Maggie Moves On(91)

“We have,” Maggie agreed, stepping over Dolly Parton as the kitten galloped past. “The credit goes entirely to the local crews. They’ve been incredible. Haven’t they, Dean?”

“Consummate professionals,” he agreed, gesturing for Kressley to lead the way downstairs.

“Kinship is made up of good people. I’m honored to lead them,” she said, peering over the handrail.

“Madam Deputy Mayor,” Silas said, appearing at the foot of the stairs. “You look ravishing.”

Maggie shot him a hard look. Ravishing? Who talked like that outside of the bedroom?

Kressley beamed at him. “Silas Wright, you are a charmer,” she said, swiping a manicured hand in his direction. “I was delighted to hear that your professional relationship with our Maggie has moved into personal territory.”

Great. Now she was an “our Maggie.”

Cody appeared, cradling one of the kittens.

“Cody Moses,” she said, clutching a hand to her heart. “I’ve heard that you’re making great strides at school.”

Cody blushed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“What a cozy little family you’ve got here, Maggie,” Kressley said, pointedly eyeing Silas and Cody. “Isn’t Kinship just the best?”

Small freaking towns.

“Uh, yeah. Let me show you the kitchen,” Maggie said, turning her back on Sy’s smug face and practically jogging away. It had been one hell of a day. One hell of a long day. And she was ready to curl up in that brand-new bed upstairs for a solid fifteen hours of sleep.

“You’re certainly generating quite a bit of buzz for our little hamlet,” the woman pressed on, poking her head into Maggie’s office as if she were in charge of the tour. “I have it on good authority that Campbell’s novels are selling better than they have in the last twenty years.”

“Really?” Dean asked.

“The Campbells left the rights to Aaron’s novels to the town of Kinship in their trust. They haven’t amounted to anything as long as I’ve been deputy mayor. But with the attention you’re bringing with your lovely little show— Oh, dear. I must admit I expected more progress in here.” Kressley blinked at the mostly empty room.

“I did, too,” Maggie told her. “We’ve run into one snag after another. But I’m starting to wonder if maybe it wasn’t all for a reason.”

Kressley spun back to look at her. “What makes you say that?”

“Canyon Custom Cabinetry,” Maggie said.

She saw the shrewd spark in Kressley’s eyes. She arched a thin eyebrow. “What about the plant?”

“I need a kitchen. The plant needs some visibility to attract a buyer. I thought maybe we could help each other out,” Maggie mused.

Kressley tapped a finger to her chin. “Intrigued. Tell me more.”

“Let’s talk over drinks,” Maggie suggested. “Iced tea? Coffee?”

Kressley peered at the tiny gold watch on her wrist. “I really shouldn’t this late, but I don’t think I could turn down a coffee.”

“Now you’re talking my language,” Dean said, offering the woman his arm. “Right this way.”

Thirty minutes later, a caffeinated Kressley was saying her third goodbye.

“I have a good feeling about all of this,” she announced, pointing a finger at Maggie.

“I do, too,” Maggie agreed, shooing her toward the open front door. Kevin and the kittens had given up running in and out in the middle of the second goodbye and now lay snoozing in the den.

“Oh, silly me! I meant to bring up the opportunity for you to stay in town and renovate the Canyon Country Townhomes. Business has been absolutely dismal for the last few ski seasons since the ski resort renovated.”

“Oh, uh…,” Maggie looked around wildly for help.

“What a great idea, Deputy Mayor,” Silas said with a sly grin.

Maggie kept her smile firmly in place as she elbowed him in the gut.

“We’ll have to talk about it,” she said.

“Have your people call my people,” Kressley called cheerily over her shoulder as she finally crossed the threshold and stepped onto the porch.





33



May seemed hell-bent on exiting Idaho with a summer preview. They had a week straight of hot, sunny days. Business was booming for Bitterroot, and real progress was being made at the Campbell Place. The hardwood floors on the first floor had been sanded, restained, and sealed. The master bathroom was almost finished, and Silas couldn’t wait to take his first shower with the lady of the house in the huge, tiled steam shower. The kittens survived their wellness check with the vet. And the unpainted lower kitchen cabinets had been delivered the day before.

Despite all that, Silas had managed to talk Maggie into skipping out of work early and hitting the lake for paddleboarding. Since the discovery of the secret room—and the delivery of Maggie’s spectacular bed—he and his dog had spent most of his nights there. There was something about waking up with the “not a fan of cuddling” Maggie wrapped around him like a climbing vine as the sky turned to pink outside those big windows. It felt…right.

He wasn’t the only one gravitating to the house and its occupants.