That’s Casey, Maggie’s friend from law school, he reminded himself. Casey’s husband John was on the floor in front of the Christmas tree with their little boy, putting together something with Legos. Closer to Michael, sitting on the floor leaning against the sectional, Maggie was playing a game of peek-a-boo with a toddler who was sitting on her lap.
That must be Casey’s daughter, he thought, judging by the little girl’s nearly white blonde hair. In his mind’s eye, he saw Maggie playing the game with a red haired child, and he smiled contentedly. It’s all coming together.
Veronica slid onto the sofa beside him. “You’re looking awfully pleased with yourself.”
Michael grinned. “That’s because when you’re good, you’re good. And I’m good.” He winked at her.
“And oh, so humble,” she purred, fixing him with a mocking exasperated smirk.
Casey joined Maggie on the floor. “How’s Princess Nastypants doing?” she asked, taking her daughter from Maggie.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, this is the sweetest child,” Maggie said, laughing.
“Well, she’s momentarily charmed by her Aunt Maggie, but don’t let her fool you. We’re up to our eyeballs in the ‘terrible twos.' ”
Afternoon blended into evening as dusk fell, and Maggie noticed that not only had no one left, they all looked as though they were settling in for a long stay, some even helping themselves to plates of leftovers.
“How are you feeling, Michael?” she asked, squatting beside him. “Should I start shooing people out of here?”
“Don’t be silly, Mags,” he said, flashing his best Michael Rannigan grin. “Everybody’s enjoying themselves. This is the nicest Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”
She looked up at him and smiled, squeezing his hand. “I’m really glad.”
As she made her way back to the kitchen, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Finally. Bobby had called early in the morning and they’d chatted briefly, but they hadn’t had another chance to talk all day.
“Hey there, cher,” he greeted her. “How’s my best girl?”
Maggie laughed into the phone. “I’m better now. I’ve missed you all day, but I know you were busy. We’ve been busy here, too, come to that.” She walked down the hallway for more privacy.
“Would you believe that everyone is still at Michael’s?” she whispered. “Nobody has left yet.”
“No?”
“I asked Michael if I should start moving them along, but he seems happy to have them.”
Bobby laughed. “It sounds like you throw a hell of a party. Nobody wants to leave.”
“How was your day? Did Savannah like her present?” Maggie had sent Bobby with a portable artist’s kit to give the little girl.
“She just loved it.” Maggie could hear the smile in his voice. “That child had more stuff by the end of the morning than you would believe.”
Maggie laughed happily. “Well, good. I’m so glad.” She sighed. “I just wish you were here.”
“Me too, cher, believe me.”
“Do I need to let you go?” she asked.
“Yeah, I should probably get off the phone.”
“Okay, then,” she breathed. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Maggie. I’ll see you soon.”
Maggie disconnected and made her way back down the hallway towards the living room which was as full of people as ever. It seemed less than fair somehow that everyone had someone with them today. Casey had John, Ben had Nate, Rance had Jason, hell, even Michael had Veronica Whatever happened to the Orphans and Misfits? She knew she was being petty and tried to shrug it off.
Across the room, Michael looked tired and he was using his oxygen again. She wondered briefly whether she should just start moving people along in spite of what he’d said. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Hey Mags, could you get that?” Michael asked.
Sighing to herself, she crossed to the door, wondering who’d locked themselves out. She didn’t notice that as she swung open the door the room fell silent.
“Merry Christmas, cher.”
Momentarily speechless, she froze for second before launching herself into Bobby’s arms. He had to take a step back to keep from falling.
“Well, I’m glad to see you, too,” he laughed.
Through tears, she sputtered, “But...I mean, what...How did you...”
“Calm down,” he laughed as he carried her into the room. “Merry Christmas, everybody.” Bobby gently set Maggie down, and she gripped his hand in hers, unwilling to lose contact with him.
Casey brought a plate of food from the kitchen. “Hi, I’m Casey. I figured you were probably hungry.”
Bobby bestowed on her his best lop-sided grin. “Nice to meet you, Casey. I’m Bobby. And thanks, I am pretty hungry.” He took a seat on the end of the sectional, nodding at Michael. “Merry Christmas, man.”
Michael smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Merry Christmas, Beau. Glad you could join us.”
As Bobby ate, Maggie introduced him to those he hadn’t met. While everyone went back to their own conversations, she peppered him with questions. “What happened? Did you really call me from the hall? Why did you come back tonight? I thought you were staying in Louisiana for a couple more days.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” he grinned.
“Well...you did. I’m so glad.”
Taking her hand, he kissed it gently. “Let’s go get a breath of fresh air.” He stood and held her hand, helping her up, and they let themselves out onto the terrace. The cool air was a nice change from the warmth of the crowded apartment. They walked to the railing and stood side by side looking out over the city with its sparkling lights and flurrying snow.
“It’s such a beautiful night,” Bobby murmured, and Maggie nodded, tucking her arm around his and resting her head on his shoulder. “Such a beautiful lady.”
She looked up at him, and he kissed her lightly. “When I think back on that day that your shoe broke,” he looked down and she giggled, “that seems like the luckiest day of my life. I think of all the things that had to happen for us to meet at that moment.” He gazed down at her. “It’s like it was meant to be.”
