Chapter Seven

The next morning, Maggie opened her eyes and saw that she and Kyle were laying on his living room floor with a blanket thrown over them. She stretched with a wince. Man, that was some work out. Each of those aches was well earned and she planned to enjoy the memory of the night before with each and every protest of her muscles.

She sat up slowly and finally noticed that he’d been watching her. She made a mental shrug. It was too late to be embarrassed now, he’d seen her, had her, in many combinations just a few hours before.

He pulled on a corkscrew curl and let it go as his brother had done. “Matt was right. That is fun.” He did it a few times more.

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Finished? I need a shower and all of my stuff is at my house.”

“You’re not leaving here. At least not yet. You can wear my shirt with your jeans until you go home to change. I’ll even lend you a pair of my underwear.”

“Which will hang to my knees.” She snorted and then remembered what had happened to her own favorite pairs of underwear and shuddered with revulsion.

“Why the shudder? Do I disgust you?”

“It’s not you. I was just thinking about underwear and then about my underwear that got stolen. And that’s just icky. I feel the need for some retail therapy.”

“Retail therapy?”

She turned to him, eyes widened. “You don’t know what retail therapy is? I thought you were an expert on women?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “I thought so until I met you. Now I think that I was an expert on bimbos and I’m woefully uneducated about real women. So teach me.”

She gave him a smug smile. “Good answer. Anyway, retail therapy is shopping. It’s what some women do as a pick me up when they’re down. Although in this case, I’m not down in the traditional sense, things are going pretty well for me right at the moment.” She looked at him and fluttered her lashes. “No, I need to exorcise a demon. A nasty perverted rat bastard demon named Alex who came into my house and pawed through my panties and stole every single pair of my favorite ones.”

“Let me do the work I need to, it should take me about an hour and a half or so. Go home, get showered and changed, bring us back some breakfast and coffee and then you and I are going panty shopping.”

“You? A man? Wants to come shopping with a woman? For clothes?”

“Ah, but not for clothes, not for skirts or shoes.” He shuddered. “For lingerie. And that, my love, is a whole different story. Any time you want to shop for silky underwear, I’ll gladly accompany you.” Did I just call her my love? He thought about it for a second and realized he wasn’t panicked about it the way he would have been if he’d said it to any other woman. Of course, he never had said it to another woman.

Ohmigod, did he just call me my love? She panicked and then realized, after a moment that it felt totally natural. “I’ll warn you, I have very discriminating tastes with respect to lingerie. I go to Atlanta for it.”

“Good, we can get lunch there.” He stood and helped her up, swatting her behind as she went up the stairs to grab her pants and the rest of her clothes.

“I can’t wear your shirt, it’s cold out. My pullover is much warmer.” She pulled on her jeans without underwear and a slow sexy smile broke over his face.

Grabbing the pullover from her hands, he turned and pulled something out of his closet, tossing it at her. “There. It’s wool. Very warm.”

She pulled it on, without a bra and had to fold the sleeves up a few times. It smelled like him and felt heavenly against her skin. It was huge on her but it was warm and he looked like he was going to devour her.

“My sweater and no bra, I feel like it’s Christmas morning! I just want to bend you over something. All those alpha male instincts are aroused.”

Of course, that wasn’t the only thing aroused. The man could really talk a good game. He made her tingly just listening to him and he wasn’t even really trying.

Grinning, he walked her out. “Oh, you don’t have your car. I drove.” He reached over and grabbed his keys off the table at the entry hallway. “Take my car. That’s my house key, just let yourself back in when you’re finished. I’ll get to work now. Don’t forget to bring back coffee and breakfast.”

He kissed her silly and fought a smile as she got into his car and had to adjust the seat forward. He opened the garage door for her and stood there as she pulled away.

Maggie’s house was fine when she got home. No broken windows, nothing taken that she could see. Checking the locks one last time, she headed up to take a long hot shower to work out the kinks in her muscles from the repeat performances on the living room floor at two thirty in the morning. Catching sight of what looked like carpet burn on her ass, she giggled as she toweled off. Who’d have ever thought that she, Maggie Wright, would get rug burn from oral sex on Kyle Chase’s floor!

Quickly drying her hair, she got dressed, put on a minimal amount of makeup and went down to check her messages and with a smile, got back on her way.

She stopped off at the café and placed an order for two deluxe breakfasts with pancakes and smoked ham to go and headed back to Kyle’s place. When she unlocked the door and turned back to grab the food she’d set down, he was there, smiling at her. Taking the bags from her hands he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

“Hey, Red, set the coffee on the table. I’ll bring the food, plates are already out.” He started opening containers and popping things in his mouth.

“Knock it off. Sheesh, you’re a hound dog in more than one way. I don’t take kindly to my potatoes being purloined.”

“Me? A hound dog?” He grinned as he sat down next to her and she started filling their plates with the huge amount of food she’d brought.

