Page 5 of Nick: His to Claim

“I wish I had some advice for you, Nick, but I’m still trying to find a balance with Rebecca. Just when I think I don’t have anything to worry about, she up and shocks the hell out of me with some new escapade. I go between wanting to wrap her in cotton to keep her safe and wanting to roast her ass till she can’t sit for a week.”

Nick struggled with laughter. The rueful tone of Mason’s voice was more than he could take. Little Rebecca was more than his match. He’d seen grown men quail at his brother’s temper, yet the petite blonde, who barely came to his shoulder, gave back as good as she got. Unbelievable.

“You better talk to the doctor about that,” Nick said grinning. “You might have to find a new hobby until the baby comes.”

“Already did,” Mason laughed. “Doctor Maxwell knows Rebecca pretty well, and he suggested a wooden spoon—not much force, but it will give a hell of a sting. I don’t actually intend to use it, but she doesn’t know that.”

“Hey, how about picking me up tomorrow?” Nick asked. “I think it’s about time I rented my own car.”

“You’re staying then?”

“I don’t have much choice. I’m not ready to give up, so I guess I’ll give that Irish temper of hers a chance to cool off. If she still won’t see reason, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands, one way or another.”

“Well, Rebecca and I are rooting for you. See you in the morning, bro.”

Chapter Two

Maggie came in the back door, kicked off her work boots in the mud room, and dragged herself to the living room sofa. For once she didn’t worry about the dirt and dust on her clothes as she swung her feet up onto the coffee table, another uncharacteristic move. She could hear the sound of video games coming from the upstairs bedroom, and Caitie was singing a lullaby softly to her doll in the den. For the first time in a year she didn’t call out to the kids. Instead, she brushed her disheveled hair back, a long sigh escaping as she sank deeply into the cushions.

It was a tremendous relief to be away from the questioning eyes of her curious co-workers. The day had gone from bad to worse after her confrontation with Nick. A new man, Jack Harley, had tipped a few on his lunch hour, and although she’d given him a firm reprimand, she knew she was going to have trouble with him. Witnessing Nick’s arrogant attitude wasn’t conducive to keeping control of her crew. Jack had been cocky from then on. Losing her patience, she sent him home for the rest of the day. It crossed her mind to tell Mason, but it didn’t sit right with her to dump it in his lap. Sure, he was the owner and her boss, but it was her responsibility to keep her crew in lineand get the work completed on time, something she’d never had a problem with before.

Maggie sensed another presence in the room and opened one eye. Caitlin stood there, sucking her thumb and twisting her blonde hair around her finger. It only took a second for her to jump onto her mother’s lap, and Maggie hugged her close.

“Whew, you are getting to be such a big girl,” Maggie huffed. “Why don’t you take your thumb out of your mouth and tell me about your day?” Maggie cuddled her and savored the incredibly warm feeling.

“Mommy, what’s sass?” Caitlin asked, looking directly into Maggie’s eyes.

Maggie smiled. Now there’s a word she hadn’t heard in a long time, not since she was a little girl.

“Well, sass is like um—back talk. Like when Mommy tells you to do something, and you say no. Being sassy is naughty. Why?”

Still twirling her curls, Caitie drawled, “Nicky says you gots more sass than is good for you. Are you naughty, Mommy?”

Maggie’s face flamed. Nick always did have an old-fashioned attitude, even when they were kids.

“Sweetheart,” she started, trying not to let Caitie see how annoyed she was. How dare he tell her daughter… “You can’t believe everything Nick says,” she continued.

“Why not?”

“Well—you know how tall he is?” Maggie asked, bringing her hand way up above their heads.

Caitlin nodded wide-eyed.

“Sometimes the blood doesn’t get all the way up to the top of his head, and—” Maggie stopped cold. She couldn’t believe she’d just told her daughter a fib. Nick really was making her crazy.

“Never mind, honey, it’s not important. Why don’t you go wash your hands and help me get dinner? We won’t tell the boysI’m home yet,” she whispered, holding up a finger to her lips, “and we’ll have the kitchen all to ourselves.”

“Yes,” Caitlin whispered back in her best secret voice. Her blue eyes sparkled with happiness at the thought of tricking her brothers, and she scampered quietly into the bathroom.

Maggie pulled herself up and went into the kitchen, groaning at the dirty dishes in the sink.

No one had gone hungry today, she consoled herself as she rolled up her sleeves.

After finishing up the dishes, Maggie threw together a meatloaf and scalloped potatoes, and slid them into the oven. Caitlin was left at the table tearing up a head of lettuce into itsy bitsy pieces, and Maggie left her to it with a firm order not to go near the stove.

Jumping into the downstairs shower, she let the hot water soothe her. It felt great to get the dust out of her hair, and she steeled herself not to think about today’s fiasco anymore. The memory of Nick’s powerful body pressed against hers caused her knees to shake, and she shut off the hot water for a few seconds in a useless attempt to cool her thoughts. Damn, that man got to her like nobody else ever had. If she’d put an ad in the paper, he couldn’t have been more perfect for her.

WANTED:Strong, independent, heart-weary, exhausted SUPER MOM seeking Alpha male partner willing to sweep her off her feet and take her in hand. Applicant must be loving, firm, resourceful, and a problem solver. Must be willing to put up with tantrums (hers not kids) and willing to be a good father figure (kids not hers); high libido and hot body a plus. Wimps need not apply.