Chapter 15: Return to New YorkMichael considered turning off the ball game when they entered the top of the ninth inning with his Yankees down five runs to one. At least Beaulieu didn't get a perfect game. There was that.His phone buzzed and he glanced down at the screen. Shit! He'd forgotten that he'd sent that message to Maggie. He clicked her name and jumped as bass-driven club music shattered the quiet of his apartment. There was Maggie dressed in a skimpy purple dress. He could see people dancing behind her as she sassed him from Martha's Vineyard. He grinned at her cheeky tone. Video, eh?He held out his phone and pressed record. "I know it's video, Mags. So how's the wedding? Is this better?" he smirked, and then pressed the send button again.Two minutes later he had her reply. "The wedding was beautiful. The party's great." She smiled wryly. "What are you up to this fine evening?"He sent another video. "I'm watching the Texas Rangers beat my Yankees. It's
Chapter 16: Off the ClockMichael stepped out of the elevator into the dim reception area. The files he needed were on his desk, but he looked down the hall in the opposite direction from his office. Maggie's door was open and golden afternoon light filtered into the hallway from her window. He heard the sounds of movement coming from the open doorway of the library and he headed there.A mountain of books covered the table, and a few had even slid to the floor. It was as though someone had gone out of their way to leave a mess for Maggie to deal with when she returned. No way could anyone possibly use that many books in one day. Standifer and Hemphill, he guessed. He knew they always tried to give her a hard time.From deep within the rows of shelves, he heard her humming. He recognized the song immediately. Maggie appeared from around the corner, her back to him as she pulled a cart piled high with heavy leather volumes. The cord to her earbuds snaked up from the back pocke
Chapter 17: Charity EventOn Monday, Michael was in court all day, but an envelope mysteriously appeared on Maggie's desk at some point. It held two invitations and a note from Michael. Here are the tickets, Mags. It should be fun. Glad you're coming. See you tomorrow. M.Maggie called Ben. "You have to do me this favor."She'd called him right after the new phone was delivered and they'd talked for hours. Ben had arrived home to find that Alex had moved out of their apartment. He'd been devastated, and Maggie had listened compassionately as he told her everything they'd gone through over the last few weeks, the lies he'd caught Alex telling, the hang-ups on their landline when Ben answered the phone, the late nights and special projects Alex had been assigned lately. Maggie had tried to keep her opinion of Alex to herself but finally, she couldn't resist, "At least now you can move forward."Now on the phone, Ben was unenthusiastic. "What favor, Flynn?""You and I have in
Chapter 18: Buyer's RemorseMichael excused himself and stepped away from the table for a few moments to get away from Jana and her incessant yammering. He generally tried to match his dates with the appropriate outings. This event had Veronica written all over it and he'd tried her first, but she'd been unavailable. Bringing Jana to a fundraiser featuring classic rock music had been a mistake. The twenty-two-year-old had dropped out of school at the age of fifteen to pursue a career in modeling. She'd spent a few years in Paris but had never bothered to learn French. She was undeniably hot, a trait required for her current job as a swimsuit model, and she was always a fun fuck, but she was too young to appreciate the evening.He wandered toward the house in a vague effort to give credence to his intention of finding the restroom, but he was scanning the crowd. Where is she? he wondered. He knew Maggie was coming. And bringing a date. He wondered why that fact irritated him,
Chapter 19: In Vino VeritasWith the concert over, the DJ was back in position and guests were taking advantage of the dance floor situated at the opposite end of the dinner tent from Michael's table. Michael and Maggie dodged enthusiastic dancers as they headed back to check on Ben.White candles on the tables and white paper lanterns hung along the sides of the tent bathed the scene in soft light. Nearby trees had been strung with tiny sparkling lights and with nightfall, the place took on the appearance of a fairyland.Ben was asleep with his head on the table when Michael and Maggie returned. The Murphys and the Methenys arrived at the table just behind them and their return caused Ben to stir slightly. "Did you see Diamond Dave?" Pam gushed excitedly. "He's still so hot!""I didn't see him but I heard him. He sounds great," Maggie commented."Michael, we're going to be heading out. We have to get back to the city and pay the babysitters while we can still afford it," Brian
Chapter 20: Ride Back to the CityMichael and Maggie applauded with the rest of the guests following the finale of the fireworks display before returning to the table to collect Ben. She shivered a bit as they walked. "Are you cold?" Michael asked, running a hand down her bare arm. "You are!" When they reached the table, he removed his suit coat from the back of the chair where he'd left it and draped it over her shoulders. "Here, that should be better."Maggie pulled the coat around herself and as she did, his scent enveloped her. "Thanks! I didn't realize how chilly it had gotten."Ben was conscious and blinking in confusion. "Holy God, I thought we were being invaded," he said. "Where is everybody?"Maggie laughed. "Yes, we were invaded by aliens and they beamed up everyone except us. Come on, it's time to go. We've dodged a bullet. Michael has kindly offered for us to ride back to the city with him rather than taking the train."Ben cocked his head and looked adoringl
Chapter 21: "Goodbye, Michael."On Saturday, Michael went to the gym and put in a strenuous workout before heading to the park for a five-mile run, trying desperately to shake the restlessness that had kept him tossing all night. In those moments he did manage to sleep, his dreams were filled with that red hair, the green dress, her laugh, those tits. He kept trying to minimize last night, to compartmentalize it somehow, but he couldn't dismiss the sensory overload of Maggie in his arms, her breath on his neck, the taste of her lips beneath his.Freshly showered, he pulled on a pair of grey sweatpants, towel-drying his hair on his way to the kitchen. From the dark granite counter, a blue light blinked on his phone. It was a voicemail from Veronica. "I need to see you," she'd said. He called her right away."Hey, Ronni, what's up?" he asked, curiosity momentarily distracting his thoughts."I've missed you, Michael." He heard the lazy smile in her voice. "I'd like to stop by an
Chapter 22: That Awkward MomentMaggie arranged and rearranged baklava, croissants, and pear strudel in preparation for the morning meeting. The coffee was ready in three insulated dispensers. She'd been at the office over an hour. The conference room door opened, and her heart skipped a beat. "Hi, Maggie!" Dan said.She wasn't sure if she felt relieved or disappointed. "Hey, Dan, how are you?" she smiled."Great. How was your weekend?" he asked. How was her weekend? Let's see. I went to a fabulous party. I ended up drinking too much, dancing with the boss, oh, and then I kissed him. I was ready to fuck him right there on my kitchen counter but suddenly, he left. So, on a scale of 1-10… "Morning, Dan, Mags," Michael greeted them both."Good morning, Michael," Dan said cheerfully."Hi, Michael." Color rose in her cheeks as she finished shuffling the pastries."Listen, can I talk to you after the meeting?" Dan asked her quietly.Shit! Still smiling, "Sure." When she glan