Chapter Fourteen

Maggie woke with a huge smile spread across her face the next morning, and, judging by the way her muscles ached, she guessed she had been that way most of the night. Instead of the dark, scary dreams she usually endured, she had been dreaming of love and sunny days and happily-ever-afters for the first time in a very long time.

She looked over at Aiden, who was sleeping soundly next to her. He was smiling and looked contented, too. She couldn’t help wondering what he was dreaming about, and she hoped it involved her. A warm glow emanated from her stomach, and she wondered what it would be like to wake up next to him every morning.

His eyes fluttered open, and his smile broadened. “Morning, darlin’.” He sounded chirpy straight-off, and his arm tightened a little around her shoulder.

“Good morning.” She beamed at him and felt his warmth as he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

Immediately her pussy tensed, and she knew she wanted him all over again. Her stomach started to burn as the fire ignited inside her, and she flushed.

A deep chuckle reverberated through his body, tickling her breast that was now pressed hard against his chest. She knew he’d read her mind. She also knew it was only Wednesday, and they both had work to do. Damn!

Slowly pulling away from him, she turned to check the time. “Oh my God! Aiden, it’s half past seven!” She startled then leaped out of the bed.

“I’ll get the coffee on,” he offered as she fled toward the bathroom.

The water felt good on her tender flesh, and she smiled as she remembered how her body had become so achy. She had never had a night like it. Aiden was the most caring, intuitive lover she had ever had—not that she’d had many—and she knew she would never want anyone else. It wasn’t just the way he made her feel in bed. It was…something more—the way he made her feel all the time. He made her happy. Even when she had been mad at him, she had known she really still wanted to see him again.

After wrapping herself in a towel, she scrubbed her teeth before pulling a comb through her wayward curls.

“Is it my turn yet?”

She spun around and opened the door to see Aiden leaning against the doorjamb wearing nothing but a small towel and a huge smile. He was offering her a cup of steaming coffee, and she drank in the whole sight of him. She smiled, taking the mug from his hand.

“I almost jumped in there with you, but I figured we’d never get to work today if I did,” he murmured, giving her a salacious wink.

She grinned. He was absolutely right. If she had her way, they would both spend the day making love and probably wouldn’t even stop to eat. “Work? What’s work?” She smiled cheekily before taking a sip. He sure made great coffee. “Hey, this is really good. Maybe you should get a job in the café.”

He chuckled. “If you don’t get moving, you won’t have a job down there yourself.” He playfully swatted her behind through her towel as he stood back to allow her to go into the bedroom.

She felt a sudden pang inside her as reality returned with a vengeance. “You’re right,” she said, sighing.

“Hey, don’t sweat it, darlin’. You won’t be there much longer anyhow,” he told her with a knowing smile.

“I hope you’re right.”

“Trust me.” He leaned over and kissed her wet head.

Maggie felt that warmth return again. She did trust him. She knew he would do whatever he could to help her. He cared about her more than anyone ever had in her whole life. Something just felt right about being with Aiden.

“I’ll be out in minute,” he said. “Why don’t you call a cab? It’ll save some time.”

She was just about to reply that she never called a cab because she couldn’t afford one, but she knew by the look on his face that it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. She smiled and went to find her clothes.

The bruise on her face was beginning to fade at last, so it didn’t take too long for her apply her makeup and dry her hair.

Aiden was ready in a jiffy. It was amazing how little effort it took him to look so good. Even in yesterday’s clothes and using a borrowed comb, he looked gorgeous.

They rushed out when they heard the cab beeping, and they piled into the back seat. Aiden automatically held his arm out to her, and Maggie snuggled into his warm body. It was good to feel close again after the mad rush they’d had to get ready.

“I’ll come in for another coffee,” he said when the cab pulled up outside the café a few minutes later.

