Flirting with Disaster (13 page)

Maggie wanted to deny it but couldn't. “Do you want the pitiful truth?”

“Sure.”

“I'm jealous,” she admitted, and despite what Dinah thought, it wasn't all about Josh, who was looking as stunned as if she'd announced a secret yearning to be locked in solitary confinement.

“You're jealous of a woman whose husband was killed a year ago, who doesn't have two nickels to rub together, and has three kids depending on her?” he asked incredulously. “Why?”

“Like I said, it's pitiful.”

“No, it's crazy.”

“Entirely possible,” she agreed. It
was
just a little bit nuts to want what Amanda O'Leary had, but Maggie didn't see it quite the way Josh did. What she saw were three adorable kids, the strength to bounce back from tragedy and a man like Josh who treated Amanda like a valuable piece of crystal. No one had ever treated Maggie like that. No one had ever treasured what she had to offer, not even her own family.

Until recently she'd had enough self-confidence and pride in her accomplishments to weather whatever came her way, but lately she didn't seem to have the strength to fight back.

“I think you could use a reality check,” Josh said. “Spend some time with Amanda. She's an amazing woman, but her life hasn't been a picnic.”

“Don't you think I know that?” Maggie said impatiently. “I know all about her losing her mother when she was just a kid. I know what kind of man her father is and how badly her husband screwed up. Oh, forget it. I can't make you understand what I don't entirely understand myself.”

He looked as if he wanted to argue, but he finally shrugged. “Still want that cold drink?”

She glanced at the cold coffee she was holding, then dumped it on the ground and tossed the cup in a nearby trash can. “Sure. Thanks.”

Josh came back a few minutes later with the promised soda, handed it to Maggie in silence, studied her for an instant with a faintly troubled expression, then left her without another word.

“Oh, who needs you?” she muttered.

“I'd say you do,” Cord said, settling down next to her. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Maggie. If you want him, go after him.”

“Go to blazes, Cordell! This isn't about Josh.”

“Isn't it? What happened with Warren has thrown you offstride, but if you want Josh, you can get him. No man can resist you.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “You did.”

“Barely.”

She laughed. “You're revising history, Cordell. It was always Dinah for you. I never stood a chance.”

“You stand a good chance with Josh, though.”

“He has a thing for the single mom,” she countered.

“Amanda?” Cord said, his surprise evident. “No way. That's way too much hearth and home for Josh. He's an independent guy. You'd be good for each other. You both need space and you both could use the fireworks.”

She grinned at that. “Have you and your wife consulted on this to make sure you're sending out a consistent message?”

He grinned. “We've talked. Or I should say, Dinah has expressed her views and convinced me she's gotten everything exactly right.”

“Then what are you suggesting? Sex without commitment?”

“Sex, anyway,” he responded. “Of course, that's just me talking. Dinah would add that you shouldn't go shutting any doors on commitment, either. She says you and Josh are the kind who'll fall hard once you realize you're worthy of being loved and let it happen.”

“And you agree with that?” she asked curiously.

Cord nodded. “Josh may be the only person I know who puts up more barriers to being happy than you do. It'll be fun to see if you've got what it takes to tear them down.”

“Is that a challenge?”

He winked at her. “You never could resist a challenge, Magnolia. Don't start now when it really matters.”

That, of course, was the problem. She didn't want to believe that Josh could really matter, because if he did and she lost again, she wasn't sure she could survive it.

Better to build a house for a woman who needed it, better to fight to see that Ellie's artistic talent wasn't wasted, better to do just about anything than risk her heart and lose. That really would be flirting with disaster, because something told her if she failed again, she might not find the strength to bounce back.

S
till in a major funk, Maggie left the construction site without another word to anyone. She headed straight to Images. This was her world, the one she understood, the one she was good at. She didn't need a lot of pitying looks from a man she barely knew and a lot of unsolicited advice from a man who'd once rejected her.

She also didn't need to have Josh's growing friendship with Amanda—
if
that's all it was—thrown in her face every ten seconds. She needed tranquility. She needed to be in charge of something, in control. She excelled at controlling things. Why waste time on anything or anyone that made her question herself?

Of course, her determined effort to regain her confidence wavered slightly when she walked into the gallery and saw Vicki's pierced eyebrow nearly hit her hairline.

“What happened to you?” Vicki asked. “You're all covered with sawdust. It's even in your hair. Were you in some kind of weird accident with a lumber truck or something?”

Maggie winced. She hadn't even considered what a sight she must be; she'd only wanted to get to someplace where she felt safe.

“Actually I was volunteering at a construction site,” she said. “Don't panic. I won't scare the customers away. I have work to do in my office.”

“Not now,” Vicki said, blocking her way.

Maggie regarded her employee suspiciously. Vicki marched to her own drummer, but it wasn't like her to challenge Maggie so directly. She usually took a more passive-aggressive approach, simply doing as she wished and daring anyone to correct or stop her.

“Why not now?” Maggie asked, more out of curiosity than annoyance at the girl's insubordination.

“Because Ellie's in there with that guy,” Vicki explained in a hushed undertone. “You know, the one who's scary as hell. He's got some burr up his butt about something. I don't know what.”

