Flirting with Disaster (14 page)

Nadine gave Josh's arm a squeeze. “Don't mind him, honey. He's all hot air. He just had to get in the last word. I know his type. He won't set foot around here again.”

“Did you have to rile him any worse than you did the other night?” Josh inquired, unable to keep the plaintive note out of his voice. “The last thing I need is building inspectors taking up all my time.”

She smiled. “Some men just need to have the truth laid out for them again and again.” She tapped a finger to her temple. “That man's head is hard as a rock. I doubt I even got through the first layer.”

“That's true enough,” Josh said, fighting a smile at her assessment. “But who appointed you to try to penetrate his thick skull?”

Nadine chuckled. “I volunteered. Weren't you hoping I'd get the hang of that, anyway?” she said as she, too, strode away.

Despite his desire to wring her neck for most likely making things worse, Josh couldn't help admiring her. In fact, Nadine, Amanda and Maggie had all showed some real grit today in the face of Winslow's bullying.

Josh suddenly realized that lumping his mother in with those two had to be some sort of turning point. Maybe he'd always been so caught up in how Nadine's actions affected him, he hadn't seen her for the scrapper she really was. Maybe she'd simply done the best she could under impossible circumstances. And maybe it was time he gave her credit for that and stopped blaming her for what she hadn't done.

 

Maggie knew exactly where Josh ate most of his dinners and where he'd shared a few meals with Amanda and her kids. She suspected the outings were Josh's way of making sure the family had an occasional meal out. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that he was paying for them. Despite the disquieting feeling that gave her, she resolved to join them tonight and put the whole jealousy thing to rest once and for all. Just showing up would be a public proclamation of sorts. She was determined that after tonight no one would be able to accuse her of shunning Amanda out of jealousy.

When she walked into the diner, they were all there, the kids in one booth and Josh, Amanda and Nadine in another. The surprise was Warren, who'd pulled up a chair at the end of the table. His presence gave her pause, but before she could cut and run, Nadine caught sight of her.

“Maggie, I didn't know you were going to join us,” she said brightly. “Come on over here right this second. There's plenty of room right beside Josh. Scoot over, honey, and let Maggie sit beside you.”

Maggie still hesitated. “I just stopped by to…” She faltered, trying to come up with some lie that would allow her to bolt, after all.

“Yes?” Warren said, regarding her with amusement.

She didn't answer, just scowled at him and then sat down on the edge of the seat next to Josh. He looked almost as disconcerted by her unexpected arrival as she felt upon seeing them all here.

“Was there a reason you came by?” Josh asked, regarding her curiously. “Seems to me you were in a bit of a huff when you left the site this morning.”

“I got over it,” she said, regretting her change of heart now that she was here and squirming uncomfortably under so many fascinated gazes.

“The woman's hungry, same as everyone else here,” Nadine said, coming to her rescue. “Stop trying to make such a big deal of it. The rest of us are having burgers, Maggie. What would you like? I'll go tell the waitress.”

“A burger's fine,” she said, then glanced across the table and caught Amanda looking at her. She forced a smile. “How did things go at the site after I left this morning?”

Amanda grimaced. “Fine, if you enjoy having a confrontation with a big blowhard.”

“George Winslow, I assume,” Maggie said sympathetically. “He didn't upset you too much, did he?”

“Oh, we exchanged a few words,” Amanda said.

Josh chuckled. “That's like saying David just tickled Goliath with his slingshot. Amanda gave him hell.”

His admiration for the woman grated on Maggie's nerves, but she couldn't help sharing it. She knew what it took to stand up to someone like Winslow, having done it herself, something Josh had obviously forgotten all about.

“Good for you,” she told Amanda, then glanced at Nadine. “I don't suppose you jumped into the fray, as well.”

“Does a chicken have feathers?” Nadine replied. “Of course I did. I couldn't let that old windbag have the final word, could I?”

Maggie laughed. “Sounds like things got interesting after I left.”

