Chapter 31
Much to Josh’s dismay, the pizza night at Maggie’s never happened. On the way out of the aquarium, Erin called. It was her
and Patrick’s anniversary and their sitter canceled last minute. Owen had plans with his friends and could Josh please, please
come watch Mia for a couple hours so they could make their reservation?
He never minded spending time with his nieces and nephew, but he’d been anticipating some alone time with Maggie. That didn’t
happen, however, and now, after a long week at work, complete with an engine problem and bad weather, Josh was eager to collect
on that rain check.
The delicious tangy scent of the pie rose from the box on his passenger seat. They’d have supper and he’d play with Zoey for
a bit. And then, at long last, he’d take Maggie into his arms as he’d been dying to do all week.
He’d replayed their recent conversations in his head a dozen times. Recalled the way she’d gazed at him. He couldn’t believe
she had broached the topic of exclusivity. Couldn’t believe that, after all these years, she was officially his girl.
Glancing in the mirror, he caught a glimpse of his dopey grin. Couldn’t even blame himself for it. He was the luckiest man in the world. Hopefully she’d dealt with Derrick this week. Josh didn’t care to see the man’s name appear on her screen again. After watching her with Ethan all those years, he’d experienced enough jealousy to last him a lifetime.
In fact, he was feeling so optimistic that on Monday morning he’d called Jonathan Wells at the Charleston Yacht Club and graciously
turned down his job offer. Thank God Josh wouldn’t have to sell his business and move away. He would’ve done so if Maggie
hadn’t given him a chance, but he was grateful things hadn’t worked out that way.
He caught himself whistling as he took the steps to his parents’ place. He was a goner. If he didn’t know it before, he knew
it now.
Seconds after he knocked, Zoey flung open the door and her eyes lit on the box. “Pizza!”
“Hey, what about me?” Josh said.
“Hi, Uncle Josh. Can I carry the pizza?”
Maggie appeared in the foyer, the spiral curls she’d placed in her hair not yet brushed out. “Zoey, I told you not to answer
the door without me.”
“It’s just Uncle Josh.”
“But you didn’t know it was Uncle Josh.” Maggie sent him a chagrined smile.
“Sorry!” Zoey scooted off with the pizza.
“That girl.” She lowered her voice. “She called me Maggie earlier.”
Since Zoey was now conveniently around the bend, Josh leaned forward and took advantage of Maggie’s sweet lips. She returned
his kiss and when her fingers skated up his chest, he reached around and pulled her closer. Aah, this was more like it.
The intended quick peck turned into a long, searching kiss that made Josh go warm with want. When he deepened the kiss, her
eager response had his hands roaming over the planes of her back.
“I can’t reach the plates!”
They sprang apart at the sound of Zoey’s voice, so close by.
Maggie sent him an apologetic look and turned for the kitchen. “Don’t climb on the counter.”
Sure enough, when they entered the kitchen, Zoey had already pulled up a barstool and was climbing onto it.
Josh lifted her down. “I’ll get them, Cupcake. You grab the silverware.” He glanced at Maggie’s hair. “While Mommy finishes
getting ready.”
Her hand flew to her head. “I totally forgot. Be right back.”
He helped Zoey set the table while she prattled on about their day and finally about the movie they’d watch after pizza. Zoey
expounded on the plot as they sat at the table to wait for Maggie.
“She’s locked in a tower and her hair is magical.” She lifted the pizza box’s lid and peeked inside. “Maggie said we can watch
it after pizza.”
“You mean Mommy .”
“But you call her Maggie.”
“That’s true, I do. Everyone else calls her by her first name. But there’s only one person in the whole wide world who gets
to call her Mommy.”
“That’s me!”
“Exactly right. It’s a special thing to have a wonderful mommy. You’re a very lucky little girl.”
Maggie entered the kitchen, bestowing a grateful smile on Josh. “The table looks so nice.”
“You’re late, Mommy. The pizza’s getting cold.”
“Well then, I guess we’d better get started.”
