Page 6 of Tempting Bo (Montgomery Dreams #2)

BO

I look up in surprise at the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

Mom’s already out feeding the chickens, and Dad is in bed with a cold. With Oakley off getting ready for next semester, I should be the only one up this early.

But lo and behold, Magnolia herself rounds the corner.

Her blonde curls are up in a sloppy bun, the bags under her eyes more pronounced than I've ever seen them. She looks like she hasn't slept.

She’s definitely up early at least, especially for a Saturday. Usually someone has to drag her out of bed around lunchtime just to make sure she’s alive.

She’s also remarkably quiet.

“Morning, Maggie.”

She doesn't answer me, keeping her back turned to me as she roots through the fridge for juice.

Maggie isn’t exactly a chatterbox these days, but she keeps shooting me glances as she trudges to the cabinets.

Her brows are furrowed and her lips are set in a thin line.

Silent treatment isn’t Maggie’s style. She’s the youngest of us, and she’s always had a whip sharp tongue.

I’ve always known her to speak her mind, even when she was a little kid.

Right now, she’s obviously struggling to keep her mouth shut.

Either something’s wrong and she wants my advice, or I fucked up royally.

I should brace myself.

“What’s going on, Maggie?” I ask, pushing my plate off to the side.

She just shrugs, not meeting my eyes. Okay, so I’m in trouble. I can’t think of anything I’ve done recently to piss her off, but there must be something.

“Come on,” I say, watching as she pours herself a glass of orange juice. “You’re up early and you look mad as a cat. Tell me what’s wrong.”

She looks at me at last, her hazel eyes narrowed in suspicion. It feels like she’s trying to look straight into my skull and find whatever answer she wants for herself. She takes a sip of her juice and leans back against the counter, continuing to stare me down.

“Been to any parties lately?” she asks.

Usually, that would be a tease, a poke at my nearly non-existent social life. She sounds too serious this time. Suspicious, not joking.

“Not in a few weeks,” I answer, the words coming out slowly. “Why?”

I lean back in my chair as she stares me down, frowning at my answer.

“When was the last time you went to a party? Who were you with?”

I raise my brow at her, a surprised laugh falling from my mouth. I feel like I’m being interrogated by Mom for coming home after curfew. What’s gotten into her?

“Jesus, what's with the third degree?” I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t know, six weeks ago? Maybe seven. I was with Harry, Evan, and Ian. Anything else you want to interrogate me about?”

“Were you hanging out with Savannah Ward that night?”

Terror rips through me at the mention of her name. I haven’t heard from her since she dropped by the ranch to spew bullshit about being pregnant. She wouldn’t dare try to get to me through my baby sister, would she? Even for her, that should be a step too far.

“No!” I sound defensive, and I immediately cringe. “No, Jesus. Why would I hang around her after everything she did?”

Maggie’s eyes flit to my hands, and I bite back a curse when I realize they're shaking on the counter. Fuck. She opens her mouth to say something, but I babble on before she can get it out.

“She was there that night. She was trying to get people to go down to the lake. I told her to fuck off. Why are you even asking about this?”

I swear to everything holy, if Savannah is trying to fuck with one of my sisters again, I'm going to get a restraining order on her entire family. All I want is to live my life—my reasonable, normal life. I don't want to deal with any of this bullshit.

“People have been talking.” Her words are brittle and untrusting, her eyes still narrowed as she glares at me. “Rumors are going around about you two hooking up.”

Hooking up? Christ, what are high school kids talking about these days?

“That definitely didn't happen,” I say firmly. “I got trashed that night, and I barely even remember most of it, but I was with the guys. I'd remember if I hooked up with Savannah Ward.”

Guilt and frustration gnaw at each other in my chest. I've never regretted something so much in my life, and I can't even fucking remember what happened. Nothing else makes sense, but I can't imagine any amount of liquor that would make me think fucking Savannah was a good idea.

If people are talking about it, that means Savannah is telling people. I shudder to think what else she's telling them.

I need to figure out how to fix that whole situation, but first, I need to get my little sister’s mind off it. She's too damn smart for my good, and I don't need her figuring anything out before I come up with a solution.

“You think I'd do that to Kenzie?” I ask.

It's a cheap shot, especially because I know how much she likes Kenzie, even if she won't say it out loud. It works like a charm, and the suspicion in Maggie’s eyes fades away as she breaks out into a beaming smile.

“Kenzie, huh?” she asks.

I probably look like an idiot with how wide I'm grinning, but I can't bring myself to care. I've never felt so light and comfortable around anyone, like I don't have to hide any part of myself.

“We’re going out to dinner tonight,” I say, the tension draining away from my shoulders as Maggie leaves the topic of Savannah alone. “I have to figure out somewhere nice to take her.”

“Dinner?” She arches a perfectly shaped brow and rakes her gaze over me. “For food, or for a date?”

God, do all girls really think the exact same way?

“A date,” I say, laughing. “I made that very clear.”

Her eyes light up properly at that, and she downs the rest of her juice before answering me.

“Good, Oakley owes me money then,” she says, oozing smugness.

I laugh, baffled, as she puts her glass in the sink.

“Why would she owe you money?”

“Oh, we’ve had a bet going for years about who would ask who out first,” she says with a casual shrug, heading out of the kitchen and back toward the stairs. “I had my money on you putting your big boy pants on and being brave. Thanks for proving me right.”

She shoots me a grin and pats me on the shoulder as she rounds the counter, ignoring my flustered chuckle.

“Hang on,” I say before she makes it to the stairs. “What do you mean years ?”

“Oh, come on.” Maggie rolls her eyes patronizingly, scoffing at my confusion. “We all knew you two would get together, it was just a matter of when. I'm honestly surprised it took you guys so long.”

She leaves me with that, making her way back up the stairs as I sit with a stupid grin on my face.

“Oh, take her to that new steakhouse,” Maggie shouts from the top of the stairs. “Oakley said she and Jamie went and it was great.”

I guess that’s sorted, then. I'll have to call and make reservations.

It's funny to hear that my family has been expecting this for so long, especially since I kind of let romance fall to the wayside.

I always knew I liked Kenzie, but she never seemed interested in me.

Everyone I went out with, I wound up comparing to her, and they all fell short.

In recent years, I haven't even bothered to go out on dates.

It's not like I'm lonely—my friends are great, and I get to see my family all the time.

Now that Kenzie’s back, she’s all I can think about. Could I really have had this the whole time? If I had just asked her sooner…

There's no use beating myself up over missed opportunities. All I can do now is give her the best I have to offer. Kenzie deserves perfection, and I’m definitely not that, but I can try to get as close as I can to it.

I'll have to sort everything out with Savannah soon, convince her to get over whatever insanity is going on in her head this time.

It's bad enough that my sister is hearing about it, but I don't want Kenzie to have to worry about such a baseless lie. I said it to distract Maggie, but I was being honest—I’d never do that to Kenzie.

Just the thought of Savannah is enough to put a damper on my mood.

Hasn't she done enough already? First Oakley, now me. I wish she'd just leave our family alone. Pick up a new hobby, knitting or tennis or something, whatever will keep her busy.

Regardless, even if she wants to spread horrible rumors, I know it can't be true. I'd remember sleeping with her.

I would.

Besides, I’d never let myself do something like that, drunk or otherwise.

I've got more important things to do than worry about Savannah Ward spreading ridiculous, immature rumors. I have work to do, and I have to figure out what I'm going to wear on my date tonight.

Jesus, I haven't dressed up in forever. I might have to ask for Mom’s advice on this one.

After all, I need to look good if I'm going to take my dream girl out on the best date of her life.