11. Maeve
“Hello,”James answers, stepping away to take his call. “Hi, Gwennie. How was your day?”
How sweet. It’s his daughter.
Tuning out his conversation, I allow my thoughts to wander back to a few minutes ago when he mentioned the Coyotes. For a moment, I was confused and started to panic, wondering if he had somehow found out who my brother is, or…
Relax. Breathe.
This is a new experience, and my anxiety may be getting the better of me. I don’t need to worry about James and the rest of my life intersecting.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking about it right now. This was all supposed to be just a hookup, but at this point, it feels like more to me.
“I love you too, Gwennie. Goodnight.” He ends the call, placing his phone on the counter.
“Sorry about that. Gwen calls me most nights when she’s not here.”
“That’s sweet,” I say. He’s the ultimate DILF. But I guess in my case, it’s DIF—dad I’m fucking.
He gestures at the Chinese food containers. “Would you like some more?”
“No, thank you. I had plenty.”
He closes the boxes, and I help. We carry them to the fridge, and he stacks them all inside.
“Want to watch a movie?” he asks.
“Sure.”
He loosely takes hold of my hand and leads me through the living room, to the hallway, and up the stairs to a room I’ve never seen before.
He flips a switch on the wall, turning on a few recessed lights. Shelves with sports memorabilia and books line the wall behind the couch, and a massive television is mounted to the opposite wall.
His hand drops from mine. “Gwen calls this my dad cave.”
“Is this where you hide away?” I ask.
“Only when she has friends over, and they’re occupying the living room. Otherwise, this space doesn’t get much use.”
I drop down onto the couch, running my fingers over the dark-gray microfiber material. “It’s nice and comfy.”
He sits next to me. “One of the reasons I don’t use this room much is I tend to fall asleep when I do. There have been plenty of mornings where I’ve woken up here instead of my bed.”
“Do I need to worry about you falling asleep on me?” I tease, poking his side.
He laughs. “I have a feeling every inch of me will be wide awake if you’re here.” He plucks the remote from the large ottoman, turning on the TV. “Any requests?”
“Something funny. You can never laugh too much.”
“You’re right. Funny it is.”
After a brief search, he settles on the movie Blockers, which is about three parents who try to foil their teenage daughters’ plans to have sex on prom night.
I lean my head on his shoulder. “I love this movie.”
He shifts his position, wrapping his arm around me. “This movie makes me nervous about the upcoming teenage years.”
“Then why are we watching it?”
“Because it’s also hilarious.”
Tipping my head back against his arm, I look up at his face. “Are you going to be like this with Gwen?”
“I hope not. I like to think I won’t lose common sense or my ability to think clearly and rationally, but… she’s my daughter.”
I snuggle into his larger frame and slip off my Chucks before putting my bare feet on the ottoman next to his.
Tonight, I’m seeing a different side of James, a more casual one. Wearing shorts and a black t-shirt, with his hair more unruly, he looks younger than the man I’ve come to know. But he’s no less attractive. I’d say he seems more approachable, but even when I met him wearing his wingtips and business wear, he was friendly and unassuming.
He plays with my hair, combing his fingers through the long strands. The motion is so soothing, my eyelids fall shut. Slinging my arm across his stomach, I burrow into his side. I want to be as close to him as possible.
* * *
My eyelids slowly flutter as I fight my way out of a dreamless sleep. My backside is so warm. I wiggle against the heater behind me, wondering how it ended up in my bed. And then the heater groans.
Wait. What?
My eyelids finally snap open and stay that way. I’m surprised to realize I’m lying on James’s couch and in his arms. His tall frame is what’s been providing all the warmth. I don’t even remember falling asleep.
His arm tightens around me. I tap on the back of his hand. “James.”
“Hmm.”
I tap some more. “James,” I say louder.
“What’s going on?” he asks in a groggy tone.
“We fell asleep on the couch.”
“Oh shit.” He raises his arm, checking his watch. “It’s two in the morning.”
“Fuck.” I scamper to a seated position and rub my eyes. “I should’ve left hours ago.”
“It’s okay. You can stay and leave later this morning.”
I stand. “I’ve got to go now.”
He moves to his feet, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Mae, please stay. It’s dangerous for you to drive home at this time of night.”
“I’ll be fine.”
His brows snap together. “Mae, think this through. What if you break down?”
“Are you saying my car is a shitbox?”
“No. Any vehicle can break down. You shouldn’t take a chance on your safety.”
“I’m a big girl.”
He gently squeezes my shoulders. “Mae, please don’t go. I’ll worry about you.”
I’m struck by the imploring expression on his face, and I can’t refuse him. “Okay, I’ll stay for a few more hours.”
“Thank you.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Go get in my bed, and I’ll shut everything off in here.
