Page 34 of Loving Kai

“Dammit. Fine. How come you didn’t jump to the conclusion that I was an asshole with Maggie?”

“You can be an asshole. But you’re not that kind of an asshole. Besides, I know Maggie. She’s not a pushover or easily manipulated. If she’s in that room with you, it’s because she wants to be.”

“Well, thank you for that. Luke assumed the worst.”

“Luke is young and probably a bit jealous. He’s always had a tiny crush on Maggie.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Don’t say anything to him about it.”

“Oh, man. Please.”

“No. That would make you an asshole. Now, I need to go. I’ll come by later for lunch.”

“See you then.”

Abe waited until Justin drove off, then went back into the house. He went to the kitchen to start the coffee, then checked his refrigerator. Two days without power made most things in it questionable. But the eggs were still good. Fresh from his mother’s chickens, they’d last a couple of weeks unrefrigerated. He took out the bowl of eggs and set it on the counter. He also had peppers and onions that were still good, so he set them next to the eggs. He tossed the cheese that had gone bad in the trash.

“Veggie omelet it is.”

While he was whisking the eggs, Maggie came into the kitchen dressed for work. “Are you making breakfast?”

“Yeah. If you like omelets, I am.”

“Mmm. Sounds good.” The coffee was almost done brewing. “Can I pour you a cup?”

“Yes, please.”

She came up behind him and squeezed his shoulders, then whispered in his ear. “You need to relax, Abe.”

“I’m relaxed.” He glanced back at her, then turned to face her. I don’t often cook breakfast for anyone but myself.”

“It’s just me, Maggie, your friend and co-worker.”

“Right.” He smiled. “You’re handling this so much better than I am.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “I’m just glad you’re wearing clothes.”

He shook his head. “I’m so regretting telling you about that.”

Chapter eight

“I’ve just been a little confused.”

Aweek after the storm had passed and after Abe and Maggie had spent their two intimate nights together, Abe was still struggling to figure out how to act around her. When she walked by him, holding a case of beer, he set down the knife he was using and tried to take it from her. “Let me.”

“I got it.” She continued to the beer case, set the box down with a grunt, then started adding the beer to the back of the case.

Abe picked up the knife and resumed chopping lettuce. Each thud of his knife against the wooden cutting board seemed to coincide with the clink of a bottle being placed in the cooler. He set the knife down again, wiped his hands on his apron, then walked up behind Maggie.

“I told you to let Gentry or me do that.”

She was kneeling on the floor and glanced up at him. “I can carry a case of beer.”

“I know. You just don’t need to.”

She stood up and looked at him for a moment. “So, let the big, strong men do it?”