Looking For You All My Life Part 136

"Maggie?" He turned in surprise, but for a moment, just

a brief, split second, his eyes seemed pleased. Then it was

IIgone, and she wondered if it had only been her imagination.

"How're you guys doing?" asked Maggie, hoping to

sound cheerful.

"We're doing fine," said Leah casually. "How's it going

with you?"

"Busy," she answered quickly as she walked through the

Idoor now held open by Jed. Their arms brushed and she felt

certain, even through the thickness of her leather coat, that

she had experienced tingles. She wondered if he possibly felt

them as well. "Everything going okay Out at Jed's?" she

asked Leah, unwilling to look into his eyes.

"Yeah. It's so beautiful out there. Jed and Michael are *

leaving for the furniture show in Seattle tomorrow, so he

offered to take me out for dinner tonight to thank me for

holding the shop together while he's gone." She smiled up at

him in undisguised admiration.

Looking for You All My Life213

"Oh, that's right," remembered Maggie. "Michael men-

tioned that last night." With fresh resolve, she turned and

forced herself to look directly into Jed's eyes. "I really hope

you have a successful trip, Jed."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." The corners of his mouth

curved ~ver so slightly. "Are you here by yourself?" he asked

with what seemed concern.

She wondered what he'd say if she answered in the affir-

mative~h, if only she were here by herself! Would he per-

haps momentarily put aside all this back-burner business

and invite her to join them? But she shook her head. "No,

I'm here to meet with Gavin and Clyde." His eyes seemed to

flash ever so slightly at the mention of Gavin's name, so she

quickly added, "It's just a little business meeting. I think

Gavin has some new ideas for the paper. And just getting him

and Clyde together is no small thing." She forced a light

laugh.

"Well, there's Gavin over there." He nodded across the

room, his expression growing stony and cool. "We'll let you

get to it then."

She turned to see Gavin seated at a table in the far corner

of the room. But he was alone! Where in the world was

Clyde? She walked quickly to the table, wondering what Jed

thought of her now. Surely he didn't think she had lied and

that she was meeting Gavin here alone or for anything

besides business. Wouldn't he realize that if she wanted to

meet Gavin alone, she could've easily done it in the privacy

of her own home? "Where's Clyde?" she demanded sharply.

He looked up in surprise. "Evening to you too, Maggie.

He just went to use the phone in the kitchen to call you. We

were beginning to think you'd forgotten all about us."

"Oh." She sat down, slightly relieved. "Sorry I'm late.