Despite the solid hours of sleep I got in his arms, I’m still tired. I strip out of everything but my panties, and put on one of his t-shirts. It hangs so loose, the hem falls to mid-thigh. The cotton is worn soft, and knowing I’m wearing something of James’s feels nice.
Once I slip between the crisp sheets, I realize I’ve never been so comfortable in a bed. That is until James slides in behind me. His arms hook around me like bands of steel. He pulls me back against his chest as if he’s never going to let me go. And I might be okay with that. I sync my breathing with his and enjoy the way our bodies fit together. He kisses the top of my head, and I fall asleep with a content smile bowing my lips.
* * *
Warm lips press to my cheek and trail down my neck. “It’s time to rise, Sunshine.”
“No,” I moan. “Don’t make me.”
He chuckles. “If you want to stay in bed I can climb back in and give you a reason to be late.” His lips nuzzle my earlobe, tempting me, but he said the magic word. Late. I roll away and dart from the bed. “What time is it?” I ask in a panic.
He smiles. “It’s five thirty.”
I sigh with relief, feeling the tension in my shoulders lessening. “Oh, thank God. I thought it was much later.”
“You’re right on schedule, Miss Punctuality, and breakfast is waiting for you downstairs.”
“You cooked for me?” I can’t keep the surprise from my voice. No man has ever done that for me before.
“I did. It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll save you some time.” He winks. “I’ll be downstairs waiting.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
He leaves the room while I dress. I use his bathroom and scare myself when I catch my reflection in the mirror. Smudged makeup and a bird’s nest for hair—not my best look. And James saw me like this.
Wetting a tissue, I wipe around my eyes the best I can. Once I work through the tangles in my hair with his brush, I look more like myself. I add some toothpaste to my finger and spread it over my teeth and tongue before swishing it out with a cup of water.
I return to James’s dad cave where I left my Chucks, and slip them on. My gaze lands on the couch where I woke cuddled in his arms, and flutters break free in my stomach. I wish I’d been able to savor the feeling more and not be so freaked out at how late it was.
I find James in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. He closes the door and turns, smiling at me. “You look more awake now.”
“Yeah, I am. I’m sorry you had to see me looking like such a fright.”
“Sunshine, you couldn’t look anything but beautiful.”
He thinks I’m beautiful.
More butterflies take flight in my stomach.
He moves to the stove. With his back to me, I can’t see what he’s doing. But then he spins around with two plates in his hands and delivers them to the table. “Come sit and have breakfast with me.”
We settle into the same chairs we used for last night’s dinner. On the table, there’s a cup of coffee, creamer, and packets of sugar.
“If you don’t like coffee, there’s juice in the fridge,” he tells me.
“I love it and desperately need it in the morning just to wake me up.” I take a good look at the breakfast he’s prepared and know there’s no way I’ll be able to eat all the food. “You gave me enough for three people. Are you trying to tell me something?”
Ducking his head, he rubs the back of his neck. “I wasn’t sure how much you wanted. I guess I got carried away.”
This is the first time I’ve seen him look the slightest bit unsure of himself, and I find it endearing.
I take a bite of the scrambled eggs and bacon. “Wow, this is delicious. You’re a good cook.”
He laughs. “I’m capable of making a few edible meals, but that’s about it. Breakfast is the hardest to screw up.” He spears eggs onto his fork, then they quickly disappear between his full lips. Watching him eat makes me wish I didn’t need to go to work. I’d like to spend the better part of this morning with him.
We could take a walk after breakfast and then climb back into bed once we got home. Then maybe we spend the rest of the morning exploring each other’s bodies. Of course, we’d go back to sleep for a bit and rest up for a second round of making love.
Making love with your Finder hookup?
I need to check myself. Being with Trey makes it easy to get carried away by fanciful notions, and I need to be careful of that. For all I know, this is the last time I’ll see him.
I finish eating as much as I can before pushing my plate away. “Thank you for breakfast. I usually have a protein bar, so this was a nice change.” I sip the remainder of my coffee and wipe my lips on a napkin.
He stands, taking our plates to the sink. I carry our mugs over and toss my napkin in the trash.
“Let me walk you out,” he says.
And I panic. I don’t want a long, drawn-out goodbye in which he explains that this is the last time we’ll be together.
“No, that’s not necessary. You’ve done enough for me already. Besides, I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry.”
His brows draw together, and he shrugs. “Okay.” He walks me to the door. I pluck my keys and phone from the table and turn to him. “Thanks again. I had a great time. I’m sorry I passed out on you. I’m sure this isn’t how you envisioned your morning going.”
He skims his fingers down my cheek. “This has been a wonderful beginning to my day.”
I swallow down the emotion his words provoke, and smile. “I better go.”
He presses a soft kiss to my lips and then opens the door for me. The sunlight shines through the trees as I descend the stairs to the driveway.
