Authors: Stevie MacFarlane
At five o’clock Maggie showered and started dinner. Even though she was starting to get angry with Nick for keeping the kids out so long, she felt the least she could was to invite him to dinner. She had to admit she had accomplished miracles today, finally getting to those chores she had been putting off. With Caitlin underfoot it was hard to tackle major jobs, and by the time the kids were in bed, she was usually too beat. Although it pained her to admit it, she hadn’t had a whole day away from the kids in months, and she had enjoyed pampering herself after the housework was done. She even had enough time to give herself a facial and paint her toenails—amazing.
By seven, Maggie was frantic. Crazy thoughts of car accidents and other catastrophes plagued her. If Nick had taken only Jason, Maggie would have been convinced Nick had kidnapped him, but what reason would he have for taking Todd and Caitlin?
Revenge… Maggie ran a trembling hand through her hair and shut the oven off. The roast was dried out and charred, and the vegetables had turned to mush an hour ago. How could he do this to her? He must have known she would be worried sick!
The hoopla coming from the driveway pulled her out of her agonizing, and she jumped up, getting to the kitchen door at the exact time her three hyper kids burst through. Caitlin was hugging a teddy bear twice her size and dragging her coat. Todd and Jason were arguing loudly about who beat whom in some game, and Nick was laughing at their antics.
“Mommy, we went to the zoo, and the park, and the ‘cade,” Caitlin told her, yawning. “Then we ate at Mickey Dee’s, and I got to play in the balls.”
Maggie stood stock still. The hands on her hips were trembling, and the three males watching her all realized they were in deep trouble. Caitlin was only concerned with getting her bear up to her room and introducing him to her other animals.
Nick’s eyes silently pleaded with Maggie not to ruin the day, but she was beyond reason.
“Just where have you been?” she demanded sharply. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“Mom,” Jason began, only to be interrupted as Maggie continued, not even waiting for her question to be answered.
“Apparently no one could be bothered to call me and let me know you were all right. I can’t believe—”
“Mom, we were fine, just having a good time,” Jason burst in. “We were with Nick for Pete’s sake,” he continued in disgust.
“Don’t use that tone of voice with me, young man,” Maggie shot back, but when she reached out to take Jason’s arm, Nick stepped between them, towering over Maggie.
“Jason, Todd, help Caitie get her bear upstairs; I want a few minutes with your mother.”
The arms crossed over the broad chest directly in front of her kept Maggie from contradicting his order, and it was an order. The kids obeyed instantly, slipping gratefully out of the room and feeling slightly sorry for Nick.
“If you have a problem, Maggie, I’ll deal with it,” Nick informed her coolly, staring directly into her eyes.
“You’re the one with the problem, and it involves your lack of brains, Nicholas Kord,” Maggie shouted. No longer intimidated by his superior size she advanced, but Nick never gave an inch. Her head tilted back uncomfortably as she turned her fiery gaze on his, further angered by his calm arrogance.
“Did it ever occur to you that I might be worried? The least you could have done was to call me.”
“Frankly, it didn’t. I even thought you might be enjoying some free time for a change,” he told her, never taking his eyes from her. Her silky auburn hair glowed, and her skin looked temptingly soft. Nick forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand.
“I happen to be a responsible adult, capable of—”
“That’s debatable,” she quickly interrupted.
In the blink of an eye, Nick scooped her into his arms and striding to the bar, deposited her none too gently on the stool.
Maggie released the breath she’d been holding, a guilty flush stealing up her cheeks. The anger she sensed in him didn’t for a moment dispel the thrill of being in his arms. Her heart was beating wildly in fear, excitement, and anger.
“This is the first time I’ve had Jason to myself, and I was hoping you’d understand why I hated to cut it short, but if you don’t or can’t that’s just too damn bad. I will not let you take it out on the kids. We had a great time, and you’re not going to spoil it. If you’re looking for a royal battle, lady, you’ve found it.”
Nick’s eyes flashed blue fury, and the arm on either side of her effectively pinned her to the bar. A muscle in his jaw ticked erratically, and Maggie felt small and mean. Her legs were dangling helplessly far above the floor, and the man had no intention of letting her go. The tears that filled her eyes stunned him, and when he backed up momentarily, she took the golden opportunity and slipped out of his prison.
