Chapter 11

Putting away a trunk full of groceries with a semi was a new form of hell, courtesy of Maddie Masterson.

The worst part was I wasn't sure if it was more from touching her drenched pussy or from the imagery she'd put in my head of finishing herself off without my assistance.

Like hell.

For all I knew, she could be doing just that while I put away everything she'd purchased for me and my son. And herself, because she was going to be here with us more than she'd anticipated.

If she accepted the offer I'd barely managed to make.

I hadn't intended to do any of what I had in the car. Being upfront with her about what I wanted to do was necessary, of course, so she could make an informed decision. But I needed to know she was interested enough to stick around.

If not, I had to find an alternative to help care for Owen. Because clearly I needed help—truthfully, a lot of help, and I didn't know how soon Sydney would arrive. She had things to tie up in Seattle, and I didn't want to expect more from her than she could reasonably deliver.

Much better all around if I found someone on my own. Someone I could trust with my son. Someone who would stick.

But I wanted fucking Maddie. Already she occupied my mind too much of my waking moments—and she'd even found me in sleep. Even before today, when I'd felt her wetness and had just inhaled the briefest hint of her intimate scent.

Now I craved more.

I wanted everything.

I carted in two loads of groceries and stacked them on the counters in the kitchen then returned for the last one as the rain started up yet again. But I stood in front of the open trunk, the groceries getting wet, while I stared up at windows of the second floor and imagined her in one of the bathrooms, furtively taking care of what I'd started.

My dick pulsed. That was my job, and I'd fucking handle it. But first, I'd spell out what I had in mind so we were clear on every level.

If she agreed to work for me, she'd be agreeing to the rest too. And if not, better I knew now.

But I needed to seal the damn deal. One way or another, I had to convince her to work for me. To stay with us. Even if it might turn out to be the last thing I ever did if her big brother the cop found out and made my life a living hell.

Worth it.

Before the endless rain ruined my suit, I grabbed the last two bags and shut the trunk. I was in the kitchen still putting away items when Maddie came in with Owen on her hip once again and carted him over to the counter. "What's for lunch?" she asked, setting him down on a stool.

I started to toss back a smart ass response then I remembered she'd agreed to nothing yet. Of course, I hadn't actually posed a question. Just made demands couched in innuendos.

"What would you like?"

She ruffled Owen's hair and cocked her head. "What do you feel like?"

"Sketti and hot dogs."

Oh, yay. But I refrained from comment.

She grinned. "You're game to try that, huh? Not toaster waffles? I had a feeling that was top of your list."

"Breakfast," he announced then he shifted to look at the clock at the wall. "It's way past lunch."

"Wow, you can tell time too?"

He nodded proudly. I had to admit I was proud too. My son was smart. I didn't know what was the usual age to learn such things since I'd never spent any time with children, but he certainly seemed advanced to me. Maddie's reaction seemed to indicate the same.

I turned back to the refrigerator to remove the package of hot dogs I'd just put away and then took out the box of spaghetti from the nearest bag. Then I stared at them. Shit, did I even have any pots and pans?

Of course not, because I never cooked.

"I'll handle it." She stood and brushed past me to start sorting through the cabinets, although she swiftly realized what I just had. "No pans?" She went through a couple of the lower cabinets, banging the doors shut with an air of frustration. "Nothing?"

"I don't cook, so no."

"You couldn't have informed me of that before, so we could've picked up some pans in order to, you know, actually make food?" She blew out a breath and quickly wrenched up her damp long, wavy reddish gold curls into a knot on top of her head. "I'll go back and get some. It won't take me long."

"You don't have your car, remember?"

"What, I can't borrow the Jag?"

I swallowed hard. Actually, she could. Just we'd settled on nothing, and she was pissed at me. For all I knew, she'd get in the car and decide I could go fuck myself.

"You could," I said slowly. "Or I could just order."

A wrinkle appeared between her brows. "Order pots and pans? From where? And why, when I could just grab what we need?"

We. I was already becoming addicted to that word.

"You've already done plenty of shopping. My fault for not thinking of the whole cooking part of the equation. I'll rectify it. But no, I mean we can order lunch."

"Sketti and hot dogs," Owen said forlornly, putting his cheek on his fist as if he'd been denied the best thing in the world instead of what sounded like a desperate, what's left in the cabinets sort of meal.

But if that was what he wanted, that was what he would have.

"Just a minute," I told her before heading down the hall to Caro's office.

I already had my gold card in hand when I knocked on the doorjamb. She looked up from her laptop, her expression curious. "Yes?"

"Caro, I need a favor. Now."

She didn't manage to smother her sigh. Considering all the favors I'd needed lately, I couldn't say I blamed her. "Yes?"

"I need pots and pans adequate for normal family meals. Whatever it takes."

"You didn't get them while you were out? Also, your suit is wet."

"It rained. Quite heavily. Didn't you hear the thunder?"

"I've been knee deep in the profit and loss projections. The real estate market in the Cove is tightening in unforeseen ways, and Hamilton Realty is making inroads at?—"

I held up a hand, cutting her off. Hearing about the freaking Hamiltons was the absolute last thing I needed right now. "Stop right there. I have other concerns at the moment. Pans. Pots. Oh, and you know what else I need? Silverware and a full set of dishware."

