“Who’s that?” Intrigued, Kyle stared at the redhead in the skirt walking past them toward the food tables. He loved the way she moved, graceful but a little shy. That long curly hair was gorgeous. Hell, she was gorgeous. Was she visiting town? He recognized the dark haired woman as Olivia Davis, the mayor’s secretary.

Chase men did not fail to notice beautiful women and the other two looked up as well.

“Oh my lord, that’s her!” Marc burst out laughing.

“Her who?” Shane craned his neck to get a better look and blanched. “Oh no, it’s the teacher.”

“And it looks like she caught you drooling, too. Listen, why don’t I go over and apologize to her for you, I know how much you don’t like her.” Kyle realized he was only halfway joking.

“I owe it to her. I was a jerk.” Muttering to himself, Shane shoved himself past his brothers and stalked toward Maggie.

Catching sight of Dee and Arthur, Maggie waved them over. She pointed toward their blanket. “We’re over there with Alex and Shaun. We just came to grab food.”

“I’ll come with you two. Arthur, can you take our stuff over there? I’ll be back shortly, with extra potato salad.” Dee smiled sweetly and Arthur kissed her nose before loping off toward the blanket.

Dee turned back to Maggie and gave her a once over. “My god! Girl, you look gorgeous!”

“It’s all Liv, I had nothing to do with it.”

“Shaddup. I cut your hair and helped you pick some clothes. I didn’t give you a kidney or anything.” Liv waved her comments off.

“Don’t look now, Maggie, but I do believe the big bad sheriff is drooling,” Dee murmured.

They didn’t even bother to pretend not to look as Liv and Maggie turned in unison to look in his direction.

“Oh and look, he’s coming over here.” Liv smirked.

“Great, and the whole town is watching. Is the man incapable of doing anything without making a scene? God, this is going to get back to my mother, I know it.” Maggie blushed scarlet as heads turned to take in Shane’s progress toward the three women.

Coming to a halt before them, he stood, hands on his hips. Maggie had to crane her neck up to see his face. What a surprise, he was glowering. Did the man have any other facial expression where she was concerned?

Frustrated anger coursed through her. “Yes? Did you fall getting out of your car and have come to yell at me for it? Or wait, let me go and grab some food and you can crash into me and spill it. I know! Gas prices are my fault right?” Maggie narrowed her eyes at him.

Anger flashed in Shane’s eyes. “No. I came to apologize but I can see that you aren’t ready to hear it.”

“That’s right, turn it around on me. Make it my fault again that you didn’t do the polite thing last night. Gee, you think that because you are so good looking that you get a free pass?”

Ohmigod, did I just tell him I think he’s good looking? She groaned inwardly.

“What’s your problem anyway? Are you just naturally cranky?”

“Me? I’m cranky? You take the cake, buster. If you’ll excuse me, I have a picnic to attend with my friend.” Maggie’s teeth were clenched so tight her jaw ached. She, Liv and Dee snorted and turned and walked as one toward the food tables as if Shane didn’t exist

“Smooth.” Kyle approached, watching her as she walked away.

“What now? I came to apologize and she started in on me before I could say a single word.”

“Shane, you’re a giant. You stand at least a foot taller than the woman. You stalked over here with that look on your face and glared down at her. Of course she felt threatened! You are aware you’re physically threatening right? It’s one of the reasons you rarely get challenged as a cop. So if the bad guys won’t take you on you think she’s immune? And you do have a history of intimidating her.”

Kyle’s eyes wandered again to Maggie. Watching as she chatted animatedly with her friends and the women handing out heaping plates of food. “You know, she cleans up pretty nice. I had no idea.”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“I recognize that tone, Kyle. A woman like that is trouble. There are plenty of beautiful women in Petal. Stick with one of those.” Shane’s glower was back.

Kyle laughed heartily. “Hmm, you’re sounding a mite jealous, Shane. You looking for a bit of trouble? If so, I’d happy to stand back and let you at her.”

The two of them watched as the women walked back to their blanket. Alex got up and went to help with the plates of food she’d been carrying and then helped her down to the ground.

“Uh oh, looks like someone else got to her first. Who’d have thought that little schoolteacher with the conservative blouses and the bun would look like that underneath?”

“I stole Melissa Harken from Alex Parsons back in the eighth grade. I don’t see why I can’t snatch our pretty schoolteacher from him.” Matt strolled up with Marc. The grin on his face made it obvious he was deliberately goading Shane.

“Yeah, right. And that would be before or after you admit to all of us you have a thing for Olivia?” Kyle winked at Matt who laughed.

“Yeah. Well. Anyway. I don’t think it would be very hard to push Alex out of the picture.”

“No one is snatching anyone!” Shane turned away, stalking back to their blanket, grumbling under his breath.