Page 16 of Nick: His to Claim

“Leave Nick out of this. This is between you and me. Don’t you ever do anything like that again. If there’s a problem, I want to know about it. I want to know then, not hours later, andnotfrom someone else. Do you hear me, Maggie?”

“Yes, I hear you, Mason. I’m sure the whole damn building hears you, but?—”

“No buts,” Mason shouted, pacing his office, stopping every now and then to give her a hard stare. “I fired Harley this morning. Told him to get his gear and get off the property. Actually, he was lucky to escape in one piece the way I was feeling.”

“I’m sorry, Mace. I know you were just protecting me, but I’m sure I could have?—”

“Bullshit! That guy has a mean streak in him a mile wide, and for some reason I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. I want you to be very careful, Maggie. You are more to me than just an employee,” Mason continued, his voice softer now that he had her attention.

Maggie stared at the floor, her face red and tears threatening to fall. She hadn’t meant to upset Mason. If it hadn’t been for Nick they wouldn’t be having this conversation, but she did see his point, even if they didn’t agree.

“I had no intention of letting things get out of hand, Mace. I would have told you if?—”

“Obviously you wouldn’t, and I’m telling you straight up. If any man in my employ puts his hands on you again, you’d better be on your way to find me in a heartbeat.”

“Oh,” she stammered, flustered and embarrassed. “In your employ, I see, but it’s all right for your brother to… ”

“You’re damn right it is. I know exactly how Nick got you to tell the truth. He knew something was very wrong, and you were lying through your teeth. What did you expect him to do?”

“I guess I expected him to stay out of things that don’t concern him and mind his own business” she spat out, arms crossed and foot tapping.

“I believe he considers you his business, Maggie, and let me just give you a little advice. If you ever pull a stunt like this again, you’ll think what Nick gave you was a walk in the park. Are we clear?”

Maggie’s mouth dropped open, and her hat slipped from nerveless fingers. Had Mason just threatened to spank her? Oh my God, she was surrounded by testosterone. What, were they putting it in the water? Grabbing her hat off the floor, she slapped it on her head, mumbled a “yes, sir” and got the hell out of Dodge as fast as her legs would carry her. Her face was beet red and she was literally shaking, whether from anger or fear, she wasn’t sure. One thing she was sure of, if any man so much as looked like he was going to touch her, she’d be on her way to Mason’s office.

By Wednesday, Maggie was ready to scream. Sleepless nights with unwelcome dreams of Nick were taking their toll. Her mother had called and invited her and the kids to an impromptu family dinner, but Maggie cried off. For the last few months, seeing her brothers and sisters with their husbands and wives had been painful.

Even her brother Rory was dating again, although she didn’t hold much hope of that lasting. Maggie didn’t think a woman existed who could tie him down. Yes, she loved them all and was very grateful they were all happy and healthy, but sometimes, when these boisterous gatherings broke up, the loneliness she felt made it easier to just keep to herself.

Maggie sighed and dejectedly flopped into a chair. Now, on top of everything else, she had to come up with a date for Friday night. Telling Nick she didn’t need him to baby-sit would require an explanation. Never would she admit she didn’t have a date in the first place, neither could she bring herself to tell him the date had been broken. The number of lies she’d told since he came back into her life staggered her. Maybe she had better get to Confession. The frosting on the cake came when she called home at five to let Jason know she was going to be late.

“No problem, Mom,” he told her, obviously trying to talk around a mouthful of whatever he was devouring. “Nick’s hereanyway, and he brought KFC. He wanted to know if it would be all right if he took us over to see his new office.”

Maggie’s shoulders slumped, and she braced herself against the desk. “New office? Let me talk to him, Jason.”

“Sure thing.”

She could hear laughing and music in the background; for a fleeting moment she thought about asking Charlie to take over so she could go home, where apparently the fun was.

Nick’s voice sounded friendly and relaxed when he came to the phone, which only made her grumpier. I’ll bet there’s not a speck of dust or sweat on him, she thought resentfully, feeling grubby and hot.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, knowing she sounded bitchy, ungrateful, and not caring.

“Feeding your children for one thing,” he shot back. Although he didn’t raise his voice, she knew she’d made him mad. When he continued, the roughness was obvious. “And waiting for you to get your butt home. Don’t you think you’re taking this superwoman stuff a little too far? The kids were hungry.”

“There are plenty of microwave meals in the freezer, and Jason is certainly capable of fixing dinner. As far as working late, which by the way is none of your business, I happen to have a deadline on this job and I’m trying to meet it. Not to mention, the overtime pay will certainly help out,” she informed him angrily. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to get her temper under control. Perversely, she knew she was acting like a shrew, but she couldn’t seem to stop. The scolding she had received from Mason was still riding her hard, and Nick’s attitude didn’t help.

“Jason, will you hang this up when I get in the den?” she heard Nick ask calmly, and she found herself swallowing with difficulty. Nick was probably furious now, which was why hewanted to talk to her privately, but at this point she didn’t care. However, she was not prepared for the gravel-voiced male that came back on the line.

“What the hell is your problem?” he demanded. “I?—”

“You,” she shouted back. “You have always been my problem, and from the sounds of it, you will continue to be my problem for some time to come. What’s this about an office?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were having financial difficulties?” he growled back, ignoring her question and completely throwing her off track. “I would be more than happy to contribute to Jason’s support, or for that matter, help out with anything you or the kids need.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t need or want your money, and I?—”

“Then why are you working yourself ragged and neglecting the kids?”