Maggie smiled. She didn’t want him to leave her. Aiden seemed to make everything right. And now everything was right. While she went through her normal routine of opening up the café and getting the coffee and bread on, she felt relaxed and happy. Soon Robert would be out of their hair, and, with any luck, she would at least have a chance of getting her money back. She could move out of that awful apartment and leave this job for good. She gazed over at Aiden, who had plunked himself on his usual seat by the counter. She wondered what she would do when she didn’t have to come here anymore, and she found herself hoping wistfully that whatever it was, it would involve the handsome cowboy.

“I won’t stay long,” he whispered to her when her first customers arrived for breakfast.

She felt a sudden pang but quickly admonished herself for her selfishness. Of course she was going to miss him, but Aiden had a ranch to run, and she had to keep her mind on her job—at least for now.

As she smiled back at him, she noticed he was looking warily out of the window, and she suddenly remembered that Robert might be back at any time. It wouldn’t look good if he found them together, and it could stir up a whole load more trouble for them all.

“Looks like I’m gonna be kept busy,” she said, nodding to a crowd of cowboys who had just piled in through the door.

Aiden grinned, taking his hat from the seat next to him. “In that case, I’d best leave you to it,” he responded, before leaning over to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Maggie flushed, thrilled that he didn’t mind showing his emotions in front of her customers. She smiled as he swaggered toward the door, and her heart leapt when he stopped to give her a salacious wink just before he left.

* * * *

Aiden took a good look around the area outside the café while he waited for a cab to pick him up. He wanted to make dang sure that Rossington wasn’t spying on Maggie. He had to make sure his girl was safe before he left her.

“My girl,” he mused as he jumped into the cab. He was surprised how possessive he felt about the gorgeous waitress. His thoughts wandered back to last night and a huge smile spread across his face. He felt like he had done nothing but smile since he’d woken up this morning. Last night had sure been something else. The journey home was a blur, as he couldn’t concentrate on anything except Maggie. He was determined to show her just how much she meant to him. It had been lovely to see her looking so relaxed today, and he wanted her to always look like that. In order to achieve that, though, he would first have to sort out this whole mess with Rossington.

He quickly refreshed himself then changed once he got home, before going to find his brother. Ben was out by the training paddock talking to Frank Crowthorne.

“No prizes for guessing where you got to,” Ben remarked as Aiden joined them.

“My lips are sealed,” he replied.

“Yeah, and they’re also beaming from ear to ear,” Ben replied with a chuckle. “Your expression speaks volumes, bro.”

Aiden felt himself smile even more. He was glad they could see how happy Maggie made him. He was proud to be seeing such a beautiful girl.

“I’ve got some news,” Frank said. “I’ve heard from an old colleague of mine, Alex Carrass, over at the attorney’s office.”

Aiden felt his face fall a little.

“Seems Rossington’s been over there asking about possible loopholes in the conditions Jake Parry set in his will.” Frank smirked, which Aiden immediately found reassuring.

“And?” He hardly dared ask.

Frank shook his head. “It’s watertight. Parry knew what he was doing, all right. Looks like he hired the best to make sure the ranch was protected. That land can’t leave the family. The only way Rossington can get anywhere near it is to join the Parrys.”

“And there ain’t no way Lorraine’s gonna let him do that.” Ben sounded quite sure of the fact.

Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Did they tell Rossington this?” He looked warily at Frank.

“Not yet. He’s got an appointment over there around lunchtime today.”

Aiden felt a lurch in his stomach. “He’ll be hopping mad this afternoon, then.”

Ben shrugged. “There ain’t nothin’ he can do about it. The law’s the law. Right, Frank?” He looked over at the older man.

Frank nodded. “Yeah, but Aiden’s right. Once Rossington hears his plan’s doomed, he’ll be like a bear with a bee sting. We’d better keep an eye on the girls.”

“No problem. I’ll get on over to Lorraine’s as soon as I get done with the veterinarian.” Ben put on his hat, about to leave.

“What if Rossington goes over there? He’s not gonna be too happy to see you with his fiancée?” Aiden frowned.

