Falling for the Boss (8 page)

As
Maggie’s bruises faded and her scratches healed, she grew impatient to return home, knowing the extra work she created for Mrs. Griffin as well as the owner of Bradford House. She would wake in the early morning hours, her mind troubled by a state of affairs that appeared to be out of her control.

In hindsight,
her agreement to a fabricated engagement had shown a regrettable lack of the common sense she supposedly possessed. Then there was Marcus’ refusal to let her return to her apartment. She was fully recovered and more than capable of looking after herself. However, more worrying than all the rest, was her deepening love for a man who’d done so much for her, but was unable to reciprocate her feelings.

Living in such close proximity to Marcus had given M
aggie a deeper understanding of the man that lay beneath the incessant playboy and hard-nosed attorney. An inherent kindness and thoughtfulness that manifested itself in a hundred different ways lay hidden under a suave, confident manner. Nothing was too much trouble for those whom he felt responsible. How wonderful to be the woman he loved!

The thorn in Maggie’s new paradise was Felicia.
Evidently the news of Marcus being engaged was no deterrent to such a determined woman. She continued to be a frequent guest, her behavior so unchanged that Maggie sometimes wondered if Marcus had even told her. Her time was spent trying to monopolize Marcus and when this was unsuccessful, she settled for flirting outrageously with Luke.

As Maggie hardly left her room during this time, she was
spared having many direct dealings with her which was all to the good. In her present state of mind, Maggie was no match for the other woman’s quick wit and thinly veiled dislike.

Maggie was surprised one morning upon waking to find M
arcus seated in the window seat of her room giving every appearance of a man immersed in the contents of his briefcase. She lay watching him for some time before an unwary movement on her part brought his eyes in her direction.

“How long have you been sitting there?” she asked, more for something to say than out of actual curiosity.

For a moment, he didn’t reply. His glance moved over her lazily and with some puzzlement. After all this time, he still couldn’t decide what there was about Maggie that continually pulled at his senses. With an inward sign, he closed his briefcase. “Will it make you feel better to learn I’ve only been here ten minutes?”

“Not really,” she said lightly. “I just wondered if I snore.”

Marcus threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, Maggie. The things that come out of your adorable mouth.”

“
I don’t know what’s so funny about that.”

“I can see you don’t. Well, s
ince you’re awake, do you feel like coming for a drive? I have to collect some papers for one of my clients just outside of town, and it would be pleasant to have company.”

“
I would enjoy getting out of this room for a change. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

It was a great day for a drive
, and Maggie felt this was her opportunity to talk to Marcus about returning home. She waited until they had left the downtown traffic and were racing down a scenic canopy road surrounded on both sides by towering oak trees before she began to speak.

“
Marcus, you’ve never allowed me to thank you for all you’ve done since the accident.”

“And I’m not going to let you now,” he interrupted smoothly.
“Mrs. Griffin has done most of the work, and I’ve heard you thank her several times. Cut to the chase. This is all leading somewhere.”

“
Since I’m doing so much better, I would like to return to my apartment. I was thinking Saturday, if you could spare an hour to help me.”

Marcus never took his eyes off the road, but a faint frown
marred the perfection of his features. “I thought we agreed that you would stay put until Dr. Logan clears you to return to work.”

What would he think if she told him that she
wanted to stay with him forever? “I’d rather go home if you don’t mind. I’d also like to be unengaged.”

“
Tired of me already? I usually manage to captivate a woman for longer than a few weeks.”

“Are you ever serious?”
Maggie asked in exasperation.

“If you must know,
I never thought being engaged would be this enjoyable or I might have tried it sooner. It’s even more agreeable when there’s not an actual wedding looming in the future.”

“
I wish I knew what you’re getting out of it,” she admitted.

He grinned attractively.
“Much more than I anticipated. A few more weeks are all I ask.”

“I didn’t realize the
complications this engagement would create.”

Marcus gave her a quick
sideways glance. “Mere trifles. Just think of all the valuable experience you’re getting.”

Maggie
turned to look at him incredulously. “For what? An acting job?”

He
smiled widely at this, though he kept his eyes on the road. “Your problem is you worry too much about what others think. The reality is that it will cause more speculation among the staff and more embarrassment for us if the engagement ends so soon after its beginning. A decent interval of time should pass before we admit we’ve made a terrible mistake.”

