Mitch squinted and coughed as the liquor burned at the top of his throat, making it go down a little smoother.

Tommy slammed the empty bottle in front of Mitch causing him to jump back into reality. There was disapproval written all over Tommy"s face.

"Man, you"ve got to get her out of your mind." Tommy"s eye brows dipped in concern. "If she weren"t dumped, she"d still be there."

"Fate." Mitch whispered loud enough for Tommy to hear.

Tommy burst out laughing, swinging his hair to the side. "Fate? Don"t go all sensitive bulls.h.i.t on me, Mitch." Tommy filled the peanut bowl to the top and threw some in his mouth. He m.u.f.fled, "its reality, and Wendy Owens was one hot chick that was willing."

Willing? Mitch didn"t want willing. He wanted Maggie. He had an obligation to this town, and to Hazel Greenlee. Not to Maggie. But had obligation ever overruled the yearning in his heart?

"Wendy broke it off." Mitch threw back another shot.

He didn"t understand why she hadn"t told anyone yet. Mitch certainly wasn"t the kiss and tell kind of guy, so he left it up to her to tell the community what she wanted to. Truth or not, she"d always been an honorable gal.

"Do you blame her? Look at you." Tommy shook his head and headed down the bar to get a drink order.

The Thirsty Turtle would definitely be hopping in a couple hours. The hoedown ended at the Turtle with the same rowdy group every year. His group. This year he"d have to watch his step, being mayor.

The crowd was beginning to gather around all the tables and the smell of the roasting pig, set up in the square, was filling the air. His stomach rumbled to life.

"I"ll be back." Mitch dropped some cash on the bar. He had to go out to the waiting public. If he had another drink, the waiting public would see their mayor three sheets to the wind.

People milled about with mason jars filled with Hazel Greenlee"s sweet tea. He glanced over at the Greenlee booth and smiled. Hazel didn"t disappoint. The line was worth standing there just to get a taste of the delicious concoction. She greeted everyone with a hug and a bit of superst.i.tion tales to add to the sweet flavor. The bangles on her wrist rang over the crowd"s laughter as she clapped her hands in amus.e.m.e.nt. Hazel was the only one at the booth. Seeing this gave him a little relief. He wasn"t prepared to see Maggie there. Maybe she wouldn"t come.

"Hi." Wendy yelled from the other side.

Mitch nodded. Wendy bounced across the street, her blonde hair bounced with every step. Her ice blue eyes shone with delight as she got closer.

"Well." Wendy spun around on her heels. "Have you seen Maggie yet?"

"No, Wendy. Maggie is the last person on my mind right now." Mitch felt he needed to tell a little white lie to spare anyone"s feelings, even though Wendy didn"t want him either.

"Mitch," she said, taking him by the hands. "Maggie is a once in a lifetime love. Don"t let her slip through your fingers. You haven"t told her have you?"

"Told her what?" Mitch caught a glimpse of Maggie and Belle walking toward them. He pulled his hands away from Wendy.

"That we aren"t engaged." Wendy stood with her mouth wide open. A little shocked.

"Hey." Maggie walked up beside them.

Mitch shot Wendy a look.

"You look nice, Maggie." He made sure his tongue was still in his mouth.

The short white shorts looked amazing along with the red and white checked b.u.t.ton down. The red cowboy boots and scarf topped off a New York look to die for. It only made Mitch want another drink. Need another drink.

He swallowed hard. The only way to get Maggie out of his head was just that-get away.

"Mitch.e.l.l," Maggie"s eyebrows dipped, and laughter sparked in her eyes. "Have you been drinking whiskey?"

There had been two times Maggie had seen him drink hard liquor and both times was about her.

"Yee haw!" Belle screamed and waved her hat in the air. Wendy followed after.

"Yes. I"ve had a couple shots." He tried not to stare, but couldn"t take his eyes off her. "I must say, I didn"t realize how much the mayor had to do with this hoedown."

"Blame it on the hoedown." A smile curled up one corner of her mouth. "Wonder what the President drinks."

He loved bantering back and forth with her. It felt like old times.

