Maid for Love (A Romantic Comedy) (7 page)

Zoe, seated next to him on the top step, leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’d be happy to make dinner tonight.”

“Good, because I’m half starved,” Josh said. “No, make that three quarters.”

Michael laughed. “That’s stretching it a bit but I take your point. Why don’t we go out for dinner?” He felt like celebrating. Like he wanted to hire a plane to spell out ‘I love Zoe’ in the sky or hire a gospel chorus to sing it, but dinner would have to do. “The rental company recommended a place called the Crab Shack. Who’s up for it?”

Josh was already on his feet. Kathryn wrinkled her nose playfully. “Yeah, not so sure about the wisdom of choosing a restaurant that refers to itself as a shack but I’m game.” She got to her feet. “What do you say, Zoe?”

“Sounds great. Why don’t you two go get ready so I can talk to your uncle for a moment?”

Once they were out of earshot, Michael waited for Zoe to tell him what was bothering her. Judging by the pensive look on her face, something obviously wasn't right. "What's wrong?"

“I feel guilty,” she finally said. She glanced toward the house. “Until I saw Josh and Kathryn, I hadn’t really thought about how awkward this might be for you.”

The only thing Michael found awkward was that with the two kids in the house, he couldn’t take Zoe in and ravage her the way he wanted to, but he was very sure that wasn’t what she meant. “I’m not following you.”

Zoe pushed herself up off the deck and went down enough steps that she now stood at his eye level. She leaned against the railing and kept her eyes focused on his. “Did they know that you and I were seeing each other last year?”

Seeing each other? Michael’s eyebrows rose. “I thought we’d been doing a bit more than that.”

“That’s not what I meant,” she protested. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like it was just a casual thing between us.”

Her answer mollified him somewhat. “Yes, Josh and Kathryn knew that we were seeing each other. They also knew that I was in love in you.” Was. Am. He knew which word reflected what was in his heart but he was worried about spooking her. Even though she’d come up to Nantucket, which said a lot, he still wasn’t completely sure about how she felt about him. But they had time to sort it out. He hoped. “The kids are happy you’re here. What’s got you so worried?”

“Don’t they think it’s weird that two days ago we were acting like virtual strangers and today I show up like a long lost love of yours?”

“First of all, Zoe, they’re teenagers.” He held out his hand and was happy when she gave him hers and let him pull her close. “They tend to be pretty focused on their own love lives. Secondly, they think all adults are a bit strange, including you and me. All we have to do is explain it to them.”

“Explain it how?”

He tightened his hold on her. “You tell me. You’re the one who acted like you didn’t know me from Adam. What was that about?”

The back porch screen door slammed shut, announcing the arrival of his niece and nephew, which effectively ended the conversation. But Michael knew it wasn’t over and so did Zoe. It was time for answers.

***

Zoe decided immediately upon entering the Crab Shack that she adored it. The weathered clapboard restaurant wasn’t necessarily eye catching from the outside, but inside it was clean and cozy and the atmosphere was relaxed. She waited until a basket of fried clam strips and calamari was on the table before she brought up the topic of her odd behavior. “So, guys, is there anything you want to ask me?” Zoe directed the question to the teens. “About my relationship with your uncle?”

She watched as Josh and Kathryn exchanged startled glances and then looked to their uncle for direction. At his barely perceptible nod, they turned their attention back to her. While Josh’s expression was curious, it was his sister who lobbed the first question at her.

“Do you love him?”

“Whoa, hold on, Kathryn,” Michael objected. “That’s not-”

“No, Michael,” Zoe cut him off. “It’s a fair question.”  She wiped her hands on her napkin and took a sip of her wine before continuing, “Yes, I do love your uncle.” She met Michael’s gaze across the table. An overwhelming swell of love for him threatened to make her heart overflow. As happy as she was to be with him, she knew it couldn’t last. This was her last chance to live in their bubble of happiness that was this weekend and she wanted to experience it to the fullest. “Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Living without him this last year has been the hardest. It’s been miserable.”

“Then why show up at his door and pretend not to know him?” Josh asked. “That makes like no sense.”

