“Thanks, Polly, that’s so kind. I don’t want to impose on you two nights in a row.”

Kyle narrowed his eyes at her. “Is that my momma?”

“Yes, she’s inviting me to dinner and she says you two can come, too.”

“What’s she making?” Shane asked.

“Smothered pork chops.”

“Tell her I’ll be there,” he said immediately.

“You and I will be there in half an hour.” Kyle’s expression didn’t leave room for argument. “Oh, and wait, let me talk to her.” Kyle grabbed the phone she held out. “Momma, you got room for one more?”

“Of course I do. Who else is coming?”

“Olivia Davis, the Mayor’s secretary. She’s Maggie’s best friend and she’s here right now.”

“Good, she’s a pretty one. I’ll put her between Matt and Shane. See y’all soon then.”

Kyle hung up and looked back at them all. “Olivia, my mother would love for you to come as well. I promise you an excellent meal. Plus, well my family can be a bit overwhelming so it’ll help Maggie to have you there.”

“That and there’s never an objection at our house to another beautiful woman,” Shane added.

“Flattery and pork chops when all I was gonna do was eat a Lean Cuisine? Hmm, I think I’ll have to choose the pork chops.”

“Okay, but let me change. I have dust and glass shards on this skirt.” Maggie bounded up the stairs to her room.

She changed into a pair of soft jeans and a fleece pullover and came back downstairs. “I sure like watching you go up and down stairs,” Kyle murmured as he captured her waist, pulling her to him.

Smirking, she kissed him quickly as they headed out to the car. “Glad to be entertaining.”

Maggie felt immediately at home when she walked inside the Chase’s home. Within moments she’d garnered hugs and kisses from everyone, although Kyle scowled at Marc who just laughed.

“You all know Olivia?” Maggie introduced her friend.

“Yes,” Matt answered immediately. “You’ll be sitting next to me tonight.”

Maggie smiled. It looked like with a little help from Polly, Maggie was able to get Matt and Liv together after all.

“You got any other hot friends, Maggie?” Marc asked.

“Sorry, Marc. You’ve dated most every woman in Petal. Dee is lovely but she’s engaged. Everyone else you’ve probably gone out with.”

Kyle laughed at that one until Marc took her hand and kissed it. “Except for you, sugar.” He winked.

“My goodness, you boys are a menace.” Maggie blushed and Edward laughed as he led them all into the dining room.

The food was, as advertised, completely delicious. Maggie watched, amused as Matt and Liv hit it off. The brothers argued about the Braves’ chances for the next season while Polly and Maggie talked about the upcoming auction for the Historical Society.

After they’d eaten and cleaned up, Kyle put his arm around Maggie. “Well folks, I’m going to get Maggie home. Matt, can you please give Liv a ride home? She rode over with us and I want to stop by my place for a minute to pick something up.”

Matt perked up. “Of course, no problem. I was hoping to stay for dessert though. Liv?”

“Are those Maggie’s lemon almond scones I see?”

“Oh, yes. She brought them over earlier today.”

“Then I’ll definitely stay for dessert.” Liv got up and hugged Maggie and whispered, “Tell Kyle I owe him one.”

Once they were driving, Kyle reached out and grabbed Maggie’s hand. “I wasn’t trying to get rid of you, Red. I was trying to get rid of them. I thought that it might be nice to stop by my condo to get some coffee ice cream. Maybe watch a movie. What do you say?”

“I say, I love coffee ice cream!”

Kyle’s condo complex was on the south side of town and had a series of small streams that led into a large man-made lake at the center. Kyle’s two story townhouse was on a little spit of land that looked out over the water.

He pulled into the attached garage and took her inside through a side door. Maggie had to admit she was impressed. The living room and kitchen opened up to the second floor. Pretty maple hardwood floors gleamed and ceiling fans circled lazily, moving the air. It was tastefully furnished and reasonably neat.

“This is really nice, Kyle.”

“Want the grand tour?”

“Sure.”

He showed her through the first floor, through his office and the living room and nice sized kitchen.

The upstairs featured a guest bedroom and attached bath and a large master suite with windows overlooking the stream and lake. Hues of sage green and sand gave the space a cool and relaxed feeling. His bed, on a low platform, dominated the room. Maggie couldn’t help but stare at it for long moments.

“Wow, this is beautiful. Puts my bedroom to shame.”

“I thought the same thing when I saw your bedroom. It’s so warm, so you.”

She turned to him and he looked at her without saying anything for several long moments.

“Red, we should probably go downstairs now.”

“Yeah.”

Neither of them moved.

Reaching up, Maggie unzipped the front of her pullover. It exposed her skin to just above her belly button. Oh my god, did I actually just do that? She panicked but then realized that it was done and she may as well ride it, or him, out. It was time to take her life into her own hands and live it.