“Don’t you worry about that. I’ve promised to do a few jobs about the place to make life easier for Martha. As far as Rossington knows, I’m just a neighbor doing them a favor.” Ben obviously had it all worked out.

Aiden shook his head as his brother made his way toward his truck.

“I’ll be in the stables if you need me,” Ben called over.

Aiden nodded.

“What about Maggie? You can’t be seen over there,” Frank warned him.

Aiden sighed. “I can’t just leave her on her own. What if he takes it out on her? He’s already hit her.” He felt his blood boil at the thought. He should have been there for her that night. He should never have let her…

“We’ll figure something out,” Frank assured him. “Even if I happen to pop over for a coffee, it won’t look too suspicious.”

Aiden felt a surge of relief. Frank was right. Rossington was unlikely to recognize him from the party, anyhow. He had been so drunk that it would be a miracle if he recalled anything about that night.

“Thanks, Frank.”

The older man smiled. “I’ll look out for her. Don’t you worry, son.”

Aiden grinned. He knew he wore his heart on his sleeve and didn’t mind one bit that the people around him could see how much he cared for the blonde beauty. As long as Rossington didn’t get wind of it, he wasn’t bothered who knew.

* * * *

Maggie was pleasantly surprised when Frank sauntered into the café later that afternoon. She smiled at him, remembering that she was supposed to act as though she didn’t know him. Not that she suspected any of the customers as having anything to do with Robert, but it was good to keep on the safe side.

“I’ll take coffee and a cinnamon donut please, miss.” He sat by the window with a clear view to the door.

She placed his order in front of him just as his cell rang. Frank frowned as he took the call, and Maggie left him to his privacy.

There weren’t many other customers in the café, so she busied herself with cleaning down the counters and generally puttering about. She couldn’t hear what Frank was saying on the phone, but he sure seemed engrossed in his conversation. It was nice to see him here, and she felt a little more secure having him around.

By the time Frank had finished his coffee, most of the customers had left. There was just one elderly couple remaining in one of the booths at the far end of the restaurant when he hailed for a top-up of his drink.

“Everything okay?” she murmured as she poured it out.

“I’m not sure,” Frank confided in a hushed tone. “Ben’s over at the Parry’s right now. He’s doing some odd jobs for Martha, who told him that she remembered Rossington being around there. Seems Jake was doing some deal with him, but she didn’t know the details. That’s how he and Lorraine met.”

Maggie frowned. “This is the old lady with dementia?”

Frank nodded. “That’s right. Don’t underestimate her, though, Maggie. Martha Parry has dementia, but she’s not stupid. If she says Rossington was in her house, I believe her.”

Maggie nodded. “I’m right with you, Frank. I had an uncle with dementia and, although some days he didn’t remember his own name, other times he was as sharp as a tack.”

“Awful business.” Frank shook his head knowingly. “Anyhow, Ben’s going to check with Lorraine if there was anything in the company documents about any dealings between them. Jake was a stickler for the paperwork. If there was something going, he would have gotten it in writing.”

Maggie wiped his table before going to check on her other customers. The elderly couple were about to leave, and they left her a generous tip, for which she was sincerely thankful.

She was hoping for a chance to chat with Frank some more, but as they closed the door, it immediately opened again and a crowd of rowdy youngsters flooded in. She noticed Frank taking another call as she poured their drinks and couldn’t help wishing she could hear what he was saying. After that, it became busy again for a while before petering off just before closing time.

“I’ll give you a ride home,” he announced when everyone else had left at last.

She frowned. “It’s real nice of you, Frank, but I’ll be fine, honestly.” He had been so sweet to her. She didn’t want to take advantage.

“Nonsense… It’s raining,” he informed her, pointing to the window.

Maggie smiled. Although she was quite used to walking in bad weather, it was always nice not to have to endure it. “Well, if you’re sure?”

