Page 18 of A Cornish Wedding Retreat
Maggie picked up the sensible ones she’d worn to yesterday’s wedding and showed them to her sister, waiting to be vilified again.
Emily sighed and shook her head. ‘You can fit into a size six can’t you?’
‘Maybe.’
‘I’ll lend you my Manolo Blahniks if you take care of them.’ She hurried out of the room before Maggie could protest and soon returned, placing a pair of strappy black high-heeled shoes on the floor. ‘There you go. I suppose my feet will be too puffy to wear them soon anyway,’ she groused.
They were a little tight when she put them on but she didn’t dare to complain.
Emily peered at her face. ‘Are you wearinganymake-up?’
‘Enough.’
‘At least let me find you a lipstick that matches.’
‘Okay.’ She waited patiently while her sister disappeared again and returned brandishing two tubes of lipstick. ‘Sit.’ Emily applied a rich dark pink layer to Maggie’s lips and added a coat of shiny gloss. ‘Stand up and look at yourself in the mirror.’
Maggie did as she was told, surprised by her reflection. ‘Oh.’ It was still her only more so.
‘Much better, isn’t it.’ Emily smirked. ‘You should make an effort more often. Now go and wait for your handsome suitor to arrive.’
‘Thanks.’ She hugged her sister, unable to express her gratitude sufficiently but hoping Emily might guess. The sisters-helping-each-other thing was an unknown experience for them and Maggie didn’t want to break the fragile, new bond.
* * *
Chad’s jaw dropped and he struggled not to ogle Maggie like a dirty old man. The softly draping skirt and pink top highlighted her feminine curves and her high heels drew his attention to a pair of shapely legs that’d been hidden under yesterday’s ugly dress and apron. If her sister wasn’t standing there like a Victorian chaperone he’d have already kissed the glossy pink layer off of Maggie’s lush mouth.
‘Do I have something stuck between my teeth?’ Maggie asked and he managed to shake his head. ‘Then why are you staring?’
Because you’re the most beautiful woman on the planet and you don’t have a clue how lovely you are. He caught Emily’s eye and was surprised to receive a satisfied nod of approval. ‘You look different without the apron.’ Lame, but the best he could come up with so as not to humiliate himself in front of a woman he’d barely known for twenty-four hours.
‘I would hope so.’ Maggie’s pithy remark made him smile. ‘Are we going?’
‘Of course.’ Chad replied and then felt obliged to ask Emily to join them.
‘Thanks, it’s kind of you to offer but no. I’ll be fine with my ginger ale and crackers.’
Weird, but he didn’t comment, grateful to be turned down.
‘Maggie will explain I’m sure, now off you go.’ She shooed them away and disappeared towards the kitchen.
Chad led the way out to his car and helped Maggie in. Apart from thanking him she didn’t say a word and all his attempts at conversation during the ten minute drive to the pub failed.
‘This is the oldest pub in the area. I believe it dates back to about 1780,’ Maggie said as they got out and walked inside.
He wasn’t sure how to reply but thankfully the barman spotted him and asked them to go through to the dining room. Somehow they stumbled through choosing between roast beef, pork or lamb and decided on their drinks without really talking to each other.
Chad tried to think what topic of conversation to try next. His obvious admiration earlier must’ve freaked her out. ‘Are we still on for tomorrow?’ She threw him a puzzled look. ‘Tea with the dragon lady.’ When Maggie cracked a smile he almost cheered.
‘It’s practically a royal invitation and if we don’t turn up on time and decently dressed it’ll be the tower for us.’
‘Your head is far too pretty to be stuck on a pike,’ he joked, relieved when she joined in with his laughter.
Their appetisers arrived and when the waitress left Maggie stared down at her breaded mushrooms.
‘Have I upset you somehow?’ Chad needed to get this out in the open, whateverthiswas.
Chapter Twelve
