Page 46 of Redemption Ridge Vol II

“Not since Wednesday evening,” the woman replied.

“Ha ha ha, Pete,” Maggie said dryly.

Tyler leaned closer to Owen. “Who is Dudley, and why do they think he’s dead in this bag?”

“He’s the property manager,” Owen replied. “Mom went a round or two with him over the elevator.”

“Ahhh.”

Maggie jabbed the button to call the elevator to the lobby floor. “And I didn’t have to threaten violence.”

“Could’ve just carried it out without warning,” Pete said, falling in behind them.

“Wham!” Helen exclaimed. “Like a ninja.”

Maggie heaved a weary sigh while Tyler and Owen exchanged smiles. They’d met three people from the building so far, and all of them seemed fond of Maggie. Owen introduced himself to Pete and Helen, who greeted him graciously.

“Well, if I had killed Dudley,” Maggie continued, “I wouldn’t drag him back up to my apartment to stink up the place.”

“Fair point,” Pete said to Helen.

“Very practical,” the older woman agreed.

The four of them squeezed inside the elevator when it arrived, and they said goodbye to Helen on the second floor and Pete on the fourth.

Owen winked at Tyler, then turned to look at Maggie. “Helen and Pete didn’t seem to recognize my name, so apparently, you only talk about me to sexy brunettes you invite over for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Tyler leaned forward to gauge Maggie’s reaction, and her dramatic eye roll and flushed cheeks didn’t disappoint.

“We’re not a thing,” Maggie said. “She’s new to the area and doesn’t know a soul. I’m just being neighborly.” Maggie sniffed and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “Besides, she’s much too young for me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s at least thirty,” Owen told her.

“Thirty-five,” Maggie replied absently. She worked her bottom lip between her teeth and stared off into space until the elevator stopped on her floor. “I don’t know,” she said when she pushed the cart into the hallway. “I haven’t dated for almost seven years.” That was around the time Owen got arrested and went to jail. “I’m a little rusty and don’t trust myself after the mistakes I’ve made.”

“I have faith in you, Mom,” Owen said as they followed with the bulky Christmas tree bag. “And you deserve to find genuine happiness with someone special instead of living alone.”

Maggie hummed, and Tyler figured that would be the end of the conversation, but she surprised him when she stopped outside her apartment door. “Do you really think Stephanie is interested in me romantically?”

“She charged into a parking lot when she found your hatch open and saw you talking to two strange men, and she can’t seem to tear her eyes off you for longer than a few seconds.” Owen’s words trailed off like maybe he was thinking through what to say next. “I think you’re interested in her too. Stephanie makes you blush and giggle like you’re twenty again, and it sounds like you’re comfortable enough to confide in her.” Owen met Tyler’s gaze and held. “You should take a chance because you deserve to know what real love feels like.”

Maggie glanced at them with a sappy smile on her face. She released the cart to clutch both hands to her heart. “You boys really are the best Christmas ever.”

It took Tyler and Owen two more trips to unload the Subaru and grab their bags from the truck. They packed light since they were only spending two nights in Trinidad, so their clothes and toiletries were in one bag and Maggie’s Christmas gifts were in the other.

“The first room on the left is your bedroom, and the guest bathroom is directly across the hall,” Maggie told them. “Make yourself comfortable while I fix us something to drink.” She rattled off the usual options of water, coffee, and soda, along with some irresistible seasonal offerings. “What sounds good to you?”

“I’ll take a spiced apple cider,” Owen replied.

“Peppermint hot chocolate for me,” Tyler said.

“Perfect.”

Maggie headed into the kitchen, and they went to their bedroom.

“The inside of the building is much nicer than the outside,” Owen mused once they were behind closed doors. The exterior was drab and square, but the interior was clean, freshly painted, and had new carpet. Even the shared spaces were tidy and well-kept. Before Tyler could look around the room, Owen cupped his face and kissed him. “Thank you so much for being here with me.”

“There’s nowhere else I want to be.” Besides, Owen was making the trek to Texas with him, though their arrival and news might not get the sweet reception Maggie gave them. Tyler tried hard not to expect an explosion of epic proportions, but it was so hard not to. If the worst happened, they’d still have their ranch family and Maggie.