Road to Peace by Piper Davenport Read Free Book Online

my head to meet Alison’s dancing eyes; I grimaced and whispered, “He left a voicemail.”
    “I see that.” She grinned. “Listen to it.”
    “I can’t.”
    “I’ll do it.” She snatched the phone off my desk and dialed the voicemail, putting it on speaker.
    “ Hey, Maisie, it’s Hatch. I’m in the area. Thought I’d see if you wanted to grab dinner. I’ll be here for another half-hour or so, so let me know .”
    Then he hung up, as did Alison. “Sexy voice,” Alison said.
    “What do I do?” I asked.
    “You call him back.”
    “I have a daughter. I can’t just go to dinner with someone on a whim.”
    “ I can take care of Poppy.” She waved her finger toward me in a circular motion. “You need to take care of your vagina.”
    “Stop with the vagina talk!” I snapped. “I’m not having sex with him. Or anyone. Ever again.”
    “We’ll see.” She smirked. “Call him back.”
    “No.”
    “Niall has been dead for almost ten years, Maisie. Ten. That’s a long time. If you want to move on, it’s okay.”
    I blinked back tears. “I don’t want to move on.”
    “Well, you should.” She rose to her feet and walked to my side of the desk where she sat on the edge facing me. “I have never seen you this affected by a man. And not to diminish the memory of Niall, but let’s be honest, you didn’t even react to him like this.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Honey, it is true. You loved him fiercely, I’m not saying you didn’t, but he didn’t make you nervous and fluttery like this Hatch person is.”
    “You just didn’t see us at the beginning.” Although, admittedly, I’d never been fluttery to this degree with Niall.
    “You’re right. I didn’t.” She smiled gently. “But men have been falling at your feet forever, Maisie. Long before Niall passed away, honey, and even as recently as last week—”
    “What? Who?”
    “Jeremy.”
    “Marville?” I squeaked.
    “Yes.”
    I let out a rather inelegant snort. “He’s a client, Alison. He is not interested in me.”
    “He’s totally gagging for you.”
    I blushed again. Alison loved to make me squirm. “Ali,” I rasped.
    “Sorry. Sometimes it’s just too easy.” She giggled. “Anyway. Jeremy sends flowers, he’s asked you out several times, but this Hatch guy is the first one you’ve showed any interest in. Have a little fun.”
    “Ali, I have a daughter to think about. I can’t just ‘have a little fun.’” I shook my head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m going to decline.”
    She frowned and snatched my phone off the desk, jumping away from me before I could grab her.
    “What are you doing?” I snapped.
    “I just accepted his invitation.” She handed the phone back to me. “You’re welcome.”
    I saw she’d texted him and I scowled. “Why would you do that?”
    “Because you need this. I’ll take care of Poppy and you can pick her up from my place later.”
    “He’s probably a serial killer.”
    “Well, then stay to public areas and you’ll be good.”
    “Why are you not concerned I might be super murdered by a serial killer?” I challenged.
    She shrugged. “Because you need some kind of adventure in your life.”
    My phone buzzed in my hand, startling me again. It was a text from Hatch and I bit my lip, my heart racing as I read it.
    Serratto? How does an hour sound?
    “He wants to meet me at Serratto.”
    “Hmm, your favorite. Definitely a serial killer,” Ali retorted.
    “You suck.”
    She pointed to my phone. “Tell him yes.”
    “God,” I whispered.
    “God’s not going to text him, Maisie. So, you do it, or I will.”
    She started toward me and I stepped behind my desk again.
    “Don’t you dare. I’ll do it myself.” I fired off my acceptance and then lowered myself into my chair, dropping my forehead to my desk. “What did I just do?”
    “You just opened the pages of a new chapter, honey. I’m proud of you.”
    I wasn’t so sure this was true, but I sent my