Flirting With Disaster

“I took a break to check on things here,” Dinah said, then grinned. “Aren’t you glad you said yes?” she inquired, following the direction of Maggie’s gaze. “Working here sure beats moping around out on Sullivan’s Island, don’t you think?”

“There were plenty of gorgeous, bare-chested men out there,” Maggie retorted. “It was a beach, for goodness’ sakes.”

“Then why are you staring at Josh with such fascination?”

Maggie turned her gaze toward Dinah, sacrificing the fantasies in which she’d been indulging. “Is that what you think I was doing?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Maybe I was just plotting how to destroy the man’s enormous ego.”

Dinah grinned. “Because of the lunch thing? I heard about that. I don’t suppose you added anything extra to his coffee, did you?”

“Not this time. I’m trying to decide if I want to kill him or make him suffer for a few hours. I’m leaning toward the latter.”

Dinah studied her worriedly. “You’re not really that furious with him, are you? He was just being a guy. You have this ultrafeminine look about you that makes men misjudge you. Show him what you’re capable of doing and he’ll put you to work. He needs all the qualified help he can get.”

“I don’t think he’s all that interested in my construction skills,” Maggie said.

“Few men think of drill bits and hammers when they first see you, Magnolia. Give the guy a break.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Because he’s sexy and available, for starters.”

A warning bell sounded in Maggie’s head. She knew all the signs of Dinah on a mission. “Don’t get any ideas,” she warned, once again dragging her gaze away from that delectable backside. “I’m here to work. Nothing more.”

“Then you’re insane,” a lilting, unfamiliar voice chimed in. “I loved my husband and I’m not looking for a replacement, but that one could change my mind, at least for a night.”

Maggie turned and saw that they’d been joined by a woman with dark circles of exhaustion under her eyes. She was so fragile-looking, Maggie was sure a strong wind could pick her up and carry her off. Yet there was something about her, an indefinable spark of amazing strength, as well as a glint of humor in her eyes. Maggie had no doubt that this was the woman for whom the house was intended. Dinah confirmed it.

“I’m with you,” Dinah said, grinning at the newcomer. “Amanda O’Leary, this cynical woman is Maggie Forsythe. She owns Images.”

Amanda’s eyes lit up with unmistakable approval. “Oh, what a lovely shop. I was in there not long after you opened. Even before …” Her eyes welled with tears, and she brushed them away impatiently. “It was always out of my league, but I certainly admire your taste.”

Maggie was pleased with the compliment. How could she help but like anyone who admired her taste? “You’ll have to come by again and I’ll help you choose something for your new home. It will be my housewarming gift to you.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but I couldn’t possibly accept,” Amanda protested. “You being here to help is more than enough. I knew people from church were going to be here, but I’m overwhelmed that so many other people are willing to pitch in and do something like this for a stranger. Having a home of our own again, well, it’s practically a miracle to me and the kids. After my husband died, I thought we’d never get back on our feet, not with all those creditors hounding us.”

“I thought declaring bankruptcy protects you from them,” Maggie said.

“It does … it did,” Amanda said. “But it took me a long time to admit that I needed to take that step. I was determined to pay back every dime Bobby owed until I finally saw that I would never catch up and that I was hurting the kids with my stubborn pride.”

“Speaking of the kids, where are they?” Dinah asked.

Maggie saw the question for what it was, a deliberate attempt to change the touchy subject. She understood Dinah’s motive. Despite her brave front and evident resiliency, Amanda O’Leary was the kind of woman people instinctively wanted to protect. Men had probably been leaping to her defense ever since the tragedy that had taken her husband’s life. Even as that thought crossed Maggie’s mind, she realized how petty it sounded.

“Oh, good grief, the kids were right here a second ago,” Amanda said, her expression alarmed. “I told them to stay put and not get in anyone’s way. Unfortunately, Larry and Jimmy love anything to do with tools, and Susie tags along right after them. She’s going to be quite the tomboy.”

Maggie spotted them before Dinah or Amanda did. All three kids were lined up watching Josh Parker, their expressions unsmiling. He was staring back at them as if they were aliens. Given the way he’d treated her, Maggie caught her breath, anticipating some harsh remark that would send them fleeing in tears.

