Maggie's Desire (3 page)

* * * *

Maggie dropped and broke yet another glass. "Shit."

Nick sidled up next to her and reached over her head for a bottle of Gray Goose magnum. "That's your fifth broken glass tonight. What's up?"

Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that Brian took Cassandra and Tracy into one of the back rooms over an hour ago or that every fifteen minutes you pull me up on the bar and go to third base.
She didn't think her panties had ever been so wet.

Maggie pushed Nick out of her way. "Nothing," she said, stomping back to the bar.

Nick grabbed her around the waist. "He's coming."

"What? Who?"

She saw Brian push his way through the hordes of people with his 'I just got laid' smile on his sexy face.

"Fuck," she said under her breath. Pain filled her chest and tears stung her eyes.

"Come on," Nick said, and lifted her up onto the bar.

The crowed went nuts. “Take it off. Take it off. Take it off.”

Nick jumped up on the bar and grinned down at her. "Let's give them something to talk about."

She backed way. "I am
not
taking off my clothes."

Nick bent, grabbed her wrist and tugged, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her to him. "You don't have to. We're going to stick to the plan."

Her body molded into his. What was she thinking this afternoon when she and Nick cooked up this little arrangement? Her body was in full meltdown mode ever since Nick kissed her senseless the first time.

Nick's erection pressed against her belly. Fear and excitement mixed into an intoxicating concoction in her head. "Nick, I—"

He cut her off with a tender kiss. "Trust me." He stepped back and unbuttoned his shirt. Every hormone in Maggie's body did the cha-cha.

The crisp, white material slid over his muscular arms and floated to the floor. The crowd went crazy. Maggie blinked and swallowed. Nick gripped her hand and tugged her toward him.

Nick nuzzled Maggie's neck and nipped. Shivers wracked her body. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and yanked him into her.

Maggie wanted to feel every inch of his hard body. He lifted her like she weighed nothing and slipped his hands under her dress again. His lips trailed over her chin and captured her mouth.

Every cell in her body seemed to burst all at once. Maggie no longer heard the crowd in the background. Not caring that everyone was watching, Maggie dug her fingers into Nick's hair and went for broke.

He worked his magical hands under the strap of her panties then slid the flimsy silk over her ass and down her legs. Nick's fingers moved farther up her dress. She stiffened, wishing they would wander to lady land. His hands grazed over her ass. Maggie willed away the disappointment settling over her.

Sliding his palms over her hips, Nick made sure no one could see any of her secret parts. He squeezed her waist. Heat shot through Maggie's body, melting her resolve.

Maggie maneuvered her feet out of the six-inch platform shoes and shook the underwear free. She wrapped her legs around his waist and let Nick take her for a ride. The man knew how to kiss.

By the time he set her down, Maggie wanted to beg him to make her come. She'd sat on the precipice of release for so long. A light breeze over her damp clit would've had her calling to the angels.

Chapter Two

Maggie zipped her car around Ava and Logan's cul-de-sac and parked behind Brian's BMW Z4. Her nerves quivered. After last night's show, Maggie didn't know if she'd ruined her chances with him.
What chances?

When Nick finally put her down to rioting cheers after the kiss of all kisses, Brian was nowhere in sight. She flipped down the visor and checked herself. Sighing, Maggie grabbed the cake carrier and opened the door. She forced herself to stroll up the walkway and not look up at the hunk of man on the roof.

"You finally decided to join us?"

Maggie's belly flip-flopped and she stumbled. She gazed up at Brian. The rim of the cake carrier cut into her hands and started to press into the frosting she'd spent all morning perfecting. "I was making a cake."

A look she thought might be longing crossed his sexy face. "I didn't know you could bake?"

There's a lot you don't know about me.
"It's one of many things I can do," she said instead.

"I saw some of those things last night."

Her heart stuttered
.
She
did
go too far with Nick. Maggie stiffened her spine.
Two can play at the bitchy game
.

"You're a number's cruncher—not a roofer, what the hell are you doing up there?"
Good one, Maggie. You couldn't come up with something better?

