Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Mason wasn’t in on Thursday, and Maggie tried several times to get a minute alone with him on Friday, to no avail.
Her suspicions regarding Jack seemed foolish in the light of day, and even though she was sure he had been following her, she wasn’t overly concerned.
Until she could catch up with Mason, she would make it a point to be ready to leave when the guys did so she wouldn’t be left to walk to her truck alone.
After finishing up the paperwork for payroll, she sighed and locked up the trailer.
At least it was the weekend, she thought as she headed to her truck.
The drive home wasn’t long enough to unwind, but the hot shower did the trick.
Nick would be there at seven-thirty to babysit, and she still hadn’t decided where she was going.
Tired and cranky, she was sorry she’d asked him to sit.
The excitement of the kids was irritating too.
You’d think they hadn’t seen him all week.
All the way home, Maggie played different scenarios in her mind.
She could get dressed up and go out by herself, pretending to meet her date somewhere.
She could call a girlfriend and go out for a drink.
Nick would never know she wasn’t on a real date.
Frankly, she had half a mind to tell him she’d broken the date and stay home with the kids, but her pride wouldn’t let her.
Besides, now the kids were looking forward to spending the evening with Nick, and she didn’t have the heart to disappoint them.
The thought of staying home and spending the evening with all of them was appealing.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know how many more of those looks she could handle without making a total fool of herself and dragging him off to bed.
Heat suffused her face. She moaned. Why did she remember the passion they shared in such vivid detail?
Instantly her mind was made up. Out it was.
Maybe if Nick thought she was interested in someone else, he’d back off and give her some breathing space.
She still hadn’t gotten back to her lawyer with her decision, and the more time Nick spent with her, the harder it was becoming to put the best interest of the kids first.
She still believed that they were all better off before Mr. Nicholas Kord had sailed back into her life.
The last thing any of them needed was more heartbreak, and he hadn’t exactly shown staying power.
He’d walked out on her once before when she’d needed him desperately, and he wouldn’t get the chance to do it again.
Yes, now he knew about Jason, but if a man didn’t stay with you because he loved you, couldn’t live without you, then how could you be expected to ever trust him again?
And why would you risk your children getting hurt?
Maggie knew straight up, she would not survive another betrayal from the one man who had the power to destroy her.
Dressing with care, she found herself wearing the sexiest thing she could find in her closet.
The emerald green dress was well above the knees and shimmered with every movement of her body.
Spaghetti straps held the snug bodice and the short black jacket only emphasized her tiny waist and flared hips.
Black heels completed her outfit and a jeweled clip held her auburn curls away from her face and cascading halfway down her back.
Not bad for a woman your age, Maggie my girl, she told herself after finishing her makeup.
Hearing the doorbell, she grabbed her earrings and headed downstairs.
Caitie launched herself at Nick the minute he came through the door and demanded to see what was in the large bag he carried. When he pulled out a new PlayStation, Maggie was momentarily confused.
“They have a game system, Nick. Why did you buy another one?” she asked fiddling with her onyx earring, conscious of his eyes taking in every detail of her appearance in a long hot look.
Her pulse accelerated immediately, her breath coming hot and fast. Her body’s seemingly automatic response to him appalled her.
“Caitie never gets to play when Jason and Todd have the game. I figured that called for another one, and a few games for her age group. We’ll hook it up in the living room.”
“Well, that was very thoughtful of you, but you shouldn’t have spent the money. Jason and Todd need to learn to share,” she snapped.
“Have Jason hook this up, honey,” Nick told Caitie, setting the bag down. She hugged him hard and ran off to tell the boys.
Moments later Caitie reappeared, tugging Jason by the hand.
“This is cool, Nick,” Jason told him. “Now maybe Caitie will leave us alone for five seconds so we can play. Thanks.”
Nick leaned against the bar, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Tell me, Maggie, just out of curiosity. Did Jim have any problems with you wearing that dress?” Nick asked, his voice oddly smooth.