Hands on hips, Nick studied her as she stormed over to the stove and began removing pans from the oven, scraping the food down the garbage disposal.
“Now you’re crying,” he stated in total confusion. “I thought you were mad?”
“I am mad,” she told him, quickly wiping her tears away with shaky hands.
Nick noticed the amount of food she was throwing away and it hit him.
“Did you expect us home for dinner?” he asked, suddenly feeling guilty.
Maggie threw the switch on the disposal, and the loud growling prevented her from having to answer. She looked out the window and was sorry she did; his reflection stared back at her. The softness in his eyes only made her feel worse, and she lowered her gaze.
“I’m sorry, Magpie,” he whispered softly in her ear, causing chills to run down her spine.
“Forget it. Just call next time,” she replied, wiping the already clean counter and using it as an excuse to get away from his warmth.
Nick leaned on the counter and watched her jerky movements. Her head was bent as she scrubbed an imaginary spot. His heart swelled with compassion for her. He knew this was difficult, but those magic words “next time” filled him with hope.
“Well, I guess I’d better be going,” he told her, clearing his throat. “I’ll just tell the kids goodnight. We had a great time, Maggie. Thanks.”
“Sure.”
After Nick left the room, Maggie poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down. It was hard to admit she was jealous of the time the kids spent with Nick, but she was. Not jealous exactly, she qualified, but it hurt to think they’d all had such a good time, without her.
By the time Nick returned to the kitchen, Maggie was composed. Her eyes slid over him as he picked up his coat.
“You could have come with us you know,” he stated gently and Maggie flushed, angry all over again; he could read her so well. It infuriated her to have him think she wanted to be with him, and that’s
just
what he thought.
“I had plenty to keep me busy,” she told him, hating the pity she saw in his eyes. “But I was wondering if you had any plans for next weekend?”
The look that crossed his features could only be described as hopeful. She could almost see the wheels turning, and before she knew it the words were out of her mouth.
“I was hoping you could come over Friday night… and babysit.”
“Babysit?”
Trying to hide her grin, Maggie moved to the sink and washed out her cup. The look on his face was definitely worth the lie.
“Yes, I have a date, and since you’re so determined to spend time here, I thought we could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I get a night out, and you get what you want.”
“Honey, you have no idea what I want right this minute,” he ground out. “Sure I’ll babysit, why the hell not!” he told her, throwing his hands up in the air and striding out the door.
Maggie smiled and pushed thoughts of wooden spoons and lying right out of her head.
The sun was barely up when Maeve O’Malley sailed into her daughter’s kitchen. Maggie’s father affectionately referred to her as his Irish whirlwind, and Maggie fully understood why. The woman had more energy than anyone Maggie knew. Five foot nothing and about one hundred pounds. She wore her fifty-seven years well.
“Maggie, darlin’, how are you dear? I need to speak to you about a couple of things. Where are the children?”
“Still sleeping, Ma,” Maggie replied. “They had a busy day yesterday. What did you need to see me about?”
“Well, next week after Mass, there’s goin’ to be a Grandparents Breakfast,” she informed her, quickly pouring herself a cup of coffee. “That Maureen Donovan, full of herself she is, always braggin’ about how wonderful her grandbabies are and I…well I want to be showin’ off mine a little. Da and I are thinkin’ it might be a good idea if they come on Saturday and spend the night. I know how family gatherin’s upset you, and we don’t get to see them—Margaret! Would ya be listenin’ to me?”
Sipping her own coffee and trying to wake up, Maggie let her mother’s words flow over her. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her Ma, just that sometimes she had the capacity to steamroll over any obstacle in her path. Maggie had no intention of being that obstacle.
“I’m sure they’d love to go, Ma,” Maggie replied sleepily. “Just let me know what time you plan on picking them up and I’ll have them—”
“And another thing,” Maeve continued. “What’s goin’ on between you and himself? I’m thinkin’ that was over years ago, sure, and as much as I’m likin’ the man, still ya shouldn’t be involvin’ yourself with any man so soon after Jim’s passing—God rest his soul!” Maeve made the Sign of the Cross as quickly as she spoke. “I was just sayin’ to your sister the other day…”
Choking and sputtering, Maggie headed to the sink. Needing a few seconds to compose herself, she dumped the rest of her coffee down the drain and got a drink of water. The sound of her mother’s voice droned on while she fought to keep her temper.
