Chapter 14
MAGGIE
For the first time since Jaycee was born, I didn’t have the urge to throw the alarm across the room when it went off. The second buzz indicated an incoming text, but I ignored that.
I was already awake, which was not all that unusual. But I was smiling like a sixteen-year-old fool which hadn’t happened since I was, well, sixteen.
And my lips still tingled.
I flopped onto my back, smiling at the ceiling.
The giddiness was something new. I had never experienced that with Fred.
Not even in the beginning. The memory of the night before had been playing on a loop in my mind when I fell asleep and it was the first thing I thought of when I woke up.
That was not merely a date. It was a fully fledged, military style, romantic manoeuvre.
I said I wanted to date, and be wooed and the man did not fail to deliver. Not once was I reminded of any of my responsibilities, or his for that matter. It was still at the back of both our minds, there were children involved, but none of it made their way into our conversation.
He made me forget that I was a stressed single mom hiding in a billionaire’s fortress.
Then there was that kiss. So different from the one in his bathroom. Slower, but no less hot. Less desperate, more sensual. It's a toss up between which one was better. Both had their place in our story and I wanted there to be more.
Another buzz from my phone put an end to my day dreaming.
Pancake Club
Tiff: Well?
Tiff: Wake up. I know your alarm went off already.
Tiff: Margaret Amber Bauman. Do not ignore me. How was your date?
I decided to mess with her a little.
Maggie: It was really good.
Before Tiff could respond, one of my sisters got there first.
Cat: Nope. Not that simple. We want details.
That surprised me. Still I couldn’t help but smile as I responded.
Maggie: Aren’t you supposed to be off the grid.
Cat: Just got back to Coronado. Going to have breakfast with A before he’s off for a few months.
A was Aidan. Another of our friends who was also a SEAL. Cat had gone through SEAL training but was part of something else that she could not talk about.
Grace: Is he still dating that bitch?
Shiloh and Skylar answered at the same time.
Shiloh: Don’t call her that.
Skylar: That’s not nice.
Grace: If the guys can call Hilton a douche, then we can call what’s-her-face a bitch.
Shiloh: They don’t call him that because he’s dating Sky. It’s because of the way he treats her.
Skylar: He treats me fine.
Tiff: As much as I do want to discuss the Aids/Sky situation can we get back to the topic at hand. Maggie? How the fuck was your date?
Skylar: There’s no situation
Shiloh: We want details. Was he a gentleman? Or is there a trail of clothes from the front door to the bedroom?
I reminded them that there were four children in the house and that he was a perfect gentleman. Each of them had put in their own opinion but they were all happy for me.
Maggie: The next step to Operation: Wooing - The Gala evening. I’m supposed to get a dress. But I am not sure how I feel about him giving me his credit card to do it.
Tiffany: Which one? Is it silver or black?
I got out of bed and fished the card out of my wallet.
Maggie: Black. He said you should get a dress too.
Tiffany: Wow. He’s only ever allowed me to use the company silver one for the gala. Black must mean he’s serious. We are going to make such a dent on that thing.
Shiloh: Ryder has tickets to that event too, I need to get a dress as well.
Grace: I want photos!!!!
Cat: Same!
Skylar: Ditto!
Two hours later with Theo watching the kids and Tiffany playing RideShare driver and Shiloh in the backseat, we were on our way to San Diego.
And not to an outlet mall. Oh no, with Tiffany at the wheel, we stopped at a boutique with valet parking and a doorman. Seriously, it looked like we were entering a high end hotel, not a dress shop.
I turned to Tiffany. “Are you sure about this? This is not exactly a pretzels after shopping place.”
As I said the words, a woman walked up to us, looking at Tiffany. “Ms Snow. It's so good to see you. I cannot believe a year has passed already.”
“It has, and this time I brought some friends with me.” Tiffany looked completely at home in the boutique despite her entire outfit being thrifted or designed herself. “Marie, please meet Maggie and Shiloh Bauman.”
Marie looked to be in her forties with her dark hair sleeked back into a low, long ponytail.
Her navy blue shift dress hugged her slight curves.
Her eyes darted from Tiff to Shiloh in her floral sundress and then to me in my faded jeans and sneakers with a Reverse Cowgirl T-shirt.
“And all three of you will be on the same account.”
“Oh no.” Shiloh shook her head. “I’ve brought my fiancé’s credit card.”
Shiloh had no problem flicking the silver plastic between her fingers.
Tiffany also shook her head. “Also, it will not be the same card you have on file. My brother has provided his girlfriend with his personal Amex card.”
Marie’s thin eyebrows raised up her forehead. “Oh.” She attempted a smile but it didn’t quite hit the mark. She turned to Shiloh. “And you mentioned your fiancé?”
“Yes, Ryder Hawkins.” Shiloh did not look impressed. “But Marie, it should be mentioned. That boutiques like this are not rare in San Diego. We are willing to go somewhere more welcoming if you’re not happy to help us.”
