“It hasn’t been a decade.” I mean, yeah I had feelings for Maggie since high school, but he didn’t know that. And it wasn’t exactly like I’d been a monk waiting for her. “Remember, curfew is at eleven. Do you need me to fetch you?”
Connor rolled his eyes as I expected him to. “Do you not know how a first date is supposed to go? Doc Evans said he’d bring me home as well.”
“First date or not, if you need me, I’ll come get you.” It was something I wanted all four of my siblings to understand. “Thank Logan for me, though.”
He waved as he got to the front door. “Have a good night.”
Then he was gone and I was left alone in the living room waiting for Maggie.
The kids came down first.
Hayden charged ahead of his sister, his eyes narrowed on me. “Uncle Theo, Mom said she doesn’t know where she’s going. Are you taking her on a date?”
“Yes, kiddo, but I want it to be a surprise.” I bent down so we were eye to eye. “Is that okay with you?”
He nodded and his shoulders squared. “Don’t hurt her feelings. I don’t think my dad was nice to her.”
Just as he said that, Maggie started down the stairs. Her eyes widened, but I gave her a subtle shake of my head and looked back at Hayden.
“Your mom means the world to me.” My words were a solemn vow to him and his mother. “I will do everything in my power to make sure she is never hurt again.”
Hayden’s trusting eyes never left mine. I would do everything to keep my promise to him. Two of my sisters bore the scars of a careless man’s ruthlessness. I would not let it happen to anyone else in my life. Especially not Maggie or her two precious children.
He took a step back, and gave me a single nod, as Maggie came into the room. She wore a pair of dark jeans that hugged all her curves with a flair at the feet. Platform sneakers allowed for the bottoms not to scrape the ground. The deep purple cropped top looked good against her deeply tanned skin, leaving a strip of bare flesh above her waistband that had my mouth watering. I took a deep breath inhaling that familiar apple shampoo and the scent of sunshine I’d always associated with her.
“Hi.” She gave that smile that warmed everything inside and out. I wanted more of those smiles. She lifted up the pale pink oversized cardigan. “I’m not cold, will this be fine where we’re going.”
“That’s perfect.” Everything about her was. “Let me just get Zoe, and we can go.”
“I’m right here.” Zoe walked in with a bright smile on her face. She held out her hand. “That will be twenty dollars an hour, plus dinner and snacks.”
I hand her the credit card we usually use for takeout. “There’s snacks in the pantry. And I will settle with you via direct transfer. Even though I feel like I’m being swindled.”
“This is a high level security detail. I’m taking care of the two most precious people on the planet. I think twenty an hour is a steal. I’ll send you a detailed invoice of all the spending I do tonight.” She then pulls a mock stern face and sets her jaw. “Remember curfew is at eleven. Don’t make me call to find out where you are.”
The throwback to the words I had said to Connor earlier, that I had probably said to her over a hundred times, made me smile.
“Ready to go?” I nodded my head to the door.
Maggie bent down to give each kid a kiss. “Be good for Zoe, okay?” Both kids nodded and she looked over at Zoe. “Thanks for doing this. If you need anything just call.”
“I will.”
As we made our way to my car my hand dropped to her lower back. She smiled when I opened the car door for her. Only once we were driving away from the house did I speak again.
“So, I have a few rules for tonight?” I took a quick look in her direction before my eyes were back on the road.
She let out a laugh that immediately warmed the car. “This ought to be good. Let’s hear it.”
“No talking about Fred and his threat.” I gave her a quick glance. “I know talking about shitty exes is part of the dating process. But seeing as he’s the reason for our very logical and practical arrangement, he’s off limits.”
Maggie let out a huff that was loaded with sarcasm. “No talk about my convicted felon ex-husband on the first date I’ve had in over four years? I think I can manage that.”
Wait. What?Surely, she’d been on a date. Did that mean she hasn’t… she had two kids, so dating was difficult. Still.
With me stunned into silence, Maggie urged me on. “What is number two?”
“No talking about the kids,” I said. “They’re wonderful and I love them. But tonight is about you and me.”