“Ma,” Maggie interjected.
“…and I know she agreed with me. Oh, she didn’t say so right out, but I know Colleen wants the best for you too and…”
“Mother,” Maggie tried again as she leaned against the counter silently counting to ten.
“Yes, Dear,” Maeve inquired, pausing briefly for air.
“There is nothing going on between Nick and me, and even if there was, Jim’s been gone for over a year now, and I really don’t see that it’s anyone’s business.”
“Now darlin’, Lord knows I wouldn’t dream of interferin’,” she continued. “It’s only that I want the best for you and the children. After all, Nicky abandoned you once before, don’t forget.”
“Ma, I haven’t forgotten a thing. We’ve just become friends… sort of.”
Maggie groped for the right words. How could she explain her feelings for Nick when she couldn’t begin to understand them herself? She ran her hand through her hair in distraction, the auburn curls tumbling around her shoulders.
Taking pity on her daughter, Maeve gathered up her purse and took Maggie in her arms for a quick hug.
“Don’t fret. I won’t be sayin’ another word about it, dear. I guess you’ll have to do as you see fit. It’s only that the last few times I’ve called here, he’s answered the phone. I was beginnin’ to think somethin’ was going on that I should know about.”
“No Ma, there is absolutely nothing between Nick and I. He was in town for the holidays and stayed over for Mason and Rebecca’s wedding. Since then he’s been back and forth and seems to have developed a new interest in his old hometown,” Maggie told her, wishing it were true.
“Well darlin’, somehow I don’t think that’s the only thing he’s interested in, but you know best. Just be careful,” she told her, kissing her on the cheek. “There’s no denyin’ he’s an attractive man, has the devil’s own charm to be sure. Just the type of man a young girl should beware of.”
Maggie laughed. “I’m hardly a young girl, Ma, but thanks for the compliment.”
“Oh, you know what I mean,” Maeve continued as she headed out the door. “Besides,” she grinned, “You’ll always be my little girl. I’ll be callin’ you, darlin’”.
Maggie rinsed her mother’s cup out and put it in the dishwasher. The devil’s own charm, now wasn’t that the truth.
Chapter Five
The following week started off badly. Monday morning Maggie was called into Mason’s office and given holy hell. Needless to say, he was not a happy man after speaking with Nick, and it was all he could do to wait until Monday to let Maggie know it.
“Just what the hell were you thinking?” he demanded, incensed at her disregard for her personal safety. “Why would you keep something like this from me? Have you no sense at all?
You could have been seriously injured. I can’t believe that son of a bitch put his hands on you and you didn’t come to me immediately!”
“Mason, I thought I could handle it, and I would have if it hadn’t been for your interfering brother,” Maggie shot back. Damn Nick anyway. Why couldn’t he mind his own business?
“Leave Nick out of this. This is between you and me. Don’t you ever do anything like that again. If there’s a problem, I want to know about it. I want to know then, not hours later, and
not
from someone else. Do you hear me, Maggie?”
“Yes, I hear you, Mason. I’m sure the whole damn building hears you, but—”
“No buts,” Mason shouted, pacing his office, stopping every now and then to give her a hard stare. “I fired Harley this morning. Told him to get his gear and get off the property. Actually, he was lucky to escape in one piece the way I was feeling.”
“I’m sorry, Mace. I know you were just protecting me, but I’m sure I could have—”
“Bullshit! That guy has a mean streak in him a mile wide, and for some reason I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. I want you to be very careful, Maggie. You are more to me than just an employee,” Mason continued, his voice softer now that he had her attention.
Maggie stared at the floor, her face red and tears threatening to fall. She hadn’t meant to upset Mason. If it hadn’t been for Nick they wouldn’t be having this conversation, but she did see his point, even if they didn’t agree.
“I had no intention of letting things get out of hand, Mace. I would have told you if—”
“Obviously you wouldn’t, and I’m telling you straight up. If any man in my employ puts his hands on you again, you’d better be on your way to find me in a heartbeat.”