Tequila Rose by Willow Winters (any book recommendations .TXT) 📗

It turns out Brody’s a gentleman, waiting with me for my Uber to come.  It’s colder than it was when I came down here and he gives me his jacket. As he’s doing it, I get up on my tiptoes and steal a kiss.  Surprise lights inside of me that I did it. Then other feelings spread through me.

My kiss may have been short and sweet but the one Brody gives me in return, with his hand on my chin and his scent and warmth wrapping around me, is anything but short. It’s also far more sinful than sweet.

Renee was right about the kiss.  Some men do kiss in a way that’s different. Searing. I don’t need to kiss another man in my life to know that this one isn’t like any of the rest.

I knew I shouldn’t have gone home with him but I did anyway, having the Uber take us to his friend’s place instead of mine.

I didn’t pay attention to where we were going and where he was taking me.  I was too busy with my lips pressed to his while my eyes were closed.

I was still at his friend’s place, contemplating sneaking out and accepting the walk of shame with my head held high when my phone rang far too early the next morning.  I could still feel him and the dull ache of a good night when I answered the call with a whisper in his bathroom.

Everything changed in that moment.

I snuck out after crying silently on the floor of his bathroom, not letting him see what a wreck I was after the call.

The one-night stand I had was my first and last.

Because that morning, my life changed forever ... in more than one way.

Magnolia

Present day in Beaufort, South Carolina

 Bridget’s curls bounce like they have a mind of their own.  I don’t know where she gets the light brunette color from, but those curls are all mine.

She doesn’t even look back to say goodbye to me; all I can see is a head of golden curls as she races to sit down in the circle on the bright blue rug.  I think taking her to the library for weekly readings was exactly what she needed to transition to daycare. She knows all the little songs by heart and plops down next to Sandra’s little ones like she belongs right there.  Autumn told me it would help the shift in her routine and she was so right.

And to think I thought today would be hard on Bridget and not me.  A long, slow breath leaves me, my cheeks puffed as I wave goodbye to Trent, the owner.  I grew up next to him and his mom ran this daycare before he did.

“It’ll be good for her,” she says and Renee doesn’t try to hide the amusement in her voice in the least as she pushes open the front door.  A little beep went off just before and I turn to look over my shoulder to say goodbye again.

“I know, knock it off,” I say then hip bump her as our heels click on the sidewalk.  It’s only 9:00 a.m. and we’re late for Bridget’s first day here, but the court hearing was earlier. Everyone in town knows that.  And court took precedent.  Thank goodness Renee loves watching Bridget in the morning. I know Autumn or Sharon would help out with Bridget if they could, but their mornings on a good day are even more hectic than mine was today.

“Let’s grab drinks tonight and celebrate this mess being over,” Renee says, taking the lead with her suggestion as she opens her driver side door and I climb into the passenger seat.

I feel drained and emotional and I wish I had half the energy and confidence Renee has right now.

The sound of her keys clanging together isn’t followed with the start of the engine.  It’s quiet, too quiet, and I tilt my head, leaning it back against the seat to see her big hazel eyes staring back at me.

“Wine Down Wednesday with the girls?” I ask but she shakes her head.

“Something tonight.”

“I don’t know about tonight …” I want to crawl in bed and sleep for a decade after what I just went through. She must read my thoughts in my expression.

“Maggie, it’s done and over with.  You can breathe now.”

I make a show of puffing up my cheeks again and blowing out an annoyingly long breath just for her.  I would have kept going but she laughs and that makes me laugh.

“That’s better,” she says and gives me a shit-eating grin.

“You know I love you, right?”

She hesitates to back out of the parking space after starting the car, and the music from the radio fills the small space.  I have to reach over to turn it down before I add, “I couldn’t do this without you.”

Renee swipes a wild strand of her auburn hair out of her face then says, “Yes you could.  And I love you too.”

I roll my eyes at her nonchalance and buckle up for whatever she has planned.

I’m not working today since it’s Bridge’s first day at daycare.  Although I told my boss it’s because of the court hearing.

“She got nothing.” Renee places a singsong cadence on the last word.

“She didn’t deserve anything,” I say and stare straight ahead as we pass Main Street.  The bakery’s sign is getting a fresh coat of bright white paint around the script letters that read Melissa’s Sweets.

I roll down the window and the faint smell of fresh mulch and spring flowers fills my lungs.  Resting against the seat, I take in all the small-town shops that have been here since I was a child.  From way back when my mother was still alive and my father still pretended to be a good man.

“I’m sorry you had to go through it all,” Renee says and this time she sounds serious.

My