The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag 00 - Swept Under the Rug

voted to honor you at the spring festival next month. We’re all grateful for your...,” I could practically see her swallowing her pride “Sacrifices.”
    Neil’s gaze bore into the back of her head as she left. “Cold comfort. A citizen’s award, just ducky.”
    “I never received an award before.” I whispered. “To you it’s no big deal, but to me….
    Neil sighed and I smiled, glad to know I’d won this round. We’d stay, at least until spring. Warmth, hope a new start. Which reminded me….
    “After I’m back on my feet, let’s get a dog for Kenny. And we promised to set Josh up in his own room.”
    He shook his head. “We don’t have the space right now, what with Marty and Penny—”
    “Yeah, I’ve got an idea about them too….”
    “Oh sweet Jesus,” Neil gazed heavenward and flopped back into the chair.

Before she was the Laundry Hag

    Maggie needed to rescue her hero.

    Keep reading for a sneak peak of

    the bestselling romantic comedy

    Who Needs A Hero?

    By Jennifer L. Hart

Chapter One

    1996

    “ S eriously Maggie, why does he want to marry you?” my younger brother asked with a mouthful of pizza, one eye on the Redskins game playing on the television. My family believed in multitasking. “You’re his secretary for God’s sake.”
    “Don’t talk with your mouth full, you’re going to choke. And I’m his assistant , you weenie. We’re getting married because he loves me.” I replied with the utmost confidence. Sure, he hadn’t said the words, but why else would he want to spend the rest of his life with me?
    “I’m moving in with Gloria next week and I don’t love her. How come this guy who supposedly loves you won’t let you live with him?” Marty raised one eyebrow, a skill I’d never mastered.
    “He’s old-fashioned. He wants to wait until after we’re married.”
    Marty snorted and some root beer shot out of his nose. “Old-fashioned guys don’t get it on in the backseat of a Camaro.”
    I winced at the memory. “I never should have told you about that. It was a long time ago and how was I supposed to know the rocking car meant he was boffing his girlfriend? Can I help it if my warped little prepubescent mind thought a vagrant was stealing his car? I was only ten, for the love of grief!”
    “Well you’re being naïve again, Maggie. Something isn’t right.”
    I wiped up the root beer with a napkin. “Maybe I am naïve, but I’m happy. Can’t you be happy for me, too?”
    Washington scored a touchdown and Marty yeah baby-ed the team before he answered my question. “I want to be happy for you sis, but I still think you should ask him about the money again. Get it before the two of you are married. Go over there now and ask him for it.” Marty pointed his pizza crust at the door.
    “If it’ll make you happy, sprout, I will.” With a spring in my step, I went.
    My fiancé only lived a few blocks to the southwest of my sublet condo. The Jetta—or the pee-pee mobile as Marty was fond of calling my ride—was on its last legs so I decided to walk. The leaves on the deciduous trees had a jaundiced look, pale yellow or light orange with brown flecks as they often did this time of year. Richmond didn’t boast the glorious fall foliage that some other parts of Virginia were known for. My one-point-five caret diamond sparkled with the colors of the setting sun and an early October breeze lifted my hair back from my shoulders. Life was good.
    I reached his apartment building as the light faded and the doorman recognized me right away. “Good evening, Miss Maggie.” He greeted me with a slight bow of his stooped, arthritic shoulders.
    “Hi Eddie, how are you feeling?”
    “Can’t complain.” The dour faced doorman offered me one of his rare half smiles. “You look very nice this evening.”
    “Thank you. Is he in?” I chucked my thumb at the second floor.
    Eddie’s expression clouded over—he didn’t care for my fiancé. “I believe so, Ma’am.”
    My spirits soared so high I didn’t even mind the Ma’am-ing. I thanked him and continued on my way into the lobby.
    Wanting to burn off my second slice of pizza, I skipped the elevator and headed for the stairs. An elderly couple with a pair of wiener dogs made their way down and we exchanged pleasantries as I held the door for them.
    The second floor hallway was empty, as most of the building’s inhabitants were the upwardly mobile sort who spent every evening out being seen. Upwardly