"I'm sorry," I whispered, pulling him back into my embrace and lifting my head for another kiss. He obliged me, tilting my head to sweep his tongue into my mouth. I moaned, breaking the silence, and he pulled back.
"We better go down before she starts looking for us and finds us in flagrante." He chuckled at my scowl. "Later, as promised."
Butterflies danced low in my belly. "I'm holding you to that."
When we reached the dining room, Maddie was stalking back and forth, her auburn ponytail flying out each time she turned on her heel to head in the other direction.
"Maddie, what's the matter?" I asked, moving toward her immediately.
She halted in her tracks, pointing in the general direction of the front of the house. "Anna Keller is what's the matter. She was leaving as I got here, and she gave me an earful."
"What did she say?" Burke demanded.
"Oh, all kinds of things." She ticked off the accusations on her fingers. "I'm pushy, I'm loud, I'm annoying. I turned Kinsley against her, when she was only trying to help."
"That's ridiculous." I put my hand on her arm. "She's angry with me for not accepting her fake apology."
Maddie barked out a laugh. "That's why she was here?"
"It didn't go well. I suppose she expected me to roll over and accept whatever bone she threw my way."
"Well done, Kinsley." Maddie held her hand up for a high five. "I'm sorry to say it to your face, Burke, but I can't stand your sister."
"Don't worry, she's no longer welcome here. Why don't you have a seat, and I'll see what Parker made for lunch?"
She and I sat down, and I looked more closely at Maddie's complexion. What I found was bright circles of red on her freckled cheeks and a light in her eyes that said she was ready to fight.
"Anna admitted she doesn't like you, and she's upset I do."
Maddie snorted. "She won't be the first or the last not to like me."
"I admire the way you don't let it bother you."
"Like rain off a duck's back, baby." Maddie reached over and squeezed my hand. "Where's Finny?"
"We put him down for a nap while Noah escorted Anna out of the house. She broke something in the living room, but I'm sure it's no loss."
"Not in this antiques museum, it's not. Unless it was a family heirloom."
"Don't worry," Burke said, coming back from the kitchen. "Everything in here is replaceable."
"So, Burke, I have to say I'm surprised you're having lunch with little old me. Where are the other horsemen of the apocalypse?"
I chuckled at her words, but he skimmed over them. "I'll ask them to come join us in a minute. First, we should talk about something Kinsley suggested."
Maddie looked between the two of us. "What did she suggest?"
I was the one to answer. "Initially, I didn't want a nanny for Finn."
"However," Burke interjected. "Between school and a few things she might help me with in the office, we need someone to watch him part of the day."
"I might know of someone," Maddie offered. "But I thought the classes were at your leisure?"
"They are," I said. "Do you remember telling me to take a more active role as Burke's wife?"
"Yes."
"In order for me to do that, I'll need help. Your help in particular."