“I got two deluxes with ham. I hope you like ham.” She knew he did of course, remembering his request for a ham sandwich from his mother a few nights before.

“I love ham, and eggs, and potatoes and toast and pancakes. This is perfect.” He put three small chunks of potato back on her plate. “To replace what I stole.”

Snorting, she speared them on a fork and ate them. “Don’t think I’m too proud not to eat them. I love potatoes.”

He laughed. “Roger that. You were gone two hours.”

“You said you had about an hour and half of work to do. I thought I’d leave you alone to do it.”

A woman who willingly gave him space? “I missed you. I thought you could help me in the shower.” He grinned wolfishly.

“Maybe later,” she said dryly and tore into her breakfast.

“I’m beginning to see that it’s dangerous to come between you and your plate.”

She gave him an annoyed look and took a bite of his toast.

 

 

The hour and a half drive to Atlanta and back with Maggie was quite enjoyable. Kyle couldn’t get over how funny and vivacious she was. How he could have had a woman like that right under his nose all these years and not noticed was beyond him.

And there was no denying how enjoyable it was to sit and watch her finger lacy and silky panties and bras for the better part of an hour either.

He’d sat in the store, a pile of lingerie on his lap, hiding his erection as he thought of taking each piece off her. With his teeth. The thought of all of those silky scraps laying against her bare skin made him so hard he had to move a few times to keep from injuring himself. As it was, he was sure there would be imprints of the rivets from his button fly on his cock.

He dropped her off at her place with several bags of things he couldn’t wait to see her wearing. Running inside, he checked to be sure the place was okay and made plans to meet her at The Pumphouse later on.

 

 

She walked in the front door of The Pumphouse at precisely seven to find Dee and Liv already there with a pitcher and chili cheese fries. After some quick hugs and kisses they got down to gossip.

“So? You were going to tell me about last night with Kyle?” Liv sipped her beer.

“Oh my lands! You know, I go for a year without any sex and when I break the dry spell it’s with Kyle. The man is so unbelievably sexy that I’m all fluttery just thinking about it. Thing is, with Kyle, it’s so much more than sex. I mean, we laugh all the time. He’s so smart and kind. It just feels like we’ve known each other for a very long time. The sex was astounding. I’m talking ice cream coffee in the, um, small of my back at two in the morning, astounding.”

“You go! Speak of the stud himself, he just walked in with Matt,” Dee said, and Liv and Maggie both turned around.

Kyle saw her and a big grin spread over his face. It mirrored the happiness that spread, warm, through his chest. He promptly went to her side, bending to kiss her. And it wasn’t a quick peck either. He couldn’t just take a small taste. He pulled her into his body and set his mouth to hers in a kiss that stole her breath. He wanted to mark her, take up her every thought the way she did his.

When she put her arm up to go around his neck, he saw a flash of the lace edging the pink bra. Oh yeah, the one with the teeny matching thong. His cock throbbed at the memory. And at the memory he’d be making with her later on.

“Hey, Red. See, pink does work on redheads,” he said softly as he pulled away and kissed the knuckles of the hand that had been around his neck.

“Hey, Kyle.” Her blush matched the tremor in her voice. He loved that he made her feel that way.

“Hi, Matt,” Liv said with a grin.

Matt smiled sexy at Liv. “Hi, Liv. Dee. I’d ask how you were, Maggie, but since Kyle hasn’t shut up about you since he picked me up from work, I already have a good idea.”

Maggie blushed. “We’ve got more gossip to dish here and Shane is scowling and tapping his watch at you so you’d better get over there. I’ll see you at eight thirty.”

“You bet, Red.” He kissed her again and sauntered back to the pool room with a wave at her.

“Oh my God. You two give off more heat than a transfer station. Holy cow!” Liv fanned herself with her hand.

“How did the night end with Matt, anyway?” Maggie asked Liv to change the subject.

Liv sighed. “He’s a perfect damned gentleman! He took me home and we talked in my driveway. I asked him in for coffee and he told me he had to work!”

Maggie wrinkled her nose. “He did? Well, I know he’s sweet on you. Maybe he really did have to work. I’ll do a bit of snooping. Totally subtle, I swear!”

“So how are things with Arthur the stud?” Blushing furiously, it was Liv’s turn to change the subject.

“Good. He put new floors in the hall bathroom and the pantry, they look so nice. We had sex on our deck, outside!” Dee said the last bit in a whisper.

“No way!”

“Well it was dark and we were under a blanket on the glider but still, it felt naughty.”

“Woo, Arthur,” Liv said grinning. “I’m glad you two are getting some. I haven’t had any in a month. Since my last date with Shaun.”

“A month! How do you survive?” Maggie said sarcastically.

“Hey, I like it regular! When I was with Charlie, we had sex at least once a day. Since he and I broke it off, it’s been catch as catch can. I tell you, Matt Chase looks so good I could eat him with a spoon.” She looked wistfully back at the pool table where the Chase brothers were playing.

