Read Online Christmas in Magnolia Cove by Rachel Hanna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rachel Hanna
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are.”
“But, Brooks, I’ve changed. I grew up. Everyone does…” Before she could finish her sentence, she realized he was acting to make a point. She smiled at him as he reached out to touch her hand.
“People can change, Maddie. Most people even grow up and mature. I would hate to think we were all judged on who we were as teenagers for the rest of our lives. I’m not saying what he did to you was right, but he was working with a very immature teenage boy’s mind. And he was lusting after a hot girl that he was trying to impress. That’s a dangerous combination,” Brooks said.
“Gosh, I guess I’ve been trying to punish him. Maybe I should give him a chance to be my friend…” she said.
“All I know is that he looks at you like he is in pain, Maddie. I think he has some feelings for you.”
“How could he? We’ve only known each other for a few days.”
“Not true. You’ve known him since you were a teenager. You just didn’t have the best first introduction,” he said laughing. “He can’t change history, but at least give him a chance to show you who he is now.”
“Can we go back to the house, Brooks? I have something I need to take care of,” she said looking up at him with her deep blue eyes.
***
“Want me to come in with you?” Brooks asked as they pulled up in front of the Granger house.
“No. I’ve got it. Thanks again… for everything,” she said leaning over to kiss his cheek. She hobbled up the steps using her crutches and waved good-bye as Brooks pulled off. She swore she saw Wyatt looking out the upstairs window.
As Madison walked into the house, she could hear Wyatt instructing his crew on some renovations in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He sounded so forceful and strong. It struck her that Connor had never sounded so in-charge. Compared to Wyatt, Connor was a wimp.
Madison stood in the foyer looking up the staircase until Wyatt appeared. He stopped for a moment and looked down at her with no expression on his face. Slowly, he walked down the stairs while keeping his gaze fixed on her.
“Hi,” she said softly as he came downstairs. Standing just a foot from her, she wanted him to pick her up again.
“Hi. How was your lunch?” he asked without moving.
“It was great to catch up with Brooks,” she said smiling.
“You guys are dating?” he asked.
Madison laughed. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who didn’t know Brooks was gay.
“Not hardly. Wyatt, Brooks is gay.”
His face softened as a slight smile crossed it.
“Gay, huh? Didn’t know that.”
“Were you jealous?” she asked with a coy grin.
“Why would I be jealous, Madison? You’re my employer,” he said walking past her into the kitchen. She hobbled along behind him. Realizing she had really hurt his feelings, she caught up and touched his arm.
“Wyatt, wait… please,” she said. He turned and looked down at her. Those piercing blue eyes cut right through him.
“I can’t talk to you if I know you are struggling on those crutches,” he said as he pushed them to the floor and picked her up to place her on the counter. Now at eye level, she looked at him carefully before she began to speak.
“Wyatt, I’m sorry for beating you up so much lately. I realize that you were trying to show me who you are now, and I wasn’t allowing you to do it. I was holding you to all of those stupid things you did as a kid, and that wasn’t fair.”
Stunned by her words, he took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “And what caused this change of heart?”
“Brooks reminded me that I bullied him, too.”
“You were a bully?” he asked with a smile. “Hard to imagine.”
“Well, I was. And I realized that it would kill me if Brooks still thought of me that way and there was nothing I could do to change his mind. It’s not fair.”
“What isn’t
“But, Brooks, I’ve changed. I grew up. Everyone does…” Before she could finish her sentence, she realized he was acting to make a point. She smiled at him as he reached out to touch her hand.
“People can change, Maddie. Most people even grow up and mature. I would hate to think we were all judged on who we were as teenagers for the rest of our lives. I’m not saying what he did to you was right, but he was working with a very immature teenage boy’s mind. And he was lusting after a hot girl that he was trying to impress. That’s a dangerous combination,” Brooks said.
“Gosh, I guess I’ve been trying to punish him. Maybe I should give him a chance to be my friend…” she said.
“All I know is that he looks at you like he is in pain, Maddie. I think he has some feelings for you.”
“How could he? We’ve only known each other for a few days.”
“Not true. You’ve known him since you were a teenager. You just didn’t have the best first introduction,” he said laughing. “He can’t change history, but at least give him a chance to show you who he is now.”
“Can we go back to the house, Brooks? I have something I need to take care of,” she said looking up at him with her deep blue eyes.
***
“Want me to come in with you?” Brooks asked as they pulled up in front of the Granger house.
“No. I’ve got it. Thanks again… for everything,” she said leaning over to kiss his cheek. She hobbled up the steps using her crutches and waved good-bye as Brooks pulled off. She swore she saw Wyatt looking out the upstairs window.
As Madison walked into the house, she could hear Wyatt instructing his crew on some renovations in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He sounded so forceful and strong. It struck her that Connor had never sounded so in-charge. Compared to Wyatt, Connor was a wimp.
Madison stood in the foyer looking up the staircase until Wyatt appeared. He stopped for a moment and looked down at her with no expression on his face. Slowly, he walked down the stairs while keeping his gaze fixed on her.
“Hi,” she said softly as he came downstairs. Standing just a foot from her, she wanted him to pick her up again.
“Hi. How was your lunch?” he asked without moving.
“It was great to catch up with Brooks,” she said smiling.
“You guys are dating?” he asked.
Madison laughed. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who didn’t know Brooks was gay.
“Not hardly. Wyatt, Brooks is gay.”
His face softened as a slight smile crossed it.
“Gay, huh? Didn’t know that.”
“Were you jealous?” she asked with a coy grin.
“Why would I be jealous, Madison? You’re my employer,” he said walking past her into the kitchen. She hobbled along behind him. Realizing she had really hurt his feelings, she caught up and touched his arm.
“Wyatt, wait… please,” she said. He turned and looked down at her. Those piercing blue eyes cut right through him.
“I can’t talk to you if I know you are struggling on those crutches,” he said as he pushed them to the floor and picked her up to place her on the counter. Now at eye level, she looked at him carefully before she began to speak.
“Wyatt, I’m sorry for beating you up so much lately. I realize that you were trying to show me who you are now, and I wasn’t allowing you to do it. I was holding you to all of those stupid things you did as a kid, and that wasn’t fair.”
Stunned by her words, he took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “And what caused this change of heart?”
“Brooks reminded me that I bullied him, too.”
“You were a bully?” he asked with a smile. “Hard to imagine.”
“Well, I was. And I realized that it would kill me if Brooks still thought of me that way and there was nothing I could do to change his mind. It’s not fair.”
“What isn’t
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