“Where did you run off to?” Nadine asked. “You usually stay for the whole day.”

“I had some things to take care of at my gallery,” Maggie said. She glanced at Josh and added, “A good thing, too, since Brian had shown up.”

Josh stiffened and his attention shifted fully to her. “He didn't get out of line, did he?” he asked, frowning.

“Hold it,” Nadine interjected. “Who's Brian?”

Maggie gave them a brief description of the situation between Brian and Ellie. “But he was apparently on good behavior this morning. Vicki never heard him raise his voice, and she told me later that he left the gallery meek as a lamb, so obviously Ellie was able to placate him.”

“I don't like the idea of him coming around there,” Josh said. “I think I should have a talk with him.”

“The situation is under control,” Maggie insisted. “I think Vicki has more sense than I ever gave her credit for having. She won't let things get out of hand. And Ellie's on guard now.”

“Even so, by the time either one of them had a chance to react, he could have destroyed some of the gallery's most expensive paintings,” Josh countered. “You saw what he did to Ellie's work. I doubt it took him long.”

“He was on a rampage and it was personal,” Maggie said. “He doesn't care about the other works I have on display.”

“You can't be sure of that,” Josh protested. “Especially if he concludes you're interfering in his relationship with Ellie.”

Maggie decided to downplay what Ellie had told her about Brian's threat to ruin her reputation. Better to let Josh think she and Ellie had everything completely in hand. “It's okay, Josh. Rest assured that Ellie and I have a plan to take care of Brian once and for all.”

Rather than looking impressed, he scowled. “Why does that send a chill down my spine?”

Warren frowned, as well. “Maggie, are you sure this plan of yours, whatever it is, won't just make things worse? You can't reason with a person who's out of control and capable of the kind of violence you described.”

“We're not going to try to reason with Brian,” she explained patiently. “We're going to counter his threats and humiliate him so badly he'll have to leave town.”

Nadine whistled. “Honey, are you sure that's the smartest approach? Sounds to me a lot like waving a red flag at a bull.”

“No, it's not smart,” Josh said, his scowl deepening. “No way, Maggie. Whatever scheme you have in mind, forget it. You're playing with fire. Remember, I've seen what this man's capable of doing. So have you.”

“I'm not afraid of him,” she said stubbornly.

“Perhaps you should be,” Warren said with evident concern. “I've seen cases like this before. Things can escalate more quickly than anyone anticipates.”

“I think Maggie's doing exactly the right thing,” Amanda said, startling them all.

Maggie was grateful for the support, but surprised it came from Amanda. “You do?”

“The only way to deal with a bully is head-on,” Amanda said staunchly. “They count on people being afraid of them. That's how they win.”

“Well, when you put it that way, I agree,” Nadine said. She faced Maggie. “You need any help at all, sweetie, you can count on me.”

Josh groaned. “Dear heaven, we've got a group of vigilantes on our hands,” he said to Warren, who merely shrugged.

“No, son, what you have are three women who know a thing or two about looking out for themselves,” Nadine retorted.

Maggie nodded. “I'm sorry if that offends your deep-rooted macho need to come to the rescue.”

Heat flared in Josh's eyes at her comment, and she knew at once that she'd pushed him just a little too hard.

He nudged her in the ribs with his elbow. “Out of the booth. We need to talk in private.”

“Not till we've eaten,” she said just as determinedly.

He leveled a look at her that would have intimidated her under any other circumstances, but with Amanda and Nadine in her corner, she felt braver.

“What?” she mocked. “Not soon enough?”

“Oh, I can wait, if you can. By the time we've finished dinner, I imagine I will have worked up a full head of steam over this.”

Maggie's gaze never wavered. “Knock yourself out.”

Nadine looked from Maggie to Josh, then slid out of the booth and beckoned to Warren. “Sweetie, why don't we get all those burgers to go and leave these two to finish their discussion in private? Amanda, you and the kids can come by the motel, too. It's a nice night. We'll have a picnic.”

