Holiday Trilogy Special Edition Page 5

  "I was suggesting that very thing. If I'd thought of it earlier, it could have been happening tonight. But frankly, I'm beat. How about tomorrow?"

  "Oh, tomorrow sounds perfect. I'll be humming all day long with anticipation."

  "Of course, you realize, Maddie, being real quiet is the key to this plan working. I really don't want Sophie to find out about us that way."

  She snorted amusement. "Do you think she might be able to find out about us some other way? Because as much fun as this sneaking around is, it's bound to get old."

  "You know, I was ruminating on that very subject."

  "Sounds painful," she teased.

  "It very often is. But I was thinking maybe we could get her used to the idea of you and me sort of slowly, maybe beginning with a picnic this weekend, the three of us? Hell, she likes you already. She babbles about you all the way home from the center. It drives me wild, because I picture you a bit differently in my mind than she does."

  Maddie chuckled at that. "A picnic sounds great. If she takes it okay, we'll move ahead slowly."

  "Perfect," he said, and sighed. "Now, let's get back to the idea of anticipation. Why don't you give me something naughty to think about until tomorrow night?"

  She gave a sultry chuckle. "Did I ever tell you what Zoey taught me to do with some whipped cream and a bowl of ice cubes?" She went on in descriptive detail, and Rob groaned into his end of the phone.

  Maddie behaved herself Thursday night, and was invited back the next evening. She had to bite Rob on the shoulder once when the pillow fell away, but he never complained.

  Since they didn't have to work the next day, Rob convinced Maddie to stay over Friday night. He set his alarm for five a.m., just enough time to make love and send Maddie home before Sophie woke up on Saturday.

  They were sleeping soundly in a tangled heap when a storm passed over. Maddie was quite content; she heard the thunder and the rain pelting the roof, but it was a pleasant sound, and she snuggled next to Rob, slipping back to sleep.

  A loud crack of thunder sent Sophie scampering into her father's room. "Daddy! Daddy! I'm scared!" she cried, and jumped on his bed.

  Maddie bolted upright, and pulled the sheet around her chest. Rob was a bit slower to rouse. He rubbed his eyes and a mortified expression came over his face when he spotted his daughter.

  Sophie looked at Maddie and cried, "Oh, Miss Stewart! I'm so glad you're here! I was so scared!" She leapt into Maddie's arms.

  "It's all right, sweetheart." Maddie held Sophie and pushed the hair back from her face. "It's just a little storm, nothing to worry about." Thunder boomed over them again and Maddie said, "It sure is noisy, though, isn't it?" She looked over Sophie's head and said through her teeth, "You didn't know she was afraid of storms?"

  Rob replied through his teeth, "I didn't know it was storming." He rubbed his daughter's back. "I'm sorry, munchkin."

  Maddie grimaced. I wonder what he's apologizing for?

  Sophie clung to Maddie and looked at her father. "It's okay, daddy. I feel better being in here with you guys. Can I sleep with you and Miss Stewart?"

  Maddie raised her eyebrows at him. Rob shrugged and smiled. "If it's okay with Miss Stewart, I guess so."

  Maddie hugged Sophie. "Of course you can, sweetie. I need to use the bathroom, though. I'll be right back." She yanked hard on the sheet that was covering her, pulling it free. Rob chuckled as she wrapped it completely around her and headed for the other room.

  "Top drawer on the left," he said.

  Maddie stopped at his dresser and opened the drawer. There were several pairs of pajamas. She took a pair, and tossed a set of bottoms on the foot of the bed for Rob. She went in to his bathroom and slipped on the pajamas, returning with the sheet for Rob to use.

  "Come here, sweetie." Maddie distracted Sophie as Rob covered himself with the linen, taking his pajama bottoms into the bathroom. When he returned, Maddie helped him make the bed smooth again and they both climbed in, Sophie happily snuggled between them.

  Bo sauntered into the room with the next bolt of lightning, looking more curious than scared. "Come on, Bo," Rob muttered. "Might as well join the party." The dog jumped on the foot of the bed, and plopped down on Maddie's feet.

  "Kick him off if he's crowding you." Rob yawned.

