Page 6 of Nick: His to Claim

Good grief, what was happening to her? She could hardly admit these things to herself let alone act on them. Even as furious as she was today, her panties had been wet the entire time she argued with him. Was she so desperate for male attention that even the thought of a spanking turned her on? Cripes, there should be an antidote for that man.

By the time she was dressed in comfortable leggings and an oversized tee, Caitie had all the lettuce ready and Maggie sliced the tomatoes and cucumbers. Popping the salad into the fridge, she reached for Caitie's hand and together they went into the other room.

“Mommy’s home,” Caitie squealed, extremely impressed to be the bearer of such important news, “and I helped make dinner.”

Todd and Jason descended the stairs, looking like they’d lost their best friend.

“What’s wrong, guys?" Maggie asked, surprised by their lack of enthusiasm, “Bad day?”

“Mom, when is Nick coming over again?” Jason almost wailed. “I’m so bored I can’t stand it. He promised to take us to the arcade.”

The muscles in Maggie’s shoulders tightened painfully, and she rubbed the back of her neck in frustration.

“I don’t know, honey,” she answered, careful not to let her feelings show. “I’m sure he’s very busy, and he probably forgot all about it.”

“Naw, Nick wouldn’t forget a promise,” Todd added, flopping down on the couch and swinging one leg back and forth over the arm. His blonde hair and fair features were a complete contrast to his brother’s dark looks.

“He told me that no matter what, he would always keep a promise.”

Great, Maggie thought, Mr. Dependable himself.

“Well, I’m sure if he said he’d take you, he will. Why don’t you two get washed up for dinner?”

“Will you call him, Mom,” Jason asked, “after dinner I mean?”

Maggie’s hesitation was obvious, even to Caitlin.

“Maybe Mommy don’t wanna to talk to him. His bloods don’t get to the top of his head,” she informed her brother smugly.

“What dumb thing is she talking about now?” Todd demanded in typical brotherly fashion. “Where does she get this stuff?”

“Mommy said?—”

“Hush, Caitie, never mind,” Maggie whispered as she guided her into the kitchen, hoping the subject would drop.

“Well, will you?” Jason repeated as three hopeful faces stared at her.

“Will I what?” Maggie asked as she moved around the kitchen, setting the table and trying to distract him.

“Call Nick,” they chimed together, their tone implying that she was unbelievably dense.

Maggie stood, holding a stack of plates in her hands, her mind seething. How had he managed to have such an influence on her kids in the short time he’d been dropping by?

“As a matter of fact, I think I will call the dependable, never-break-a-promise, Mr. Kord. It just so happens I have a few things to say to him.”

Three pairs of eyes met and three chins dropped. They’d heard that tone of voice before.

Poor Nick.

It was ten o’clock by the time the kids were in bed and even later when all the housework was done, but Maggie couldn’t complain. She hated to leave Mrs. Jamison with that much workto do and tried to lighten her load if possible. Mrs. Jamison wasn’t getting any younger. She’d been babysitting ever since Jason was born and hadn’t been a young woman then. Even though she was only there from noon, when Caitie got home from pre-school until three-thirty when Jason got home to take over, it was getting to be too much for her. And now that her husband was ill, she was burning the candle at both ends.

Maggie had put off calling Nick all evening. Just the thought of talking to him had her feeling anxious, and it angered her.

She really couldn’t blame Nick for wanting to be part of Jason’s life. He was a great kid, they all were, but the fact of the matter was Maggie had experienced enough heartbreak, and Nick had already proven he was an expert at that.

Maggie switched off the lights as she went upstairs, and after checking on the kids, she went into her room. For the first time that day she began to relax. This was by far her favorite room in the house. Totally feminine, it was furnished in white and rose, and Maggie always felt as though she had entered a childhood dream when she walked into it.

She’d never had a room of her own before, having to share with her sisters at home and then with Jim. When they’d bought this house, Maggie had been too shy to voice her opinions, going along with whatever Jim wanted, but after the accident she indulged herself as never before.