Page 9 of My Mismatched Valentine

“Really?” The emotion in her raspy whisper is almost as fatal as those round doe eyes. “I didn’t realize he’d built anything in Caribou Creek.”

I finish the last swallow of my beer, push back my chair, and offer my hand. “C’mon.” Debate dances in Maggie’s eyes as she stares at my upturned palm. “I want to show you all the places he designed. There’s quite a few in this town.”

Maggie reaches for my hand, but then pulls hers back. “People are watching, Dustin.”

“And?”

She zips up her coat. “And it’ll be a lot harder to convince women to go on a date with you if the whole town things we’re…” She leans in closer. “Shacking up.”

I’m counting on it. “I’m not worried.”

“You should be. It’s a small town.”

She doesn’t swat my hand away when I place it on her lower back, ushering her toward the door. I give Zac a wave to close out my tab.

“People talk,” Maggie adds once we’re outside. The chilly February air causes her entire body to shiver. I drape my arm around her shoulders and pull her against my side. She doesn’t fight that either.

“People talk everywhere you go.”

“But here the gossip travels like a wild fire. Mark my words, tomorrow morning everyone in town will know we left the brewery together. How do you think that’s going to affect your chances getting another local date? You’re making my job really hard.”

“I know what would make it easier.”

“What?”

I tug her to the side of the building, to a corner shrouded in darkness. Snow crunches beneath our boots as I gently back Maggie up against the wall. “Youcould marry me, Maggie.” I don’t give her a chance to object as I scoop a hand beneath her jaw and draw her mouth to mine. Her lips move in time with mine instantly. She grips the collar of my coat, pulling me closer.

My hands slide behind her back, keeping the cold siding from chilling her. Though with the passionate heat generated with this potent kiss, the freezing temperature doesn’t stand a chance. With each swallowed moan, I’d bet the snow is melting beneath our boots.

It might be a few minutes or an hour later when we finally come up for air. Maggie wears a dazed expression. We’re both panting heavily. “What do you say, Maggie? Will you marry me?”

Her eyes snap open wide, as if she’s just been yanked back to reality. “Oh no,” she groans, shimmying out of my arms as if lightning struck between us. “This is bad. So,sobad.” She spins around to face me. “This never happened.”

“Maggie—”

“If you want me to help you, Dustin,thisnever happened.”

CHAPTER 7

Maggie

“Don’t look at me like that, Karl,” I grumble to the judgmental tabby as he struts into my compact kitchen. With the dramatic sashay of his hips with each step, it’s no mystery how the catwalk got its name. He’s been content to sleep since I got home last night, curled at my feet, but now that I’m out of the shower, he’s ready to harass me. “I screwed up, okay?”

Karl stops at the fridge, plopping down and letting out a howling meow.

“Youwouldbe thinking about milk at a time like this, wouldn’t you? You know what the vet said. You’re lactose intolerant. Because you’re acat.”

Karl lets out a hissing meow at my hurtful words, refusing to move from his post. I briefly wonder what treasures I might find under the fridge since I last checked, but I don’t have the energy to crouch down and look. I need every ounce of energy, motivation, and gumption I have to fix the mess I’ve made.

“Yeah, yeah. I know you’re offended.” I give in, pulling a small bowl from the cupboard. Who am I to deny my rescue kitty the one thing he really wants? “Guess I’m a bigger sucker thanI thought,” I groan, pouring a generous splash of milk into his bowl. Seems I can’t resisteitherman in my life.

“What was I thinking?” I groan, leaning against the counter. My coffee sits untouched behind me, growing colder by the second. Pity it’s too early to drink. Though I’m totally blaming the alcohol for lowering my inhibitions last night. No, I wasn’t drunk. I only had two beers. But that first one went down quickly to drown out the irrational jealousy of a date thatIset up.

A selfish part of me is relieved Trinity couldn’t make it. Or that she won’t be home until after Valentine’s Day is over.

Iwantedto kiss Dustin.

The alcohol only gave me the excuse to give in to the burning chemistry that’s been scrambling my brain since meeting at the diner. “How was that only the day before yesterday? It feels like weeks ago.”

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