Vanessa gasped as she knew that was a direct hit at her store, and then she huffed out a small breath.
“How rude,” Vanessa hissed. “I was just being polite. No need to slander my boutique.”
“I wasn’t slandering anyone’s boutique,” Maggie pointed out calmly. “I was merely pointing out we are not an off-the-rack shop where no one cares if three or four people are wearing the same outfit. We are an exclusive one-of-a-kind type boutique.”
Vanessa suddenly tilted her head slightly as if she was hearing something, then dug in her purse to pull out her phone, frowning at the screen.
"Oh, it’s Kevin," Vanessa said, in a voice so transparently false that Maggie almost admired the nerve of it. She lifted the phone and angled it very casually toward the racks of gowns and the display near the office door, as if trying to get a better signal. "He's wondering if I managed to convince you to bring Toby to our wedding."
The little shutter sound was unmistakable.
"Vanessa," Maggie said, her tone still pleasant but with steel underneath it now. "I'm going to have to ask you to put your phone away."
"I'm only texting Kevin back." Vannessa snapped in annoyance as her phone made another little click sound.
"You're taking photographs," Maggie said. "And I have a strict no-photography policy for the boutique. It protects my clients and my designs. So please. Put it away, or I'll have to ask you to step outside."
For one second, the sweetness dropped clean off Vanessa's face, and Maggie saw the hardness and scheming underneath it. Then the mask snapped back into place.
"Goodness," Vanessa said with a brittle laugh, dropping the phone back into her bag. "So protective. Anyone would think you had something to hide."
"Only my clients' privacy," Maggie said. "Which I take very seriously."
The bell over the front door chimed.
Maggie turned, and her heart did a flip, waking the butterflies in her stomach as Michael walked into the boutique.
He looked very handsome, which Maggie wished she had not noticed quite so immediately. He had changed since breakfast into a soft charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled to the forearm, faded denims, and Nike trainers. He came through the door with the easy, unhurried confidence of a man who had never once in his life worried about whether he belonged in a room. He had something in his hand, Maggie noted distantly, a small wrapped box, dark blue and glossy with a thin silver ribbon. His eyes found Maggie first, instantly warming as he moved toward her.
“Who is that?” Vanessa breathed, clearly impressed by the rugged man walking toward them.
“That’s Michael Heart, Linda’s brother,” Maggie answered her.
As Michael stopped in front of them, Vanessa immediately stepped forward, holding out her perfectly manicured hand. “Hello, I’m Vanessa, Kevin’s fiancée.” Michael politely took her hand for a quick shake.
“Michael Heart,” he introduced himself.
“Maggie tells me you’re Linda’s brother,” Vanessa purred like a predator stalking its prey.
“I am,” Michael confirmed, his eyes watching her intently as if assessing her; then, abruptly, as if he’d formed his opinion, he turned away from Vanessa to Maggie. “Hi, Maggie, if you’re busy, I can come back.”
“Oh, no,” Maggie said, grateful for the distraction and the perfect timing for getting rid of Vanessa. “Vanessa was on her way out.”In more ways than one.Maggie was shocked at the catty comment that popped into her head.
Maggie felt something hot and entirely unwelcome flare in her chest that was close to jealousy as she watched Vanessa touch his arm.
“Michael, I just realized that I need to have you at mine and Kevin’s wedding,” Vanessa drawled. “I remember that Kevin did say he wanted the Hearts at our special day.” She sighed. “It’s just been so stressful with the divorce he’s going through that we’ve been remembering as we go who else we need to invite.” She turned and threw Maggie a black look. “Maggie is being so difficult and dragging it out. But I can’t blame her, it must’ve been so hard for her to let someone like Kevin go.” She let her arm stay on Michael’s and put a hand on her chest. “We just want to move on now. I can’t even have the engagement party yet. But, we’ll get that invitation for mine and Kevin’s Christmas wedding to you and Lucy as soon as I get home.”
“Lucy?” Maggie and Michael looked at her, confused.
“Yes…” Vanessa looked at them as if they’d lost their minds. “Come now, you’re both in your early sixties, you can’t be going senile yet.” She gave a soft laugh. “Lucy, your sister.” She looked at Michael.
“You mean…” Michael started, but Maggie cut him off. She was sick of Vanessa.
“Sorry, Vanessa,” Maggie stepped in. “But I know both Linda and Michael won’t be attending your wedding either because mine and Toby’s Christmas plans are with them.” She put on a sweet smile as her eyes met Vanessa's. “So don’t waste an expensive invitation.”
“Maggie's right!” Michael confirmed, politely stepped out of Vanessa’s grasp. “Thank you for the offer, but bothLindaand I are not available for December as we already have plans.” He turned and met Maggie’s eyes, and her heart lurched. “With Maggie and Toby.”
“We’ll send one anyway,” Vanessa said, her eyes brimming with confidence. “Because I’m sure Maggie will be changing her mind soon about attending the wedding. Kevin really wants Toby to be his best man.”