The spluttering and fumbling that followed would be comical if it wasn’t so blatant. “Can I get you something to drink? Champagne, perhaps?”
Tiffany did not bother to hide her smile. “I’m the designated driver, but please get each of these ladies some champagne.”
“Of course.” The woman gestured to one end of the showroom. “The evening gowns are toward the back. You can start on that end, with the Alexander McCalls and make your way around to the Missy K dresses. Once we have an idea of what each of you like we can pull some ideas and go from there.”
Browsing the dresses was the easy part, even if it took longer than expected.
Finally, I was in a dressing room with Shiloh while Tiffany spoke to Marie, picking some choices for all of us to try.
The first was a dress I had liked on the hanger. A red number with a poufy skirt and a fitting off the shoulder bodice. On me, it looked more like a melting slushy. Disappointed, I took it off while Shiloh tried on a green number with long sleeves.
The second was also one I had chosen. A blue number that had also missed the mark.
The third one was a dress only because that’s what the designer called.
It was a black number with shoestring straps and backless all the way to my ass crack.
It barely covered my boobs with a slit that reached my hip bone.
I had no intention of removing my underwear in the fitting room, but it was obvious I would need to go without any if I went with that dress.
Shiloh let out a whistle, having already chosen a turquoise chiffon and lace capped sleeve dress. “That dress is more like, Operation: We’re not leaving the limo.”
“Yeah.” I tried not to show my thoughts on my face. “I’m not wearing this one.”
Tiffany tapped her finger to her chin. “Marie, my friend here needs something that likely looks boring… Wait, I saw something on the Missy K rail.”
Tiffany left with me standing in my cotton bra and panties. When she returned she held up a blush pink dress that did indeed look boring on the hanger. But then I fitted it on.
Floor length and strapless with layers and layers of chiffon and a ruched and gathered bodice that gave the impression it was wrapped around me.
For the first time since entering the boutique I smiled and nodded.
“Yes, this is the one.” This was not a dress of a mom, or a bar owner, or housekeeper.
It was the dress of the woman on Theo Snow’s arm. It was perfect.
While I paid for both mine and Tiff’s dress, one of the shop assistants zipped the dresses into a branded garment bag. They would be delivered to the house so we didn’t need to carry it along with us.
With the dresses purchased, the shoes and the rest of the accessories were easy to find. After a morning of shopping, we stopped at a food truck for lunch before returning home.
It was late afternoon when I walked into Theo's house. I was surprised at how much I had enjoyed myself. I loved dressing up as much as anyone else, but I was glad it was over. I was ready to return to reality, perfectly content in the knowledge that I could have both worlds.
Theo was meant to be watching the kids. I was perfectly prepared to find him in his office while the kids were in front of the TV or on their iPads in the living room.
When I walked through the foyer, I popped my head into the living room.
I found Hayden kneeling in front of the coffee table covered in what looked like a sheet and a cardboard box, and… “Is that doll house furniture?”
Hayden nodded. “Uncle Theo helped me put some of the parts together. He said I should paint all the furniture. Then we can work out how to break them when we set the earthquake in motion.”
“Cool.” I loved that Theo wanted to help, but also recognized that Hayden needed to do most of it by himself. “Where is everyone else?”
“Connor’s doing homework at the kitchen counter because he’s supposed to be keeping an eye on me. Zoe’s out. Uncle Theo and Jaycee are in his office.” He rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. I’ve already been tasked with adding a glitter fence to this model.”
Now he had me curious. I generally kept the kids out of the office. Even Zoe and Connor only went in there if they needed him to sign something for school.
I slid my head through the gap in the door and I stifled my gasp of surprise. It looked like a glitter bomb had gone off in there. Or maybe a unicorn had farted.
He spotted me and smiled, the lopsided tiara nearly falling off his head while he held out his hand for a highlighter manicure. “We had a bit of a melt down because we were excluded from the girls’ shopping day.”
I bit my lip so I didn’t laugh. “And you got wrangled into a princess ex—”
“Party” He interrupted my thought. “She had all four of us drinking rainbow tea at one point. There was no nap though.”
I smiled at my man with eyeshadow and stars on his face, giving in to every whim of a headstrong four-year-old with a pathological love for glitter and unicorns.
I had a good day. But the truth was, any man could buy me a dress and take me to a classy gala evening. Anyone could put me up in their fortress mansion. Well, maybe not anyone, but anyone with Theo’s money could do it.
Of all the woo-ing he had done, what I saw in front of me was the one that would sell me.
Big tough billionaire, Theo Snow, entertaining my daughter only because she wanted a girly day.
He thought the dress shopping impressed me, he had no idea the impact of loving my children.
This vulnerable, ridiculous man who was as comfortable in toy make up and pink glitter as he was in a power suit and Italian shoes.
That was the man I was falling for.