Page 45 of The Deal Maker

There’s a moment when Maggie seems to register that the wedding might be connected to The Bridal Barn and says, “Does the wedding planner gal work for your family?”

“No, she’s newer to town. But is she not doing what Hope wants her to do?”

“She’s been great, but Hope wants some input from me. She helped me with a bunch of mine?—”

Maggie freezes, as though the summer sun had just turned into a glacier and she can no longer move.

“Were you married before?” I ask, curious. Why is there a small amount of jealousy popping up in my chest right now?

“Engaged. It’s a long story.”

“I’m willing to listen to long stories.” I try to give her a smoldering stare, but it probably just looks like I’m questioning my life choices. That’s true too.

From the look on her face, she doesn’t want to discuss it any more. I’ll just have to file away my questions for another day.

“Well, I should probably get to work. Have a great day and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

I unlock my business and walk in, trying to stop from reeling at this new information. Maggie was engaged at one point, but now she’s not. And she moved from Virginia to here, doing something opposite of what her father wanted. There’s a lot to dissect about this woman, but the question is do I want to?

Obviously enough to risk my lungs and throat to the environment where crustaceans go to die.

NINETEEN

MAGGIE

I groan every time I think of spilling my past to Duke. He’s the last person who needs to worry about what I’ve gone through in my life. He practically grew up in the wedding industry and I’m definitely now allergic to that.

It’s why helping Hope is so hard right now. I’m trying to be supportive as we go through all the samples and suggestions the wedding planner gave her, especially because I was feeling left out earlier. I’m surprised that anything can be ordered and organized within a month. I was always under the impression that a bride needed at least a year to get all the details right.I know I planned that to the day for what should’ve been my nuptials.

But I guess if the planned venue is open, it wouldn’t take too long to get everything else ready.

“How’s the scavenger hunt going?” Hope asks after grabbing us some drinks from our fridge. I’m going to miss her when she moves out of our little townhouse. It makes me think of Duke’s question. What will I do when she’s gone?

I’ll still see her around town and at work, but it won’t be the same as just the two of us taking on the world. Third wheel, here I come.

“It’s going pretty well. There have been some odd requests, but nothing too bad.”

“I was there for the karaoke part. Are you sure you don’t want to amend your statement?” She laughs and I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, we know I didn’t get the singing genes.”

“It sounds like you’ve been having fun with Duke, though,” Hope says slyly.

What am I supposed to say? I’ve sworn off men for the rest of eternity and somehow this one has started worming his way into my heart.

But is it because he might like me? Or because he’s just a nice guy who wants to win the prize money and sail away on a yacht or something like that?

“He's a nice guy. But that’s all it is.”

“Why can’t you open your eyes and see he might be more than that? I’ve known him for a while and even though he can be quirky, he’s got a good heart.”

I turn to face her directly, leaning back on the armrest of the couch to support my back, which is sore from all the boxes we moved at the card shop. I need to get going on some weight lifting or something if I’m sore from something as mild as that.

“And you know this because he’s come into the shop daily for a scoop of ice cream?”

Hope smiles and says, “I think you like him but you’re scared. You don’t tell anyone about your ice cream theory. And I haven’t heard you complain about him since you started the scavenger hunt.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. I’ve been busy with the shop and the wedding stuff.”

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