Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The man was damn near perfect even if he was bossy, and she could see him trying to curb that tendency too. It amused her to see him gritting his teeth at some comment she made, and she wondered how much longer it would be before he blew.
Finding time alone was almost impossible, and Maggie frequently thought about marrying him just to get the man in her bed and keep him there.
All he had to do was look at her from across the room with those smoldering eyes and she was heading upstairs again.
Apparently, there weren’t enough panties in the world to take care of her problem.
Nick knew exactly what he was doing to her, and finally, in retaliation, she began what was vulgarly referred to in high school as “copping a feel.”
Every chance she got she brushed against him, sometimes lightly stroking him on her way by.
If he hugged her, she would hide behind her hair and quickly suck or bite his neck.
She frequently rubbed his thigh if they were sitting next to each other, either at the table or on the couch, slowly going higher each time.
Maggie relished making him sweat, and she found that if she stood in front of him she could keep a hand behind her and gently cup and rub him without anyone noticing.
As he hardened in her hand, he was trapped there, unable to move without revealing the state of his arousal. It really was sweet torture.
Nick caught on quickly and if she came near him when anyone was around he would pull her to his side, holding her tightly to him.
Although this prevented her from a direct assault on his manhood, she was still able to slip her arm around behind his waist and happily rub and squeeze his butt.
His hissed “Behave!” was music to her ears, and if she could get a groan out of him it was even better.
One night, when she had been teasing him mercilessly since she walked in the door and he had pretty much reached the end of his endurance, he called her into the kitchen.
“Maggie, can you give me a hand? I have a shirt I can’t get the stain out of.”
The kids were occupied with video games, and she was watching the news. Getting up, she went into the kitchen.
“Where is it? Let me see what I can do,” she offered, reaching for the shirt and accidentally brushing her breasts against his arm.
“Come in here; I’ll show you what I need help with,” he told her, pulling her into the laundry room. Locking the door, he twirled her into his arms and kissed her senseless.
Maggie’s heart pounded erratically as he briefly let her go, pulled her sweats and panties down and bent her over the washer.
Before her tummy quit contracting from the cold metal, he was sliding heat into her from behind.
Delicious tremors started even before he reached under her to circle her clit, and she slapped her hand over her mouth.
Being the gentleman he was, Nick grabbed a clean towel off the dryer and shoved it into her face, which came in very handy a few minutes later when she screamed her pleasure into it.
Nick, being a member of the stronger sex, collapsed on her back and roared into her sweatshirt while waiting for his teeth to stop tingling.
“There. Let that be a lesson to you,” he scolded her. “It doesn’t pay to tease me.”
Maggie burst out laughing. “It does, Nick. It definitely does.”
* * *
The six weeks flew by far faster than Maggie could fathom. Hot summer days melted into sweet, sultry nights. Nick now seemed an integral part of her life and the kids’ lives. Picnics, trips to the amusement park, and drive-in movies all blended together like a kaleidoscope in her mind.
She knew Nick would be expecting an answer soon, and she searched her heart but still could not come up with one she was sure about.
He was everything she wanted, and in truth, the past six weeks had been the best in her life.
He loved her, she was sure, and most of all, he loved the kids.
Men like that didn’t grow on trees, her Ma told her one day on the phone. And she was right.
The one thing she’d really been worried about had resolved itself.
Nick had spanked her only a couple of times and never in anger.
Maggie had to face the truth. Both times she had deserved it.
In a relatively short time, she’d learned not to push his buttons, well not the spanking button anyway.
The other button she loved pushing immensely and had no intention of giving that up.
But marriage? Did she really want to get married again?
She tried to imagine her life without Nick and could barely recall what it was like before he came back.
It was lonely, that she knew, and scary at times.
Everything rested on her, all the responsibility both financial and parental.
He’d been right about that too. The less stress she felt, the more centered she became.
Maggie struggled, trying to find words for how she was feeling. Light-hearted? Yes, that was it, light-hearted. Life was fun again. Nick was tender and giving, not just financially, but with his time, his patience, his wisdom. He was a keeper, she realized, and she would never let him go.
Sunday dinner at her parents became a weekly event, and Nick actually looked forward to the chaos. His self-imposed time frame had expired, and he braced himself for another refusal.
The commotion at dinner had passed, and he and Maggie sat on the porch swing. It felt so natural for her to be snuggled against him as he rocked the swing to and fro. Kissing the top of her head, he inhaled her sweet scent, wondering how he would ever survive if she told him no.
He cursed himself for only giving her six weeks when he could have dragged it out much longer.
At least then things could stay as they were.
The gentle swinging motion was in direct contrast with his pounding heart, and he closed his eyes as he tried to work up the courage to ask the question that could break his heart.
Little scuffing noises broke through his thoughts, and he looked up to see they had an audience. Jason leaned casually against the doorframe. Todd was scuffing his sneaker back and forth against the wooden floor, and Caitie was silently watching them, a wistful expression on her little face.
“What’s up?” he asked, giving Maggie a gentle nudge.
“We gots a great idea,” Caitie replied approaching the swing and climbing into his lap, sure of her welcome.
Maggie straightened and smiled. “You do?”
“Yup,” she informed them. Laying her hand on Nick’s cheek, she locked her blue eyes on his.
“I miss my Daddy,” she told him solemnly, her golden curls bobbing. Nick pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
“I know you do, sugar plum,” he crooned, his eyes misting.
Maggie swallowed hard and reached out to pat Caitie’s hand.
“We all do, honey, but there’s nothing we can do. Your Daddy has gone to heaven.”
“Then I wants a new one,” she insisted. “I want Nick to be my Daddy.”
“Sweetheart, you know I will always be here for you and that I love you very much,” he reassured her and looked at Maggie imploringly.
“I know, Nicky,” Caitie told him, rubbing his cheek again, “but I gots to have a real Daddy. It’s very ‘portant.”
For a few moments, there was total silence on the porch. Nick held his breath. Jason and Todd were frozen in time, and Caitie stilled on Nick’s lap as she gently patted his cheek and waited for the grown-ups to answer her question.
“Well then,” Maggie sighed, her eyes twinkling. “I guess we’ll have to get married, Nick. If Caitie says you’re her new Daddy, what else can we do?”
Nick pulled Maggie to him and kissed her with fire and passion.
“Hey, yous squishin’ me,” Caitie squealed.
Jason realized it was hard to look cool when you’re grinning from ear to ear.
Todd punched the air and quietly yelled “Yes!”
“I think you had a great idea, pumpkin,” Nick told Caitie, taking Maggie’s hand in his and kissing it.
“I didn’t tell you mys idea yet,” Caitie told them wiggling to get down.
“You didn’t?” they both said in surprise.
“Nope, my bestest idea is I wants a sister. Lilly and Rose says I gots to have a Daddy first. Yous have to do stuff in order, you know?” she informed them smugly.
“Yes, that does seem smart,” Nick told her nodding his head in agreement, and pulling Maggie onto his lap.
A whoop was heard from inside the house, and Maggie could just make out the tinkling of Molly’s bells. Moments later, the family crowded onto the porch with champagne and plenty of hugs and kisses, but none so sweet as the kiss Maggie gave Nick as they all raised their glasses.
I hope you enjoyed reading the third book in this series. The O’Malleys have always held a special place in my heart, and maybe they will do the same in yours.