“What are you going to do?” she asks.
“I already called Carla and told her she can have no more contact with Rachel.”
“I figured you’d do that.”
“I need to have a talk with my kid, too. Is there any food left?”
“Ma’s inside warming up everything now.” Maeve takes a deep breath of sea air. “It was awful last night. How is this possible?”
“How is what possible?” I reach over and tuck her red hair behind her ear.
“I’ve only known you for…what? Less than two months?”
“About that.”
“And I’m completely in love with you. With both of you. I’m possessive and protective. So protective. It’s like I’ve been with you for years. Forever.”
“It’s not always about time,” I remind her. “I’ve been in love with you since the first time I saw you at the pub. And then the next day, when you were all prim and proper, and trying to sell me any house but this one.”
She laughs and glances back at the house. “Well, it’s my dream house.”
“And it’s yours.”
Her smile fades. “It’s your house, Hunter.”
“And you live in it. Do you really think I’m going to let you leave when the repairs on the other house are finished? Not a chance in hell.”
She props her hands on her hips in that sassy way she does that makes me fucking crazy. Her lips tip up in a smile.
“What am I supposed to do with the other house?”
“Sell it, rent it out, keep it for family to use. Hell, I don’t care. I just want you with us. In your dream house.”
“I mean, it’s a really nice house, so I guess I could put up with you in exchange for living in it.”
I grab her wrist, haul her over my shoulder, and take off toward the house.
“What the hell?” She giggles and pats my butt. “Put me down, you caveman.”
“Eventually,” I reply, but carry her until we get to the house, then set her on her feet in the kitchen.
Three pairs of eyes turn to us.
“Is there any bacon left?” I ask.
“I have a delivery for Rachel Meyers,” the kid says when I answer the door.
“I’m her dad.”
He passes me a padded envelope and then leaves. I rip it open, and Rachel’s phone falls out, along with a note from Carla.
“Rach!” I call up the stairs and open the note.
Rachel,
I don’t know what happened last night. I’m very disappointed in you for leaving without telling me. You got me into big trouble with your dad! He says I have to stay away, but don’t worry, you and I will come up with a little plan.
I’ve saved a new number in your phone under the name Trina. So you can still talk to me. Just tell Hunter it’s a friend from school. We will outsmart him!
Keep me posted on all the things we talked about. And text me later!
Mom
I open her phone and delete Trina and Carla’s number, then climb the steps to see what Rachel’s up to. I’ll be shredding the note.
I should have figured that Carla would try to find a way to go behind my back.
“Rach?” I knock on her door and then open it, blinking in surprise.
Maeve and my daughter are hanging curtains and dancing to an old Britney Spears song.
“Hey, Dad,” Rachel says with a grin. “We’re just putting my stuff back up. I’m gonna throw the crap Carla bought in the trash.”
“I think that about does it,” Maeve says as she fusses with a pillow on the bed. “Back to normal. We have to go to the pub in just a little bit.”
“Do I have time to chat with my daughter?” I ask.
“Of course. I’m going to go change my clothes.” Maeve walks to me and kisses my cheek, then leaves us alone.
“Is that my phone?” Rachel asks, gesturing to the cell in my hand.
“It is. Your—Carla had it sent over for you.”
“Sweet.” Rachel takes the offered phone and checks it for messages, then tucks it into her pocket.
“Honey, did Carla try to get you to go along with some scheme she dreamed up?”
The smile on my daughter’s face fades, and she sits on her bed. “Sort of, yeah. She kept talking about me coming to live with her. Said I could just sneak away.”
“Run away.”
“Yeah. But I knew it wouldn’t really happen. Carla has always talked like that, even when I was little.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
“She’s just full of it, Dad. She always has been. Oh, I found out yesterday that she didn’t buy that Cooper. She rented it. She just wanted to piss you off.”
“Jesus.” I drag my hand down my face in frustration. “It worked.”
“And she hates Maeve. Like, whenever I talked about Maeve and her family, Carla would tell me to shut my mouth. She’s so jealous. And I swear I didn’t know that Danny was going to show up. He’s such a creep. I don’t like the way he looks at me.”
I narrow my eyes. “And how is that?”
“In a creepy, old-dude way. And he’s not very nice.”
“No. He isn’t.”
“Anyway, I’m sorry about last night, Dad. I know I’ve been in trouble for things like this before, although I’ve never done any kind of drugs. But I swear to you, this time, it was not my fault.”
“I know.” I sigh and reach over to ruffle her hair. “I know it wasn’t. Rach, I told Carla she can’t see you again. It’s just not safe. For as long as you’re a minor and live with me, I won’t allow it.”
“Good.” She sighs in relief. “Because last night sucked, and I have no interest in seeing her. I thought I had to because she’s my mom.”
“Nope, you don’t have to. She has no legal right to you.”
“Okay. I think it’s best if she just goes away and doesn’t come back.”
“I agree. I’m glad we’re on the same page here. Now, I need to talk to you about something else.”
