her arms across her chest. “You don’t know what it’s like
to be ignored. Boys don’t seem to notice me. You had Dad, and now Ed can hardly
keep his eyes off you.”
Maggie blushed.
“I just wanted him
to notice me. I’m not stupid. God, he’s old enough to be my father. I just
wanted to be noticed. He hardly ever looks at me.”
Moving to hug her
daughter, Maggie murmured, “Guess you got his attention. Promise you won’t pull
a stunt like that again.”
“You don’t have to
worry about that,” she said biting her lip. “I’m so mortified. I didn’t think
he’d freak out, though. I thought women were supposed to tease men.”
“Not all men like
to be teased. Especially men like Ed Harrington.”
Maggie watched her
daughter try to stifle her sobs. “You know, I do remember what it was like to
be fourteen. Boys my own age seemed so immature. I dated a senior briefly, but
he wanted much more than I was ready to give.”
“But at least you
were noticed.”
“Yeah, but not
particularly for the right reasons. Any way, boys your own age will start
paying attention real soon, I expect. I’ll probably have to use a broom to keep
them at bay. You’ll be lucky if Ed doesn’t use a shotgun.”
Carolyn nodded,
half smiling. “He sure does seem to think he has to protect us all.”
“Must be some kind
of macho instinct.”
Chuckling, Carolyn
wiped tears away. “Mom, are you involved with him? Romantically, I mean.”
“I know what you
mean. I don’t think it’s something a mother ought to be discussing with her
daughter.”
“He’s kind of old
fashioned in some ways, but God, he is handsome.”
“You can leave God
out of this. But you don’t think I should be involved with him?” Maggie probed
cautiously.
“It’s not that. It’s
just, he seems so, so manly.”
“Manly! You mean
you don’t think I’m woman enough for him?”
“Mom, you’re my
mother,” Carolyn gasped. “But you do look cute when you get angry with him.”
“Well, this concludes
our mother daughter conversation, young lady. You must have something else you
need to do.”
“Okay, I’ll let you
off the hook,” Carolyn said, standing to leave. “In case you’re still curious,
I think you’re woman enough for any man.”
Maggie’s mouth stayed
open long after the door to her daughter’s room closed.
She stood and
walked to a bookshelf. After absently perusing her library of contemporary
novels, she glanced at the clock. It was not too late, only a little after eight.
Through the office window, she saw a light in the loft apartment.
They had to talk
about the events of the day. Ed could not be so interfering in her family’s
life. She might need him in a lot of ways, but the family disciplinarian was
not one of them.
- o -
The damn woman
would drive him crazy, but she wouldn’t drive him to drink, Ed assured himself,
raking his fingers through his hair. He’d been sitting in his cushioned chair
for over an hour stewing, rehashing over and over how he had gotten himself
into such a mess.
It had been over
two weeks since the kiss and he could still taste the crushed mulberries
of her lips. Why did they always seem to pucker in such an inviting fashion?
And what was with
Carolyn? How had her mother let her out of the house without a bra on? Good
God, didn’t they know what boys and men could do? The sight of taut nipples
brought out the natural predator instinct in the male, young or old. If she
were his daughter, he’d have the young flirt fitted with a chastity belt. But
she wasn’t his daughter. Maybe he’d overreacted some…but not by much.
Damn, he needed
this job. They’d been able to pick up some good horses to work with. Clint had
told him he hadn’t given up on clearing his name. Maybe he could yet get back
to the track. He missed it so; it was almost like breathing. He’d do most
anything to get back to the Chicago circuit. It was heady stuff working with
horses worth more
to be ignored. Boys don’t seem to notice me. You had Dad, and now Ed can hardly
keep his eyes off you.”
Maggie blushed.
“I just wanted him
to notice me. I’m not stupid. God, he’s old enough to be my father. I just
wanted to be noticed. He hardly ever looks at me.”
Moving to hug her
daughter, Maggie murmured, “Guess you got his attention. Promise you won’t pull
a stunt like that again.”
“You don’t have to
worry about that,” she said biting her lip. “I’m so mortified. I didn’t think
he’d freak out, though. I thought women were supposed to tease men.”
“Not all men like
to be teased. Especially men like Ed Harrington.”
Maggie watched her
daughter try to stifle her sobs. “You know, I do remember what it was like to
be fourteen. Boys my own age seemed so immature. I dated a senior briefly, but
he wanted much more than I was ready to give.”
“But at least you
were noticed.”
“Yeah, but not
particularly for the right reasons. Any way, boys your own age will start
paying attention real soon, I expect. I’ll probably have to use a broom to keep
them at bay. You’ll be lucky if Ed doesn’t use a shotgun.”
Carolyn nodded,
half smiling. “He sure does seem to think he has to protect us all.”
“Must be some kind
of macho instinct.”
Chuckling, Carolyn
wiped tears away. “Mom, are you involved with him? Romantically, I mean.”
“I know what you
mean. I don’t think it’s something a mother ought to be discussing with her
daughter.”
“He’s kind of old
fashioned in some ways, but God, he is handsome.”
“You can leave God
out of this. But you don’t think I should be involved with him?” Maggie probed
cautiously.
“It’s not that. It’s
just, he seems so, so manly.”
“Manly! You mean
you don’t think I’m woman enough for him?”
“Mom, you’re my
mother,” Carolyn gasped. “But you do look cute when you get angry with him.”
“Well, this concludes
our mother daughter conversation, young lady. You must have something else you
need to do.”
“Okay, I’ll let you
off the hook,” Carolyn said, standing to leave. “In case you’re still curious,
I think you’re woman enough for any man.”
Maggie’s mouth stayed
open long after the door to her daughter’s room closed.
She stood and
walked to a bookshelf. After absently perusing her library of contemporary
novels, she glanced at the clock. It was not too late, only a little after eight.
Through the office window, she saw a light in the loft apartment.
They had to talk
about the events of the day. Ed could not be so interfering in her family’s
life. She might need him in a lot of ways, but the family disciplinarian was
not one of them.
- o -
The damn woman
would drive him crazy, but she wouldn’t drive him to drink, Ed assured himself,
raking his fingers through his hair. He’d been sitting in his cushioned chair
for over an hour stewing, rehashing over and over how he had gotten himself
into such a mess.
It had been over
two weeks since the kiss and he could still taste the crushed mulberries
of her lips. Why did they always seem to pucker in such an inviting fashion?
And what was with
Carolyn? How had her mother let her out of the house without a bra on? Good
God, didn’t they know what boys and men could do? The sight of taut nipples
brought out the natural predator instinct in the male, young or old. If she
were his daughter, he’d have the young flirt fitted with a chastity belt. But
she wasn’t his daughter. Maybe he’d overreacted some…but not by much.
Damn, he needed
this job. They’d been able to pick up some good horses to work with. Clint had
told him he hadn’t given up on clearing his name. Maybe he could yet get back
to the track. He missed it so; it was almost like breathing. He’d do most
anything to get back to the Chicago circuit. It was heady stuff working with
horses worth more
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