Maggie choked on her coffee and I stared down at the little girl. “What makes you ask that?”
“Uncle Ryder helps Aunt Shiloh at breakfast when we stay over. Ethan says it's because mommies and daddies help each other in the house.”
My little Pop-Tart had no idea how much I wanted to answer that question with a resounding and emphatic yes. I wanted to be their dad. But her mother wouldn’t even talk to me about the kiss we shared.
Maggie smiled over at her daughter. “This is Uncle Theo’s home, sweetheart. He’s just comfortable in his house. And I work here.”
That explained absolutely nothing but Jaycee seemed satisfied, so I dropped it.
As soon as everyone finished breakfast and Zoe appeared downstairs I made the 45 minute round trip of dropping all the kids off at school.
On the drive back, I resolved that we would have a conversation. We couldn’t live in limbo. I wanted her. In my bed and in my home. I wanted to be the one to teach Hayden how to be a man. I wanted to teach Jaycee how a woman should be treated. I wanted Maggie and everything she had to offer.
By the time I got back home, Maggie was not around. Her car was not in the driveway and I assumed she had errands to run. I had to hand it to her, the woman had made avoidance an artform.
I retreated to my office, choosing to deal with some paperwork that didn’t require as much discretion. The new HR policies had been drawn up and were ready for review. I read through the proposal, most of which I agreed with, I made notes where I thought things needed to change. Despite what everyone believed, Human Resources still had the company's best interest in mind.
I hadn’t heard Maggie come in. That was probably intentional. Sneaking in and avoiding me. But I could hear her now. Her voice, as off-key and strained as it was, brought a smile to my face. The Layla Dean song about police lights, echoed through the house.
I leaned against the archway to the living room as I watched her sing and dance. While her singing left much to be desired, the woman could move.
The way her hips and ass moved in those cut-offs, had me mesmerized. Her arms twirled in the air as she rolled those hips and turned around. As soon as her gaze landed on mine she stopped.
I couldn’t help but smile as I walked further into the living room.
“Please.” I leaned over, resting my arms on one of the sectional couches. “Don’t stop on my account. I was enjoying the show.”
She fetched her phone from the coffee table and paused the music. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“Maggie.” I stepped closer to her. My fingers itched to pull her closer, but I resisted. At least, for now. “Five days. You have been a distraction for the last five days. It doesn’t matter if I’m here or in the middle of a meeting. You and that kiss have been on my mind for five days. You said you didn’t want to talk after the bird incident. But it's been five days, Maggie. Five days of getting off in the shower, thinking about that kiss.”
She swallowed hard and dropped her eyes. “We need boundaries, Theo.”
“Maybe. But know this. I want you in my life.” I start walking toward her. “I want you to move into the main wing of the house. There are enough rooms for both kids to have their own room. You could have one too, but I want you in my bed. Can your boundaries accommodate that.”
The closer I got to her, the more steps she took backwards. Small ones, just enough to let me know she was not retreating. “Theo, I work for you.”
“We both know, it's a formality. A barrier we put in place to justify this arrangement.” She stumbled over an ottoman and my hand wrapped around her bicep, preventing her from falling over. I pulled her to me. “You would’ve offered to help with the housekeeping as soon as you knew Maria needed time off, and I would’ve offered you my home even if I didn’t need a housekeeper. But now that I have you here, I cannot imagine this place without you.”
Her small fists clenched my T-shirt. “What about the children? Your siblings have a routine, my kids need stability.”
“I think Zoe and Connor prefer the routine with you here. As for Hayden and Jaycee? Well, Jaycee’s made it known what she wants. But I promise you, I will do everything I can to ensure their safety and happiness.”
She relaxed in my arms for just a moment, her small soft body feeling like home and love and forever. Then she tensed once more. Her small fists clutched my shirt, her eyes narrowed as she looked up at me. I could tell immediately, things were not going to go as easily as I expected.
“Theo.” Her voice was nothing more more than a whisper laced with that same stubbornness I loved as much as it frustrated me. “That’s a rather… logical solution.”
I pinched my brows, opened my mouth, closed it and blinked some more before I spoke. “A solution?”
That was not what I was proposing. At least, that was not what I meant.
“An arrangement.” Her eyes rolled as I continued to stare at her, and stepped out of my embrace. “Like a merger. You want to move me from one part of the house to another. Or maybe a piece of furniture you’re upgrading. You’re talking about stability, and routines, and what my children need.”
I was more confused. “That's what you want, right? Stability and someone who loves your kids. I’m saying that’s what I want. I want you.”
Maggie took several breaths and walked back to the couch, slouching into it unceremoniously.
“And I want to be wanted.” Her determination shone through, forcing me to shut up and listen. “But not like this. I’m something to everyone. A caregiver to all. A mom, a friend, business owner, housekeeper. I need to be inconvenient and impractical.”
