Wife for Hire by Janet Evanovich Read Free Book Online Page B

play. And now he’s your responsibility, dear.” She sank back into her seat with a look of enviable serenity.
    Hank grinned. “I wasn’t that bad.”
    Linda Sue fanned herself with her napkin. “Honey, you were the scourge of Skogen.”
    Maggie’s heart did a little tap dance. The scourge of Skogen? What sort of man was she living with? Sexy, she decided. Too sexy. She thought about the kiss in the upstairs hall and promised herself it wouldn’t happen again. He was one of those men who collected women like other men collect stamps or coins. Two of his women were sitting at the table. Probably if she looked out the front window she’d see a hundred more camped out on the lawn.
    She felt herself flush hot and looked over at Hank. He was watching her, and he was smiling. The scourge of Skogen knew when a woman was attracted to him, she thought. That wasundoubtedly one of the things that made him such a scourge.
    She took a deep breath, relaxed her shoulders, and sent Hank a warning smile. “All that’s in the past,” she said. “Hank’s a married man. His scourging days are over. Isn’t that right, dumpling?”
    â€œThat’s right, sweetcakes,” Hank said. “I do my scourging at home now.”
    Maggie felt the smile tighten on her face. This was going to be a long six months if she was going to have to ward off his scourging every day. She’d never put up with much from the male population of Riverside, but then she’d never been swept off her feet by any of them. No one had ever made the earth move when they kissed her. No one until Hank. It was going to be tough to resist the advances of a man who had the potential to fulfill every fantasy she’d ever had.
    Helen Mallone turned to Maggie’s mother. “Sounds like a marriage made in heaven.”
    â€œYeah,” Linda Sue said, “sounds like they deserve each other.”
    Maggie didn’t think that sounded especially flattering.
    â€œGoodness,” Mabel said to Maggie, “you lookjust like your Grandfather Toone when your eyes get all beady and glittery like that.”
    â€œIt’s true,” Aunt Marvina said. “Your Grandfather Toone had a short fuse. If some poor soul was dumb enough to insult your Grandfather Toone, your Grandfather Toone would haul off and rearrange the man’s face. He had some temper, didn’t he, Mabel?”
    Linda Sue’s eyes got wide. “Holy cow,” she said to Maggie, “you aren’t a face rearranger like your grandfather, are you?”
    â€œDon’t worry about Maggie,” Hank said to Linda Sue. “We decided now that she’s a married woman she’d go easy on the violent stuff. She’s even agreed to stop mud wrestling.”
    Holly’s mouth fell open. “Do you really mud wrestle?”
    â€œShe was the best,” Hank answered. “She was the Central Jersey Mud Wrestling Queen.”
    Maggie shot out of her seat. “Hank Mallone, I’d like to see you in the kitchen, please.”
    â€œShe’s got that look again,” Linda Sue said. “I bet she’s going to hit him.”
    Maggie swished through the kitchen door and closed it behind her. “Mud wrestling? Mud wrestling? Don’t you think this dinner has gotten far enough out of hand?”
    â€œI thought you’d be pleased. I told them you were the best.”
    She had him by the shirtfront. “This is serious!” she yelled. “Your parents think I’m a reformed mud wrestler!”
    â€œCalm yourself,” Hank said. “I’ve decided to make my parents think I’ve reformed you. Then they’ll really think I’m stable.” He massaged her shoulders. “You have to learn how to relax. Look at you…you’re entirely too tense.”
    He was right, she realized. She was tense. And probably she’d overreacted. Certainly her mother and