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“Thank goodness. I was the only person under sixty in there,” Erin went on. “I am so glad you made it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Maggie meant every word. Last year Maggie had caught the bouquet at her other cousin’s wedding, and she’d been sure her future husband was around the corner. By fall he’d never arrived, and somewhere in the back of her mind she blamed Caden. There’d been men, but none of them compared to him. A bead of sweat drizzled down the center of Maggie’s back. She needed a moment to compose herself from the vivid thoughts of Caden. “I’ll be inside in a minute,” she said clearing her throat.
“Do you need help?”
“I’ve got it, but will you make sure there’s a clear spot on one of the tables?”
Without another word, Erin disappeared back inside. Maggie shook her head, not surprised her cousin would duck out of the heavy stuff. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, Maggie lifted the hatch to the back of her Jeep and thought about her next move.
“I’ll get those,” a deep voice said against the nape of her neck. A brown hand covered hers and brought it down to her side.
A river of chills poured down her spine. Maggie closed her eyes and prayed her mind had just played a trick on her. It was like merely thinking about him conjured him up. “I can do it,” Maggie said, making the mistake of pushing her hand against his. With his hand enclosed around hers, Caden stroked her skin with his thumb.
Giving him the side eye, Maggie snatched her hand away. Her eyes focused on his lips as he spoke.
“I am sure you can, but why let you if I’m here?”
Maggie dropped her hand to her sides. “There’s the million-dollar question. Why are you here, Caden?”
“I told you,” he answered easily. “I have business here in town.”
“Let me know if you need her address,” Maggie said with a sweet smile before she rolled her eyes.
Caden chuckled. His laugh was mixed with a hit of sarcasm. “You’re cute. But you know the only woman I want to see is you. We’re old friends.”
Even though she hadn’t heard from him in years, Maggie knew about Caden and his successful business. He and his college best friend had started a sports agency. The athletes Maggie met over time all appeared to appreciate Caden. He was a smooth talker and came off as smart and successful. The only criticisms she’d heard of him were complaints from numerous female athletes about Caden not representing women.
“You lost me when you had to throw in the word old,” she said. This time she offered a heavy sigh. “Forget mentioning you called me friend.”
“We’re not?” Caden asked with amusement in his dark eyes.
“Friends keep in touch.”
“That friendship highway goes both ways, Magnolia.”
Rare for her to be speechless, but Maggie found herself at a loss of words. “Well, if you insist on helping me with these cupcakes, I suggest you get a move on it. Buttercream icing doesn’t hold up well in this heat.”
What took Maggie three trips to carry from the back of the bakery to her car took Caden just one lift in one hand. “You’ll get the trunk?” he asked of her.
“But of course.” Maggie locked up her car by the alarm on her key chain out of habit. There was no crime in Southwood. She was sure people slept with their doors unlocked. “Let me get the ga...”
Shifting the boxes in one hand, Caden reached for the latch on the gate. “After you.”
“Chivalry might kill you one day,” said Maggie.
“I’ll die a gentleman.”
“Gentleman?” Maggie repeated the word with a half grin. The things they’d done together were far from gentlemanly and ladylike. Taking a step forward, the memory made her knees buckle. Caden guided her by her arm. “Must have been the step,” she said, trying to cover up her fumble.
“Sure.”
Erin appeared back at the door for her part in helping. “Did you bring the entertainment?” Erin teased. Though she spoke low, all the single and not-so-single women in the front room flocked to the doorway.
Before Maggie could correct Erin for her mistake, Caden cleared his throat and peered over the boxes of cupcakes. “Hello, Dr. Hairston.”
“Caden?” Erin stretched her eyes and blinked as she wiggled out of the door, closing it behind her. “Are things that bad with your company you’re stripping on the side now?”
“Everyone has jokes today,” he mumbled.
