Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,39

and the odd facial feature. Maggs loved them. She’d grown up with them, and like her brothers, they were good guys.

“Where did you get all this from, Maggs?” Luke asked.

“England. Some of it’s for the gallery and some for home. Just things I purchased over the months I was there.”

“You don’t usually buy old stuff.” Joe grunted as he took a painting the delivery guy lowered into his arms and handed it to Fin as he arrived.

“I know, but I did some of that in London for the gallery I worked in, and I thought why not? It’s just another avenue, and sometimes buyers want older pieces. I have that other room just off the main gallery; I thought I’d set them up in there. I can take pictures and organize a catalogue.”

“Too much for you, bro. Step aside and let a real man show you how it’s done,” Jack said to Joe as he juggled a painting, making her heart stop.

“You show me a real man and I will.”

She’d missed this, the smack talk and fun. These were her people, Maggs thought, laughing as Joe lunged at his brother when he came back from delivering the painting in the gallery. Jack leapt out of his way.

They had the truck unloaded in a short time, and Maggs kept her distance from Fin. He disturbed her; he was right about that. There was also the fact that he’d twice seen her fall apart. He was suspicious and had every right to be. They all did.

Heading back into the gallery to lock up, she found Fin in there studying one of her paintings.

“I want this, Maggie.”

She looked at his face, saw the total focus he had on the painting. Maggie came across pieces occasionally that made her feel that way.

“Okay. I’ll charge you double, though.”

“Such a hardass businesswoman.” He threw her a smile before looking back at the painting.

She locked up, and they were soon standing with the others outside again.

“So we’ll see you later at the lodge, Maggs?” Joe looped an arm around her neck.

“I’m a bit tired, Joe. I might pass.”

“No, you won’t, because you haven’t had much time for us since you returned. Bailey and I will pick you up.” Joe had that look she knew well. He wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“I have too had time for you,” Maggs defended herself, even though the words were true. She’d been avoiding people. “And I’ll drive myself.”

“Fine. If you don’t arrive, I’m coming to get you.” Joe smiled; she bared her teeth.

“Did you know Mr. Goldhirsh is training for a race that will take him two days to complete?” Jack said. “The man makes me feel inadequate.”

“You sure that’s the only thing?” Fin jabbed him in the shoulder.

“Now we all know there are no complaints in that department, ranger boy, unlike you.”

“Are you guys still comparing sizes?” Maggie said. “Seriously, that has to get old one day, surely?”

“Never gets old, Maggs. It’s a rite of passage that lasts till death, I believe,” Fin said. “It’s written somewhere in a man manual.”

“Right, and it has all these things in it you have to adhere to,” Jack added.

“Like never ask for directions as it unmans you?” Maggs asked sweetly.

“Ha, good one,” Luke said. “Also don’t drink out of those little teacups that make you want to cross your legs and start knitting… oh wait, Jack does that already.”

“Fuck you, junior. The inability to see the mess on the floor and step over it. Rory says I excel in that area,” Jack added.

Maggs rolled her eyes.

“I know how to be a man, that’s the difference, little brother. You’ve still got your stabilizers on,” Jack said.

Luke gave a war cry and lunged at him, they then wrestled right there in the street. Deciding now was a good time to leave before Chief Blake arrived to break up the public disturbance, she climbed in her car and drove away. Her last view in the rearview mirror was of Fin standing, hands on hips, watching her.

Chapter Seventeen

“Nice work on playing hardball there, bud.”

Joe dragged his eyes from Maggs’s retreating car and looked at Fin, concern etched all over his face.

“Bailey and Pip are worried about her. They’ve been trying to talk to her, get her alone, but she’s avoiding them.”

“I know, we talked about it in A.S., remember?”

“Yeah.” Joe ran a hand over his head. “I’m worried too. She looks good, but you’re right about the sparkle, and it hasn’t returned like I thought it