"You think you should go out and dance with Wendy?" Maggie gestured toward their group of friends that had already taken over the street, using it as a dance floor. Right in front of the band-of course.

He should tell her, but tonight wasn"t the night to bring up anything.

"If you"ll excuse me, I need to go grab some of Hazel"s sweet tea before it"s all gone." He nodded over to the makeshift line that was now wrapped around the booth.

Chapter 20.

You can kid the world. But not your sister. ~ Charlotte Gray "This was not a good idea." Maggie walked over to Belle. "Did you see Wendy"s face? Maybe I should go back home."

"No, you stay right here." Belle patted Maggie"s leg. "Let"s get some food."

Many people that Maggie did recognize were already line dancing in front of the stage. The band continued to play old favorites to keep everyone on their feet. The line to the food was getting longer by the minute and they were no closer than they were a minute ago.

Maggie glanced out of the corner of her eye to where Mitch was sitting. The old gang had gathered toward the back of the picnic tables farthest away from the band. Maggie cringed following behind Belle as they made their way over to the table.

Mitch didn"t look at her when she sat across from him. She smiled at Wendy, noticing the distance between her and Mitch.

"What"s your plan?" Wendy leaned across the table looking at Maggie. "How long are you in town for?"

She wasn"t sure how to answer Wendy, so she did it truthfully. "I don"t have any plans. I have no place to go. Grady owned the apartment I was living in. And Van Meter Law fired me because I didn"t make it to a meeting."

Susie flung her loose curls out of the way. "Did you say Van Meter?"

Mitch threw a look Susie"s way, causing suspicion to swell in Maggie"s chest.

"Yes. Have you heard of it?"

Susie paused, wrestling to find the right words. "I...think Hazel said you worked there...when I asked her how you were doing. Yes. Hazel."

"I have an idea." Belle clasped her hands together in delight. "Why don"t we plan a girl"s spa day next weekend and Maggie can be the guest of honor."

Mitch stood up. "This is my cue to leave."

Wendy chirped, "Yes, why don"t we? Maggie?"

"Umm." Maggie couldn"t use checking her schedule as an excuse. She didn"t have a calendar to keep anymore. No more deadlines, no more gown fittings. Just time. "Sounds like fun. And I also have your wedding shower presents to give back."

Maggie had never had the chance to unpack the gifts from her car when she went back to New York, so they were still in her trunk.

"No!" Susie belted out. "You keep those. You are going to have to get a place if you stay here with the mall..."

"We might get our own place." Belle interrupted and shot Susie a look of death.

Maggie took note of both times Susie was hushed tonight. Susie was Mitch"s a.s.sistant and Mitch sent Hazel the envelope, there had to be a connection. Maggie was determined to get her hands on one of them to make them spill their guts.

She knew Mitch would sing like a bird if she got some more alcohol in him. The street was getting crowded and there wasn"t a free inch on the sidewalk. Maggie rolled up on her tip-toes to see if she could find Mitch.

She recognized so many people and made a mental note to greet each one. The line for Hazel"s sweet tea was still long, if not longer. Hazel took time to greet and talk to everyone in her line.

Belle, sitting on the picnic table, tugged on Maggie"s shirt. "What are you thinking about?" She craned her neck in the direction of Hazel"s tea stand.

Maggie rolled back down on the heel of her cowboy boots, and caught a glimpse of Mitch walking around. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Wendy and the gang watching her and Belle.

Maggie motioned for the gang to follow her to the front of the band. "No way! I love this song!"

She led the way to the front of the line dancing group, who parted to make way for them. They all laughed at the cat calls from the crowd and did the best Tush Push line dance. Mitch caught Maggie"s eye. A small crowd gathered around the girls, clapping and coaxing them on.

Mitch"s eyes wandered over Maggie"s way, making her put a little more heel tapping and bouncing in her dance. Wendy wasn"t as coordinated as Maggie and she knew she had them all beat with the Tush Push.

For a moment, Maggie"s eyes locked with Mitch. They twinkled exactly like they use to when he looked at her. Her smile faded when he quickly walked away.