***
The lights were dim and the movie was only halfway over, but already her daughter’s eyes were drifting shut. Zoey snuggled
between Maggie and Josh on the sofa in her unicorn pajamas, clutching Bunny to her chest.
“She’s almost out,” Josh whispered.
“I’m not surprised. She woke up early and didn’t take a nap.”
“You seemed a little frazzled when I got here. Everything okay?”
“It’s been a busy day. I had two swimming lessons, then I stopped to get a new water filter for the fridge. The warning light’s
been on for a few days and I didn’t want your parents to come home to a problem. But we went to three different stores to
find the right one so I was running late on the way home, and then I got pulled over for speeding.”
“Uh-oh. Get a ticket?”
“Just a warning. He was really nice about it. But then I was running even later, which is why I wasn’t finished getting ready
when you got here.”
“You don’t have to sweat that stuff. Next time just text me and I’ll come later. Or I can entertain Zoey while you get ready.”
He was right. Why hadn’t she thought to do that one simple thing rather than get all stressed out over being ten or fifteen
minutes late? “I should’ve. But I was distracted all day because apparently my mom found out that I put an end to things with
Derrick. She’s been calling since yesterday and every time the phone rings, I tense up.”
“You haven’t called her back?”
“I’m waiting for her to calm down. There’s no talking to her when she’s frantic.” Putting her off might also be a bad idea,
but Maggie just couldn’t deal with her today. She wanted to anticipate her quiet evening with Josh.
She glanced down at Zoey, whose eyes were closed, her lips parted loosely in sleep. “I think she’s out.”
Josh’s lips curved as he gazed down at Zoey.
She loved the way Josh adored her little girl. He would’ve made such a good father. Way back he’d mentioned that he and Samantha
were considering adoption, but only months after mentioning it, he told Maggie they were separating.
“I’ll carry her to bed.” Josh carefully eased Zoey into his arms and carried her down the hall. Maggie followed so she could
pull back the covers. In a matter of seconds Zoey was sprawled in her bed sound asleep.
The night-light lit the way as Maggie turned on the sound machine. Then they slipped from the room, pulling the door partly
closed behind them. Josh took her hand and they settled again on the couch.
“I’ve been waiting all week for this,” he whispered.
“Me too.” They’d been dating two weeks now. That was still slow, wasn’t it?
She was only vaguely aware of the movie playing in the background, the TV light flickering, as he drew her into his arms.
His lips, soft and warm, invited hers to move with his in a dance as old as time.
And she gladly acquiesced. Her hands slid up to his face, where the soft scrape of his whiskers tickled her palms. He smelled
so good, tasted so good. He was simply delicious. A little mewl escaped her throat.
Josh eased back a fraction of an inch, his breath falling hot and ragged on her lips. “You’re killing me.”
“But what a great way to go.”
His chuckle was caught when his lips met hers again.
What a way to go, indeed. She’d wondered if their first kiss had been exaggerated by time and imagination. But no. He was as skilled as she remembered. His gentle caresses, the soft sweep of his lips... She was intoxicated with it. With him.
She fell backward into the nest of the couch and his weight came down on her.
“We always seem to end up this way,” he said against her lips.
She brushed her mouth against his. “Mmm.”
“Tell me to slow down.”
“Slow down.”
“That wasn’t very convincing.”
“We’re just kissing.”
“You wanted to go slow.”
“Stop talking.” She reached up and took his mouth, her fingers sliding into the hair at the nape of his neck. She didn’t want
to rush things. But his kisses were like a drug. He swept her away, filled her with sensations she’d never had. Or maybe she
just couldn’t remember. A thought for another time and place.
Right now she just wanted to relish the reverent way he touched her face. Savor the soft exploration of his mouth. Wallow
in the way he made her feel so wanted and adored.
“So this is how it is!”
They sprang apart at the shrill voice.
It took Maggie’s drugged mind a moment to clear.
Then the light snapped on.
And like a bad dream, there, at the threshold of the entryway, stood her mother.