Page 37 of Rival Hearts

“Thank you,” I said before Maggie disappeared behind Trent.

“Don’t let him down, okay?” Her hand rested on the door.

I scratched the back of my head and resisted the urge to touch her, to reestablish the connection which had crackled between us at her house the other night.Addictive. I’d felt it with a few women, in other places, other times but never with the intensity I did with Maggie. Nothing had ever felt the same as it did with Maggie.

The relationship she had with Trent was confounding. They were so close, even now. One way or another, she had lied to me back then, might even be lying now. That realization kept sticking like slime coating all our interactions. I wanted the truth, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever get it.

Regardless, if I was trying to get my brother back, I couldn’t make the same mistakes. Taunting her the other night had been a mistake. Whatever was resurrecting between us couldn’t take hold.Brothers first.

“I’ll find a choreographer. Some people owe me favors. Maybe I can get some guest appearances.” I’d been saving those favors for a rainy day. The situation between Trent and me qualified as a downpour.

Her gaze slid away, and she slipped into the conference room. I followed her and was surprised to see Lila and Trent chuckling over something on her phone.

“We’ve got a venue,” Emily said as soon as we were settled in our chairs.

“Where?” Maggie picked up her phone and then set it back down.

“Stanley Theater in Utica. The capacity is almost three thousand, which we think is enough.” Emily looked between all of us. “October eighteenth. It’s a Friday.”

“Seven weeks,” Maggie said. “What do you think, Grady? Lila?”

“I can plan anything in seven weeks.” Lila grinned.

“The Stanley is pretty fancy for stripping.” Though, it might be easier for me to convince some people to help with a venue like that. I’d been worried it would be outside. October in New York State was a weather gamble.

“We’ll be classy strippers,” Trent said.

“I gotta go, Maggie.” Tyler gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. “Another order of campaign signs arrived at the house. I’ll deliver those over the next couple of days. Where’s the list?”

When Maggie’s gaze shifted to mine and then away, I felt a twinge of unease. Did I still want to be in competition with her? Hating her had been easier. A lot more straightforward. This new middle ground was confusing. How did I exist in this space with her?

“It’s on my desk,” Maggie said.

“Okay. Good work everyone.” Tyler backed out the door. “Lila, I’m taking tomorrow off from the gym. No need to pick me up.”

“No, no, no. Tyler! There are seven weeks until showtime. Now is not the time to slack off.” Lila circled the table and followed him into the hall.

“I’ll email everyone with their to-do lists. We’ll meet in a couple weeks.” Maggie rose from her chair and then looked at me. “Once you’ve got some people lined up, we should probably touch base, okay?”

I nodded and shoved my hands into my pockets. Her phrasing sent my thoughts spiraling out of control. There were all kinds of places I’d like to touch, bases I’d like to round. Maybe if I gave into one of the women trying to coax me into bed, I wouldn’t feel this tension with Maggie.

Lila popped her head into the conference room door as everyone was filing out. “Grady, choreography. I need that as soon as you can get it. Some of these guys are going to need a lot of practice. Their auditions weren’t great.”

“Auditions?” I frowned, my mind somewhere else.

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you strip for me. You’re a shoo-in.” She gave an exaggerated wink before leaving with her arm tucked into the crook of Emily’s.

When Trent walked past, he muttered, “Don’t fuck this up.”

Exiting on my brother’s heels, I looked back at Maggie, who was gathering her papers. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Chapter Fifteen

Maggie

Idrained my second coffee and took my empty cup to the sink. I was still in my robe, but I couldn’t get motivated without caffeine, and two cups were the sweet spot. Ginger, my cat, weaved around my feet, meowing for her breakfast. Reaching down, I ran a hand along her back and right up her fluffy tail.

“Hungry?” I grabbed a can of food out of the cupboard.

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