“Good idea,” Amanda said cheerfully, regarding Josh with amusement. “Any objections?”

“Not a one,” he said tersely, his gaze locked with Maggie's.

Amanda turned to Maggie. “You okay with this, or would you like backup?”

“I'll be fine,” Maggie assured her. “I've dealt with one bully today. I'm sure I have strength left to battle one more.”

“Don't you dare compare me with George Winslow,” Josh said indignantly. “I'm only trying to look out for your best interests.”

“I'm sure that's what Mr. Winslow was telling himself the whole time he was trying to push Amanda around,” Maggie retorted.

“Let's go,” Nadine urged the others.

“Something tells me they're not even going to notice we're gone,” Amanda said.

Maggie acknowledged their departure with a wave, just to prove Amanda wrong, but Josh's eyes never left Maggie's face.

“Why are you being so damn stubborn about this?” he demanded.

“Because I know what I'm doing,” Maggie replied evenly. “I've been taking care of myself for a long time now, Josh.”

“And you've run across a lot of guys like Brian?” he asked skeptically.

She faltered at that. “Well, no, not exactly.”

“I have,” he said bluntly. “I admire your gumption and your independent streak, Maggie. I truly do. But use your head. The guy's already proved that he's out to make trouble for Ellie and you. Don't get in his face and encourage him to do it.”

“Give me a little credit. We're not being that obvious. He won't even see this coming.”

Josh groaned. “Why doesn't that reassure me? Tell me the plan, at least.”

Maggie explained about the contest. “It's a countermove, something to take the wind out of his plan to discredit me and the gallery. That's all.”

Josh appeared somewhat mollified by the explanation. “I suppose that could work.”

She smiled at his grudging admission. “Thank you.”

“Don't be smug. I still think you're taking a huge risk. If he figures out what's going on, he'll be out to do more than discredit you. Don't make the mistake of thinking that his temper can only be directed at Ellie's art.”

She shuddered at his certainty. “He won't find out,” she said bravely. “The people officially sponsoring the contest will never link it to me or the gallery.”

“Just in case, I want you to make me a promise. Keep my number on speed dial on your cell phone, and if Brian so much as walks by the gallery and looks in the window, I want you to call me. There's no need to be taking chances.”

“I suppose I can do that,” she conceded. “I'm just not sure why you think protecting me or Ellie is up to you.”

He grinned. “You don't see anyone else standing in line for the job, do you? Not counting Nadine and Amanda, of course.”

“I imagine the three of us could make Brian regret ever stirring up trouble,” Maggie said confidently.

“Lord knows you could probably talk him to death,” Josh agreed. “But just in case brute strength is required, call me, okay?”

Maggie figured it was a small enough concession. “Okay,” she said at last.

“Thank you,” he said just as solemnly.

Maggie took a bite of her burger, then met Josh's gaze. “Do you think everyone expected us to resolve things so peacefully?”

“Oh, I imagine Nadine was hoping for fireworks,” he said.

“Of the sexual kind?” she asked, prompted by a streak of pure devilment.

Josh choked on his sip of soda, but then a grin spread across his face. “Why, yes, darlin'! I'm sure that's exactly what my mother was hoping for. Were you interested in making her wish come true?”

She kept her eyes locked with his. “The thought has occurred to me from time to time in recent days,” she answered honestly. “You?”

“To be honest, the thought's been on my mind since the day we met.”

She regarded him curiously. “Why haven't you done anything about it?”

“Because I live my life according to one guiding principle, which is, avoid all emotional entanglements and complications.” He gave her a look that could have singed steel. “You, my sweet Magnolia, have entanglement and complication written all over you.”

“Really? I'll have to see if I can scrub it off when I shower tonight.”

“I could help,” he offered, his expression innocent. “Make sure you get it all.”

Maggie swallowed hard. She didn't think the offer was being made entirely in jest. It was an important reminder that sometimes flirting led straight down the road to perdition.

“Slow down,” she advised Josh. “We've never even had a date. I don't think showering together is the way to start.”