Free Flirting with Disaster by Sherryl Woods Page A

“I was attracted to Cord for a while, but he never even gave me a second glance. Dinah’s the only woman he ever had eyes for.”
    â€œYou don’t seem weighed down with regret,” Josh noted.
    â€œNot over Cord,” she agreed.
    He studied her intently. “Over someone else?”
    Her pulse scrambled under that steady, speculative gaze. “Does it matter?”
    â€œI’m not sure yet.”
    She liked his honesty. “Let me know when you decide.”
    â€œUntil then, you don’t want to share any deep dark secrets?”
    Maggie chuckled. “There’s nothing especially dark or secret about it. Half of Charleston knows the story of my pitiful love life.”
    â€œThen why keep it from me?”
    â€œIt would only bore you to tears, unless you decide you’re fascinated by me.” She recalled what Dinah had said to her about putting her flirting skills to better use. She tilted her head and looked deep into Josh’s eyes. “Are you fascinated, Josh?”
    To her chagrin, he laughed. “Miss Maggie, you could fascinate the pants off a saint, and I am only a humble, mortal man. I am most definitely intrigued.”
    She rested her hand lightly on his chest and kept her gaze locked with his. “In that case…”
    A tiny little muscle in his jaw worked. “Yes?”
    â€œCould I persuade you to let me help on the construction team next week? Don’t you think I’ve proved myself?”
    A startled grin spread across his face. “Sugar, just the thought of you with a hammer in your hands makes my heart palpitate.”
    She studied him warily. “Is that a yes or a no?”
    â€œAs much as I’m going to miss those little fruit garnishes, it’s a yes. But I balk at letting you anywhere near a circular saw.”
    Maggie was about to tell him that she was quite an expert with a circular saw, but decided to leave that battle for another day. She might as well savor one victory at a time. She had a feeling they were all going to be hard won.

5
    A fter she closed Images on Sunday afternoon, Maggie decided she had time to pay that impromptu visit to Ellie to try once again to persuade the talented young artist to schedule a showing at the gallery. Until now Ellie had been reluctant to do anything more than bring in an occasional painting. Maggie attributed her hesitance to insecurity. She was determined to put that to rest and build her employee’s confidence once and for all.
    She knew that Ellie lived in a loft apartment that had been created in an old warehouse along the waterfront. Since it wasn’t that far from the shop and the humidity wasn’t too oppressive, Maggie walked over, pausing along the way to chat with neighbors and customers who were taking advantage of the break in the weather to get some work done in their gardens.
    It was nearly seven when she reached Ellie’s, but there was plenty of summer daylight left.
    As the creaky old elevator neared the top floor, Maggie could hear an unmistakably angry argument. It was loud enough and heated enough that she decided to go right back down and come another day when her visit wouldn’t wind up embarrassing Ellie.
    Before she could begin her descent, she heard a crash and the shattering of glass. That was enough to change her mind. Ellie’s embarrassment was a small price to pay to be sure that the young woman was safe.
    Locking the elevator so it would be available for a quick departure, Maggie stepped off, ran to Ellie’s door and pounded on it. “Ellie, it’s Maggie. Are you in there? Is everything okay?” When there was no reply, she pounded some more. “Ellie, open this door, dammit, or I’ll call the police!”
    The door swung open and a towering man stood there, his rugged face contorted with rage. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    Though she was trembling inside, Maggie defiantly stood her ground