“They’re so beautiful,” Maggie said, smiling.

“Yeah huh,” Dee agreed.

“Oh, is that Lyndsay?” Liv asked.

Maggie looked and saw that indeed Lyndsay Cole was undulating her way over to Kyle. “No way, girlfriend. Kyle wanted me to get mad and demand respect? This is day one.” Standing up, she made her way back to the pool room.

“Hi, Kyle. Why don’t you buy me a drink? I promise you’ll get lucky.” Lyndsay sidled up to him.

He stepped away. “Hi, Lyndsay. No thanks. I told you, I’m with Maggie.” He took his shot and missed as he saw Maggie stalk over looking like a gloriously angry fairy.

“Maggie?” Lyndsay looked confused.

“Yeah, Maggie Wright. As in me.”

Lyndsay turned around and made a big show about looking down at her but Maggie stood her ground and narrowed her eyes at the other woman.

“You must be joking. Did you lose a bet or something, Kyle?”

Maggie just looked at the other woman, her arms crossed over her chest. Kyle took his shot and made it. Kissing Maggie’s neck, he took his next shot, sinking it as well. He totally ignored Lyndsay. He normally would have hated any kind of showdown between women over him but he was utterly turned on by watching Maggie mark her territory. And it was good for Maggie to stand up for herself.

“Be on your way, Lyndsay, he’s not interested.” Maggie made shooing motions with her hands and Matt laughed.

Lyndsay snorted. “Please. You think you can hold a man like Kyle?”

“Seeing as how you never had him to begin with and I have him now? Yeah. In any case, if things do go bad and we break up, you’re free to take a shot at him then. Unless and until that day comes, back off. Kyle is taken and your feelings about that are irrelevant.”

Kyle put his arm around Maggie and pulled her into his side.

“Whatever. You can’t hold him for long.” Lyndsay flounced off in a huff.

Maggie said something unladylike under her breath and Kyle threw back his head and laughed. He kissed her until she was breathless and led her back to her table. “Thanks for defending my honor, Red.”

“Mmmm,” she replied and he walked back to the pool room chuckling.

“Way to go, Maggie!” Dee and Liv grinned at her.

“I have to confess, being an uppity woman is really fun. I can’t believe I’ve missed out all these years. I do have a lot of ground to make up!”

Liv laughed and gave her a thumbs up.

“So, Arthur and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year. My parents and his are coming over, as well as his brothers and their wives and my sister and her husband and kids. You two are welcome to come.”

“I’m going to go to my sister’s in Crawford. I promised last year.”

“I don’t know what I’ll do. Usually, I’d let myself be guilted into a day of agony at Cece’s house of pain but I think I’m going to decline this year. I’d rather eat a frozen turkey dinner than subject myself to any more from them.”

“Well, as long as you know you’re welcome at ours. But from the looks of it, you’ll be eating turkey and watching bowl games at the Chase household.” Dee seemed convinced but Maggie looked dubious.

At eight thirty the pool game broke up and Kyle stopped at their table. He held out his hand with a bow. “Are you ready, darlin’?”

She smiled and took it. Turning around she leaned down and hugged her friends as she said her goodbyes.

“Oh hey, you coming to the Grange tomorrow?” Dee called out as they got to the door.

“Oh, is that tomorrow night?”

Every year, the weekend before Thanksgiving, Petal had a community dance at the Grange that also served as a fundraiser and food drive for the local food pantry and soup kitchen.

“You aren’t going to any dance without me, Red. I have two tickets already. In fact, the whole Chase family does it every year. Please do me the honor and come as my date?”

“Well, when you put it like that.” She kissed his nose. “I guess I’ll see y’all there,” she said to Liv and Dee.

When Kyle got into the car he turned to her. “I told my momma that I’d bring her over some milk and butter. Is that all right with you?”

“Do I mind if you do a sweet helpful son thing? Of course not.”

Kyle laughed. “You don’t understand Polly Jean Chase, Red. She’s probably got three gallons of milk in the giant refrigerator in the garage and at least two extra boxes of butter as well but she wants to see you. To monitor this thing between us.”

“Ah, to make sure I’m treating you right?”

He laughed again. “No, sugar. To make sure I’m treating you right.”

They stopped by the Piggly Wiggly and took the groceries over to the house. Polly pulled them both into a big hug and stuffed a cookie into Kyle’s hand.

“Momma, I’m taking Maggie back to my house to make her dinner, I don’t need this.”

“Eat it, Kyle Maurice Chase. You need your strength.” Polly looked to Maggie and smiled. “Oh and, Margaret, I wanted to let you know we expect you at noon.”

“Noon? For what, Mrs. Chase?”

“Polly, honey. And for Thanksgiving dinner of course. In fact, if you want to come earlier, we have breakfast at eight.”

Kyle looked amused as he devoured the cookie he’d protested so vigorously minutes before.

