Page 15 of A Cornish Wedding Retreat
‘So she learned how to manipulate people and get her own way and hasn’t ever grown out of it.’
Maggie shrugged. ‘I was told she was sensitive and artistic so my job was to be the responsible one and look out for her.’ Resentment threaded through her words. ‘I do love her, but I . . .’
Chad picked up her hands, rubbing them with his own to warm up her chilled skin. They were the hands of a woman used to work, strong and capable and he admired that. He might be an attorney but could still plumb a toilet and build a wall from the ground up. His father insisted they knew how to take care of themselves and the fact they could afford to pay other people to do things was irrelevant.
‘Of course you do, but there’s no shame in admitting she sometimes frustrates you and you wish things could be different.’ For a second he almost shared his story about his own strained relationship with his brother but she didn’t need hisburdens added to her own. ‘It’s put a damper on your choices, hasn’t it?’Like with me today.
‘Sometimes.’
The tight line of her mouth told Chad he might’ve gone too far, too soon. ‘Would it help if you got in touch with Jonathan?’
Maggie screwed up her face. ‘I can’t see how.’
‘Maybe you could persuade him to speak to Emily face to face and explain his reasons for breaking off the engagement.’
‘You’re behaving as if it was me or you this was happening to,’ she scoffed. ‘Emily would tear his eyes out.’
For the first time Chad wondered if the other man wasn’t so dumb after all, even though he’d taken the coward’s way out.
‘You think he was right, don’t you?’ she accused, and he couldn’t lie outright.
‘Not exactly, but . . .’
‘There are no buts.’ She jerked her hands away.
Now he’d upset her, which was the last thing he wanted.
‘It’s late and I’m very tired,’ Maggie declared. ‘You’d better leave.’
Chad debated arguing his case, but there was no point. They were both worn out and he had no right to challenge a woman he barely knew over the right way to run her life. His own wasn’t exactly something to shout about. The stubborn side of him refused to totally quit. He had four more days left in Cornwall and wasn’t ready to give up on Maggie Taylor yet. ‘Fair enough. I’ll be off.’ She looked about to say something but slammed her lips shut again. Chad decided to give it one last try. ‘If Emily’s all right in the morning would you have lunch with me tomorrow? I’m staying at the Black Prince and everyone tells me their Sunday lunches are excellent.’ Chad held his breath.
‘I’ll probably have to stay here to keep her company,’ she explained, but without any sign of her previous anger.
‘But if you don’t?’ he persisted.
‘If I don’t I’ll have lunch with you. All right?’
Chad grinned and held out his hand. ‘Deal.’ She took hold of it and he wrapped his fingers tightly around hers, giving a hard squeeze before letting go again. ‘I’ll call around mid-morning.’
‘How are you going to get back to town? Do you want me to ring for a taxi?’
‘The walk will do me good,’ Chad declared and quickly got up and headed out to the front door. If he didn’t work off some of his pent up energy he’d never sleep tonight. ‘Good night.’
* * *
Maggie followed Chad with her eyes and it took all her self-control not to call out after him. She’d started off by telling him to go away and then almost agreed to have lunch with the man — it didn’t make sense. Ever since she met him this morning he’d turned her life upside down. Maggie didn’t do leaning on other people or opening up, both of which she’d done with a recklessness way beyond her understanding. He was leaving in a few days and a brief fling definitely wasn’t on her agenda. She’d never been one for blink-and-you-miss-it relationships and still regretted the one night she’d succumbed as a teenager because she’d hated being considered odd and a prude. Maggie had promised herself the next time would be with a man she truly loved.
‘Is Romeo gone?’ Emily’s voice drifted downstairs.
Maggie fought against sighing out loud at the sight of ashen-faced Emily wearing a voluminous white nightdress, and with her flowing blonde hair rippling around her shoulders. Presumably tonight her sister was channelling her inner Cathy pining over Heathcliff. At least it was calmer than the Lady Macbeth route.
‘Chad has left, if that’s what you mean.’
‘I suppose you told him all about your useless sister?’ Emily persisted, coming down to join her in the hall. ‘I wouldn’t blame you.’
Wouldn’t you? You normally do. ‘I didn’t say much.’ She chose her words with care because the last thing she needed was to set Emily off again.
‘I don’t suppose Jonathan called?’