  Maddie smiled. "He's fine. You might want to shut off that alarm, though. No need to wake up at five, anymore."

  "That's for damn sure." He slapped at the alarm, and smiled as he watched Sophie and Maddie cuddle together.

  When Maddie opened her eyes again it was morning. Bo was curled up on top of the covers in the crook of her knees, Sophie was sharing her pillow, and Rob was watching her. "Good morning," she whispered.

  "Good morning, beautiful."

  "Can't sleep?"

  He raised the covers so she could see that Sophie's feet were pressed into his stomach. "Somehow you got the better end of that deal."

  "I usually do." She reached out and caressed his cheek.

  "Not exactly the body I was hoping to be pressed against this morning."

  "But still nice, nevertheless."

  "Yeah, it is. I'm just glad to be waking up with you, no matter who else is in the bed."

  She laughed. "Be careful when you say that. It sounds a little, you know…"

  He laughed, and reached across Sophie to give Maddie a kiss. They kissed for several minutes before the child stirred, and they had to stop. "To be continued," he whispered, and Maddie nodded.

  "Daddy?" Sophie opened her eyes sleepily. "I want pancakes."

  "Okay." Rob put a kiss on her forehead. "Is that all you've got to say?"

  "I need to go potty."

  Rob and Maddie chuckled. He lifted his daughter out of bed and deposited her on the floor. "Go to it, munchkin."

  They watched her walk into the bathroom then looked at each other. "At least she didn't wet the bed." He shook his head.

  Maddie laughed. "That would have been the perfect topper to last night."

  He rolled over on top of her and kissed her neck. "Last night wasn't all bad, was it?"

  She squirmed until their hips were touching and pressed against him. "Last night was wonderful. The part before midnight, I would go so far as to call earth-shattering."

  He groaned and rubbed against her, kissing her deeply. "God, what you do to me," he finally muttered as he pulled back.

  "And you, to me," she agreed, kissing him one more time before Sophie returned.

  Rob was slow to move away from Maddie, apparently testing Sophie's reaction. There was none.

  "Pancakes?" she asked her father again.

  "Are you going to help make them?" He scooped the little girl into his arms and deposited her between himself and Maddie.

  "Yes!" She chuckled, and when her father was through tickling and she was through laughing, she asked Maddie, "Want to help?"

  "Yes ma'am, I do."

  Rob shuffled Sophie off to the kitchen with instructions to let Bo out. He opened his closet and said, "Somewhere in here I have—yes! A robe." He pulled it out and wrapped it around Maddie. "Let's do breakfast first, and get cleaned up later."

  "That's a plan I can live with." She kissed him lightly then more deeply then while they groped each other again.

  "Damn." He pulled away. "I really hate to stop this, but Sophie's waiting and I have to pee. One of those matters is more pressing than the other."

  Maddie touched one finger to the tip of his nose. "We call it 'potty' at Sunny Days. You go right ahead. I'll use the one in the hall and meet you in the kitchen."

  He nodded and they went their separate ways.

  They were just finishing up Rob's world famous pancakes when Sophie looked at Maddie and asked, "Why did you sleep here, Miss Stewart?"

  Maddie exchanged glances with Rob, and raised her brows.

  He answered for her. "Well, honey. Maddie— Miss Stewart—and I are seeing each other. Dating."

  "Okay," she said, and ate h
er last few bites.

  He smiled at Maddie and said to his daughter, "We were thinking about going on a picnic today, the three of us. Would you like that?"

  Sophie jumped up and down. "Yippee! A picnic! Can Bo come, too?"

  "Sure," Rob replied. He leaned in and whispered to Maddie, "This is evidently not as big of a deal as I feared it would be."

  She touched Rob's hand. "Why don't you hop in the shower, and let Sophie and I clean up in here? I'll help her get dressed, then we can run by my place so I can clean up."

  Sophie jumped up and down again. "Can I see where you live?"

  "Of course." Maddie smiled at her. "Then we might have to go to the store for some picnic stuff. You can tell me what you like."

  "Yay!" Sophie jumped around in circles until Maddie got dizzy watching her.

  Rob stood up and gave Maddie a quick kiss. "Okay, then, I guess I'll go shower. Sophie Belle, show Maddie where your shorts and shirts are, will you? Wear whatever you want."