“Um, are you sure I won’t be imposing?”

Polly put her hands on her hips and squared her shoulders. Kyle, recognizing the stance, took a step back and watched. “Honey, you’re dating Kyle. That makes you one of us. I’ll be cooking a turkey and a ham, it’s not like a bitty scrap of a girl like you eats that much.” Kyle wisely kept his snort to himself.

“You’re the first steady girlfriend that we’ve had in this family since that bitch Sandra broke Shane’s heart. You don’t think I need another woman here in this sea of testosterone? Besides, I like your company.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry if I seem ungrateful. I’m happy to be invited, I like being here.” How could she say, It’s just that I didn’t grow up in the most normal of households and I’m only learning now how to interact with families that aren’t as messed up as my own? It was just too embarrassing so she just smiled. “Can I help cook?”

“Oh no, honey. My sister will get here the night before. She and I’ll get up early to start everything. Just come when you want. I take it you’ll be coming, then?”

“Yes. Thanks so much for inviting me. I insist on bringing dessert, though.”

“I can’t argue with that. I’ve been eating your baked goodies for years.”

“Good!”

“Have we passed inspection yet? It’s getting late and I want to get Maggie fed.”

“Of course! I’ll see you both on Thursday then.”

“You’ll see us tomorrow at the Grange,” Kyle said.

“I forgot that was tomorrow night. Well, I’ll see you both then. Night, sugar.” She kissed Kyle and then Maggie.

Kyle chuckled the whole way to his place. After trying to ignore him, she finally gave in. “What are you laughing about?”

“You, trying to fight off my momma. She’s determined to make you one of our own. You can’t fight it. I don’t want you to either.”

Back at his condo she sat and drank a beer while she watched him prepare the salad that would go with the lemon chicken he’d popped into the oven. He looked good there. Proficient and able.

She hadn’t said much since his last declaration in the car. In her mind she’d gone back and forth but she couldn’t deny it anymore and she didn’t want to. Screwing up her courage at last she put her beer down and took a deep breath. “I’m not going to, you know.”

“Not going to do what, Red?” He turned to look at her, a smile on his face.

“I’m not going to fight it anymore. I like your family. If you’re truly comfortable with me at events and dinners, I’ll come when I’m invited.”

Putting his knife on the cutting board, he came to kneel at her feet. “I love for you to be with me and my family. This is all rather new for me you understand. I’ve never, ever had a steady girlfriend but I’m not freaked out like I thought I might be. I don’t know, it just seems,” he paused, searching for the right word, “right. Being with you seems right. My family loves you.” He stopped and swallowed. “And I’m well…quite frankly, on my way to loving you, Margaret Elizabeth.” He shrugged. “Now if six months ago someone had said that I’d say that to any woman without a gun to my head or without feeling faint, I’d have laughed. But you seem so right to me. I hope I’m not freaking you out.”

She reached out and pushed a lock of his hair out of his eye. “I’m not freaked out. I have my moments of insecurity where I wonder why a man who looks like you is interested in me.” She shrugged. “But I’ve decided that I don’t care. And okay, so there’s a bit of residual strangeness about the whole Shane thing. But I love being with you. You make me happy. You make me laugh. You accept me on my own terms. It feels right to me, too.”

“I thought the Shane thing might bother me but last night, when we were together, it didn’t. And anyway, I get to see you naked and sweaty. He never did. I shouldn’t feel smug about that but I do.”

Unsuccessfully stifling a smile, she shook her head in amusement. “Well, sick as I am, I’m sort of flattered by that. I suppose we’re made for each other then, huh? Look, the thing with Shane was totally dumb. It wasn’t anything and it wouldn’t have been a blip on my life radar if he hadn’t acted like such an ass at the end. But it’s over and done and I don’t sit around and wish things had gone differently. You don’t hold yourself back, I don’t hold myself back. This is more. Intense and deep, special.”

“I’m sorry he hurt you. Thing is, if he hadn’t messed up, you’d be with him right now instead of me so I can’t feel bad so much about the outcome. As for how it is between you and me? Yep, it’s special.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Can you spend the night tonight?”

She nodded. “I like waking up with you. I’ve never woken up with anyone before, it’s very nice.”

“Me either. Before you, Red, I was the guy who left. Not the moment he came or anything so crass. But shortly afterwards. I like having you here. I like hearing your voice and smelling you in my bedroom.”

Maggie liked that very much. “I like being here, too. I do need to do some yard work tomorrow though, so I need to go home in the morning.”

“Well, you know that your boyfriend’s a landscaper right?”

“I’d heard something about that, yeah.” She laughed.

“Well, why don’t I help you? We can go over to your place and do whatever yard work you need doing. I can spend tomorrow night at your house. That is, if I’m not rushing.”

“You aren’t and yes, I’d like that.”

Dinner was excellent, Kyle was a very good cook. After they’d cleaned up the kitchen together he turned and her pulse sped to see the look in his eyes.

