Chapter 26

Peggy McBride wished she really could cart her germs off to jail. But while bad guys bowed to her wishes, germs were immune to her threats. They knew about torture, though—oh yes, they had that down to an art. As far as she was concerned, having an electric prod shoved into her chest couldn’t be as painful as this cold.

Thank God, Keith had wanted to go to school today. He was planning on showing off his bright blue cast—and his new bike helmet. She owed Mac Maven a sliver of gratitude for her son’s transformation. Not that she’d tell him.

When someone knocked on the door, she wished for one of those door intercom thingies. Then she could tell whomever it was to go away because she was dying. When the person resorted to pounding, she dragged herself out of bed and staggered down the stairs, holding onto the rail in a vise-like grip.

Jill and Mac’s presence at her door made her think the germ torturers had called in some back up. She was so not up for visitors.

“Are you that sick?” Jill asked, rushing forward and putting her hand against Peggy’s forehead.

“Ouch,” she replied, pushing Jill away.

“You don’t seem to have gotten any better,” Maven said silkily, shutting the door.

“I’m not. You should leave me to die in peace. These germs are diabolical.”

Maven took her elbow. “Where’s your gun? We’ll threaten them.”

She didn’t care if he was leading her. “Done and failed. I’ve lost the war.”

Jill circled to her other side and wrapped her arm around her waist. “You haven’t lost. You just need rest. Lots of it. I told you you’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”

Peggy all but fell on the couch in the family room. “Stop gloating.”

Her friend eased against her side and patted her arm. “I’m not. I’m worried about you. You should go to the doctor.”

The chills were starting again, so Peggy reached for the discarded blanket on the unvacuumed floor. Maven nudged her hands away and tucked it around her.

“I did. This morning. Sat there coughing and blowing my nose for two and a half hours, shaking from chills like everyone else. When I finally saw the doctor—for five minutes, mind you—he said it was a virus like Keith’s. Nothing he could do. It’s like I’m terminal or something. Pull the plug.”

“Let’s hope it’s not that dire,” Maven murmured, sitting on the couch’s arm.

Being flanked by these two struck her as strange. Then she remembered Jill was working for him. The hotel. Poker. She wished she felt better. Not a single snarky comment came to mind. Damn congestion.

“How’s Keith?” Jill asked.

“Better. Your helmet worked like magic,” she said to Maven. “He couldn’t wait to show it off at school. He’s been shooting bad guys all over this house. Makes me proud.”

Maven gave a throaty chuckle, somehow warming. “I’m delighted to hear it.”

“What helmet?”

“Maven gave him a Woody helmet from Toy Story. ”

Jill gave an “ah,” and then shifted in her seat. “The person who named that character was all about sexual innuendo. I mean, ‘woody?’ Tell me there’s not some adult joke hidden in there. And he’s packing a pistol.”

“Just don’t mention that to Keith,” Peggy mumbled, laying her head against the back of the couch. “I know why Jill is here. Why are you?”

“I’m here to usher in more miracles,” he said with a wink. “A glimmer of the direct, tough Peggy is already coming back.”

He produced an envelope from his tailored navy coat jacket. She tugged at her own wrinkled shirt. Did he always have to look so presentable?

“Here’s a copy of our laudable crime statistics and the security policy for our hotels. I hope they’ll reassure you I won’t turn Dare into some seedy town run by mobsters.”

Jill had the audacity to laugh out loud. “If you do, can I have one of those fun names like Red Curls Jillie?”

Maven joined her, his throaty laughter making her head pound. “Sure, and we can name this one No Bristles Peg.”

Covering her face didn’t make them go away. “Stop talking about my hair.”

The two of them muffled their laughing. “I’m only going to be more wowed than I already am when you finally feel well enough to brush it.”

There was a moment of silence. Peggy peeked through her fingers. Jill was watching Maven like he was a puzzle. He gave her the hairy eyeball.

“Oooh-kay, ” Jill finally said like she’d uncovered a new clue in a crime. “So, what can we do to help?”

“Maven, make yourself scarce for a minute. I want to hear how Jill’s doing.”