  "Yep, yep, yep." She was still hopping as he left the room and Maddie loaded the dishwasher.

  "Hey, Sophie Belle. Is that your middle name? It's pretty." Maddie took her by the hand and they walked into her bedroom. "What would you like to wear today?"

  Sophie picked out an outfit that didn't match, so Maddie made slight adjustments until they were both happy. She helped Sophie change, and brushed her blond hair until it lay straight. She supervised the teeth brushing, and put on shoes and socks.

  Sophie looked up at her. "What is your name, Miss Stewart?"

  Maddie chuckled. "You know half of it. The rest is Maddie. Maddie Stewart."

  "Can I call you Maddie like my daddy does?"

  "Sure," Maddie agreed. "But when we're at Sunny Days, you probably need to call me Miss Stewart. Do you think you can remember that?"

  She nodded exaggeratedly up and down, up and down, and bobbed her way out of the room. Maddie took a breath and followed her. Is Sophie this energetic at the center? She seemed to blend right in with the other children and play nicely. But one on one, holy cow! The child was going to keep Maddie on her toes.

  Fortunately, Rob appeared in the doorway, freshly showered in shorts and a t-shirt. His hair was still wet, and combed back from his face. Sophie had gone into the kitchen, so Maddie took the opportunity to run her hands over Rob's stubbly face and through his hair. "God, you look good," she purred. "And check out those legs!"

  He grinned and told her, "It's going to be ninety-fucking degrees out there today."

  "I know. I said you look great. I was complimenting your legs." She chuckled as he grabbed her and dipped her backwards for a kiss. "And you taste all minty fresh. I probably taste like pancakes and stale whatever from last night. I need to get cleaned up."

  "Maybe you need to leave some things here," he suggested. "Since it seems to be no big deal to anyone."

  "Not to anyone?" she teased. "I think Bo likes having me here."

  He growled and tickled her. "I love having you here. And if Sophie doesn't mind, then let's go for it. Pack a bag when you get home, and stay another night."

  "Ooh!" She squealed, and hugged him. She whispered in his ear, "You're going to be so happy you suggested it."

  He grinned, and patted her bottom. "I already am, darlin'. I already am."

  "I'll be right with you," Maddie rubbed his face one last time, and went in to his room to change into her clothes from the previous night.

  She heard Rob call to Sophie, "Munchkin! Let's get this show on the road!"

  Maddie joined them in the kitchen as Rob let Bo in, locked up the house, and they walked out to his truck.

  "Sorry to squeeze you," Maddie smiled as she wedged in between Rob and Sophie's car seat.

  "I'm not." He put a hand on her knee, and left it there as he drove.

  Sophie looked out the window and sang to herself. "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round…"

  Maddie looked at Rob, and they smiled.

  Inside her house, she said, "Make yourselves comfortable. Watch TV or whatever you like. I'll try to hurry."

  Sophie plopped down in front of the television. "Daddy doesn't let me watch TV."

  Maddie eyed Rob. "Grouch." She handed the remote to Sophie and was prepared to explain it to her, but the child pushed the 'On' button and began channel surfing like a pro. "Obviously someone lets her."

  Rob shrugged and smiled at Maddie. "Go shower. I have some retaliatory snooping to do."

  "Hah!" she snorted, and went to clean up. She took a quick shower and washed her hair. She dried off in the bathroom then opened the door to her bedroom to let some of the steam escape.

  Rob was leaning against the door frame.

  She jumped, startled. "Shit! Don't do that!"

  He chuckled and looked up and down her naked body. "Oh yeah, just what I was hoping to find." He touched her chin and let his hand drift down to her breast.

  Maddie smiled. "Sophie." She nodded toward the other room.

  "Sophie is engrossed in some Muppet adventure. I figure she won't miss me for five minutes."

  Maddie shoved him away in a feeble attempt at protest. "You're crazy." She swatted him as she went to her dresser, slipping into some panties and a pair of skimpy jean shorts.

  He watched her, and when she reached for a bra, he shook his head.

  Maddie chose a dark camisole top with spaghetti straps that wouldn't be too see-through.

