And Maggie? She was about to flee. He had no idea how he was going to convince her, or tear down her careful control enough to get under her skin, but damned if he wasn’t going to give it his best shot. He would not let her get on that plane until he convinced her to surrender her soul. Then, and only then, could he know if it would work for them.
The shattered pieces of his life lay broken around him. Time to make a decision. First, make it right with his sisters. Second, take a leap of faith. Maggie had the heart and soul of a wounded warrior, and it was time he fought for her.
He needed to find his fake wife and somehow convince her to stay.
Chapter Ten
Maggie lay on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Her decision was final.
She was getting the hell out of Dodge.
Ever since she stepped foot in the Conte household, she’d lost her balance. She had gotten sucked into family dramas and in a weird way, she’d started to care. That was a no-no. She needed to be able to distance herself from Michael and get used to the knowledge that he wouldn’t be around any longer. He would not be hanging around Alexa. She didn’t care how he tried to get out of that bargain, she’d make sure he stuck to his word. Anyway, the last thing she needed was to moon over some guy who wanted different things than she.
Didn’t he?
Her thoughts whirled and she rolled to her side and groaned. Why was she beginning to doubt herself? Her initial decision to sleep with him and wring him out of her system backfired. One night and she already cared way too much. What if she got attached? What if she got some ridiculous ideas about love and permanence? Sure, he’d give her multiple orgasms and physically she’d be satisfied. But what about her heart? Could her heart handle such a blow?
Nope. Call her a coward, but when Michael returned, she’d be getting on the next plane back home. She’d say her mother got sick. Or come up with a death in the family—some long-lost uncle. Anything to get her far, far away.
A knock sounded on the door. She sat up in immediate dread. “Who is it?”
“Carina. Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
The younger girl bounced in and sat next to her on the bed. Maggie smiled at the happy look on her face. For a little while, she had bucked her moodiness and seemed lighthearted. Her makeup was applied with a more subtle hand, and her clothes showed off a bit of her figure, unlike the baggy jeans and T-shirts the girl usually sported. At least Maggie had helped Carina in some way. One item she managed not to screw up.
“How was your evening out?” Maggie asked. “And before you answer, it better be good. I dealt with your cousins last night and I’m still recovering.”
Carina laughed and crossed her legs. Her eyes lit with excitement. “Maggie, it was so awesome. I loooooved Sierra; she was supercool. And gorgeous. And the guys were really nice and polite. It was a big group so I never felt uncomfortable and guess what? They said I’d make a great model!”
Maggie smiled. “You would, but I don’t know if that’s something you’d want to pursue, Carina. Personally, I think you’d do better off with a college education and your art. You’re talented.”
A blush tinted her cheeks. “Thanks. Yeah, Michael and Mama would probably freak. But it was cool they actually thought I’d be good enough to model. They invited me to their next shoot, and now I have their cell numbers and we’re texting back and forth.”
“I’m glad you made some new friends.”
“Me, too. Can I ask for a favor?”
“As long as it doesn’t entail babysitting.”
“Can I borrow one of your scarves? Do you have anything ice blue? I want to try on a new outfit and I need a nice accessory.” She wrinkled her nose. “Venezia throws a fit when I borrow from her, and Julietta only owns business clothes.”
“Sure. I brought some extra in my travel bag. It’s in the closet—help yourself.”
Carina chattered about the details of her night, and Maggie leaned back on the headboard, relaxing under the ritual of clothes borrowing and girl talk. Carina oohed and aahed over a bunch of her scarves, took two, then paused. “What’s this?”
Maggie looked up. Her heart stopped.
Carina held a small fabric-covered book with a bright purple cover. The girl stared at it curiously, then flipped it open.
“No!” Maggie scrambled to the side in an effort to grab it.
“What’s the matter? Is this a love spell? Oh, my God, it is. How cool.”
Oh. My. God.
The memory of her drunken night slammed into her brain and gave her an instant headache. Yes, she’d supported Alexa when her friend had cast the spell for a man. Yes, Alexa ended up marrying Maggie’s brother, and they were happy. But there was no way it had to do with the spell. In fact, Nick was the complete opposite of everything Alexa had originally asked for, but when she pointed that out, Alexa just laughed and said Earth Mother had been right all along.
Alexa forced her to take the book of spells and use it. Maggie had refused at first, but eventually threw it in her bag and forgot about it.
Until that night. When she realized she might never find the right man to marry, never have children, and be alone for the rest of her life. Then she drank too many margaritas, watched a sappy movie, and dug out that violet book. Then proceeded to make a fire in her living room and create the dreaded list.
The qualities she demanded made her squeeze her eyes closed to shut out the memory. Stupid and juvenile. Of course, love spells didn’t work, but slipping the paper under the bed seemed like the least she could do after making a frickin’ fire and burning the list. She’d never told Alexa, one of the first things she had ever hidden from her best friend. Better to keep the secret in case the news spread.
Anyway, there wasn’t a man in the world who contained the qualities she sought. She may as well look up hero in the dictionary and wish for Superman to appear outside her condo window.
She totally forgot she’d thrown the book in her travel case in an effort to forget what she had done. Now, the truth of her lunacy mocked her in neon violet. “Carina, it’s nothing, really, I forgot it was in there.” She laughed, but even to her own ears it sounded fake. “My girlfriend gave it to me as a joke.”
Carina skimmed the pages. “Did you do it? The love spell? Is that how you and Michael met?”
Humiliation dragged her down like the sucking tide of an undertow. “No, of course, not. It’s just a joke and I forgot to get rid of it.”