"Dishware?" She wrinkled her nose. "Whatever for?"

"In case there are guests." Since Maddie's family was apparently the size of a soccer team, I had to be prepared, and my full complement of paper plates and plastic spoons and forks would not do. "You know, like a table service. Just get lots of plates and crap. Something classy and durable that doesn't break easily, since you know, kid." I strode forward and slid my gold card toward her. "Get whatever you think is best."

When she merely stared at my card, I cleared my throat. "We're going to make lunch soon, so you know, we need all those things." Somehow I managed not to add the word ASAP.

"Okay. I'll go now. You're making lunch, not ordering it?"

"Yes. We went food shopping, but I didn't think of the other things I need. If you think of something else we need to prepare meals or for Owen, pick it up, please. Oh, and also if you see…what did she call it? A Care Bear?"

I was a little surprised Maddie hadn't sought one out at the Home Goods store, but maybe they didn't have any.

"I'll have to go to several stores then. Care Bears aren't typically at stores that have the full assortment of kitchen items."

"Whatever it takes. Just make it fast. Please," I added again.

Look at me, learning to be polite. Even a bitter old dog could learn new tricks.

She rose to gather her things. "I'll gather what you requested as fast as I can. Though it will take time to find the best stores for such things, as I am new to this area, as well. But there are national outlets too," she added, lifting her voice over mine when I was about to argue.

I waved my hand. "Whatever. Cost is no issue. You know that. Whatever is quickest."

"Also, top of the line, correct?"

"Well, of course. We have standards."

She shook her head, but she quickly strode across the room and headed down the hall and out the front door.

Maddie jogged down the hall and stopped in the doorway, gripping the jamb on both sides as if she needed the support. "You sent her ? When she doesn't even know what I need?"

"Do you know all you need? I highly doubt it. To know that, you'd have to understand the scope of what I have."

"I looked. You have virtually nothing."

"Did you see everything? No, you did not. You just made quick assumptions based on first glance."

"Oh, really?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "So, you're suggesting you have some secret store of cookware and such?"

I strode forward, compelled to her as if she had some forcefield that drew me inexplicably. And I was helpless to resist her fire.

"You've only been in my kitchen a few minutes. How could you possibly know the entirety of what I have or do not?"

She held her ground, lifting her chin to meet my gaze. "Oh, sure. You must have a super secret trove of goods you were waiting to reveal. Or, wait, are you, as usual, using your doublespeak to try to imply something else?"

"Something else like what?"

"You tell me, tease."

I reached up to brush a loose curl off her shoulder. "I don't tease."

"Right. So you just slipped your hand into my shorts to, what, prove that I'm attracted to you? As if it wasn't fucking obvious." She started to spin away and I locked my hands around her waist, holding her still while I spoke against her hair.

"Nothing is fucking obvious with you. Earlier, you were flirting with the air pump machine boy. Last week, it was flirty smiles for the sneaker clerk. Now you're attracted to me ?"

She let out a giggle that I cut off by drawing her back against me, hard. Just sparring with her had made my erection return full force. The feeling of it against her ass cut off her girlish laughter at once. "Does that feel like a tease, little girl?"

"All talk, all suggestion, no action."

"You think so, hmm? So what would you do if I pulled your shorts down right here and finished what I started with my mouth?"

"I'd pull your fucking hair to make sure you didn't stop until I got what I need. No running off this time, Keller."

I was already breathing hard and so was she, emphasizing the tight top barely holding in her small, perfect handful breasts. Or so I assumed, because I hadn't seen them yet. Or touched them.

But I wanted to.

I reached up to tug at the tie between them, not even sure what my point was. It wasn't as if I could undress her with my son just down the hall, wanting lunch. But I wasn't just some overeager young man who suggested things I couldn't fulfill.

Alas, the tie was clearly ornamentation, because nothing spilled free. She just let out a breath as if it had given her more room to breathe. So I gave into my urge to inhale more of her strawberry scent and dipped my face into the curve between her neck and shoulder. "What is this smell? This goddamn strawberry makes me crazy."

"L-lotion." The little stutter made my cock jerk, and she clearly felt it because she looked back at me under the heavy fringe of her lashes. She didn't even have on mascara as best as I could tell, yet they were so thick, hiding the blue. "I put it all over me. All over," she emphasized, lingering on the words as if I hadn't gotten her meaning.

Believe me, I had.

"You need to agree first. Need to understand what I want and agree."

A tiny whimper left her as my fingers dug into her skin on either side of her waist. I didn't want to bruise her, but if I had, she didn't seem to mind. "You need to spell it out. I can't read your mind."

"If you say yes, you're mine. No taking it back. No running. Understand me?"

"Say yes to what, exactly? The nanny job or sleeping with you?"

"Either." I couldn't slow my breathing. Couldn't be sure I was even making myself clear. "Both."

The sound of little pattering feet had me rearing back. Then came a loud, broken cry.

"I'll get him." Maddie reached up to retie her top without even glancing my way.

"Owen, honey." She followed the sound of his tears down the hall in the direction she'd come from, scooping him up. "Did you fall?"

"Tripped."

Right away, his tears slowed as he linked his arms around her neck and tipped his head against hers. His eyes so like my own met mine, and I swore, he seemed to be taunting me.

I come first.

Which, of course, he did. And yet again, she hadn't said yes.