He took both Maggie’s hands in his and faced her. “I love you with all my heart. I don’t ever want to know a day without you in my life.” His eyes glittered with emotion and he slowly lowered himself to one knee. Maggie’s jaw dropped, and her eyes widened.
“So I’m asking...Maggie, will you marry me?”
Maggie felt all the breath leave her body. In a mad rush, memories from the last few years swirled through her mind, her infatuation with Michael, her engagement to Mike, her resolve to remain alone, that day she and Bobby had met.
She looked down into Bobby’s eyes and saw a twinge of anxiety and realized she hadn’t answered. Unable to formulate the words, she nodded vigorously as tears filled her eyes. Two things happened simultaneously. Relief instantly flooded Bobby’s face, and raucous cheers went up from the crowd who’d pressed up against the living room windows to watch.
“You had me worried for a minute there, cher,” he laughed. He reached into his pocket and removed a small midnight blue velvet box. Opening it, he removed something and slid it onto Maggie’s left ring finger. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.” He stood and gazed down into her eyes before lifting her chin and kissing her passionately. Again, their audience cheered loudly.
“Bobby, it’s absolutely beautiful,” Maggie said. “I love it!”
He laughed. “You can’t even see it. I hadn’t counted on it being so dark out here. Come on, let’s go on inside.”
Hand in hand, they went back inside the apartment to the hearty congratulations of their friends. In the light of a lamp beside Michael, Maggie and Bobby looked at the ring. The band of delicate platinum filigree held a huge emerald-cut diamond surrounded by dozens of smaller diamonds.
“Oh, Bobby,” she gasped. “It
’s unbelievably beautiful. So delicate and vintage-looking.” She turned and threw her arms around his neck. “I love it!”
“Oh, for God’s sake, can we finally open the champagne?” Ben called out. As champagne was poured and glasses were passed around, Maggie looked down at Michael who had a Cheshire grin on his face.
“This is the gift Bobby showed you?” she said, tilting the ring his way. Realization dawned on her. “And it wasn’t leftover champagne? And this is why nobody would leave?”
“Everybody except you knew this was an engagement party, Mags,” he said quietly.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing I said yes,” she said.
“Oh, like you would have said no,” Casey quipped, and everyone laughed.
Chapter 23
Bobby’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “How’s that?”
Illuminated only by the handful of candles scattered about the room, Maggie pulled against the restraints that bound her wrists to the bars of her iron headboard and giggled softly. “It’s fine.”
“No, you’re fine,” he murmured as his hand lightly outlined the side of her body. He continued down her leg to bind first one ankle then the other to the corners of the bed. He stood at the end gazing over her nude body spread out before him, candle light bathing her skin in a soft glow. “Aiee, cher, how did I get so lucky?”
Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, he removed his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. His impressive erection stood at attention. “Where do I even start?” he whispered, and she giggled again.
Bobby crawled onto the bed between her open legs, moving up over her body until he reached her face. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply.
“Oh, Bobby,” she whispered against his lips.
He lightly nipped down the side of her neck, delighting to see the goose bumps that appeared over her body. Trailing kisses along the way, he reached her breasts with their sharp precise points and paid them special attention with his tongue, pleased when he was rewarded with a quiet moan. He continued moving south, kissing his way down her smooth belly to her mound, where he stopped.
Maggie gasped, her head popping up to look at him, and he chuckled. “The good thing about having you like this,” he leered at her, “is that I can do anything I want. I mean, look at this pretty pussy, all smooth and soft. I could eat it...or I could just skip right over it.”
“Oh, please,” she begged softly.
Bobby flashed her his lop-sided grin. “Please, what? What is it you want?”
“Oh, God, please,” she whimpered.
He dipped his head and ran his tongue the length of her pussy, taking the time to flick her clit, and she moaned desperately. “Oh, that’s what you want,” he chuckled.
Maggie pulled against her restraints again. “Oh, Bobby, please make me come. I’m so hot. I need to come so badly.”
He smiled at her. “Well, since you said the magic word...” Leaning down again, he kissed her sex as he had her mouth, sucking, probing with his tongue, torturing her sensitive nub.
Maggie cried out, struggling against the cuffs that bound her, trying uselessly to buck her hips against him. “Oh, shit! Oh, God, Bobby!” The wave of her pleasure washed over her like a tsunami, and she gave herself over to the intense release.
As her body began to relax, Bobby looked back up at her and grinned. “I’m so sorry you hated that.”
She breathed out slowly and opened her eyes. “I’m so wet for you,” she breathed, smiling sleepily.
Bobby didn’t need any more encouragement. He covered her body with his and slammed himself into her hot, slick center, impaling her with his cock. Maggie gasped in his ear as he thrust into her, pulling his length nearly all the way out before slamming into her again. She pressed her head back into the pillow, closing her eyes in rapture as he filled her.
As his moment neared, he pulled out and she looked up, startled. “I’m going to come all over your gorgeous body.” After only a few strokes of his hand, he grunted as ropes of his hot white essence shot across her stomach, her tits, and even her chin. Still leaning over her on one hand, he used the other to smear his cum all over her tits and belly.