"Excuse me for a second." Maggie lifted up her hair and fanned her neck with her hand.

She wasn"t hot, but she needed an excuse to find Mitch and see what the big secret was all about. Susie, Beth, Wendy and Belle brushed her away and continued to heel, toe, and do-se ado"s. Maggie slipped into the Thirsty Turtle.

Chapter 21.

Love is an ocean of emotions. ~ Lord Dewar Luckily, everyone was outside still eating and enjoying the music. The only one there was Tommy.

"I hear you were dumped." He took pleasure in her pain. "And back here causing havoc on my buddy."

She looked over at Tommy with a critical eye. What did he know about her or what she"d been up to? Must"ve been on Facebook, she thought.

"I did get dumped and have not created havoc yet. I need two Jack and c.o.kes. And you can keep the change." Maggie slid a hundred dollar bill across the bar.

She still had most of the money she took from the desk in Grady"s penthouse office and keeping Tommy"s mouth shut was worth every penny.

He sat the two drinks in front of her. "He"s in his office." Tommy didn"t look at her.

She watched as he folded the bill and slipped it in his front pocket.

She turned without another word. Tommy knew what she was up to. Even though he didn"t like her, there was a mutual respect.

"He was happy before you blew back into town."

She looked back at Tommy. He was bent over with Bar Keepers Find in one hand and a scrub brush in the other scouring the counter. He was getting ready for the after hoedown party which always took place at the Thirsty Turtle.

"What does that mean?" She glared, not sure if she wanted to know his answer.

He was Mitch"s closest guy friend and she was sure he was Mitch"s confident. She didn"t mean to make Mitch unhappy. Nor upset Wendy. She was just as shocked with the unusual feelings she was having for Mitch. Where did she draw the line with him? She didn"t know her place with Mitch or where their friendship was at this point in their lives. She did know she wouldn"t be able to handle another male dumping her-especially Mitch.

Tommy didn"t answer her. She wasn"t going to beg him to tell her. She"d ask Mitch herself. Maggie kept her head down and slipped around the building and up the concrete steps, sure that no one saw her. The courthouse was open late for everyone who needed a bathroom.

The halls were dark and quiet, only a few times did the ice rattle in the cups. The light shone through the crack in the door. She peeked in. Mitch was bent over the laptop with his head buried in it. She really had no business being here, but she longed for a good friend more than finding out what secret everyone was hiding from her.

He looked up. "Who"s there?"

Shyly, Maggie pushed the door open with the toe of her boot. Mitch"s face relaxed, his dark eyes softened and a smile the size of the Grand Canyon filled his face.

"Maggie." He flipped the laptop closed.

She let herself into his office and handed him a drink. "I hope you don"t mind me bringing a congratulatory drink."

His fingers brushed up against hers, leaving goose b.u.mps shooting up her legs.

"You can come see me anytime." Mitch"s licked the dribble off his lips left behind from his drink. "Must be serious, you giving me Jack and c.o.ke."

Maggie walked around his office. She"d been in there once, a long time ago when her parent"s had died and Hazel needed to take care of a little business. Mitch had updated the pictures, including a couple of him and Wendy.

Why didn"t anyone tell Maggie about them? They did make a great couple, and it made her a little jealous. Growing up, he was her guy best friend and Wendy was her girl best friend.

Maggie ran her finger along the rim of her drink. "I guess I"m still shocked about you and Wendy dating. I mean," she stuttered, "engaged."

He couldn"t seem to look at her, leaving her with doubt about his feelings toward Wendy.

"Why didn"t you tell me? Anyone?" There was hurt in her voice that penetrated to her eyes.

Mitch looked out the window. When he turned around he was teary eyed.

"Maggie." He paused, not being able to find the right words. How could he tell her he was still in love with her when he was engaged? "I didn"t know I was going to propose when I did."

She"d see right through him if he lied to her. He looked over the town. Wendy and the girls were still line dancing. He wanted his heart to be warm when he looked at her, but it wasn"t. Maggie standing so close to him made his heart skip a beat.