Free Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg Page B

sorry.”
    He’d accepted the apology, kissed her cheek, told her it was fine. And reminded himself of his determination not to repeat his parents’ mistakes. He was committed. He would follow through. He wouldn’t walk out.
    “Ah, Seth Walker.” The voice belonging to the Mandarin’s owner boomed as he approached the table.
    “Alec, long time, no see.”
    “Not my fault, son. You’ve been too busy opening up the competition.” The burly Scotsman couldn’t have looked or sounded more out of place here in Maple Valley—red mustache and ruddy cheeks, accent barely faded after what had to be at least a decade in the States. He might appear more lumberjack than chef, but he’d become a fixture in this town regardless.
    “No competition. The Red Door couldn’t possibly compete with your eggrolls.”
    Alec tapped the table. “Let me guess: General Tso, medium spicy, fried rice, two egg rolls, and a Coke.”
    “You got it.” Although if Ava was here, she’d egg him on about the Coke—demand an explanation for how he could drink the stuff after giving her such a hard time about it. “But I’m going to wait to order ’til Maddie gets back.”
    “Ahh, the lass has finally returned. Thought you two were . . . you know.” He slid one finger past his neck.
    “Beheaded?”
    Alec’s lips spread under his mustache. “Kaput. She used to visit every other weekend.” He said it with the assurance of a business owner in a small town where everyone knew everyone else’s comings and goings.
    And he was right, Maddie had visited regularly back in the beginning. And Seth had traveled her direction on the other two weekends each month. When had they gotten away from regular visits? Seth rubbed his chin. Shoot, he should have shaved today. Maddie wasn’t much for the scruffy look. “Guess we both got busy.”
    “If it’s love, there’s no such thing as too busy. Only too slow or too stupid.”
    “I think I was just insulted.”
    “I’m just saying, if you love the girl, it’s weird to spend that much time apart.”
    “Weirder than a Scottish ex-pat running a Chinese restaurant in small-town Iowa?”
    Alec chuckled. “Touché, my friend.”
    At the sight of Maddie emerging from the hallway, Seth cleared his throat. Alec turned. “Ah, my favorite Chicago magazine writer or designer or . . . What is it you do again?”
    Maddie reached the table. “Funny you should ask that, Alec.” She glanced at Seth as she sat. “Up until two days ago, I was an assistanteditor. But today you’re looking at the magazine’s new managing editor.” Unmistakable, the pleasure in her eyes and the pride in her voice.
    Seth and Alec’s twin congratulations collided.
    Maddie beamed. “Thanks. So I think I’ll celebrate today and go off-diet.”
    Alec grinned. “Sesame chicken?”
    “With an extra helping of lo mein on the side. And a Mountain Dew.”
    Alec finished with their orders and scooted away. It was good to see Maddie so at ease with Alec. So they’d gone a while between visits. So she’d forgotten his grand opening. It didn’t mean the relationship was in danger.
    “Congratulations again. You deserve it.”
    She unwrapped her bundled silverware slowly, metal clinking to the table. “Speaking of congratulations, you’re the one who deserves huge kudos.” She met his eyes. “Your restaurant is beyond amazing. Thanks for the tour. When I realized I’d forgotten the opening, I about wanted to die. The whole way here I tried to think about what I could get you as a congratulations gift. What does a friend get a friend to celebrate such a huge success?”
    A friend? He rubbed clammy hands over his jeans, rain pattering against the glass window behind him. “I don’t know. Av—A.J. sent a tie.”
    A waitress stopped at their table then, drinks in hand. Soon as she’d placed their glasses in front of them and left, Seth’s gaze returned to Maddie. She ripped open her straw, plunked it in her glass and met