Maggie's blood ran cold. “Brian's here? You left Ellie alone with him?”

Vicki shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? She didn't freak out at the sight of him, so I figured she had things under control.”

Maggie supposed that was something. Hopefully Ellie was smart enough to stay in plain sight if she feared Brian was a danger to her or to the gallery.

Even so, she brushed past Vicki and headed straight for the back, anticipating some sort of commotion. She heard nothing more than the low murmur of conversation.

“You're sure she's okay?” Maggie asked, still not convinced she could trust Vicki's judgment.

“I pulled her aside and asked if she wanted me to call someone, but she said she'd be fine,” Vicki told Maggie. “I wasn't convinced, so I've been listening at the door with my cell phone in my hand. After what happened at her studio a couple of weeks ago, I figured if I heard him so much as raise his voice, I'd call the cops.”

It appeared the girl did have some solid street savvy, after all. “Good for you,” Maggie praised.

“Why is Ellie with a loser like that anyway?” Vicki asked indignantly. “Anybody can see he's jealous of her talent. I may not be the brightest when it comes to men, but I do know jealousy is the kiss of death to a relationship. Like, I'm not jealous of Drake's wife. I know people think I'm nuts for going out with a married guy, but he's been straight with me from the beginning. That's more than some single guys have been.”

How Vicki segued from Brian's jealousy of Ellie's talent to her own love life escaped Maggie, but she saw a not-to-be-missed opportunity to express her concern over Vicki's choices—even if it sidetracked them for a moment from the threat Brian presented. “We only worry, Vicki, because there's no future for you if he's married,” she explained.

“I'm not even twenty-two yet. I'm not looking for forever. He treats me okay and that's what counts for now,” Vicki insisted, dismissing Maggie's concern.

“What about his wife?” Maggie asked. “Do you think he's being straight with her?”

Vicki blinked.

“Well?” Maggie pressed, convinced that Vicki had never thought beyond her own infatuation.

“I guess not,” Vicki admitted, seeming a bit shaken. “I never looked at it that way.”

Maggie gave her hand a squeeze. “Maybe it's time you did. I'm not trying to tell you what to do. But just think about how you'd feel if you were in his wife's shoes.”

In the meantime, Maggie suddenly realized, she needed to spend some time thinking about her own insecurities regarding Josh, and her jealousy of Amanda. If he and Amanda had something going, there was nothing she could do about it. If they didn't, then her ridiculous attitude only made her look petty.

Grateful that Vicki had inadvertently led her to a new perspective on her own situation, she reached out and gave the girl a hug. “By the way, thank you.”

“Me?” Vicki said, looking startled by Maggie's impulsive action. “What did I do?”

“You've been looking out for Ellie, and I'm impressed with the way you handled things when Brian showed up. But mostly, thanks for what you said about jealousy and relationships. It was something I needed badly to hear.” She nodded toward the closed door of her office. “Keep an ear out for those two, okay? Do not hesitate to call the police if you don't like what you're hearing.”

Vicki still looked perplexed. “Sure, but where are you going?”

“I have to go home and formulate a battle plan.”

Vicki's apparent confusion only deepened. “Am I supposed to get that?”

“Not really. I'll see you in the morning.”

On her way out the door, she heard Vicki mutter, “And everyone thinks I'm the weird one around here.”

Maggie chuckled. It appeared they all had a thing or two to learn about each other—and themselves.

 

Josh watched worriedly as George Winslow skulked around the construction site all morning. Obviously the man hadn't been put off by his earlier confrontations. He was here to cause trouble. It was only a matter of time.

Still, Josh couldn't find a reason to order him off the site. He wasn't interfering with their work. In fact, he rarely spoke to anyone until he encountered Caleb. Josh couldn't hear what those two said, but it didn't look like a very cordial exchange.

Five minutes later, a grim-looking Caleb came looking for Josh.

“God forgive me for saying it, but that man has the compassion of a gnat,” Caleb said. “He told me he's calling the diocese this afternoon to see about having me removed, and meanwhile he's going to make sure the city inspectors are all over this site.”

“What is his problem?” Josh asked irritably. “Doesn't he have enough to do? Why does he want to make everyone else's life miserable?”

“Because he can,” Caleb said.

“Do you think he's acting at Big Max's behest?” Josh asked. “They're friends, right?”

“They are,” Caleb said, looking vaguely uncomfortable.

“What?” Josh prodded.

“I can't get into it, but no, I don't think he's acting for Big Max. He might
think
he's doing it for his friend, but he's definitely doing it on his own initiative.”

“And you know this because…?” Josh pressed.

“I can't tell you more than that,” Caleb said. “It just infuriates me that he's so willing to condemn Amanda for not going to her father for help. It's bad enough that he's trying to get everyone else worked up. I just hope he keeps his opinions to himself around her. She doesn't need the aggravation.”

“Surely he's enough of a gentleman that he wouldn't deliberately upset her,” Josh said, just in time to see Winslow heading straight in Amanda's direction. He shook his head in disgust. “Okay, maybe I was wrong about that.”