He swiped his well-defined forearm over his forehead and frowned. "Since I put myself through college roofing houses in the summer, I figured I can fix the leaks in this one."

Sweat shimmered on his bare chest and highlighted every sexy muscle on his torso. Her hormones jumped for joy at the sight.

She swallowed her lust down her dry throat. "Put on some sunscreen. You'll have a hard time screwing everyone with breasts if you have blisters."

The bastard smiled. "I don't screw everyone with breasts. I haven't screwed you."

And why not? What's wrong with me
? She wanted to scream the questions at him. Tears welled in her eyes. "That's because I have better taste than most," she said.

The front door of the early twentieth-century, Spanish style house opened, and Ava stepped out in all her beautiful, feminine glory. The light pink sundress and matching hat fit the other woman's personality and body to perfection. Maggie's tears dissipated and happiness took over. You couldn't help but smile when you saw Ava. She was like sunlight in a month of rainy days.

The person strolling toward her was a far cry from the skittish woman that walked into Paradise a year ago. Who would have thought the shy, prim lady with the ill-fitting clothes would take to Logan and his dominance so well.

They complemented each other. Even though Logan did the tying up, flogging, and mastery of Ava's pleasure, she was the one who ruled his heart and by doing so, ruled his world.

A wistful sigh fluttered past Maggie lips. She wanted what Ava and Logan had. Tamping down her longing, she glanced down at her ripped jeans and old T-shirt. "I thought we were working today, not doing the 'ladies that lunch' thing."

She took one last look at Ava and chuckled. "Where the heck did you get those?" she asked, pointing at Ava's feet.

Ava hurried up the walkway. "Do you like?"

"I do like. Where the heck did you get them?"

"The benefits of small feet. I got them in the kid's department at Macys." She lifted her foot and angled the hot pink, sparkly sneaker. "They even light up."

Maggie shook her head. "Of course they do." No one seeing Ava now would ever think she was an award-winning juvenile psychologist. "You're an enigma."

Ava's cheeks flushed. "Since I can't do the girly heel thing like Julie, because let's face it, I'll topple over—or the sexy tomboy thing like you." Her eyes scanned over Maggie and lit with amusement. "Only you can look that good in a pair of combat boots. I have to flaunt myself in other ways." Her gaze finally zeroed in on Maggie's head. "Oh, Maggie, I love your hair! Very Marilyn Monroe."

Maggie's free hand flew to her head. She'd been waiting for Ava to notice. The other woman had no problem telling Maggie what she thought about her hairstyles. "Thanks, I went blond for legends night at the club."

Ava smiled widely. "I heard you and Nick put on quite a show last night."

Heat rushed to Maggie's cheeks. "Since Logan hardly ever comes into the club anymore, someone had to do it."

Ava blushed. "Well, you know, he keeps me tied up here."

She grinned. "You're a lucky woman, Ava."

"Don't I know it."

A loud bang sounded from the roof. "Excuse me, ladies, but you're in the way of falling debris," Brian yelled down at them.

Unfazed, Ava ran her slim fingers over Maggie's platinum do. "I think it's a tie between the hot pink and this one." She pulled at a strand. "Do you think I could pull off the pink? I think the girls at the community center would love it."

"You could pull off anything."

"Ava, honey," Logan called down. "Could you and Maggie continue your conversation inside?"

"In a minute," she called up.

Maggie shielded her eyes from the sun and grinned up at the piece of man candy looking down on them. "Hi, Logan."

"Hey, Maggie, you're looking fine this morning."

Damn it. She felt herself blush again. "Thanks."

He swiped the sweat off his forehead. "Could you take my sassy fiancée inside?"

Maggie sent him a smile. "Sure," she said and stepped to Ava. "Show me the inside."

"All Brian had to
do
was ask us nicely to go inside," Ava said sarcastically.

Brian grumbled something Maggie couldn't hear. She handed Ava the cake carrier. "Here. This needs to go into the fridge."

"Thank you." Ava moved to the front door. "What is it?"

Maggie stumbled over a loose paver. "A house-warming gift."