Zoe took another sip of her wine. “I know, I agree. It was a stupid way to handle the situation, I totally get that. I can’t explain it any better than to say that I made a really dumb call.” Actually, she could explain it better if she was willing to tell the whole truth but that wasn’t an option.

“What doesn’t make sense,” Kathryn piped up, “is why you broke up in the first place.”

Zoe nodded. “I was so crazy in love with your uncle that I panicked. I felt caught up in something that was like a tornado and I felt off balance. Scared.”

“Scared of what?”

How to explain this to a young teenage girl? “I’m not even completely sure. It was too much too fast. I know this isn’t making any sense.”

“It makes sense to me.”

All eyes turned to Michael, including hers. “It does?”

He reached across the table for her hand and held it tight. “When I met you it was like I was being shown a small slice of heaven.” He grinned. “I wasn’t able to think of anyone or anything other than Zoe. It was amazing, it was exhilarating, but it was also overwhelming and downright scary. So I understand the feelings, and maybe even the fear of what would happen if it didn’t last, but I didn’t want it to end.”

Josh frowned. “Did you ever contact Zoe during the year to talk it out?”

“No, but I thought about calling her every day. Zoe was my first thought every morning and my last thought every night.” Michael squeezed her hand. “But I wanted to honor her wishes. If she didn’t want to be together then I had to respect that.”

Zoe was so choked up that she had to compose herself before she could speak. “I’m sorry, Michael. Please believe that I never meant to hurt you.”

“Okay, this is getting weird.” Josh pushed back from the table. “I’m going to get another coke.”

“Me too,” Kathryn got to her feet. “We’ll go outside and check out the dock and some of the boats before the food gets here. That’ll give you two a moment to get this lovey-dovey stuff out of your system.”

Zoe laughed. “So we’re good? You don’t have any more questions?”

Kathryn pushed in her chair. “It makes no sense to me but if you’re happy and Uncle M is happy, then we’re good.”

As soon as the teens were out of sight, Michael moved into the chair next to hers. He ran his hand lightly up and down her arm. “Are we good, Zoe?”

She nodded, unable to find the right words.

He leaned in close enough that only she could hear him. “I want you, Zoe.” He brushed a soft kiss across her lips, one so tender and yet so passionate, that she shivered. His eyes locked onto hers. “Tonight. And always.”

Zoe leaned in and kissed him back. “Tonight,” she whispered, her heart already aching with loss. Tonight she could promise. But always? No. That she couldn’t give him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

When the sun rose the next morning, Michael was awake and ready for it. He’d snuck out of the quiet beach house and took a run on the shore, in part because that was how he started most mornings. But in even greater part it was because his heart was filled with so much love that he felt about to burst. After about three miles, he stopped and closed his eyes. The steady sound of the waves rolling in matched the rhythm of his heart-beat. For the first time in a year he felt as if everything was right with the world.

He opened his eyes to greet not only a new day but the rest of his life. Having Zoe turn up on his doorstep back in Connecticut had forced him to admit how much he’d missed her. Whether it had been an accident or fate, he didn't know. Either way it hadn’t been voluntary on Zoe’s part. But when she’d shown up in Nantucket that had been entirely her choice. It meant she loved him. It meant she wanted him. It meant that they belonged together and their forever was starting now.

As he began his run back to the house, he didn’t even try to keep the grin off of his face.

When he returned to the house, he found it quiet. After a quick shower, he started the coffee and checked in on his still sleeping niece and nephew. They’d made themselves scarce last night after they’d all returned from dinner. Thoughtful kids. He owed them.

Once the coffee was done, he knocked softly on Zoe’s door. Upon hearing her sleepy voice call for him to come in, he pushed open the door. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” He crossed to her bed and set the tray he’d prepared on it before he kissed her good morning.

“Breakfast in bed?” Zoe smiled up at him. “You’re too good to me.”

Michael handed her a steaming cup of coffee. “You deserve nothing less.” He watched as she wrapped her hands around the mug and took a small sip. He loved the way she closed her eyes in anticipation of that first taste. He loved everything about her. Just watching her was a sensual experience. It fueled his desire to be with her.