“I'll deal with this,” Caleb said, his face set.

Josh held him back. “Let me. You have more to lose than I do.”

Caleb looked torn. “It's my duty to step in.”

“And mine to see that nothing goes wrong on this site,” Josh said. “Come on, Caleb, use your head. You'll do more good for this community from the pulpit than you will if he manages to get you tossed out on your behind. Don't give him any ammunition.”

“I suppose,” Caleb said, but he looked as if he'd relish going toe-to-toe with Winslow again.

Josh got to Amanda's side just as Winslow did. He saw her flinch when she looked up into the man's angry gaze, but then steady herself and face him calmly.

“Amanda Maxwell,” Winslow began in a blustery tone that silenced everyone nearby, “you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Before Josh could utter a word, she gave him a beseeching look and shook her head. Then she faced her father's ally, squared her shoulders and replied quietly, “It's Amanda O'Leary, Mr. Winslow, as you perfectly well know, since you walked out of my wedding when you saw that my daddy wasn't going to show up. I have no claim to the Maxwell name anymore, as I'm sure my father's told you.”

Winslow's determination didn't wilt under her steady gaze. “He'd take you back in a minute, if you'd go to him. Then this house could be given to someone who really needs it.”

Amanda's eyes flashed. “I'm a single mother with three kids who's working two jobs to pay off her late husband's debts. If I don't need it, I can't imagine who does. Even so, I didn't ask to have this house built. The kind people of my parish wanted to do it for my family.”

“Your father—” Winslow began, only to have Amanda cut him off.

“As for my father, William Maxwell is a cold, heartless man who's made it plain he wants no part of me or my children,” she said bluntly. “Did you know that I called him after Bobby died and he hung up on me? I was willing to grovel if it meant helping my kids, but he never even gave me a chance. After that, I saw no point in trying again.”

Josh was startled but George looked completely taken aback.

“You called him?” George asked.

“Of course I did. It was my last resort. After that I knew that even if he subsequently agreed to take us in, I couldn't take my children into a home where they weren't even acknowledged, much less welcomed. How could I?”

“You should have tried again,” George said stubbornly.

“If I inherited anything from my father, it's pride. I went to him once. Not again.”

Winslow looked more uncertain than he had at the beginning of the encounter, but he still wouldn't let it go. “You have a strange way of showing gratitude for all the advantages your father gave you,” he said eventually.

“I am exceedingly grateful for one thing he gave me,” Amanda retorted. “He gave me the strength to weather adversity. When a man I'd loved and respected my whole life disowned me on my wedding day and I survived the blow, I learned I was strong enough to face anything. It prepared me for everything that's happened since, including dealing with the likes of you. You've lived the same sort of privileged life my father has, so you can't imagine what it's like to lose everything except the clothes on your back and your children. Until you've walked in my shoes, Mr. Winslow, you have no right to tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing. I've done whatever it was in my power to do to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. I thank God for Josh and all these volunteers.”

Giving Josh a tremulous smile, she whirled around to walk away, then turned back. “And don't even think about trying to take out your anger with me on Caleb. He's a fine man and the church is lucky to have him. If you disapprove so strongly of him and the rest of us, I'm sure you can find yourself another congregation that's more to your liking. If you decide to take on Caleb, we'll fight you.”

Then she did leave, her back straight. Amid a smattering of enthusiastic applause from those close enough to have heard the exchange, she went directly to Caleb's side and left George Winslow sputtering with indignation.

“That girl is a disgrace to her daddy's good name!” he said.

Josh met his gaze evenly. “But I'd say she just did the O'Leary name proud.”

“As if there were anything to be proud about,” George scoffed. “The man left his family in hock up to their eyeballs.”

Josh had no idea how that situation had come about, but he was determined to defend Amanda and her family any way he could.

“We all make mistakes from time to time. Some of us are fortunate enough to have the chance to rectify them,” Josh said. “Bobby O'Leary never had that chance.” He gave the older man a considered survey, then added, “You could rectify the mistake you made by coming here hoping to intimidate Amanda and everyone working to help her. You could put aside your judgmental attitude and help us build this house and show all of Charleston the kind of man you really are. Or are you too afraid of Big Max's opinion?”

“Oh, don't waste your breath on him, Josh honey,” Nadine said, arriving just in time to add her two cents' to the discussion. “We can all see the kind of man he is. He's a pompous, self-righteous pig with nothing but time on his hands to meddle because he has no real friends. I suspect he leads a real lonely life what with spending all his time thinking up ways to make other folks miserable.”

Josh winced inwardly. “Mama, I think he's probably heard enough of your low opinion of him.”

“Then he can leave,” she said, standing her ground.

The color climbed right back into George's cheeks, and his furious gaze clashed with Nadine's. “Fine,” he said at last, then turned to Josh. “I'm going, but the next time I come back, you can be sure I'll have a housing inspector with me. You won't hammer a nail on this place without someone looking over your shoulder. By the time I've finished, you'll be lucky if this place is finished this time next year.”

Josh groaned as he watched Winslow stride away without a backward glance.