“Maggie, I need you. Right now.” Her mouth dried up as she watched him stalk toward her. He was overwhelming in that moment and it thrilled her. One handed, he pulled the fly of his jeans open and hers with the other hand.

Making quick work out of getting naked, she stood there frozen against the force of his needy gaze. She found herself backed against the wall in the dining room. He dropped to his knees and her stomach clenched.

“I want to taste you,” he murmured and spread her open with his thumbs. “Thigh on my shoulder.” It wasn’t a request. Complying, she leaned back, putting her weight against the wall. A gasp ripped from her lips as his mouth closed over her pussy.

One of her hands gripped the doorjamb and the other sifted through his hair. She cried out when two of his fingers pressed deep into her and turned to hook, stroking her sweet spot. A gasp of his name when his teeth scraped gently over her swollen clit.

“Mmmm. You like that.” He couldn’t see her enthusiastic nod so she pushed his head back into place and ignored his chuckle.

The tip of his tongue drew circles around her clit over and over until her legs shook so hard she could barely hold herself up.

“Oh God, please. Kyle, please.”

“Please what?” He looked up at her and one eyebrow slid high.

“Pleasemakemecome!”

A third finger joined the other two inside her and he moved back into place. His tongue drew through her pussy, sliding back and forth through her folds until he got back to her clit. And he stayed there. Insistently, relentlessly flicking over her with a feather light but consistent stroke. On and on until her climax bloomed and exploded over her with such force she flung her head back, smacking it against the wall behind her.

Muscles still jumping she found herself bent over the table. She heard the crinkle of the condom wrapper as he widened her thighs. Gripping the side of the table, she braced herself as he thrust into her to the root in one long stroke.

“Told you, you made me want you bend you over something. Holy smoke you’re so hot it drives me crazy,” he murmured and began to thrust deep, over and over. Her nipples hardened against the cool, unyielding surface of the table.

She’d never been taken in such a spontaneous, raw way and it thrilled her to her very core. That she made him feel so out of control that he had to bend her over the kitchen table and have her right at that very moment was wildly exciting. His desire of her elevated her. Made her feel like a goddess. To be the focus of such regard, such intensity, made her tremble and sweat.

Kyle looked down at the feminine curve of her spine, before arching back to watch his cock disappear into her body only to withdraw, covered in her honey. Damn but he wanted her. In every way, in every place he could imagine. He’d never desired a woman so deeply before. She affected him on such a primal level that it should have scared him. But all he could feel was the way the hot, wet flesh of her pussy embraced him. Sucked at him even as he pulled out and welcomed him again as he thrust back deep.

“Damn it, Maggie, you feel so good.” His head fell back as orgasm took over his muscles and he came deep inside her.

He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck and carried her upstairs to his bed. He went to sleep knowing that the woman curved against his body would be that way for the rest of his life.

 

 

By the time they arrived at the Grange the next night, most the Chase family was there and had scored a table. Her heart warmed at the genuine enthusiasm they greeted her with. All the brothers told her to save them a dance and Kyle scowled and rolled his eyes at them.

“You know, Liv should be here too.” Maggie’s tone with Matt was casual and she was delighted to see his face light up. “I knew it!”

“What?”

“You are interested in her!”

He sighed and then grinned in resignation. “Yeah, I’ve had a crush on Olivia since high school.”

“For heaven’s sake, why didn’t you kiss her the other night? Or at least go inside?”

“I’ve been kicking myself for that ever since then. I really did have an early seminar that next morning. I want to give her the time and attention she deserves.”

“Oh good! I’m relieved to hear it. Of course, she’s my best friend and has been since the third day of kindergarten, so I’m totally biased,” she gulped in a deep breath before continuing, “but I can still tell you that she’s just the most wonderful woman on the planet.”

“I doubt it, Red. I know the most wonderful woman on the planet and she’s not Liv Davis.” Kyle kissed her freckles and heat bloomed as she blushed.

“Lord. I hope that’s not catching,” Marc said of the two of them. “It’s nice for you two and all. But Kyle has been a happy go lucky bachelor all of this time and he’s so obviously gone over you, sugar, it scares me.”

“It’ll happen to you too, you know. When it’s supposed to.” Kyle’s smile was smug.

“Maggie, fancy seeing you here.”

Maggie turned in the direction of the cold voice and saw Janie and her husband Rick, and their parents, Cece and Tom Wright.

“Janie, Rick, Mother, Daddy. Hello,” Maggie said tightly. The look on her mother’s face told her it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.

“Hey, honey.” Her father bent down to kiss her cheek. “Sorry,” he whispered into her ear. She braced herself for what was coming next.

“I had no idea you’d actually have a date for this but as you’re here I’ll go ahead. Since you’ve decided to be so mean and jealous of your sister, you’re no longer invited to Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps if you spend the day thinking about how you can be a better sister, you can come to Christmas dinner.” Her mother’s voice was so cold it hit Maggie like a slap and she winced.