Instead, Josh hunkered down until he was at eye level with them. She couldn’t hear what he said, but it was enough to earn him a shy grin from Susie, who looked to be about four. The boys were still stoic, as if they’d become used to being shunted aside by grown-ups and anticipated it happening yet again despite Josh’s attention at the moment.

“I’d better go rescue Josh,” Amanda said, worry knitting her brow as she hurried away.

An odd sensation settled in Maggie’s chest when she saw a warm smile spread across Josh’s face at Amanda’s approach. When the woman placed a protective hand on each of her sons’ shoulders, he said something that made her laugh, and Maggie’s heart flipped right over. The jealousy-tinged reaction was disconcerting.

“Looks as if they’re getting along just fine,” she said to Dinah, unable to keep a certain edge out of her voice. “Did I get it wrong, after all? Was that what you had in mind? Not matchmaking for me, but giving Amanda a house and a man to go with it?”

Dinah gave her a knowing look that came from years of being able to read Maggie’s innermost thoughts. “What exactly are you seeing when you look at those two, Maggie?”

“Two people who are flirting with each other,” Maggie said, then couldn’t resist adding, “it’s a little unseemly, don’t you think? Didn’t Amanda just lose her husband?”

Dinah merely grinned. “The accident was almost a year ago and last I heard, flirting’s not a crime. Maybe you should give it a try, Maggie. You used to excel at it. A flirtation might loosen you up.”

“And who would you suggest I flirt with? I’m sure you have someone in mind. If not Josh, it must be someone around here. Caleb, maybe? Didn’t you learn anything after hooking me up with Warren? Caleb seems sweet, but I’m not cut out for the steady, reliable type.”

“I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind, to be honest,” Dinah said with just the right touch of sincerity. “And it doesn’t matter who you flirt with. Just do it. You need to get your blood pumping again.”

“My blood is pumping just fine,” Maggie retorted irritably.

Dinah’s grin spread as she glanced pointedly from Maggie to Josh and Amanda, then back again. “Why, yes, I believe it is. Jealousy sometimes has the same effect.”

With that insightful barb, Dinah sashayed off, leaving Maggie wondering how fast her blood would race if she decided to strangle her best friend.

Josh spotted the purposeful glint in Maggie’s eye from halfway across the yard. He’d actually been surprised when she’d shown up at the building site this morning. He’d been doubly surprised when she’d taken on the lunch assignment without a complaint and done a fine job of it. The coffee had been hot, strong and plentiful. The thick sandwiches had been served on paper plates decorated with little slices of fruit. There had even been homemade brownies for dessert, which suggested she’d been out to prove that she could handle any assignment, no matter how disagreeable, with grace and aplomb.

Now, however, with most people leaving for the day, she looked as if all those words she’d no doubt been biting back since their first meeting were right on the tip of her tongue. He braced himself to tune out the expected harangue.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” he said when she planted herself in front of him. “I thought you’d take off the minute your assignment was done.”

“We need to talk.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow with a bandanna and resigned himself to letting her have her say. “What about?”

“My capabilities versus your insulting view of women.”

Josh grinned despite himself. “In that case, I think I could use something cold to drink.” Without waiting for her response, he headed for a cooler and pulled out an icy can of soda. “Want one?”

“No, thank you,” she said primly.

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He tilted the can and took a long, slow swallow. Drops of ice-cold water dripped from the can and fell on his overheated flesh, which had warmed a few more degrees since Miss Maggie had stepped into his line of vision. The effect she had on him was downright dangerous.

She was a picture of pure femininity, he thought, but he doubted she’d planned it that way. In fact, it was clear she’d set out to prove just the opposite in her blue chambray work shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the tails knotted at her tiny waist. Her jeans were well worn and her shoes were dotted with paint spatters. She’d pulled her long hair up into some sort of knot and secured it to the top of her head.

But none of that took away from her flushed cheeks, shiny lips or the very feminine curls that had escaped to brush the delicate nape of her neck. Some women were simply born sexy, and Maggie was one of them. She could have worn a burlap sack and she’d still have set his pulse racing.

Didn’t matter, he told himself sternly. After what Cord and Caleb had told him about her determination, he knew he couldn’t afford to lose focus around her, not for a second.