw her jacket to the rear. It landed on Buzz. He raised an eye but seemed happy with the covering.
“Mr. Goldhirsh is in front of you. Follow his moves,” Luke said, giving her a quick hug.
“He kidnapped me on the promise of coffee and a drive.” Maggie struggled with her body’s response to Fin’s words. He’d taken her to a hot, sultry place that involved twisted bedsheets and lots of naked flesh.
“You’d think we’d be on to that by now,” Fin said. “The man’s good though, you have to give him that. It’s a skill to continually get us doing things we don’t want to.”
“And it all comes from a kind, if slightly obsessive place,” Luke added.
“Oh lord, tell me Miss Sarah is not taking this class?” Maggs moaned.
“Both of them, actually. They’re kind of a tag team. One talks, and the other walks about repositioning people into the right poses,” Fin said. “But they leave the megaphone at home, as this is meant to be a calm and soothing environment.”
“Soothing, my ass,” Maggs whispered.
“Class, we have a new member today. Let’s welcome Maggie. Both her and Fin were in the bank heist right here in Ryker Falls. They both need our support during this trying time. Shots were fired, and Maggie was used as a human shield while Fin was forced at gunpoint to fill bags with money. Let’s help them de-stress,” Miss Sarah said.
“Just roll with it. There is no way anything we say will change the embellishments,” Fin said. “Enjoy the notoriety.”
“And our valiant park ranger of course had that incident on the mountain, which was terrifying.”
Maggs looked at Fin, who seemed to have perfected that pathetic expression.
“I’m baking you something nice, sweetie,” Pearl said. Maggs admired her pink fluffy leg warmers and geometric-patterned tights.
“I’m doing meatloaf and biscuits. I’ll run you up some later, Fin,” another said.
“I’d be grateful,” he said in mournful tone. “I’m struggling to cook at the moment.”
“I thought the seniors in this town were astute, but it seems I’m wrong. You’re conning them,” Maggs hissed.
“He’s been conning them for years. They love it,” Luke said. “I’ve tried it, but nothing sticks. I think it’s because I have Aunt Jess.”
“They love to look after me. What can I say, I love it too. You should see my cupboards, and my freezer is nearly full.”
“I haven’t had any offers of food,” she said, feeling a bit miffed.
“You haven’t perfected the simpleton look,” Luke said.
“Sad but true.” Fin sighed.
“Now, class, we will begin,” Miss Marla said.
“Is it too soon to go back to London?” Maggie heard Luke’s laughter as she bent at the waist like the others in the class to assume the first pose.
Chapter Seven
Fin forced himself to look forward and not at Maggie’s sweet body in those fitted stretchy black exercise tights. They had an electric blue stripe down the side, and her long-sleeved shirt matched and was equally as snug.
She had a lovely body. Sweet, full curves that made him want to stroke her.
“No dogs I know do this pose,” she gritted out, sticking her ass in the air and head down between her arms.
Fin swallowed a groan.
“I’m going to hurt bad tomorrow, right? I mean, this stuff is gentle, but I know it’s going to have me limping in the morning.”
“Will you stop moaning, already. You’ve done nothing but since you arrived.”
“I didn’t come here by choice,” she hissed from the side of her mouth. “Who does this kind of thing by choice? I mean, you all need some head work if you think this is in any way fun.”
“How is it you’re such a sloth when your friends aren’t?”
“What?” She was twisting that luscious body into a pretzel to look at him under her arm.
“Here.” He moved in and repositioned her, letting his hands linger on her hips before retreating to his mat. He couldn’t be one hundred percent certain, but thought she’d hissed as he touched her, which made him feel better. “I said how come you have sloth tendencies when you friends don’t. Bailey, Pip, and Rory all work out in some way or other, and even Mandy does now.”
“I ride.” She fell on her ass. “How can he look so graceful?” She motioned to Mr. Goldhirsh.
“I’m graceful,” Fin said.
“You’re a beefcake who can position himself because he knows the moves. He’s graceful; you’re just efficient. Luke too.”
“Thanks,” Luke said.
“Was that an insult or a compliment?” Fin lunged forward, bending at the knee.
“Neither,” she said, trying to touch her toes.
“You could do that if you did this.”
“My arms are too short,” she muttered, which had him laughing. “Kind of like a Tyrannosaurus.”
He’d forgotten how funny she could be.
“Your butt’s cute though.”
“Thanks. But I know you’re just trying to be nice to encourage me.”
“I would never lie about something that important.”
