Page 93 of Small Town Sizzle

Natalie laughs bitterly, turning back to me. “She doesn’t know, does she?” she says, her voice smug. “He loves to playhouse, sure. Wants a ready-made family. Until he doesn’t. Then he comes crawling back to me and his kids.”

My eyebrows shoot up so fast I think they might fly off my face. “What the hell are you talking about, Natalie?” I demand.

Maya doesn’t wait for an answer. She shrugs and walks around Natalie, heading straight into the restaurant. I can tell by the way she’s holding her head high and her shoulders back that she’s trying not to let this get to her, but I know better. This isn’t over.

Natalie cackles, grinning as she turns back to me with an innocent look.

“That was easy.”

“Natalie,” I hiss. “Why the hell did you just lie like that?”

She laughs, the sound grating on my nerves. “Oh, come on, Garrett. We both know you’re not cut out for this country life. What are you going to do when her sweet little charm wears off? When her pussy dries up and you realize what a boring life you’ve signed up for? You’ll come crawling back to me, and guess what? I won’t take you back.”

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Let me be very clear,” I say, my voice steady but firm. “I want nothing to do with you. I’ve blocked you on everything for a reason. If you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to take legal measures.”

Her smirk falters slightly, but she quickly recovers. “Whatever, Garrett,” she says, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “You’ll come back.”

“Not going to happen,” I laugh rudely.

Without another word, I turn and head into the restaurant. Maya is standing against the wall near the counter, her arms crossed over her chest. She’s trying to look casual, but I can tell she’s tense. Her eyes flick to me as I approach her, and I can see the questions brewing in her mind.

“I’ll explain everything in the car,” I say softly, not wanting to have this conversation here. She nods, but the tension between us doesn’t fade.

Our order is ready, and we grab the boxes before heading back to the car.

“Homewrecker!” Natalie screams from somewhere.

“Classy lady,” Maya sighs under her breath.

We climb into the car, and I start the drive back to her house.

“That’s my ex-wife. We don’t have any kids together.”

Maya swallows hard as she shifts in her seat and looks out the window. “I assumed.” She shrugs nonchalantly. “Laura may have mentioned she was a little off her rocker and that she showed up at your office.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” she giggles as she shrugs again. “I’m not intimidated by her, and her words don’t bother me.”

“Then what’s going on? You seem like you’re a million miles away.”

“I’m just tired,” she says shifting in her seat again. Her fingers drum on her knee nervously.

“We don’t have to make this a long night if you don’t want to. We can eat and I can go home if you want space.”

“Do you want to go home?” she asks quickly.

“No,” I chuckle as I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I am just clarifying that I can control myself around you. I can hold you all night, if that’s what you want.”

“What if I don’t want you to control yourself around me?” she asks as her emerald eyes lock onto mine.

“Then I won’t,” I laugh. “Trust me, I don’t want to.”

She nods. I pull into her driveway, and a few minutes later, we’re inside the house. George pops his head up from his spot on the couch to greet us both, but he doesn’t move. When we sit down at the kitchen table and begin eating, he comes over andplops his giant head on Maya’s knee, staring up at her with big brown eyes.

“The kids give him their pizza crusts, so he’s a little bit of a beggar now,” she giggles.

“I see that.” I smile. “I’m really sorry about Natalie earlier. I’m sure that you didn’t want the whole town to hear someone accuse you of being a homewrecker.”