He set the envelope on the one clear space on the coffee table. There was junk everywhere, but who cared? It’s not like she had a maid. He probably did. He owned a hotel, so he had a whole fleet of maids.

“Mind if I tour your house?”

“There’s not much to see, but…sure.”

As he moved out of the room with that easy, confident stride, Jill made a humming sound. “He likes you.”

Peggy put a hand to her forehead. Her brow still felt feverish. “No, I pulled a gun on him—or a stick. He’s intrigued.”

“I don’t think so. Why won’t you call him Mac?” she asked, all innocent-like. “Maven is very formal, Peg.”

So not going there. “Nuh-uh. Tell me about you and Brian.” Even to her ears, her voice sounded terrible. Like she’d stuffed a sock puppet down her throat.

“Ah…” Her friend leaned closer to whisper. “We’re…moving in together.”

“That’s…” She bit off her comment. The germs hadn’t deleted all her good sense.

Jill’s gaze darted to the door, but Maven was still out of earshot. “I know. I told Brian he has to convince me he’s super into me before I make some important life decisions. And he needs to know I can trust him and be with him before he does the same.”

Her head hurt when she tried to nod. “Moving in together would be convincing.”

“And there’s a slight chance I might be pregnant.” Her screech made Peggy wince. “Oh God, why do those words make me want to scream and hide my head in the sand like I’m an ostrich?”

Oh crap. Now the haste made sense. Peggy wove a little where she was sitting, attributing it to shock and the stupid weakness. “I don’t think ostriches scream.”

“Who cares? I saw that French chick leaving Brian’s house, and I got mad at him. Things got intense and…we…went nuts with each other. A tornado couldn’t have stopped us. I know it sounds stupid now, but I was so hot for him, I told myself one time without a condom wouldn’t matter. The whole thing was intense and wonderful, but things are complicated.” Jill brought her up to date on Brian’s affair with the French chick. Her words continued to rush out faster than water from a hose. “So, when Brian popped the craziest idea on the planet, I agreed.”

When she smacked herself on the forehead, Peggy’s face contorted. That had to hurt.

Jill told her the rest in greater detail. Her rampant energy drained the life out of Peggy like some vampire with a victim’s life force. She slumped onto the couch, trying to assimilate the news.

The hand Jill was clenching uncurled, revealing Keith’s mini race car. She dropped it to the ground. “What a mess, huh?”

“You’re doing the best you can. That’s all anyone can do.”

“You’re right. Everything will be…whatever the hell it is.”

Peggy patted her hand, her vision wavering in and out.

“You really are wiped,” Jill muttered. “Let’s get you back in bed.”

“I can’t make it,” she whispered. Colors swirled behind her lids. She rubbed her nose when it tickled, wishing she had a blanket.

A warm hand settled on her back. Her body immediately recognized the heat and size of it. Maven. Let him do that magic thingee. When he rolled her into his solid frame, she moaned.

“Leave me,” she protested.

“No way.”

He lifted her into his arms like she was weightless. She cracked her eyes open a fraction to see his face. He was staring down at her, his handsome face softened with gentleness. His stoplight green eyes pierced her soul. She let them close again. She didn’t want anyone to see into her soul.

Still he was warm, hot actually, his body like the heat vent she’d stood over in the kitchen when the microwave was nuking her soup. Part of her wanted to crawl inside him to ward off the chills.

“It’s okay, Peggy. We’ll get you to bed.”

Jill’s voice sounded close by. Good, she wasn’t alone with Maven.

“When does Keith need to be picked up?” Jill asked.

Her head lolled down onto a pillow when Maven put her down. “Tanner is getting him,” she whispered.

“Have him stay a while so you can rest,” Maven said, tucking the covers around her shoulders and sides. “Go to sleep, Peggy.”

That warm hand brushed hair back from her brow. Then she was falling into a place where deep rest called her name along with another.

Mac.

The sweetness of his name rolled through her.

Her mind interrupted the warmth cushioning her heart. She had to find a way to stop him. He threatened everything she’d become.