Chapter 12

Makayla came in and berated Maggie about how she was just feeling sorry for herself since she didn’t get any sleep, and if she kept this attitude up, she was going to kick her ass.

Just to get her off her back, Maggie agreed and told her she wouldn’t do it again. She stayed behind an hour to catch up on grading before going home exhausted, changing, and crashing on the couch.

She lay there in shorts and a T-shirt and texted Brett to tell him she would wait until summer before taking on more shifts. She had almost fallen asleep when her text alert went off.

Liam

I’ve been thinking about you…how was your day?

Maggie

Tiring. Although I had a surprise delivery that made it better!

Liam

You liked them?

Maggie

What woman doesn’t like getting flowers?

Liam

You already established that you are not like most women, so I was concerned

Maggie

You are driving me crazy!

Liam

I haven’t even begun to drive you crazy how I want to, darling!

That text sent goosebumps up her arms, but the beeping of the oven pulled her from her thoughts. She ate dinner on the couch and watched her favorite baking show before heading to bed.

Sleep came so much easier, and she woke up so much better than the day before. She dressed quickly in pants and a blouse and left with her lunch and her usual tea.

Mak put her hair up in a messy bun. The day flew by, and the kids were awesome. Days like this were why she loved her job.

Back home, she sat on the patio grading when there was a knock on the door. She walked barefoot to the door and opened it, surprised to see Liam in jeans and a T-shirt.

They fit him like a second skin, and she felt her heart clench in her chest at the sight of him.

“Hello, darling. Was your day better?”

“So much better! Do you want to come in?”

“I have a friend with me. Do you mind?”

“No…”

Liam came in and whistled. A large bulldog followed him in.

“Oh my gosh! He is so cute! Who is this?” she squealed, dropping to her knees to pet him. He sat like a perfect gentleman and raised a paw. She giggled as they shook, and he licked her.

“I hope you don’t mind. I took him to the vet for his check and thought I would swing by and see if you were better than yesterday.”

“Thank you, Liam. That’s sweet. I slept so well, and the kids were great today! What’s his name?”

“I’m sorry! This is Rupert. I forgot about Gus. Hopefully, he will be all right with a friend visiting today.”

“Hi, Rupert! You are adorable! Gus likes Mike’s dog, Joe, so I think it will be okay.”

She set a bowl of water for Rupert as Liam came by and stood in front of her. She immediately felt her heart race as he looked at her and smirked, showing his dimpled cheek.

He moved his right hand up to her face and gently caressed her cheek. Electricity shocked her everywhere he touched, and she felt frozen in place as he leaned in and kissed her softly.

“I have been thinking about the last kiss we had for two days and needed another one. Fancy having dinner?”

Maggie nodded, unable to form words. Liam chuckled and pulled out his phone to order some pho for them to eat. She finally came out of her haze and offered him something to drink.

He took a soda and sat on the couch. Gus came in and smelled Rupert before settling down next to him. Maggie was so happy and went to sit next to Liam on the couch.

They talked as they ate on the couch, laughing and giggling. Rupert loved the steamed veggies and kept coming back to Maggie for bites.

“It looks like you have more than one Olsen man wrapped around your little finger, darling.”

“Whatever, Liam! He is the only Olsen man that likes me!”

He put his food down and looked at her, making her nervous.

“Are you being straight with me? Do you really not think that I like you?”

She swallowed and sighed. “How can you? I searched for you on the internet and found pictures of you with all these beautiful and exotic women. Compared to them—”

“Don’t compare yourself to them! You are ~not~ like those other women. I think that’s why I am so intrigued by you. If I wanted more of those fake, bitchy women, I would be with one of them.

“But I want more. And you, darling, are more!”

He leaned closer to her and put his hand on her cheek again and whispered, “You are so beautiful!”

He leaned in and kissed her lips as she melted into him, her nerve endings on high alert and her senses overwhelmed.

Maggie had never felt anything like the sensations he was stirring in her. She had to get closer to him and feel his warmth.

Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her up and set her on his lap so she was straddling him. He loved the position and could tell that she did too as she moaned softly into his mouth.

Liam was in heaven as he put his hands under her shirt and felt the goosebumps he was leaving on her soft skin as he ran his fingers over her.

Maggie felt like she was floating. She didn’t ever want him to stop, but she knew that it would never work between them once he got to know her more intimately.

She didn’t think she could stand the heartbreak after what happened with Jason. She pulled back from the kiss and looked at him.

He noticed how flushed her skin was and that her lips were swollen from the kissing. She was mesmerizing to him.

“Liam, I have something to tell you before this goes any further…” She bit her lip.

“What is it, Maggie? Are you okay?”

“I…I just wanted to let you know that I am not very good at this…”

“At what? Kissing? Because I beg to differ. You are a very good kisser, darling!”

She blushed. “No, not kissing. At…at sex…”

“What do you mean, not good at sex? Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Jason, my ex, said I was a cold fish in bed and that’s why he went to Olivia. I didn’t satisfy him, wasn’t adventurous enough for him… I just wanted to warn you…”

He was stunned. How could anyone treat her that way?

“Maggie, darling. I don’t know what that bloody idiot said or did to you, but I can assure you that I will be very satisfied after we are together!”

“But how do you know? I don’t have much experience and I am not sure what—”

“I don’t care! That will make it that much more fun for us to find out what you like and how good we will be together! How do I know that I will be satisfied? Because of this!”

Liam put his hands on her hips and pushed her down on his lap harder so she could feel the substantial bulge in his pants.

“Do you see what you are doing to me just by some snogging?”

She looked at him in disbelief and then blushed again when she felt how hard he was.

The clock chimed. It was after eight already.

“Darling, if I didn’t have to be in court early tomorrow I would have you call in sick and spend the day showing you just how good we are going to be together.

“But ten hours is not long enough for what I have planned for you!”

She gulped, and he pulled her in for another deep kiss before standing up. He started toward the door and looked at her with a fire in his eyes.

“I have to go home and take a cold shower. I will be swamped the next two days and won’t be able to call or come by. Wear your hair down Friday night. I want to run my fingers through it, darling.”

She could do nothing but nod at his words. He kissed her lightly then whistled for Rupert, who grudgingly got up and followed his master out the door.

Liam flashed her a dimpled grin before heading out. Maggie closed the door and leaned against it for support. She knew she was in big trouble.

Gus meowed and rubbed on her leg. She cleaned up the dinner items, changed into pajamas, and settled into bed with a book.

Her mind was racing too fast to concentrate, so she turned on the TV and soon fell asleep, dreaming about her date with Liam.