He nodded as he ushered her out of the door. He was right about the rain. It was pouring. She climbed into the soft passenger seat, secretly excited that she might get another chance to talk about his latest findings.

The engine purred into action and she breathed in the familiar scent of the luxurious leather and mahogany. Her own car had not been dissimilar all those years ago, before she had gotten with Robert, and she smiled at the memory.

“Lorraine knew all about the deal.” Frank grimaced a little as he spoke.

Maggie stared at him.

“Rossington was supposed to be arranging for Jake Parry to buy more land from a local farmer. Seemed he had a written contract all ready for the guy to sign, but it was never completed. There was lots of correspondence between Rossington and Parry, mostly arranging and rearranging meetings with the guy to finalize the details. Trouble was, there was no mention of the guy’s name.” Frank frowned.

“You think Robert was trying to trick Mr. Parry out of his money?” She narrowed her eyes as she studied him.

He glanced over at her, and she wondered if he was afraid she would be offended by the answer. “It’s possible.” Frank’s voice was clipped.

“Well, Aiden said he was trying to sell land to him without actually owning it, so it’s quite probable,” she mused.

“That’s kind of what we were thinking,” Frank admitted. He looked a little relieved that she had been the one to say it. “Lorraine said that after Jake passed away, Rossington claimed that her daddy had promised him some money up front, before the deal was closed. That’s why he was sniffing around all the dang time. Lorraine’s been stalling him since the funeral, trying to make out it’s the lawyer’s fault for not releasing all of his estate to her yet. You know, red tape and all that. Truth is, she’s searched his records and can’t find any mention of a payoff to Rossington. Her legal team’s been investigating the case and can’t find anything suggesting he’s owed a bean.”

Maggie frowned as they pulled up outside her apartment block. “It explains why she’s so keen to nail Robert, though,” she said. “It’s one thing for him to fool her but to try to fool her daddy out of his money is another thing entirely. That girl will want as much ammunition as she can find to fire at him, and I’m only too glad I can provide some.”

“Let’s get you inside.” Frank grinned.

“Really there’s…”

Her protestations fell on deaf ears as Frank was already halfway out of the car. She sighed. He really was a gentleman. He even took an umbrella from the pocket of his door and held it for her as she climbed out. She felt a little embarrassed to show him where she lived, and she was surprised that he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave, even when she had opened her front door.

“Do you mind if I use your bathroom a second?” he asked gingerly.

She smiled. “Of course not.”

It was nice to be home, and she took off her coat as Frank went down the hall. She immediately put the pot on for a hot drink and hugged herself as she remembered that the last time she’d had coffee here, Aiden had made it for her. He hadn’t been far from her mind all day, and she was just sorry that he wasn’t able to see her again tonight. He had rung her several times, though, and she knew he was thinking of her. Last night had been amazing, and she knew he was as desperate as she was to repeat it soon.

She wandered into her small lounge and put on the lamps as she went over to draw the curtains. The empty Ben and Jerry’s container was still on the coffee table, and she smiled when she saw it. The dirty plates had disappeared, and she was glad that the whole place didn’t smell of food, as it would have if Aiden hadn’t washed them while she’d had her shower this morning. He really was a thoughtful guy.

She straightened up a couple of books on her shelf that had been moved, guessing that Aiden must have been looking through them while she had been getting ready earlier.

“Everything all right?” Frank popped his head around the door.

“Yeah, of course. Do you want a coffee or—?”

“No. I’ve had my fill for one day. Thanks all the same. I’d best get back. Sylvia will be waiting for me.”

She followed him to the door. “Thanks ever so much, Frank.”

“My pleasure,” he assured her as he left.

She was glad to change out of her clothes and went through to switch on the shower. An ornament had been moved from its position on the window sill and was now sitting on one of the glass shelves that held her bottles of scent and toiletries. She shook her head. Frank must have knocked it down when he’d used the bathroom earlier then replaced it on the wrong shelf. She put it back in its place with a smile. She sure wasn’t used to having other people in her apartment.