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As the car pulled up, I started having second thoughts. “Maybe we shouldn’t go with him. Maybe he’s some weirdo and we’re putting ourselves in danger.” I gnawed nervously on the side of mylip.
“He is the head of Draco Security,” the man announced. “You couldn’t be in betterhands.”
After popping the trunk, Blaise stepped out of the vehicle and strode over to us. He effortlessly lifted the cart, and crates into the trunk, then reached for the bags, including the one on my shoulder. I held up my hand to stop him. “Actually, I’m going to keep this with me.” I stared at him, firm in my resolve to not fall under his spell like apparently every otherfemale.
“I understand.” He reached out and shut the trunk. “You’re next.” He smiled warmly at my father as he helped him into the back seat. The man with the wheelchair began to back away, but Blaise stopped him. “Thank you.” He held out his hand and I realized he had a hundred-dollar bill folded into his palm as they shookhands.
“No, thank you.” The man winked at him, stuffed the bill in his pocket, and strolled back into the building with thewheelchair.
“Madam.” He gallantly held out his hand tome.
I stared at his palm a moment, hesitating before taking it. From the corner of my eye, I could see his lips twitching as he tried to hide a smile. Suddenly, this felt like a challenge. I was no simpering female. I wasn’t going to go all weak in the knees at one touch. Carefully, I placed my palm in his and wrapped my fingers around his hand. “I’m Maggie.” I glanced at my father who sat staring forward. “Thank you for this.” Then I moved to slide into the back seat even though I was acutely aware of how his warmth seemed to be spreading throughme.
Once I was seated, Blaise held onto my hand an extra second and gave it a squeeze while eyeing me curiously. “It’s really nice to meet you, Maggie.” Then he released me, but somehow, I already knew I’d never quite be thesame.
3
Blaise
“Stop scratching your chin,”Maggie grumbled and wiggled uncomfortably in her seat while we waited to see her father. He’d been taken to have some testing done and they promised to call us and bring us to be with him as soon as they set him up in a triageroom.
“It’s itchy. You can’t possibly understand.” I shook my head and continued to scratch at the scruff on my face. I’d forgotten to shave this morning, and by now, it was threatening to become a full-blownbeard.
Her brow arched before she spoke. She hadn’t thawed in the least and I rather enjoyed it. “I’m a woman. You think I don’t know about shaving, razor burn, ingrown hairs, and discomfort from hair growth?” Maggie shook her head. “You’re ridiculously out of touch with the oppositesex.”
“Not that out of touch.” I turned my head and winked at her, only to have the collar of my shirt irritate my neck. As I reached to dig at my throat, she slapped my handaway.
“Your skin is going to be all red. Knock it off.” She huffed. Then she suddenly stood and began pacing. “He has been in there forever. How long can it possibly take to see he has had a panic attack and prescribe some anti-anxiety meds I have to con him to take everyday?”
The waiting area was unusually packed for a Friday afternoon. The minute Maggie moved away from me, a woman stood up from her seat and plopped down in the one beside me. She leaned closer as I backed away. “Hello,” she murmured while batting hereyelashes.
Maggie froze mid-step and turned to glare at me. “Really? At a time like this?” She tapped her foot a few times. When the woman didn’t even acknowledge her, she threw her hands in theair.
I frowned as I met her gaze. “Let the record show, I did nothing to encourage thiswoman.”
“Like it matters,” she grumbled as she walked away from me and moved to the opposite side of the room which was closer to the door her father had walked through roughly half an hourbefore.
I stood and the woman panicked. “Wait! Where are yougoing?”
Without saying a word, I gestured toward Maggie, then wandered over to join her. The closest empty seat was across from her. I paused. There was a man on one side and an elderly woman on the other. Seemed safe enough. After inhaling deeply, I asked, “Is this seattaken?”
The woman nodded her head while wiping her nose, then tucked the tissue in the cuff of her blouse. The man barely glanced up from his paper. So, I sat and leaned forward, my forearms resting on my thighs, hands folded as I waited for her to acknowledge me. I watched as she looked everywhere but my direction, and even admired her efforts to avoid acknowledging me, although I’ll admit her behavior had me baffled. “Maggie,” Imurmured.
Her head whipped around and she glared at me. “You didn’t have to come over. You could’ve stayed with one of your fans.” Her brow arched and her eyesflashed.
I grinned. “Yes, but clearly I prefer achallenge.”
She leaned forward with her lips pursed. “I’m not a challenge,” she began slowly as if she wanted to ensure I understood her. “I’m completely ungettable. Gotit?”
“Oh, I got it.” I smirked and tugged at my chin as I leaned back. “This should be interesting.” My eyes methers.
When I didn’t complete my thought, she scowled. “What?”
“Well, you should know, I’m used to getting what I want.” I shrugged and then turned my attention to my cell phone. I was also used to having the last word, but it seemed I had some competition in that department as well. Maggie seemed to be fuming in her seat. I could practically feel the heat rolling off her body, which was impressive, since she seemed more the ice princess type. I glanced at her and she seemed to be mulling over what to say. Maybe the crowded room had her holding her tongue. Either way, I had no doubt that soon enough, she’d let loose on me and I actually looked forward toit.
The door flew open and a nurse stood there scanning the room. “Family of MalcolmWallace?”
Maggie jumped to her feet. “Here!” She rushed over to the nurse while I trailed slowly behindher.