  Rob smiled and nodded, watching her comb through her wet hair, and with nimble fingers put in a French braid. "You've got that down to a science."

  "Years of practice." She threw a few things into a bag for the next day. They kissed once more before rejoining Sophie in the front room.

  "Munchkin! Ready to hit the store for picnic supplies?"

  "Yep!" Sophie shut off the TV and they headed for the grocery store.

  It was almost too hot to enjoy the outdoors. They ate lunch on a blanket under a shade tree, and Sophie attempted to play ball with Bo for a few minutes. He wanted nothing to do with exercise; he preferred lying on the blanket with Maddie and Rob.

  "Move over." Rob shoved the dog away gently. "You feel like a furry blast furnace on my legs." He rolled on his side and looked at Maddie. "This bites. No breeze at all."

  She smiled at him. "Imagine how lovely it'll feel inside the house, then. This times one hundred."

  He yawned and nodded. "I suppose I should turn on the air conditioner. I hate to get used to it, since I have to be out in the heat all day. Makes it feel that much hotter."

  "I thought construction workers went to work and quit earlier when the weather got like this."

  He nodded again. "Most do. I can't because of Sophie. My crew's not real happy about it, but they do what I say."

  Maddie watch Sophie chase a butterfly, and thought about what he said. "I could watch her before the center opens, Rob. You could drop her off at my house whenever you wanted."

  He ran one finger over her arm. "I appreciate the offer, but she can be hard to wake up in the morning. I'd hate to dump that on you."

  Maddie shook her head. "So bring her in her jammies and let her sleep. I'll dress her and give her breakfast."

  His finger twisted around one of hers, and they both squeezed. "It's a tempting offer," he admitted. "If I could be on the job site by six, I could take off at two or three. Just when the sun really starts to bake."

  "So do it," she encouraged. "Or try it, anyway. If it doesn't work out, we'll change it."

  He smiled. "I have five guys on my crew. I know they'd be happy to switch to six a.m. I doubt I could convince them to switch back because it wasn't convenient for me."

  She wiggled his hand. "It'll be fine. You should do it. I hate to think of you baking out there in the afternoon sun."

  He rolled on to his back and stared up at the sky, holding her hand. He was quiet for awhile, and finally said, "You know what might be even more convenient, for me, anyway. You staying out
here."

  She glanced at him.

  He went on, "It wouldn't be as handy for you, of course. But you'd have the added perk of me fixing you dinner every night. Plus a few other perks I can think of."

  She rolled on her side next to him. "You mean it?"

  "Sure." He looked a little nervous, like he was trying to convince himself. "We can try it, anyway."

  Maddie laughed out loud. "God, you're positively green! Take the offer back real quick, before I have a chance to consider it."

  He smiled. "I don't want to take it back. I think it would be great."

  "Keep saying it; pretty soon you'll believe it."

  He rolled over and faced her. "This is a big step for me, with Sophie here and all. I just have to be sure I'm doing the right thing."

  "I know that." She touched his cheek gently. "So what if we take this real slowly? I'll bring a few things over, stay a few nights, and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, we try it my way. Or, we go back to afternoon delight."

  He smiled and nodded. He kissed her and brought her body under him, his knee wedging firmly between her legs. Maddie wrapped her arms around his neck, and they necked until Sophie stuck her face next to theirs. "I'm thirsty."

  Rob paused, but didn't let go of Maddie. He looked at his daughter. "I'm kissing Maddie right now. Check the cooler for a juice box." They watched her pull out the little box.

  "I need help with the straw." She handed it over.

  Maddie lifted her hands from his back and reached for the drink. "Here." She pulled the straw off the box, peeled away the wrapper, and poked it into the box. "Don't squeeze until you drink some." She pointed to Rob's back.

  Sophie's eyes sparkled as she reached for the juice box and squeezed it over her father's back. Juice bubbled forth and soaked his t-shirt.

  "Why you little…" Rob grabbed for his daughter but Maddie held him firm.

  "Run, Soph! I'll distract him for a minute to give you a head start."

  Sophie chuckled and took off. Rob looked at Maddie and grinned. "Co-conspirators, eh?"

  "You said something about kissing me?" She batted her eyes, and he kissed her.