Catch of the Day (Gideon's Cove #1)(103)

My shoulders drop a little. “Well, I guess not every—”

“But I’m willing to try.”

My mouth pops open.

“Seems like I have a thing for you, Maggie,” he says quietly, meeting my eyes with some difficulty.

My eyes are suddenly full of tears. “Well, that’s great, Malone,” I whisper, “because I know I have a thing for you.”

Those slashing lines soften as he smiles. “Then why are you crying?” he asks.

“Oh, these are the good tears. Happy, lovey-dovey tears. You know. The kind when things go great and you didn’t expect—”

Mercifully, Malone cuts off my words as he kisses me, right there in front of the church, on Main Street, clear as day for anyone to see, an intent, hard kiss that nearly makes me drop the puppy.

“Does this mean you guys are ready? I’m gonna faint soon.” Emory is smiling at us from the door of St. Mary’s.

“Sure,” Malone calls. He puts his arm around my shoulders. “I hear Joe’s has the best breakfast in Washington County,” he says to me.

“You’re right,” I answer. My words are so ordinary, but happiness is rolling through me in big, warm waves. “The desserts are excellent, too.”

“Good, because I think you still owe me a piece of pie.”

He smiles and my heart swells. We walk down the street, the three of us—four, if you count my new puppy—and open the door to Joe’s Diner.