Page 39 of Maggie

Chapter 12

Maggie

Wylder pulled the Jeep into a small parking lot behind the tattoo shop/apartment. A few paparazzi had camped out in front of the shop and Maggie saw them on the drive by, but it didn’t look like anyone had figured out that there was an apartment out back yet.

He turned off the vehicle and they headed toward the stairs. Wylder surprised her when he took her hand, but quickly she brushed off the feeling.

They went up the stairs and into his apartment, greeted at the door by an excited Buzz.

“Down. Stay,” Wylder commanded. He turned to Maggie. “Let’s get you some other clothes before he slobbers all over your dress.”

Maggie shot an apologetic look to Buzz and followed Wylder down the hallway. He opened a door and went inside.

“This is my bedroom,” he said as he went inside.

She poked her head inside. The walls were gray, and the room contained a large bed with nightstands on each side, a dresser, and bookcases. There were doors to what she presumed were the closet and bathroom. The room had a masculine feel.

He crossed to the dresser and rifled through some clothes, selected a couple of things, then walked back to her. He handed the clothes to her.

“These should be comfortable if you want to change,” he said, his voice husky. He cleared his throat and licked his lips.

She smiled at him and took the clothes. “Thank you.”

“The bathroom is two doors down if you want to change in there. You remember where from last time?”

“Yes. I’ll get changed and meet you in the living room.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.” He flashed a smile at her.

Wylder closed the bedroom door and she went to the bathroom to change.

She took off her jewelry, tucked it into her clutch, pulled out a hair tie, and set the clutch on the sink. She put her hair into a messy bun on top of her head and turned on the water to let it warm. Glancing around the room, she saw a shelf above the toilet with some towels and washcloths. It was a pretty standard bathroom with a tub/shower combination and a navy blue bath mat and shower curtain.

She took a washcloth and ran it under the warm water, then used it to remove her makeup. When she finished, she splashed her face with water and grabbed a towel to dry it. She turned off the faucet and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked so different without her makeup. Did that matter to Wylder? No. She shook her head. She knew better. He wouldn’t care.

Maggie changed out of her dress and strapless bra into the soft t-shirt and boxers that Wylder had provided. Did he dress like this all the time? She may need to confiscate these. The clothes were unbelievably soft and smelled like him.

She folded up her dress and picked up her clutch, then carried the bundle into the living room. She slid her stuff onto the coffee table.

Buzz wandered over and sat at her feet. He watched her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his tail wagging.

She sat on the couch and called him to her. Eagerly, he jumped up and scurried to her. His nails clicked across the hardwood floor. He put his head in her hands and she petted him. She scratched behind his ear and obvious pleasure crossed his face. He pressed his head further into her hands.

Wylder laughed as he walked into the room. “You have a dog now. He’s decided to leave me at this point and he’s all yours.”

Maggie laughed and kept scritching Buzz. “We’ll have to share him. I’m on the road too much right now. He wouldn’t like it.”

“Okay. Joint custody.”

Maggie laughed. “Okay.”

Wylder sat on the couch beside her and picked up the remote control.

He’d changed into a t-shirt and lounge pants. She couldn’t help but notice that he looked as good casual as he did dressed up.

He flipped through the channels and eventually turned the TV onto The Boondock Saints movie.

“Thank you for going with me,” he said. “I had a lot more fun with you there.”

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