Rick looked distinctly uncomfortable as did Tom but neither man said anything.

Maggie just sat there for a moment as she pushed the pain away and gathered her strength and self respect. Inhaling deeply she looked her mother straight on. “If that’s how you feel, Mother. Have a nice evening.”

“Wait just a darned minute, Cece Wright!” Polly stood up and came over to Maggie, putting a hand on her shoulder. Kyle held her hand on the other side.

“Yes, Polly? I suppose you’re going to butt in?”

“You can keep your snotty comments to yourself. Maggie’s coming to dinner with our family on Thanksgiving, where she’s loved and appreciated. Christmas, too. If you refuse to see what an exceptional daughter you have, well, you know, I’ve always wanted a daughter, what with four boys and all. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Maggie could feel the Chases build a protective wall around her. Shane stood on the other side of Polly, Matt on the other side of Kyle. Edward and Marc were on the other side of the table but had stood as well.

“Margaret should recognize her betters. She needs to accept that her sister is prettier and more successful than she is and stop being so bitter about it,” Cecelia snapped.

Maggie had had enough. She stood up. “Mother, you don’t know anything about it. I am not bitter that Jane Marie is pretty! I don’t know why you keep saying that, it simply isn’t true. But pretty isn’t everything! You treated me, my whole life like nothing else mattered but pretty. Well what about when pretty goes away? What about when pretty only is on the surface? What about when she’s like you? Pretty on the outside but cold and heartless on the inside?

“I told myself that if I could just do well in school that you’d appreciate me. That if I behaved and never got in trouble you’d love me, but it never happened. When I was nine and you told me that you wished you’d never had me because I left you with a C-section scar, I tried to tell myself that you didn’t mean it that way but you did. And I understand that now. I accept you for the monster you are, Mother.”

Kyle looked at his family and they all bore the horrified look he had. This woman told her child she wished she’d never had her, because of a scar? She’d just told her child in front of others that she wasn’t as good as her sister because she wasn’t as pretty?

“How dare you talk to Mom like that!” Jane Marie spat out. “You’re jealous of us both. Jealous of what we have!”

“This is so ridiculous I wish I could laugh. Janie, I’m not jealous of you. I am happy you are lovely and have a nice husband and a good life. I won’t, however, let you or anyone else make me feel inferior anymore. I’m done with being the family scapegoat. You all enjoy your night and Thanksgiving dinner.”

Janie grabbed Maggie’s arm then and towered over her. “You think you can hold a man like Kyle Chase just by opening your legs for him? I was a virgin on my wedding night. Too bad you can’t say the same thing.” The ugly words came out in a hiss.

Maggie looked at her sister, shock clear on her face. And then she narrowed her eyes. Kyle knew what was coming so he sat back and waited.

“How dare you say that to me, Jane Marie? You of all people. You sure you want to go down that road? Rick isn’t the only one of us who knows that’s a lie,” she said in a voice so quiet and low that it made the hair on Kyle’s arms stand up.

“How dare you say that! I was a virgin. You are just, again, jealous that you can’t get a man to marry you or even to date you without putting out.”

Maggie sighed. “Okay then, why don’t we give old Charles a call, shall we? You remember him right? My old grad school advisor who was also my boyfriend? You know, the man who rucked your precious pleated Anne Klein skirt up around your waist and fucked you on my couch while you thought I was out on a walk? Don’t sell your bullshit about being a virgin to me, Jane Marie. I saw your legs wide open, to my boyfriend, so I know the truth.”

Jane Marie paled. “You…you, saw? You knew and never said anything?”

“What could I have said, Janie? How could I have conveyed how betrayed I felt? I mean, my whole life people told me how much prettier you were, I convinced myself that you were. That I couldn’t hold a man if you were after him too. I know a lot better these days. I’m a different person now.”

“What is she talking about?” Rick asked.

“Now all of you go on and have a nice evening. I’ve said all I needed to say and I feel ever so much better. Just think, now you can have the family you always wanted, Cecelia. Since you already pretend I don’t exist, it shouldn’t be hard.”

Maggie turned her back and sat back down between Kyle and Polly, who both hugged her tightly.

“Don’t come crawling back when he dumps you,” Cecelia spat out and they all moved off.

“Oh good lord. Who needs a drink?” Edward drawled.

Maggie raised a hand and he took it and kissed it. “You got it, baby girl. One stiff bourbon. Be back in two shakes.”

Shane sat down as did Marc. Liv, Dee and Arthur, who had heard the whole thing, came over as well. Liv and Dee pushed in and each hugged her tightly. Polly looked over them at Kyle and her eyes were shining with unshed tears.

“Good for you, Maggie. You should have said all of that a long time ago. I’m proud of you. By the way, how could you not tell me that Janie slept with your boyfriend?” Liv said.

