Rannigan’s Redemption is the story of high-profile Manhattan attorney Michael Rannigan and his complicated relationship with Maggie Flynn, the talented redhead he hires to join his elite firm.
Michael is an inveterate player with a contact list of hot blondes at his beck and call. Maggie is nothing like his usual type–she’s way too smart, for one thing. So why can’t he get her out of his mind?
Here’s a Christmas snippet from RUNNING ROGUE, Book 2.
Following the dinner party at Rance and Jason’s, Maggie felt a bit more comfortable in the new office. At least she knew a few people to speak with, some to go out to lunch with, and those few introduced to her more. She dived in to the cases that came her way and before she realized it, she’d been with the DA’s office for six months.
Suddenly she was making plans for Christmas. The usual cast of characters was invited along with a few new orphans and misfits from work. Rance and Jason promised to stop by on their way to Jason’s mother’s house in Connecticut.
Maggie wondered about Michael. Since that first year, he’s arranged his vacation so that he could at least put in an appearance at Maggie’s before jetting off to some exotic locale for the rest of the Christmas holiday.
Should I formally invite him? Surely he knows… His status as an orphan and misfit hasn’t changed.
But as Christmas day wore on, as guests arrived and dinner was prepared and consumed, gifts were exchanged and hugs were shared, Maggie kept an eye on her phone, her ear tuned toward the door buzzer.
By the time the last of her guests hugged her good night and headed out into the twilight of early Christmas night, there was still no sign of Michael. She glanced at the lone gift still waiting under her tree, the bottle of Parker’s Heritage “Golden Anniversary” bourbon she’d snagged for Michael at the liquor store where the manager always called her around the beginning of December to tell her about the rare bottle he’d put away for her annual purchase.
She considered the gifts he’d given her over the years. He always found something unique and beautiful like the moonstone bracelet which she adored and had tried to give back. There had been interesting art pieces, a hand-made necklace, and once, tickets to a Broadway show.
She shook her head, feeling foolish at having assumed he would come. I should have invited him. It’s not like me to be so passive-aggressive. I’m an idiot. She turned away from the Christmas tree, figuring she’d have the gift delivered to the office sometime after the New Year.
Her phone blipped indicating a message. She swiped at the screen to see a Snapchat notification. Pulling up the app, she saw that the message was from Michael and her heart pounded.
“Hi, Mags,” Michael smiled into the camera from the couch in his living room. “Merry Christmas. I was thinking about you and the other orphans and misfits. I hope you had a nice holiday.” Maggie smiled sheepishly. He had been waiting for an invitation. She considered not replying then thought better of it.
“Merry Christmas, Michael. We missed you today. When you didn’t come I figured you were already out of town. I hope you had a good holiday.” She pressed Send before she could change her mind.
He replied a few minutes later. “I leave tomorrow,” he grinned, looking away from the camera. “I wasn’t sure I was still invited. I had a peaceful day, no hassle or stress. It was nice.”
Wasn’t sure he was invited. Maggie sighed. She decided to play it off with humor. “You are an orphan and a misfit, Michael. You qualify on both counts,” she laughed. She looked directly into the camera. “You’re always invited,” she said softly.
Michael smiled into the camera, his eyes crinkling in that singular Michael Rannigan way. “I’m glad to hear it.” He paused a moment. “A messenger will be arriving at your door any time now. I’m sending your gift.”
Instinctively Maggie looked out the window. “Michael, you didn’t need to get me a gift. Seriously, it’s not necessary, I just…” She broke off as the buzzer sounded. “That must be he.” She sent the message and buzzed the front door.
A knock at her door told her the messenger had made it upstairs. She opened the door to find a tall young man holding a small parcel. “Maggie Flynn?” he asked.
Maggie smiled. “That’s me,” she said, taking the parcel. She signed for it, then, “Listen, can you take a parcel to the man who sent this?”
The young man grinned. “He said you’d probably ask me that.”
Michael always thinks he knows me, she thought irritably. She went to the Christmas tree to retrieve Michael’s gift. “It’s fragile,” she told him. “What do I owe you for delivering this?”
He shook his head. “Mr. Rannigan already paid me,” he said.
Maggie nodded. “Of course he did,” she muttered. “Thank you again, and Merry Christmas,” she wished him as he turned to leave.
She took the box to the living room and sat on the couch in front of the tree. She gazed at the gift for a moment. He’s probably waiting to hear if I like it, she thought, carefully removing the wrapping.
Inside the brown paper was a pale blue box tied with white ribbon, Tiffany & Co. stamped in silver on the lid. She removed the lid and gasped. There was a pair of dangling silver filigree earrings set with moonstone cabochons. They had to be the matching earrings to the bracelet.
Maggie crossed to a mirror on the wall and held up an earring to her ear. They were absolutely exquisite. She put them on and held up her phone. “Michael, I don’t know what to say. These are amazingly beautiful.” She tilted her head from side to side to show them off. “They go perfectly with the bracelet. You shouldn’t have, really.”
Michael smiled into the camera again. “I’m glad you like them. I knew you would when I saw them.” A serious look crossed his face. “You should have beautiful things.”
There it was, that classic Michael Rannigan mixed message that had kept her bound to him for so long. Maybe it’s just that he has no idea what he really wants. Which is why I can’t wait around for him anymore.
Maggie shook the ambivalence out of her head. “I love them, Michael, I really do. Thank you!” She grinned at him. “As you predicted, your messenger is on his way back to you. I thought I was going to have to send your gift to the office when you got back. Instead, you can have it now.”
He replied to her fifteen minutes later. “Holy shit, Mags, you did it again.” He held up the bottle of bourbon. “I don’t know how you always manage to find a different rare bottle every year. This is really something else!” He looked directly at the camera. “Now I have to find someone to share it with who will appreciate such a fine bourbon.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. I’m not biting, Michael. “I’m so glad you like it. How I find great bourbon is my little secret,” she winked. “And I have no doubt in your ability to find someone to share it with you. No worries.” She smiled and sent the video.
Michael felt unsettled as he watched her last message. That’s it. She’s over me. She’s not mad, she still likes me. But she’s not in love with me anymore. The thought unnerved him more than he would have thought. He keyed up Snapchat once more. “Well, thanks again, Mags. I love it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”
She replied one last time. “Merry Christmas, Michael. Have a great trip. Happy New Year!”
Rannigan’s Redemption is available as individual novels RESISTING RISK, RUNNING ROGUE, and RANSOMING REDEMPTION. It’s also available in one boxed set.
Pandora Spocks 