“You look so hot with me all over you,” he growled before stalking off to the bathroom to retrieve a warm wet cloth.
Later, unbound and wiped clean, Maggie burrowed against Bobby’s chest as he pulled her close. “I can’t believe you’ve lived here three weeks,” she murmured. “It seems like the time has gone by so fast.”
He lifted her hand to admire the engagement ring he’d given her for Christmas. “We should get busy planning a wedding. June will be here before we know it.”
She gave a contented sigh and planted tiny kisses on his broad chest.
* * *
“What do you mean, you just put her on a plane?” Bobby asked in shock.
His ex-wife had impeccable timing. He went on the air in ten minutes.
“You’re just up there in New York City with your girlfriend, going on television every night, living your life like you don’t have a care in the world,” Deanna charged. “You have a daughter!”
“I know I have a daughter. I love her very much and I see her absolutely as often as I can. Why didn’t you call and let me make arrangements? I’m at work right now.”
“Well, you’d better figure something out, because her plane lands at 10:00 tonight.”
“Deanna, how in the hell can you just put a kid on a plane without even knowing if there’ll be someone to pick her up? Couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow? Why didn’t you call my folks? They’d have loved to have Savannah at their house.”
He heard Deanna huff into the phone. “Gary surprised me with a trip to Paris. We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Bobby shook his head. Gary. The guy who’d been with her that time he’d dropped off Savannah. “What about school? She’s just supposed to miss it? This is beyond irresponsible, Deanna, even for you.”
“What, your girlfriend doesn’t like kids, is that it?”
“Maggie is my fiancée, and she loves Savannah, but that’s beside the point.”
Deanna was silent for a moment. “So Savannah was telling the truth. You’re getting married again.”
“Yes, and thanks for your well wishes. Give me the flight information. I’ll take care of this, but next time give me a little heads-up.”
* * *
At 9:45, Maggie presented her ID to airport security and was escorted to Gate 47. Bobby had called ahead to inform the airline that it would be Maggie meeting Savannah at the gate when her flight arrived. The door opened, and a pretty brunette flight attendant entered the terminal holding hands with the small blonde girl.
“Maggie!” she shouted and ran to grab Maggie around the waist.
“Hi, there, pretty girl. How are you? I didn’t know I’d get to see you today.” She bent down and hugged Savannah tightly. Maggie once again showed her ID to the flight attendant, who handed her the little girl’s pink suitcase, and the pair headed to the exit.
“Where’s Daddy?”
Maggie smiled reassuringly. “He’s at work, and we’re going to go see him right now.”
Wide-eyed, Savannah said, “It’s past my bedtime.”
“I know it is, sweetie. Way past. But I think it’ll be okay this one time.”
In the back of the cab Maggie patted the child’s leg. “I’m so glad you’ve come to see us. It’s such a nice surprise.”
“They were yelling,” Savannah said quietly.
Maggie frowned. “Who was yelling, Savannah?”
“Mommy and Gary.”
“Oh. You know sometimes grownups get angry with each other, but then they work everything out. It can be scary, I guess.” Gazing out the window, Maggie pressed her lips together tightly.
They arrived at the studio just in time to see Bobby sign off for the night. When the camera’s red light went out, he stood beaming at Savannah. “Hey, there, June bug! Where’s my hug?”
Maggi
e released the little girl’s hand and watched as Savannah ran across the room to leap into Bobby’s arms. He smothered her with kisses as she giggled gleefully. Gently putting her down, he introduced her and Maggie to his co-workers before they headed downstairs to catch a cab home.
Later, as Savannah slept soundly on the sofa, Bobby and Maggie sat at the kitchen table talking quietly. “Thank you, Maggie. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” he said again.
Maggie poured bourbon for both of them. “That’s about the millionth time, Bobby. I was happy to do it.” She placed her hand over his. “I’m happy to have Savannah here. She’s welcome anytime. Our home is her home, you know that.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know what possessed Deanna just to put her on a plane. It’s the most asinine thing...”
Maggie’s eyes went to her clasped hands, unsure of how to proceed. “Savannah said something in the cab when we were on our way to the studio.” She looked back up at Bobby. “She told me Deanna and Gary were yelling.”
“Did she say what they were yelling about?”
“No, and I didn’t pursue it. But I’ve got to tell you, it gave me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.”
Bobby looked grimly thoughtful. “I’ll see if she says anything tomorrow.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “You have no idea how much I appreciate you.”
“It’s the least I can do,” she smirked mischievously, “seeing as how you sex me up like you do.” They both laughed quietly as they tiptoed off to bed.
Chapter 24
The deceptively bright sun and cloudless blue sky seemed at odds with the brisk cold day. But it made for a perfect afternoon spent skating at Wellman Rink in Central Park. Savannah squealed in delight as she struggled along on her ice skates. She was in no real danger of falling, safely tucked between her father and Maggie who each held a hand. She looked up, and Maggie could see the child’s pink cheeks and sparkling eyes.
Rannigan's Redemption: Complete Collection Page 50