“Oh, geez, what did I do now?”
I laugh and tug her in for a quick hug. “Nothing, you little stink bug. I want to talk about Maeve. I know it might seem like it’s moving fast, but I want her here with us. Permanently.”
“Like, are you going to marry her?”
“God, I hope so.”
Rachel grins. “I love her, Dad. Like, I really love her. And her family is just the best. Grams and Gramps like them, too. I want her family to be part of ours.”
“I take it that means you’re okay with it, then?”
Rachel rolls her eyes and makes me chuckle. “Yeah. I’m great with it.”
Chapter 16
~Maeve~
Someone is licking my neck.
I grin and remember all of the mornings that my brother’s dog, Murphy, woke me up by licking my toes.
But he’s never licked my neck.
I crack open an eye and find Hunter nuzzling me, his hand gliding over my skin from hip to breast and back again. Good God, the things this man can do with his hands should be illegal in at least four states.
Maybe five.
“Good morning.” His voice is gruff with sleep. The light stubble on his cheek scratches over my skin.
It’s not unpleasant in the least.
“Morning. I thought you were Murphy.”
He lifts his head and scowls down at me. “Who the fuck is Murphy?”
“My brother’s dog.”
His eyes narrow. “You thought I was a dog?”
I giggle and play with the hair at the nape of his neck. “I was sleeping really hard. I wasn’t in my right mind.”
“I’m going to keep you out of your right mind for a while,” he promises and goes back to trailing kisses down my chest to one nipple. My back bows in invitation, and I moan when his hand finds its way between my legs. “Do you like that, babe?”
“You know I do.” My voice is breathy now, and my skin heats as he covers me and settles himself
between my legs.
“You’re too beautiful in the morning,” he murmurs. “I couldn’t resist you.”
“You’ve always been charming.” I grin and then sigh when he glides the head of his cock over my slick lips. “Waking up like this does not suck.”
“I was hoping you’d feel that way.” His lips are gentle on mine as he sinks inside of me. He braces his elbows on the bed, his fingers tangling in my hair as he starts to move. “I can’t get enough of you, Maeve. I want you constantly. I crave you.”
The words are an aphrodisiac all on their own. My body is on fire.
“All of this, every delectable inch of you, is mine, Maeve O’Callaghan.” His eyes pin mine, his gaze intense. “Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.”
I grip his ass and urge him to move faster, but he maintains his lazy, slow pace. I’m pretty sure he’s trying to drive me absolutely insane.
“Faster.”
“No.” He bites my chin. “I’m enjoying you.”
“Enjoy me faster.”
He smiles against my neck. God, I love it when he does that.
“That’s totally against the whole point of lazy morning sex.”
I gasp when he grinds the root of his cock against my clit, and that little piece of metal from heaven hits me in just the right spot, making me see stars.
“Holy shit,” I mumble.
“That the spot?”
“Oh, holy shit.” I fist the linens and lift my legs. When he slides out, slow as can be, and then inside once more, I see more stars and completely explode.
“Fuck, yes,” he says, his body tight with the tension of his release.
“I really have to express my gratitude,” I swallow hard as he rolls to the side. “For the immense discomfort you must have gone through to get that piercing. Because holy hell, it does something for me.”
He laughs and scratches his fingers over the stubble on his chin. “It was a nightmare back in the day. Hurt like a bitch, and took about six months to heal.”
“Good God, I would have taken it out.”
“Well, what would have been the point of that? I just would have gone through the pain for nothing. Once it healed, it was fine.”
“I can’t even have earrings in my ears.” I yawn into my hand. “They get infected.”
“Haven’t I seen you in earrings?” he asks.
“They’re clip-ons.” I sit up and let the sheet fall around my waist, exposing my breasts to the cool morning air.
Hunter leans over to circle my nipple with the tip of his tongue and then draws it between his teeth but doesn’t bite down hard.
“I need to get ready,” I tell him.
“For what?”
“I have three showings this morning, and then I have to work at the pub this evening.”
“That’s a long day,” he comments as I stand from the bed and begin gathering the clothes I plan to wear today. “Are you still okay with it?”
“With what? Working a full day?”
“I guess.”
I glance over at him. “What’s the alternative?”
“I’m just throwing it out there that you don’t have to work two jobs.”
“I didn’t have to before, Hunter. I like the pub, and I like to sell houses. I have time for both.”
“I’m just clarifying that it’s what you still want.”
“Yep. I enjoy it all.”
I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower so the water can warm up. I’ve never considered giving up either of my jobs. Keegan needs me at the pub, and it’s only a few nights a week.
And real estate is my passion.
I’ll do both for as long as I possibly can.
Hunter strolls into the bathroom and wraps his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck as he steps into my hot shower.
“Hey! I had that running for me.”
“Finders keepers.” He winks and tips his head back to wet his hair. “You’re welcome to join me.”