“
Felicia can’t be overly thrilled by it,” she pointed out dryly.

Marcus’ lips twitched slightly. “Her reaction
was unexpected, but highly entertaining.” At her quick frown, he continued. “Don’t worry about Felicia; I’ll make it up to her. As for your other request, be sensible. You’re not ready to be on your own just yet. And I can’t believe you don’t like staying at Bradford House. You adore the place.”

She could have mentioned that she adored the owner. That would have made him rethink this entire situation. Instead she said, “I feel useless lying around all day. I’m
not accustomed to having so much free time.”

“
Would you be interested in helping Luke and me for a few hours each day?”

“
Sure! You know I want to help in any way I can.”

“
So you keep saying. The exception being in the area where I really need it,” Marcus remarked obscurely.

Soon after, they arrived at their destination
. Marcus left her waiting in the car while he conducted his business. On the way back, he kept the conversation on safer topics and as soon as they arrived home, excused himself on account of some unfinished paperwork. Maggie hoped Marcus wouldn’t forget his offer of work and was pleasantly pleased when Luke tracked her down in the library the following afternoon.

“
Ready to put your head in the noose?” he asked lightly.

“I’m bored enough
for anything.”

“I’ve been
instructed to go easy on you at first. And you’re to tell me at once if your head begins to hurt.”

“And he says I worry too much,” Maggie mumbled as she followed Luke out of the room
.

Much to her
secret relief, it was with Luke that she spent most of her time. This simplified matters as she wasn’t sure of the right way to act with Marcus. She sensed that their offhand treatment of each other puzzled Luke, but short of telling him the truth, there was nothing she could do about it.

A
s for that gentleman, he was no fool; this engagement had been entered into with enough haste to garner a few questions, especially from those who knew Marcus well. Maggie gave herself away in dozens of ways; Luke had no doubt she was deeply in love. Marcus’ feelings were harder to determine. That he enjoyed her company was obvious, but something was missing. Most of the time Marcus treated Maggie like a younger sister, rather than the woman he intended to marry.

Luke had his own
hopes that Marcus and Maggie would marry and do so quickly. Nothing would make him happier. To this end, an outlandish idea began to take hold in his head. Maybe this romance needed a little push. And what better way to allow nature to take its course than to give these two some quality time alone. A cunning plot was hatched to provide this opportunity, and with the aid of Mrs. Griffin was shortly put into action. Luke trusted that proximity would do the rest.

Chapter
Six

Hearing footsteps, Maggie stuck her head out the door of the room next to Marcus’ office where she
’d spent much of the day filing. It could only be Luke returning from the courthouse. Marcus had returned earlier, his briefcase stuffed with papers. It was not Luke, however. It was Mrs. Griffin.

“
Where are you off to?” Maggie asked teasingly, noting the overnight bag the older woman was carrying.

“
My daughter’s. Tomorrow is Nancy’s birthday, and she wants a huge party this year. I’ll be cooking until midnight. I left plenty of food for all of you, though. There’s a list of what I prepared on the kitchen table.”

Wishing her a pleasant weekend,
Maggie returned to her filing. When she walked into Luke's office about an hour later, he was clearing off his desk. “When did you get back?” she asked.

“
Just a few minutes ago. Did you need me for something?”

“
No, I just wondered how you managed to get in without me hearing you. Were you trying to sneak out?”

“
I’m actually trying to get out of here before Marcus gets off the phone.”

“So you finally asked out that girl from Vandermere House?”

Luke wagged a finger in her direction. “No, I haven’t. I’m going to visit my parents.”

They conversed for several minutes on his plans for the
weekend. In the middle of a sentence, Maggie realized that with the other two occupants of the house gone she and Marcus would be alone. Luke smiled to himself as she left the room muttering under her breath.

She marched
into Marcus' office only to find him still on the telephone. Frustrated, she paced the hall outside his office for several minutes before she sensed she was being observed. Luke had come out of his office and was leaning against the doorframe watching her, an enigmatic expression on his face.

“
If I didn’t know better, I’d say you don’t want me to leave.”

Her startled gaze locked on
to his face. “That’s nonsense,” she answered firmly, if not totally convincingly.

