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“Me. I feel pretty lucky right about now,” he said.

“Is that right?” She looked at him sidelong. “I’m feeling pretty lucky, too. But you might want to hear my story before you jump in. I’m fresh from heartbreak factory.”

“I figured it must have been rough by the conversation.”

“Should we eat? I’ll give you the abbreviated version.”

“Longer than the other night, though.”

“Oh, much longer. But without the gore.”

“Ugh. I have a little of that in my past, as well.”

“I was lucky to get out fast,” she replied. “I wasn’t given much choice. Oh, it’s jambalaya. I love this.”

She got plates out and they served themselves. To keep the bugs down, she lit candles instead of leaving the kitchen lights on. Brulee snored in her basket while they ate, and Maggie told him about Russ.

“When I introduced them, I had a feeling I hadn’t heard the end of it,” she said. “We continued to date, and then six months later, Russ asked me to marry him. I had talked myself into believing everything was fine. Claudia was my maid of honor. She organized my bridal shower. I depended on her for so much during that time and probably confided in her much more than I should have. She knew all our secrets as a couple, all the weaknesses and strengths. Neither one of them gave me any reason to be concerned, I thought.

“But evidently, on our wedding day it was too much for them to keep their hands off each other, and my aunt and a friend found them together, embracing. A week later we were through. He admitted they were in love and were hoping to end the relationship for my sake, but the lure of the flesh overpowered them.” She burst out laughing. “Those are my words.

“Anyway, he’s wealthy and never asked for a prenup, so for whatever it’s worth, I never have to work again if I don’t want to. I thought the money would be the consolation prize. But the truth is I don’t care anymore. I’m over him.”

“How long has it been since you separated?”

“It’ll be a year. I had my own place, so we never lived together. The reality hit that I’d probably run into them living in the same town, so I moved in with my mother and aunt right away, and now here I am. It was just a stroke of luck that I got this cottage because it’s where I want to be. I ran away, but it’s okay. Seeing Russ today reinforced that I’m over it.”

“Are they still together?”

“I don’t know. When my cell phone started working, I had a message from her, apologetic, blah, blah, blah. I didn’t read them all, so there might have been one from Russ, too. I don’t care.”

“If he asked to get back together…”

“No way. I didn’t know him well enough, obviously. If he can betray someone he supposedly loves on his wedding day, the sky’s the limit.”

He reached for the wine bottle and refilled their glasses.

“What about you?” she asked. “Any skeletons in your closet?”

“I have a few,” he said, looking at her sidelong.

“Do I need to eavesdrop in your driveway?”

“Probably,” he said, chuckling. “It sure makes it easier.”

“I know. I’m not sure I’d have told you, to tell you the truth. It’s a buzzkill.”

“No, it’s not. I’m interested in you,” he said, looking her in the eyes. “That includes past, present and future. I knew there had to be something. Beautiful women don’t hide in the bayou unless they’re compelled.”

She looked up at him, eyes shining. “Wow.”

“I only speak the truth. Something my grandmother said all the time.”

They laughed, sharing grannie stories. “You knew mine, right? Greta Langtry?”

“Sure I remember, but your aunt is the one who made the big impression. She’d come into town and the men went nuts. Women wore light summer dresses because of the heat, but Aunt Elizabeth would boat in. I remember denim capris and a white shirt tied at the waist. Wives kept their husbands close by when Elizabeth Bonnet was in town.”

“That’s funny,” Maggie said, pushing away from the table. “I’m waiting for pie. Right now I can’t eat another bite.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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