Page 94 of Sirens
“Oh,we’re so going in here.”
They slowed in front of Vee’s Lady Garden, the salt-scented air chilling Maggie’s cheeks.
“Um, thanks but no thanks,” Maggie said, hugging her coat tighter around her. The last thing she needed was to be anywhere connected to strong sexual memories about the man who had ma’am’d her.
“How about this? You’re single now, and it’s time to upgrade your toy collection.” Grabbing her hand, Mark led her up the stairs toward the boutique. “Trust me, this is essential self-care.”
As they entered, Maggie couldn’t help but feel a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. The usually bustling boutique was eerily quiet, void of any other customers. She furrowed her brow, curiosity piqued.
“Looks like we have the place to ourselves,” Mark said, waggling his brows. “Now let’s find you something fun, shall we?”
Maggie rolled her eyes but followed him as he led her toward the back of the store. As they pushed through a set of velvet curtains, she gasped at the sight before her: a luxurious private shopping area filled with designer outfits in her size, displayed like treasures for a queen.
“What the…” she breathed, trailing her fingers over a silky blouse.
“Hello, Maggie.”
Trent McGarvey stepped out from behind a clothing rack.
Maggie froze at the sight of him, surprised and momentarily speechless. His warm gaze seemed to map the planes of her face, lingering on her lips before finally meeting her eyes.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” she stammered, her pulse quickening.
“Apologizing,” he said, lips stretching in a smile.
The words evaporated from her throat, the world around her blurring.
“Listen, Maggie,” he began. “Since meeting you, my life has changed. You’ve brought color, laughter, and warmth into a world that was cold, rigid, and empty. But my point is, you changed my world for the better. And I want to be a part of yours.”
As his words washed over her, Maggie felt a warmth spreading through her chest. It was as if something within her chest had unlocked, allowing in air and light. And maybe…the possibility that she could believe.
Her vision blurred with tears as she took a shaky breath, unable to contain the flood of emotions any longer. In a sudden burst of movement, she ran into his arms, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
His arms wrapped around her shoulders. Containing her. Anchoring her.
For a moment, they just stood there, locked in a silence that seemed to transcend time and space.
As Maggie pulled away, he held up a designer tote bag he had been clutching in one hand. “For you,” he said gently, slipping the strap onto her arm.
“What is it?” she asked through her tears, her fingers trembling as she unzipped the bag.
“Have a look for yourself,” he replied.
Maggie reached inside, her heart pounding as she pulled out a stack of papers. As she began to read them, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Her divorce papers.
Flipping through the thick sheaf, she could see an addendum had been paperclipped to the back of the bundle, wherein Charlie acknowledged responsibility for all debt and signed a promissory note guaranteeing her a monthly sum in restitution for the damages she suffered during their unfortunate union.
And on the last page, she found Charlie’s self-important kindergarten scrawl of a signature.
“But…how?” she asked, looking up at Trent in shock.
“I may have taken some creative liberties and used my connections to track down the previous set,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “But after reviewing the terms and having aheartfelt conversation with our friend Chazz, we decided some amendments were in order.”
Maggie couldn’t help but let out a watery laugh, shaking her head in amazement. She could envisionexactlyhow that conversation had gone down.
“You did all that…for me?” she asked.