“
Of course it is. And, I would bet a large sum of money that Marcus has a totally different reaction to the news of my departure.” His smile was full of amusement, and the glance that accompanied it sent the color rushing into Maggie’s face. “It’s too bad I can’t stay to see it. Have a nice time.”

Maggie
forgot all about the filing. She and Marcus were alone – for the weekend. It was exciting and frightening at the same time. She slowly made her way to her room, hoping her face would regain its normal color before Marcus finished in his office. He startled her by appearing within a few minutes of her own arrival.

“May I come in?” The question was purely rhetorical since
he was halfway across the pale pink carpet. Seating himself comfortably in the window seat, Marcus motioned for her to join him. “What’s got you so worked up? You came barging into my office and then disappeared.”

“
I’m not worked up. I was unaware that both Luke and Mrs. Griffin would be away for the weekend. Did you know?”

“
Yes and no. Mrs. Griffin asked me last week if she could have a few days off. I didn’t know about Luke, but his case is different. He’s free to come and go as he pleases. I do recall him mentioning a visit to his parents, though he didn’t say exactly when he planned to leave.”

“He went today.”

“Ah, I begin to see daylight. Are you uncomfortable being alone with me?”

“
That would be a strange attitude to have toward someone who has been so kind to me.”

A
wry smile pulled at his lips. “Kind? I’m not often accused of being that.”

“
You hide your kindness under a mask of sarcasm. It takes time to find it.”

“
As you seem to have done?” he asked with gentle mockery.

Maggie nodded, her blue eyes suddenly lit to brilliance by the rays of sunlight coming through the window.

“Are there other women like you running around?” he asked almost under his breath.

“Yes. You’re looking in the wrong places.”

Marcus threw her a disbelieving, satirical smile. “Am I?” He turned to glance out the window. “Since we’ve been thrown together, got any suggestions on what we can do to pass the time?”

“I know how to play chess
, and I’ve been dying to use the antique set in the library.”

Marcus sighed softly and turned back
toward her. “You’re determined to make me rethink everything I know about women, aren’t you?”

Sh
e patted his arm lightly. “No, I just want to show you how well I play chess.”

Somewhat to her surprise, Marcus agreed. “Lead the way!  I haven’t played in year
s, so I may not give you a good game.”

Despite his comments, Maggie found him to be a formidable opponent who had no intention of letting her win if he could possibly avoid it. She settled in
to the enjoyment of pitting her skill against a worthy opponent.

It did
n’t take long to realize she had met her match. Though Marcus seemed to make his moves at random, he easily outmaneuvered her time and time again. With a rueful smile, she conceded the game.

“I should
have known you’d be a good player. Why didn’t you put me out of my misery earlier?”

Marcus picked up a pawn and
twirled it between his fingers, a smile tugging at his lips. “By prolonging the game, I was able to study you.”

Surprised, she asked, “Why would you want to do that?”

He laughed shortly, his eyes alight with amusement. “Because you’re something of an enigma.”

Not entirely liking that answer, she asked, “
What was the result of this painstaking study?”

Marcus smiled slowly, his eyes looking straight into hers with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.
“I’m not sure. But one thing is not in doubt. You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”

Feeling her face grow warm, she said the first thing that came into her head.
“My mother once told me they were my only claim to beauty.”

Marcus
put his head to one side. “I don’t like to disagree with your mother, but she’s wrong. True beauty is more than physical attributes. You possess more than your fair share of charm and a pleasing manner. It’s an appealing combination.” He set the pawn back in its place and began to clear away the chess set.

“Thank you,” she said simply.

“Your welcome.” He glanced at the clock on the mantle behind them. “I had no idea it was so late. No wonder I’m hungry. I believe Mrs. Griffin mentioned lasagna.”

After the
ir meal, Maggie automatically began stacking the plates, preparing to load the dishwasher. Marcus came to stand beside her. She was unable to suppress a small gasp when he ran his fingers slowly down her bare arm.

“
We played chess – now what do we do?” The look in his eyes was enough to make Maggie forget everything else.

“We could watch television,”
she offered in a voice she hoped didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.

He shook his head slowly, though his eyes twinkled.
“You disappoint me. I was hoping for something more exciting.”

“Like what? It’s not like we’re a real engaged couple.”

“We could practice for when it’s real,” he suggested as he turned her to face him.

Maggie shook her head. “When it’s real, you don’t need to practice.”