“I bought it after he died,” she answered, refusing to feel intimidated. “Why, what’s wrong with it?” she demanded, turning slowly for his inspection.
The reaction she got was slightly more than she anticipated.
The desire in his eyes was plain to see, and somewhat flattering; the tick in his jaw wasn’t quite what she was looking for.
Nick angry she could handle, and Nick passionate was always appealing, even if she did refuse to give in and become his ticket to Jason.
But a combination of the two was downright combustible.
Her body’s response swamped her like a strong wave as fear and fire coursed through her.
“A little revealing, don’t you think?” he asked huskily. “Where are you going, Maggie, and with whom?”
“Who are you, my father?” she chided, secretly pleased he found her attractive. So many times he had seen her at her worst, sweaty, dirty, and exhausted.
“You’re lucky I’m not, sweetheart,” he responded smoothly, “because if I was, you wouldn’t get out of the house dressed like that.”
“Old-fashioned to the core,” she murmured quietly.
“What was that?” he inquired, trying to keep his cool while desire and jealously battled within him.
“Nothing,” Maggie replied.
“So, who’s the lucky guy you prefer over me?” he asked bluntly, fixing her with a cool blue stare.
No one, her heart whispered softly as she burst out, “Tim Morrissey,” sliding her tongue across very dry lips and studying her freshly painted nails as she told the blatant lie.
“No kidding. I was just talking to him the other day,” Nick remarked, straightening up from the bar and stretching, his big body appearing deceptively relaxed.
“How do you know Tim?” Maggie asked, not ready to make eye contact. Shoot, the first name that popped into my head, and he has to know him personally. Tim had asked her out several times after Jim died, but she’d always refused.
“Tim was the real estate agent who handled the deal for my new office,” he informed her softly. “He also happens to be getting married next month. I imagine that slipped his mind when he asked you out.”
Maggie quickly walked to the sink and ran the cold water. What she really wanted was to stick her head under the faucet and hope she drowned. Instead she reached for a glass.
“I know that,” she told him after taking several large gulps which nearly threw her into a choking fit. Damn. Turning around she caught the grin on Nick’s face that said better than words he didn’t believe her. What was it they said about, if it wasn’t for bad luck… ?
Maggie was nothing if not stubborn, and at this point she had nothing to lose. If he was going to catch her in another lie, something that she seemed to do a lot when it concerned him, it may as well be a whopper.
“Maybe I’m going to be his last fling before he ties the knot,” she smiled as his grin faded remarkably fast to be replaced by a fierce scowl.
“The hell you are,” he growled, advancing on her with a determined stride.
Maggie’s hand flew to her throat, and she unconsciously backed up a step.
Her high color could have been caused by anger, but Nick had the feeling it wasn’t.
One hand settled in the shinning curls at her nape, and the other slid around her bottom lifting her clear off the floor.
Backing up, he leaned against the bar, and settled her firmly into the cradle of his thighs.
His tight worn jeans and her thin dress left little to the imagination.
Hard and hot, soft and melting, she allowed herself one ineffectual push on his chest before the blue fire promise in his eyes forced her to surrender, and she let her head drop back.
The kisses he trailed from her ear to the top of her breasts were like flashes of heat lightening.
The roaring in her ears drowned out any sounds of children in the other rooms, and the rocking of his hips had her whimpering in need within seconds.
Never had desire come so quick and fierce as it did with Nick.
He was so much of a man that everything female in her responded without reason.
The strong arms that held her suspended were also gentle.
As her fingers threaded through his hair, she pulled his lips to hers.
She knew no matter how many years separated them, how many arguments, how many problems, she would always be forced to respond to him.
Yes, Nick was a dangerous man, capable of making her forget almost everything…
everything except the young man standing in the doorway watching the ravishment of his mother.
Struggling wildly Maggie whispered the one word guaranteed to gain her release, “Jason”.