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Not for a while. I can’t or I’ll lose it and I don’t want to. More and more people are showing up and I just can’t face being the focus of yet another town drama.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Liv sat down in an empty chair, conveniently next to Matt. Dee and Arthur sat across from them on Marc’s other side.

“Here you go, sugar.” Edward put the bourbon in her hand and she downed it in three big gulps. His eyes widened for a moment and he laughed and put the one he got for himself in her hand as he exchanged it for the empty glass.

“I think you and I need a dance, Red,” Kyle said.

She stood up, knocked back the second bourbon and sat the glass down, looking back over her shoulder at Edward. “Thanks. I feel much better now.” He winked at her and watched as his son took her out to the dance floor, wrapping himself around her protectively.

“Our boy is falling in love with that little spitfire,” he said to his wife, who’d come to sit next to him.

“Yes, I think so too. It’s nice. She’s special. I can’t believe her family. My goodness, how awful to tell a child you didn’t want her. To compare her to the other child and say she’s lacking.”

Kyle looked down at Maggie and felt a protectiveness he’d never felt toward anyone other than his family. He felt possessive and full of admiration for the woman in his arms. “Baby, I’m sorry about all of that.”

Maggie was snuggled into his body and she just shook her head, not wanting to talk. When the slow number ended he led her back to the table where luckily everyone had moved on to another topic.

“You hungry, Red? Wait, stupid question. You want me to grab you a plate?” Kyle teased.

“No, I’ll come with. You’ll steal my food if I don’t guard it,” she said.

“Never come between Red and her food,” he told his family.

Despite the beginning of the evening, the rest of it was quite enjoyable. Maggie danced with every male Chase including hers, at least twice. She laughed with her friends and ate at least three platefuls of food. She saw Kyle talking to the DJ and then come back toward her, looking like the cat that ate the cream.

“What are you up to, Kyle Maurice Chase?”

“You know my darkest secret now.” He gave a quick look toward his mother. “My great grandfather was named Maurice. I narrowly escaped it as a first name.”

She chuckled and then cocked her head as a slow number came on. One that she and Kyle had danced to at the Honky Tonk and later, had made love to. “Raining on Sunday” by Keith Urban.

“I’m beginning to think of this as our song. Care to dance with me, Red?”

She nodded and he led her out to the floor, pulling her snug against him. With a satisfied sigh, he kissed the top of her head before laying his cheek there.

 

 

Back at her house he drew her up the stairs to her room. “Let me love you, Maggie. Let me show you how special and beautiful you are,” he murmured.

“I’m yours, Kyle.”

He grinned. “I’m a lucky man.” He picked her up, gently putting her on the bathroom counter.

Watching her in the mirror he reached around to unzip the back of her dress. She shrugged out of the top of it while he pulled the rest of it off. Her nearly bare ass sat against the cool counter, her nipples tightened in her sheer bra.

“You look good, Red.” He popped the catch on the front of the bra and her breasts came free. He chuckled. “Now you look even better.”

She grinned at him, looking into his face. “What is it about being nearly naked when you’re fully dressed that turns me on so much?”

“That’s a coincidence. It turns me on, too.” One handed, he pulled his pants open and his cock sprang free.

A gasp broke from her lips as he pulled her ass to the edge of the counter and she caught a glimpse of the flutter of colorful silk as he tossed her panties over his shoulder. The crinkle of the condom wrapper made her body tighten in response.

His fingertips brushed through the folds of her pussy, making sure she was ready. “God damn, so wet. Always so wet and ready for me.”

“Yes. Oh God, pleasepleaseplease, I need you, Kyle.”

“Yes, Red. On the way.” The fingers at her hip dug into her skin as he entered her hard, in one thrust. “Yesssss,” he hissed softly.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and turned her head, watching them in the mirrors. Saw a woman she didn’t recognize, small and sexy as a fully clothed man fucked into her. Watched that woman arch to take him in deeper. Listened to her pleas and orders.

“So beautiful. You’re so damned beautiful, Red. Look at yourself. See what I see every time I make love to you.” He met her eyes in the mirror. “Sexy. Those long legs wrapped around me. Your eyes, hazy with pleasure. Lips, shiny wet.” He leaned in and nipped her bottom lip between his teeth, causing her to gasp. “I love the way your breasts move when I’m inside you. Love the way your pussy is so tight that it hugs my cock. You have no idea how hot you are deep inside. It drives me crazy. Sometimes during the day I’ll be working and it’ll come over me suddenly—the sense memory of your pussy, clutching me, fluttering around my cock like it’s doing right now, just before you come.”

He wet his fingers in her mouth and reached between them to find her clit, swollen and slick. “I want your orgasm, Red. Show me how gorgeous you are when you come.”

Her eyes blurred as her breath caught. Endorphins flooded her as she came, eyes still locked with his in the mirror.