“Ha.”
“You’re going to get into trouble any minute now. Miss Marla is heading your way,” Fin said from the side of his mouth.
“Come on now, Maggie. Up you get. We’re lunging,” Miss Marla said.
“Do I have to?” She looked like a child sitting there all flustered. Hair on top of her head, eyes pleading. Fin thought she looked cute, hot, and any number of things. Mrs. Marla got her into position.
“Ouch! I have a thigh cramp!” Maggs hopped backward between him and Luke to where Buzz still slept. “Time-out,” she said, making the gesture with her hands. “I’ll watch.” She then dropped down onto Buzz’s mat and hugged him. The look in her eyes dared anyone to pull her off.
Fin moved into the next position, then looked back at her. She was running for the door and was through it before anyone could blink.
“She can move fast when she needs to,” Luke said.
“I’ve seen her do that quite a lot since she came home.”
“Run?”
“Yup.”
“Why do you figure that is?” Luke asked.
“Not sure.”
They finished the class while he thought about the sexy redhead. He then showered in the rec center locker room before heading to Tea Total, which was where they went after the class. He was riding his Harley and decided he needed to take it for a run, as the skies were clear with no sign of more snow. Getting off, he saw Maggs from the corner of his eye. She was getting in her car. He watched as she headed out of town.
“What are you looking at?”
“Oh hey, Jack.” Fin acknowledged the middle Trainer.
“So?”
“I was watching the Robbins sisters. They’re annoying Lex again. Seems the debate is about his Christmas window display not being festive enough.”
“Those three are always going at it.”
“In a purely non-physical way,” Fin added.
“I just threw up a bit in my mouth,” Jack said. “What else you looking at, because no way would those three, amusing though they are, put that frown on your face.”
“I was wondering if I should redecorate the cabin.”
“No, you weren’t, because you’re going to build on that land you’re buying off Ted. So come clean, Fin. You were watching Maggs drive out of town, weren’t you?”
He turned to look at his friend.
“Why do you think I was doing that?”
Jack shrugged. “You’ve always been aware of her.”
“What! No way.” Fin felt like his collar suddenly had buttons and they were done up too tight.
“Fin, Fin, Fin.” Jack made a clucking sound. “Your secret is safe with me, but to be honest, I’m sure others have noticed. I mean, there was that one time when we ran a poll—”
“What!”
“Just messing with you, man.” Jack Trainer was and always would be a favorite with the ladies. Tall, lean, and with a rangy build, he’d once earned two thousand dollars in the bachelor auction. No one had broken that record since.
“But seriously, why not just admit you like her?”
“We all like her.” Fin tried to regulate his breathing again. He then looked at Jack. The man could keep a secret, and alt
hough he was hitched to Rory, she could hold her tongue, because undoubtedly he’d tell her what they talked about. He wanted to talk to someone about Maggie; should he start with Jack?
“Does something seem off with Maggs to you, Jack?”
“Off how?”
“Off, off.”
“And that makes even less sense.”
“She’s not the same Maggs who left here two years ago.”
Jack dug his hands into his pockets and looked up the street to where Maggs’s car had just disappeared.
“I noticed, but I’m putting it down to a readjustment period.”
Fin felt relieved that at least he wasn’t the only one who thought something wasn’t right with Maggs.
“Her family will be glad to see her. Maybe that will give her back her spark,” Jack said.
“Family?”
“You know, the people you were born into. They live about an hour from here.”
“Maggs has family close? How did I not know this?”
“You thought the stork brought her. Aww, son, we really need to talk.”
“Dickhead.”
“Maggs’s family have a cattle ranch about an hour from here. They’re big dogs in the business and own a huge piece of dirt. Lots of money too, but for all that good people. She has a mom and dad, two brothers, both older. They pretty much all work in the business. Maggs is the youngest, and according to her, the black sheep because she left to start the gallery.”
He’d known that woman for more years than he could remember and not known she had family nearby.
“They sent her here to school, bringing her to and from each day because they wanted her to have friends her own age. They all adore her.”
Fin watched Miss Marla point her schoolteacher finger at Lex. The man laughed. It was a brave man to do something like that to a Robbins sister when she was riled.
“Hello, Fin, Jack.”
They turned together to see who had spoken, and found Noel Linbar behind them. Slick, neatly dressed, with that salesman smile on his face. Fin didn’t know the man; they were really just the nod and raise a hand type of acquaintances.
“Hi, Noel.” Jack shook his hand, and Fin followed suit.