“Amazing coffee.” She smiled her thanks. “I feel like I’ve stepped into a fairy tale. Last night I was sitting on the beach with the most handsome, charming man alive and now I get to spend the day with him. My idea of heaven.”

Michael handed her a plate with a fresh croissant on it. “You have today and as many days as you want.” He was going to offer her forever but an expression he couldn’t identify flitted across her face. Too soon. “Any idea what you’d like to do today?”

“I just want to be with you.”

Those seven words made Michael fall in love with her all over again.

Zoe took a bite of the croissant. “Delicious. Any idea what the kids would like to do today?” She reached over to feed him a bite of it.

“The kids are both pretty avid amateur photographers so if you’re game I thought we’d head out in search of a few lighthouses.”

Zoe cocked her head thoughtfully. “Let me think, great company, gorgeous scenery, lovely weather. It sounds like the perfect way to spend a day.” She took another sip of coffee. “Have the kids always been interested in photography?”

“It’s something they share with their dad. He got them started young so they could take day trips while my sister was painting. I realize that I’m pretty biased here, but as far as families go, they really have their act together. I’d love to be as involved a dad with my kids as my brother-in-law is with Josh and Kathryn.”

Another uncomfortable look passed over Zoe’s face. This one he knew he wasn’t imagining. He reached out and touched her hand. “Hey, what is it?”

She shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing you want to talk about you mean?” He kept his voice gentle, nurturing even, because he hated the look he saw in her eye, like she was waiting for something to go wrong. “Why does my talking about having a family make you look like you’ve just seen a ghost?”

He watched as she started to protest but whatever she was about to say she chose not to. Instead, she shook her head. “It’s not what you think. It’s just…overwhelming. I can’t think that far ahead without getting scared.” She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful that he’d understand. “Please just believe that I love you, Michael.”

“I love you too.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “There’s no pressure, Zoe. Whatever worries you, we can handle together.”

Judging by her expression, that wasn’t the right thing to say either. Michael decided that the safest thing to do until Zoe felt more comfortable was to wait for her to confide in him. Until then, he would just love her. Thankfully, that came as naturally to him as breathing. “How about I let you finish your breakfast and get ready while I get the kids up?”

Her smile was reward enough for his vow of patience. Love and time together was exactly what Zoe needed to rebuild her confidence in their future. Fortunately they had a lifetime to look forward to.

***

Everything about the day was perfect. Or should have been. Which made Zoe miserable at the same time she was happy, which then made her feel crazy.

A cool breeze partnered with bright sunshine to make the day ideal for being outside. They started their day by visiting a whaling museum, which had been Michael’s idea. The kids went along with it, despite their initial reluctance, once Michael pointed out how much it would please their mother to know they’d done something semi-educational while on vacation. He was smooth, Zoe realized, as she watched him work on his niece and nephew. And persuasive. She’d have to watch her step with him.

After the museum, they headed up to Sankaty lighthouse. Built in 1850, it stood atop the grassy bluff in majestic defiance of both time and an often harsh climate. Zoe leaned in to Michael’s embrace as they rested against a railing while Josh and Kathryn walked up closer to it to take pictures.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” she asked.

Michael leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “It’s hard for me to concentrate on much beyond you at the moment.”

An equally flirtatious rejoinder sprang to Zoe’s mind but, before she could speak, her cell phone rang. She groaned when she saw that the caller was her mother.

“Problem?” Michael asked.

She shook her head. “It's my mother, who is persistent beyond reason. If I don’t answer, she’ll just keep calling.”

“Go ahead.” He nodded in the direction of the lighthouse. “I’ll go check on the kids.”

After he was out of sight, Zoe hit the talk button. “Mother?”

“Will miracles never cease? You finally picked up.”

Zoe immediately recognized her mother's tone of voice, it was one of righteous indignation mixed with urgency. Not a good combination under any circumstances, certainly not on a day like today. “It’s not a good time.”

“Yes, I'd gathered that from the way you let my initial call go to voice mail.”