Marcus chuckled. “How do you know?”

“
I think some things are better unrehearsed.”

He traced her upturned face with a lazy finger.
“You must have been a precocious child, because you’re a frightening woman.”

“Are you afraid
of me?” she asked teasingly.

He drew
her close for a moment. “No, but I have a feeling I should be.” The muted sound of a ringing telephone saved Maggie from having to make a response. Moving away from her, Marcus said, “I need to answer that; I’m expecting a call.”

The next morning
she was up early. The kitchen was empty when she arrived downstairs, but by the few dishes in the sink, she knew Marcus had already eaten. After a quick breakfast of toast and orange juice, she headed outdoors.

It was a beautiful August day
, and the garden was heavy with the perfume of blooming flowers. As she bent to sniff a perfectly formed white rose, her thoughts returned to the previous evening.

After his
precipitous exit, Marcus had been occupied for some time, emerging briefly from his office to apologize again for having to leave her. Apparently a problem had arisen with a client that couldn’t be postponed. Maggie couldn’t tell from his detached voice whether he regretted the interruption or welcomed it as an end to a situation that had reached a somewhat precarious point. She’d gone to her room where she spent the remainder of the evening ostensibly reading, but in reality she was trying to figure out why Marcus thought he should be afraid of her.

Marcus
heard her moving around in the kitchen followed by the sound of the door to the garden being quietly closed. He glanced out the wide window of his office and waited. In a few seconds, he spotted Maggie making her way toward the arbor where no doubt she would soon be immersed in a book. He smiled to himself. A woman who knew when to make herself scarce! She was almost too good to be true.

This engagement
idea of his had become a necessary evil for a variety of reasons and had never been intended to last very long. It was, however, proving to be as enjoyable as he’d thought it would be tedious.

M
aggie’s innate sweetness and forthright comments had been a pleasant surprise, but it was her innocent pleasure in life that made her company surprisingly tolerable. She also did nothing to try to attract him – a part of her character that had initially caused him to label her as dull. It was only later that he began to appreciate this subtle and appealing element of her character.

F
or the time being, Marcus was more than content to let things ride. He’d witnessed the initial fruit of an undertaking that had seemed impossible a few weeks ago without any real inconvenience. Pleased with himself and life in general, he returned his attention to the papers on his desk.

Maggie
enjoyed reading and spending time outside. The peaceful atmosphere of the garden was also conducive to quiet reflection. Setting her book aside, she allowed her thoughts to dwell on what might have happened if the telephone hadn’t rung last night. All too soon it was time for lunch. Maggie was chopping vegetables for a salad when Marcus strolled into the kitchen.

“
Hello! Hard at work, I see. What have you been doing all morning?”

M
aggie looked up quickly and thought again, as she’d done so many times, how unfair it was for someone to look this gorgeous. It really played havoc with her peace of mind. “Enjoying your garden and reading.”

Marcus grinned
, and his eyes gleamed with amusement as he moved past her to pour coffee. “You and your books. What can I do to help?”

“You can set the table
, and there are worse habits.”

He began removing silverware from the drawer.
“I possess more than a few of those worse habits. I hope none of them rub off on you.”

“I haven’t noticed any so far. Apparently
, you’ve decided to be on your best behavior.”

Marcus chuckled.
“There’s absolutely no doubt about that. I have a severe talk with myself each morning.”

Maggie
only shook her head and asked about the case on which they’d been working. This discussion kept them occupied through lunch.

“
I was planning on taking the boat out this afternoon. Care to join me?” Marcus asked as he finished the last bite of apple pie.

“
If I won’t be in your way.”

Smiling faintly,
he stood up. “You won’t be. Meet me at the car in an hour,” he called over his shoulder as he left the kitchen “and put on something cool, it’s going to be hot on the water.”

S
pending the afternoon on the water was a popular idea. It took Marcus some time to locate a parking space at the bustling marina. He removed a box from the trunk and led the way down a wood planked boardwalk toward the dock, eventually coming to a halt in front of a catamaran whose size and sleek lines were a testament to her expensive price tag.

“
Here we are. Say hello to Angelica, my first and only love.”

Maggie
wondered at the silky note in his attractive voice; almost as if he was making fun of himself. Did the name Angelica have some special significance? Was she someone from his past?

“
Marcus, she’s beautiful!”