‘I know I’m not the first girl you’ve taken to bed, I’m not stupid, Chad.’
‘I never said you were.’ It pained him to hear the unvarnished hurt in Maggie’s voice. ‘I need you to believe me when I say it’s different with you. I’ve been called glib and silver-tongued but I swear to you I’ve never deliberately misled any woman about how I felt.’ His impassioned plea got no response beyond a simple nod. ‘Say something. Please. You’re killing me.’
A tiny smile tugged at her lips. ‘I’d hoped you knew me better than this.’
He wasn’t sure how to reply so kept his mouth shut.
‘If I thought for one moment I was simply another notch on your bedpost I wouldn’t be here,’ Maggie assured him and the tense knots in his stomach unravelled.
Chad managed to breathe properly again. ‘God, Maggie, I love you so much.’
She gazed up at him, her blue eyes swimming with tears. ‘I love you too, you silly man. You freaked me out. I was afraid you were going to tell me something awful. Now I want to hear all about your brother and this family business you’ve never mentioned.’ The sharper edge to her voice told Chad he was forgiven but if he didn’t spit out all the rest of it he’d be toast — with or without the famous poached eggs.
‘Have you heard of Robertson guitars?’ He ventured.
‘Of course I have, my father used to own one.’ Maggie’s countenance changed. ‘That’syou?’
Chad shrugged. ‘Well, yeah, I guess it is.’
‘It either is or it isn’t.’
‘Okay then, it is.’ He sighed. ‘My full name is Chandler Winston Robertson the fourth. My great-grandfather, Joshua Robertson, started the business in 1920 with his younger brother, Chandler, and it became a big success. We make some of the most sought after guitars in the world. The eldest son has always become the company president but Josh isn’t interested in taking over after my father.’ Chad’s voice faltered and Maggie squeezed his hand ‘There were fierce arguments when Josh declared his intention to join the military. I was only eight when Josh left home but I heard it all. Because of my parents’ attitude Josh basically cut himself off from the family.’ The memories of being angry at his older brother for leaving all flooded back and Chad tried to explain to Maggie how it’d made him more stubborn. He’d refused to join the business too and had gone to law school instead. ‘Not because I wasn’t interested in guitar making, I loved it when I worked there in the school vacations, but out of sheer bull-headed stubbornness.’
‘You idiot.’
‘Thanks a lot,’ he grumbled. ‘Yeah, yeah, alright, I know I’m a moron. I don’t hate my job but it’s not my real passion.’ He needed to explain more about Josh. ‘When my brother came back unscathed from Afghanistan, at least physically, my parents wanted to take care of him but he rejected all their offers. I didn’t stand up for him and I should’ve done. None of us tried to understand that it was beyond Josh to fit back into the mould that had been made for him.’
‘We all have to make our own moulds, don’t we?’
‘You don’t fit into Emily’s catering one either do you?’
‘Nope,’ Maggie declared with a laugh. ‘Cakes I love, Scotch eggs you can . . .’
‘Turn into ammunition as far as I’m concerned. No offence to Emily.’ Chad shuddered.
‘So, you’re going into the guitar business?’
Until now he’d only ever admitted it in his head but he couldn’t lie to Maggie. ‘You wouldn’t mind?’ She shook her head. Wisely she didn’t ask him to spell it out any clearer. ‘I called Josh last week and apologised. That’s what I talked to Emily about. I wanted her to understand how important it was for her to reach out to you. I’d intended to tell you first, honestly.’
‘I get it. I’m not cross at you. Life’s been so crazy we haven’t had a minute on our own.’
‘Tell me about it,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘I’ll still feel better once I make my peace with Josh face to face.’ Chad eased Maggie over onto his lap, there was nothing better than having his arms full of soft, beautiful woman. ‘They’ll all love you.’ She flashed a glorious smile.
‘I hope so.’
‘Iknowso.’ Chad glanced at the abandoned tray. ‘I’m sorry I spoiled your breakfast.’
Maggie wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to her for a long, deep kiss. ‘Do I seem a disappointed woman?’
‘I’m not sure.’ He frowned, pretending to be uncertain. ‘Maybe another kiss would convince me?’
She took him at his word and the cold poached eggs were forgotten . . . again.
* * *
‘You’d prefer to go back home before the twenty-four limit is up, wouldn’t you?’ Chad’s voice from somewhere behind her shoulder startled Maggie. She’d sneaked out of bed while he was still asleep to make a cup of tea.
How did he know her so well already? She couldn’t stop thinking about all the things on her to-do list.