“Oh, yes. That’s the way.” He groaned as his own climax shot from the balls of his feet straight into her body in wave after wave until he could no longer stand. They stumbled back into the bedroom together, collapsing on the bed.

She fell asleep fairly soon and he covered her with a blanket before getting up to take his clothes off. He watched the easy in and out of her breath and wanted to kick the crap out of anyone who hurt her or made her feel lacking in any way.

 

 

The next morning they made time for breakfast together before each left for the day.

“Your mother invited me to your family dinner tonight, Kyle,” Maggie said as she put a mug of coffee in front of him.

“Good. I’ll see you at six then.” He flashed that sexy smile.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to barge in or anything. And I…well, I don’t want you to get tired of me, seeing me every day.”

“Red.” He hooked an arm around her waist, pulling her to his lap. “I am not going to get tired of you. I like seeing you with my family, they like you. I enjoy being with you. We talked about this. I thought you were okay with it.”

“I thought I was. Are you sure? There’s an awful lot of drama in my life these days. It annoys me, it must really annoy you.”

He sighed. “Sugar, I know how much of a number your mother did on you but you have to stop letting her influence you. Believe me, if I want some space I’ll say so. But I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?”

Silently, she nodded her head. Afraid to say anything because if she did, she knew she’d blurt out that she loved him.

“That settles it then. I’ll see you at six tonight.”

That night, she stopped by the grocery store to buy pecans and corn syrup for the pecan pies she was going to make for Thanksgiving and some lemons for the tartlets she wanted to try. On her way out she saw Alex Parsons come in and fear gnawed at her. He watched her warily and when it was clear she was leaving, he went back toward the dairy section.

She ran home and put away her groceries and changed, putting her hair back with a loose clip. Once she’d arrived at the Chase’s, Marc came out as he saw she was walking up the front steps. “Thought I’d grab my hug and some sugar out here. Kyle’s crazy jealous.” He gave her a kiss on the temple as he chuckled.

Grinning, she shook her head at his cheek. Once inside, Kyle saw her and got up to give her a hello kiss. “I saw that brother of mine out there, I suppose he accosted you.”

“A girl doesn’t tell tales,” she said before going into the kitchen to say hello to Polly where she helped set out the food on the dining room table.

“Boys! Dinner is ready,” Polly called out and they all came in rapidly. Edward held out Polly’s chair and Kyle held out Maggie’s. He settled in next to her and within minutes, plates were filled and people had eaten enough to take the edge off and begin talking.

“I saw Alex today,” Maggie said quietly.

Shane looked up at her with serious eyes. “Where?”

“At the market. I was leaving. He was coming in. He waited to see which way I’d go and then went in the opposite direction. I hope that means he’s going to obey the court order.”

“Did he say anything to you?” Kyle asked.

“No. He barely even looked at me, thank God.”

“If you see him again and he doesn’t leave or it looks like he’s come to bother you, call the cops immediately. I assume you have the order with you? We’ll get you the permanent ones after Tuesday when he’ll be back in court,” Shane explained.

“Yes, I keep it in my purse. I have one in my car, at work and at my house like you said. By the way, I’m coming to court on Tuesday.”

“Why?” Kyle asked.

“Because, I want to see it. To be able to speak if I can and to be sure that nothing else happens. It’s bad enough he’s getting away with it, I want to be sure he has to do all of the stuff I was told he was going to.”

“Maggie, honey, why don’t you let me go instead? I’m your attorney. I’ll speak on your behalf if necessary.” Edward looked concerned.

“Listen, I know I’m small and all but darn it, I won’t hide from this. It happened to me. I want to witness it to its conclusion. I want those pictures back, with the negatives, so I can destroy them myself. I want my clothes back, too.”

Shane sighed and looked wearily at Kyle, who just rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Fine, Maggie. But, Dad, I think you should be there too, just in case.”

“I’ll be there as well,” Matt and Marc said at the same time.

“Me too,” Polly said.

“Of course I will,” Kyle added, squeezing Maggie’s hand.

She tried not to cry—she’d been doing it so much lately—but she failed. “I’m sorry! I swear to y’all that I’m not usually so weepy. Anyway, thank you all so much. Honestly, I just don’t have words to express just how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

“Well, certainly a bit of cherry cobbler will cheer you up!” Polly winked and passed the large pan around the table.

At nine that night, a very weary Maggie said her good-byes and Kyle walked her to her car. “Red, do you want to stay the night at my place?”

“I do but I shouldn’t. I have to go into work early tomorrow to get some more work done. I want to have all sixty-eight of my students’ term papers read and graded by Tuesday because we have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off school. If I go back to your place, I doubt I’ll get much sleep.” She grinned at him.

“Okay, but have dinner with me tomorrow then. I’ll pick you up at your house at six and we can grab a pizza.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Kyle. I’ll see you then.”

He bent down and captured her lips and as always, after one of his kisses, she felt slightly woozy, like she was drunk from his touch.