James wanders around to the front of his porch as I climb into my car. I start the engine and glance at him. His hands are shoved into the pockets of his shorts, but when he notices me watching him, he raises one in farewell. Wondering if this is the last time I’ll see him, I try to capture this image of him like a snapshot in my mind.
I wave at him before reversing from the driveway. And as I pull away, I don’t allow myself to look back.
* * *
The party is in full swing. We’ve got music playing and great food set out on the boardroom table that Sheryl and I pushed to one side wall. We set the chairs around the perimeter of the room and left the middle open for mingling.
I rented a helium tank so Sheryl and I could blow up ”Happy Retirement” balloons, and we hung a long sign across one wall that says CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. And on another, we hung a WE’LL MISS YOU sign.
The guest of honor is basking in the attention of all his employees. He’s not only loved by me; every person here feels the same. I’m so sad that he’s leaving.
I wait for a break in the crowd around him before I deliver the present I purchased for him.
“Hi, Greg.”
He smiles. “Maeve, thank you for doing all this.” He gestures around the room.
“What makes you think it was me?”
“I know it was. Who else would set all this up?”
“I had help.”
“Regardless, I appreciate it so much.”
“Here.” I hand him a blue gift bag. “I got you something.”
“You shouldn’t have. But I’m glad you did.” He grins before reaching inside the bag. He rifles around between the sheets of tissue paper and lifts out a stainless steel beer stein. He rotates it until he reads the words engraved on one side: BEST BOSS.
“I figured you might not be here drinking out of your Best Boss coffee mug, but there’s no reason you can’t be at home having a beer.”
“Maeve, I love this. Thank you. Can I hug you?”
“Of course.” I step into his arms, and my eyes water. Having a new boss is going to be a huge adjustment for me.
When we part, he notices I’m getting emotional and pats me on the arm. “In a few months, you’ll be thankful I’ve retired.”
I shake my head. “I doubt that very much.”
“You might even forget all about me.”
I roll my eyes. “Like that would happen. I hope your son knows he has some big shoes to fill.”
“I have the utmost confidence in Trey’s abilities to run the Coyotes organization.
There’s a difference between being a good businessman and being a good boss.
Fortunately for me, Greg was both of those. I couldn’t have had a better introduction to the world of business than I did with him. But when you start at the top, there’s only one way to go—down. I’m hoping it’s only a slight drop and not a free fall.
Sheryl and I are cleaning up when Randy comes over.
“Let me help,” he says.
I don’t want to deal with him, but we can get out of here sooner if he does.
“Can you help us move the table back to the middle of the room?”
“Sure.” He carries one end of the table while Sheryl and I take the other.
“Thanks. That was a lot easier than when we set up. We just pushed it across the room.”
“I’ll put the chairs back,” he offers, and I give him a thumbs up.
Sheryl and I remove the signs from the wall and then tie the leftover balloons to the chairs in the break room. Greg didn’t want to take them home, and we didn’t want to deflate them all.
“Sheryl, thank you for your help.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m grateful you got me away from my desk for a bit.”
“I think we’re finished cleaning up. What are you getting into this weekend?” I ask.
“A little of this and a little of that. In other words, a brunette tonight and a redhead tomorrow night.” She waggles her eyebrows.
“You’re an inspiration, girl.”
She raises her palms. “I try. What are your plans?”
“Laundry, cleaning my room, grocery shopping, and, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to the book on my Kindle I downloaded last month.”
Randy appears in the doorway. “Are you two ready?”
“Yeah, we’re all set.”
He moves back into the hallway as we leave the break room, and then the three of us get on the elevator together.
The awkward silence on the ride down has a name—Randy. He’s the reason for it.
Even Sheryl must feel the weirdness because she never goes this long without speaking.
When the doors part on the first floor, I hook my arm through hers so I won’t get stuck talking to Randy by myself. He must get the message.
“See you later. Enjoy your weekend,” he says, walking away.
I wait until he’s out of hearing range before I glance at Sheryl. “That was fun.”
She laughs. “Yeah, fun as in awkward as fuck.”
“Right? So it’s not in my head?”
“Definitely not. He stared at you the entire time. I don’t know what his problem is.”
“Me either, but I hope he gets over it soon.”
We walk to the parking lot together, and once I’m in my car, I dig through my purse for my phone. I’m thinking of ordering a pizza.
There’s a text waiting for me from James.
My pulse speeds up as I open the message.
I hope you’re enjoying your day. I really wanted to see you again this week, but work kept me busy. How about Tuesday?
My heart rate increases until I think I’m having full-blown palpitations.
Hey. I had a nice day, but I’m glad the weekend is here. I’d love to see you on Tuesday.
I’ll see you at seven. Enjoy your weekend.
Sounds good. Have a great weekend with Gwen.
I place my phone in the cup holder and squeal with excitement.
He wants to see me again!