Page 20 of Alistair

“Then don’t ask me to put up with something you wouldn’t.” She kicked at a rock on the sidewalk and folded her arms. “You made me feel like you liked him more. That you thought I made a bad choice in breaking up with him. It’s taken me a while to get to a place where I can even think about being with someone else, and you guys were in there trying to tank my healing progress.”

Her mom’s eyes softened, and she stepped onto the sidewalk and gave Maggie a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…well, I didn’t think. Penny is a people pleaser and didn’t want to tell Seth he couldn’t come. We should have scrubbed him from the list the moment you two broke up. I’ll ask Penny to disinvite him, but I don’t know if she will. At least he’s not at the table with you and your new fellow.”

“That’s something, at least.”

“What’s his name?”

“Alistair.”

“He’s nice?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” Her mom tucked a lock of Maggie’s hair behind her ear. “I’ll look forward to meeting him at the wedding. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Maggie walked away, hurrying to her car and getting behind the wheel. She was still upset, but after talking to her mom, the sting of her and Penny’s behavior wasn’t quite so bad.

She’d still have to see Seth at the wedding, assuming he did actually show up.

Hopefully—oh how very much she hoped—Alistair would be available and want to come to the wedding with her. She wasn’t sure she could face Seth alone, and she sure as hell didn’t want to try.

Alistair thought seven o’clock would never come. Even though he’d had a busy day, it had still dragged. But finally he’d made it to Maggie’s apartment and he wasn’t eventhatearly. Just ten minutes.

Okay, fifteen.

He sat in the SUV and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. His elephant was murmuring in excitement and had a few suggestions about how the evening should go.

Frankly, Alistair wasn’t sure what the night would bring.

He wanted very much to invite her back to the apartment, and he’d already pretty much decided to do that, but a lot would depend on how things went. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her all day.

He wondered if she’d thought about him.

He certainly hoped so.

Once the clock slowly made its way closer to seven so he wasn’tsoearly, he got out and walked to the front door, holding a small gift bag.

After knocking, it was just a moment before the door opened, and Maggie smiled at him. She was wearing jeans that hugged her curves and a long-sleeved top that was the perfect shade of emerald to match her eyes.

“Hi!” she said.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. He caught the hint of her naturally sweet smell and inhaled softly.

Damn, she smelled amazing.

Like home and sweet dreams.

“I brought you something from the park’s gift shop,” he said as she stepped aside so he could come in.

“You did? That’s so sweet.” She took the bag from him and shut the door. He faced her, watching as she pulled the colorful tissue paper that one of the she-wolves who worked in the shop had artfully folded and set inside the matching bag.

“Oh, it’s a moose! Is it Tank?” She lifted the small plush moose from the bag and grinned.

“It’s supposed to be,” he said.

“I love it so much, thank you.” She went onto her toes and brushed her lips across his cheek.

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