Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,41
the entire thing and staying home. But then someone would just come looking for her. So Maggs showered, dried her hair, and straightened it. Then rifled through her wardrobe for something that made her feel good. She’d just finished her makeup when a knock sounded on her door.
“Hurry it up, Tigger, it’s colder than a—”
“What the hell are you doing on my doorstep?” Maggie looked at Nash.
“Driving you to the lodge. I dropped into Phil’s after seeing Ted today, and Dylan and Piper were there and told me about tonight. Piper invited me, seeing as you didn’t.”
“Why would I invite you? You always say no and usually have to work or use that as an excuse. In fact, you’ve never socialized here in Ryker, and my friends hardly know you.”
“Maybe I’m making an effort, seeing as I’m moving into town.” He stepped inside. “You look nice.”
Maggs reached up and touched his forehead. It was cool. “You okay?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” He scowled at her.
“You just said I look nice. That’s not something you would normally say, so I wondered if you were coming down with something.”
“As amusing as this exchange of insults is, we need to go. So hurry up and grab your coat, hat, scarf, and gloves.”
“I’m not wearing a hat; it will mess my hair.”
“It’s cold out, Tigger.”
“You don’t have one on.”
“I’m tougher than you.”
“Since when?” Maggs took her overcoat out of the closet and shrugged into it, then wrapped a scarf around her neck.
“Since you came back with that scar on your arm and those shadows in your eyes and won’t tell me why.”
He looked big, imposing, but he didn’t scare her. Maggs had cut her teeth on battling with her brothers.
“I told you I’m okay. Stop fussing.”
“You’re just lucky the others aren’t as astute as me.”
“Or they know to leave me alone, as I’m all big and grown up now.”
He snorted but nudged her through the door and to his pickup. It was warm, as he’d left it running and the heater on.
“This place is impressive,” Nash said as he found a space in the Falls Lodge parking lot.
“Really nice. Ted had people come in and tell him what to do. He wanted it to look natural, and it does. Plus it brings in tourists, which is good for business.”
Nash grunted as they got out of the car.
There were lights set in the gardens, tall trees, and the stone-and-wood facade of the lodge. It all added up to look pretty special at night. A huge tree had been decorated with colored lights for Christmas
“What are you going to do with that land, Nash?”
“Live on it.”
“Presumably after you build a house?”
“There’s an idea.”
“But what else? It’s a chunk of land.”
“Not sure. I have a few ideas.”
“Be nice having my bro close,” Maggs mused. “I think.”
A large arm came out and snaked around her neck, and she was dragged into his side. He then dug his fingers into her ribs, and she giggled.
“You think?” He continued to torment her.
“Enough!” Maggs fought to get free, but he didn’t let her go until he was ready.
“You know it will be nice having me close.”
“Maybe, but I’m not cleaning or cooking for you. You have to learn self-sufficiency.”
“Have a heart.”
“I mean it, Nash. Mom won’t be there to pick up after you and have a meal on the table every night.”
They walked past reception toward the bar.
“Yes, she will. I’ll eat there before I leave for the day.”
“You’re pathetic.”
“But handsome with it.” He followed her through the door. Music and the hum of voices greeted them.
“They’re over there by the windows,” Maggie said, finding her friends. And what a set of windows, she thought. The bar was an extension of the entire inside of the lodge with stone hearths and paneled walls. She saw the artwork Ted had sourced through her dotted around the place too. In here, part of the roof was glass so in the winter months guests could sit in the warmth and watch snow fall. And there were views outside on the decks that took your breath away.
They joined the others. The Trainers, Pip, Rory, Bailey, Dylan, they were all here. Plus Ted and Mandy, and of course Fin.
Dressed in tan chinos and a blue shirt, he looked good—more than, actually. She tried to move around the table to slot in beside someone else, but they nudged her back until she and Nash were between Fin and Ted.