“I don’t have time for more fun.” I cross my arms over my naked chest and tap my toe. “You know, your work question kind of pissed me off.”
“Why?” He clears the steam from the shower door and frowns at me. “It was just a question. I don’t want you to burn out.”
“Because I’ve had the two jobs since before I met you. For quite a while, actually. And I juggle both just fine. I like it.”
“Then you should keep doing it. I just wanted to point out that you don’t have to if you’re doing it for financial reasons.”
“Do you think I’m poor because I work at the pub?”
“I don’t think you’re hurting,” he says, thinking it over. “That wasn’t my point.”
“I made over half a million last year from real estate,” I inform him. “I do just fine. I work at the pub because I enjoy my family. It’s that simple.”
“Wow, good for you.” Hunter clears the steam again and grins at me. “That’s awesome. You’re good at it.”
“Yes. I am. And even if I was struggling financially, I wouldn’t just assume that I could quit one of my jobs and live off you. I’m not a gold digger.”
“Okay.” He opens the door, grabs my wrist, and yanks me into the shower with him. He presses me against the cool tile and tips up my chin. “That wasn’t some kind of fucked-up test, Maeve. I know who you are. You said you’d slept really well, and you look a little tired today. I only want to make sure you’re not burning out. End of story.”
“Sorry for getting prickly. I guess Carla’s comment pissed me off more than I realized.”
“Don’t let it. It doesn’t matter what she says or what she thinks.”
“You’re right.” He moves under the spray to rinse his hair. “Now, hurry up. I have work to do.”
“Do you have time to meet the builder with me today?” he asks, surprising me.
“Sure. What time?”
“In about an hour?”
I juggle some things around in my head. “Actually, that works. I have a showing only about a block from here. You know that blue house just down the street?”
“I know it.”
“I can come back here after that. Actually, do you mind popping in there when you’re ready for me?”
His eyes narrow on me. “You know I don’t mind, but why?”
“There’s something about this client that I don’t like. I’d like to have you there, just in case he turns out to be a creep.”
“I’ll be there.”
“As you can see, there’s no direct water view in this home, but you’re only a block away from beach access.”
“Hmm.” My client nods and continues circling the kitchen, his hands clasped behind his back, his creepy eyes moving back to me every few seconds.
I check the time. Hunter should be stopping by any minute.
“Did you want to see the garage?” I ask as he circles the island yet again.
“No, it’s not the garage that I’m interested in.”
“Uh, okay. You’ve been really quiet. I’m honestly not sure if you like the place or not.”
“I’m going to be frank.” He turns to me, and his gaze slithers up and down my frame, making me instantly feel physically sick. “I’d like to fuck you on this island.”
“That’s not included in the purchase price.”
“Oh, come on. We can work something out. I’ve seen you look at me. You want me, you little slut.”
“And…we’re done,” I announce, my heels clicking smartly on the hardwood as I march to the front door. “You can go fuck yourself.”
“Hey, I hired you. That means you do what I tell you to do.”
“No. It doesn’t.” I reach for the door, but before I can get my hand on the knob, he jerks me back by the hair and slams me against the wall. I bring my knee up but miss his balls by about two inches.
“You’re nothing but a tease,” he hisses.
“I haven’t been flirting with you, Dale. Le
t me go.”
There’s a knock on the door, and I immediately scream. Hunter slams the door open, and when he sees that Dale has me pinned against the wall, he pounces on the other man, punching him in the eye as he drags his ass outside.
Hunter tosses Dale toward the man’s car.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Hunter growls. “Before I fucking kill you.”
Dale scurries to his car, holding his right eye. Hunter turns back to me.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Did he put his hands on you?”
“Just barely. It was mostly what he said. God, what a piece of shit. Thanks for coming.”
Hunter pulls me into his arms and holds on tight. “No more showing houses to single men alone.”
“I won’t,” I agree and take a long, deep breath. “I promise.”
It’s a Monday night, which means we’re busy with baseball lovers catching the game on our big-screen TVs and eating all of the good food out of the kitchen.
We’ve been going pretty much nonstop for a few hours, and Rachel looks exhausted. She’s been working like crazy over the past couple of weeks since Carla left, and life has settled down considerably. Rachel has her dad’s work ethic. There’s no doubt about it.
“Hey, why don’t you take a break?” I suggest. “Go sit at the bar and chat with Grandda for a few. Your feet are killing you.”
“How do you know?” Rachel asks.
“Because this isn’t my first rodeo. Go take a break. We can handle this.”
Rachel smiles gratefully and hops up onto a seat at the bar. My dad grins from ear to ear and pours her a root beer.
I hurry into the kitchen and am surprised to find only Maggie and Cameron.
Cameron curses under his breath and turns to leave.
“This conversation isn’t over, Mary Margaret,” he promises and storms out of the room.
I turn to my sister. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. It’s all bloody fine.” She tosses her hands into the air and storms out after him, leaving me completely confused.
Flirt With Me Page 16