The glow on the other woman's face warmed Maggie's heart.

"You shouldn't have," Ava said. "It's going to be at least month before we can stay here."

"Well, we'll just call it dessert then. I'll get you some pots and pans or something later."

Ava led Maggie into the doorway. "Please don't. I have everything I need."

"I bet you do. You and Logan are so full of happiness it makes me want to puke."

Ava grinned over her shoulder "You're just jealous."

"That I am. Do you blame me? You did steal Logan away from all the single ladies in the world."

Maggie's heart twisted. Ava and Logan had it all. The love and absolute trust they had for each other warmed the coldest parts of her soul. If she ever fell in love, she wanted to be the everything in her man's life like Ava was to Logan.

Ava sniggered.

Maggie tried to concentrate on the conversation.

"I did, didn't I?” Should I be sorry?" Ava asked.

"Absolutely. But I don't know two people more suited to one another."

The other woman glowed with happiness. "Speaking of sexy, single men, thanks for letting Nick stay with you."

She smiled, knowing the inquisition was coming. "Nice segue, Ava."

"I'm sorry. If there is one man I love as much as Logan, it's Nick. He's my best friend and the closest thing I have to a brother."

Maggie braced for whatever was to come. Ava was like a guard dog when it came to her friends. She would do anything to make them happy and keep them safe. For some reason she liked the idea of Nick and her together. Too bad, Maggie's heart wanted the jackass on the roof.

"Any time.” Maggie forced herself to smile. “I like having Nick around.”

"So where did he sleep?" Ava asked sweetly, too sweetly.

"On the couch."

"Really?"

The suspicious glint in the other woman’s eyes had Maggie stiffening her spin. "Yes, Ava, really." She shook off Ava's hand gently.

Ava grinned and opened the front door. "What about last night?"

Maggie followed Ava inside and hoped the butterflies in her stomach would subside. "What happened at the club was just for show." Ava didn't need to know, if he asked to share her bed, Maggie would've gladly accepted and probably would've given him her virginity. But when they got back to her place, Nick just kissed her on the cheek and told her to sleep tight before he headed into the bathroom for a shower.

Maggie had tossed and turned all night until she got up before the sun and become very friendly with her massaging showerhead. Smoothing her hands down her sides, she pulled herself together. "Is Nick here? He left when I was in the shower this morning."

"He got here at the crack of dawn," Ava said. "You guys must be tripping over each other."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, Nick got here so early and asked to take shower. He didn't care the hot water heater wasn't hooked up yet. I figured you two were stumbling over each other this morning. I know your place is tiny and all."

The thought of Nick being all worked up and needing to take a cold shower had a little thrill zinging through her. She shrugged off the feeling. "We'll there's no place for him to stay with you and Logan at Julie's. Besides who wouldn't want a hot firefighter in the room next door?"

When Nick stayed with her, Maggie felt safe for the first time in a long time. She shook her head and swallowed back the horrible memories of a night so long ago.

She forced herself to smile. "Half the time he's down visiting, he's over here helping you guys or out pursuing women."

Maggie waited for the green monster to come. When no feelings of jealousy washed over her, she sighed. Why was it every time she saw Brian with a woman, it drove her crazy, but the thought of Nick being with someone else didn't bother her in the least?

She shrugged stiffness from her shoulders. "I keep telling him he should just come to the club. Everyone has to be tested and vetted, but he says it takes the fun out of it."

Ava stepped over some boxes of wood flooring. "Sex clubs aren't his thing."

Maggie continued to follow her though the disheveled living room into the kitchen. "I know and I really don't understand why. From the stories you've told, he practically runs a club from his bedroom."

"I don't think he likes the public-ness of the club."

"That makes sense, I guess,"

Ava sighed. "All I know is he's a great guy." She set the cake container on a makeshift counter. "So I take it from Brian's cheery mood you guys are fighting again?"

Maggie leaned against the doorframe. "When it comes to me, Brian has two moods—pissed off and indifference."

"Do you want my professional opinion?" Ava asked.