Chapter 90: Wear Something PrettyMaggie did something completely out of character when she got home that night. She intentionally tuned her television to sports. There sat Bobby discussing baseball with a handful of other guys, the disassociation of television doing nothing to diminish the blue of his eyes or the sexy lilt of his voice. Now that she knew about the subtle Cajun accent, she couldn't not hear it. There was no stopping the smile as it spread across her face.Bobby was dressed in a charcoal suit with a blue shirt and a coordinating tie as he chatted and laughed with his colleagues. Maggie watched in fascination. He really is handsome. I've never seen him dressed up before. In her mind, she replayed their conversation in the hospital cafeteria and she groaned miserably. He has to think I'm an absolute idiot. If he doesn't think I'm just a bitch. "I'll have to apologize when I see him, that's all there is to it," she said aloud.The next morning, Maggie got up ea
Chapter 91: Unexpected Romantic DinnerMaggie stopped in the hallway, pausing to take a few deep breaths as she attempted to calm her pulse into something resembling normal. She pasted on what she hoped was a relaxed smile and returned to Bobby in the living room. "Um, Michael apparently overextended himself today. I think he's down for the night."Bobby looked concerned. "Do you want me to leave? We can do this another time when he's feeling better.""God, no! The food's already here," Maggie exclaimed. Bobby smiled wryly. "Oh, shit, that came out all sorts of wrong. I'm just flustered because dinner tonight was his idea. I know he's really grateful for your help. So am I, come to that." She smiled, genuinely this time. "Let's start again. Welcome."Bobby grinned boyishly, his blue eyes sparkling. "Thanks. I'm happy to be here." He handed her a glass of white wine and took one himself. "Here you go, cher." He touched his glass to hers. "Sante."Maggie giggled
Chapter 92: A Kiss in the SnowThey lingered over the meal, chatting quietly and laughing frequently. Eventually, Maggie rose and began to collect their plates. "Let me get these out of our way. There's a delicious dessert waiting." Bobby quickly jumped up to help. "It's okay, I've got this," Maggie told him."No, ma'am," he grinned, shaking his head. "My mama raised me right. She'd tan my hide if I didn't help out."Maggie laughed and led the way into the kitchen with Bobby following along behind. They placed the dishes in the sink and Maggie began rinsing them, handing them to Bobby who stacked them in the dishwasher. "Division of labor," he quipped, grinning.As they worked together, Maggie was aware of his decidedly masculine air, of his strong forearms showing below his rolled-up sleeves, the mixture of spice and musk of his cologne. She could feel the heat beginning to build deep within her soul."Did you always want to play baseball?" Maggie asked as she handed him a
Chapter 93: ConfessionBobby was waiting at the curb when Maggie arrived downstairs. The doorman helped her into the passenger side of the black Range Rover, carefully closing the door as she buckled her seat belt. Maggie felt the warmth as she sank back into the black leather seat. Note to self: If I ever get my own car, seat warmers are a must. She smiled shyly at Bobby."Where to?" he asked, grinning."I live in the East Village." She told him the address and he keyed it into his GPS.When a route popped up on the screen, he turned to her. "Does that look about right?""That will get us there," she answered. Bobby pulled out into traffic. Maggie glanced around the vehicle. "It must be convenient to have your own transportation. You're lucky to have a parking space.""Yeah, when I knew the apartment came with a parking space, I decided to drive myself from Texas rather than fly. It's nice to have the freedom of my own wheels.""You drove all the way from Texas?" She laug
Chapter 94: PaybackMaggie woke up late the next morning and padded out to the living room. She checked her phone and saw a notification indicating that there was a text from Bobby. Good morning, cher! I had a good time last night. Just boarding my flight. I'll call you later. BShe smiled to herself as she did a little happy dance. A good morning text is nice. She answered back, realizing that he probably wouldn't get it until he landed. Good morning, yourself. I enjoyed last night, too. Hope your flight was smooth. I'll look forward to hearing from you. MaggieThen she set about putting 'Operation: Michael's Payback' into motion. She'd come up with a plan in the wee hours of the morning. First, she called Ben. "Hey, sweetie! Want to do me a big favor tonight?"She explained to Ben that she wanted to do something to lift Michael's spirits and that a poker and pizza night would be just the thing. He agreed and told her that he and Nate were enthusiastically on boar
Chapter 95: Things Are Heating UpBobby called Maggie late that evening. "How was your night, cher?""It was good," she answered. "You were the hit of the evening. I hope you didn't get in trouble."He laughed quietly. "Nah, I was just being folksy. They love that kind of thing.""How about you? How was your night?""They paid me to talk about baseball. How can I complain? Actually, I need to study up a little bit for some interviews I'm doing tomorrow. And I imagine you probably need to get to bed."Emboldened by the privacy of her apartment and her distance from him, Maggie smiled wryly. "Did you say you imagine me in bed?"His chuckle was low. "I imagine you in all sorts of places, cher."Maggie gasped as she felt a rush of heat that started between her legs and radiated throughout her body. "Well on that note, I'll say good night."Bobby chuckled again. "Good night, Maggie. Sweet dreams."Maggie fell asleep smiling and woke up on Monday morning the same way. Cautious
Chapter 96: Make a WishBobby pulled away from the curb in front of Maggie's apartment. He'd donned a pair of mirrored aviators when they'd gotten in the car. He glanced at her and, seeing her watching him, he winked. "We'll just get this taken care of and be on our way.""Is this a work thing you have to do?" Maggie asked.Bobby pursed his lips. "Sort of, I guess. There's a family from Dallas and they have a son with leukemia. They've been flown into town for the weekend to see all the sights and stuff. I believe they're going to tonight's exhibition game. Anyway, this is a kind of 'meet and greet' out at the stadium. I'll hang out with the kid for a while, toss a ball around. It probably won't take too long, I wouldn't want to drag you to something that would take all day."Maggie frowned thoughtfully. "Is this a 'Make-A-Wish' kind of thing?"Bobby nodded. "Um-hmm. The foundation made all the arrangements, sent me the letter from the dad. The boy's name is Tyler and app
Chapter 97: What a Real Hero Looks LikeMaggie watched in awe as the scene unfolded before her. When the aircraft's rotors slowed to a stop, Bobby and Natalie approached the helicopter, a cameraman and a still photographer trailing along behind them. The door opened, and a man climbed out, turning to help a woman, a young girl, and a boy manage the gap between the doorway and the ground. Maggie couldn't hear what was said but she watched as Natalie spoke to the adults and shook their hands. Bobby then shook hands first with the man and then the woman and young girl before he dropped to one knee to shake hands with the boy. Even from her vantage point, Maggie could see the look of disbelief on the boy's face as he slowly reached out to take Bobby's hand while his parents encouraged him. Natalie gestured toward where Maggie was standing, and the group began to move in her direction."Everybody, this is Maggie," Bobby said when they approached where she stood watching. Maggie smil
Chapter 131: EpilogueIt was a crisp fall day as the new black Range Rover made its way carefully through the narrow lanes, coming to a stop at the base of a hill. The deep cerulean sky was accented by the vibrant scarlets, pumpkins, and golds of autumn leaves. Bobby shifted into 'Park' and looked over at Maggie.She chewed her lip anxiously. "I won't be long.""Take your time, cher." He smiled at her reassuringly. "We're not in any hurry."Maggie sighed deeply and unfastened her seat belt. She stepped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat, leaning in to retrieve a small bundle before closing the door again. "I won't be long," she repeated.Bobby watched as she carefully picked her way up the hill. "Daddy, can I go, too?" Savannah chirped from the back seat."No, June bug, let Mommy have a minute. Then we'll go to the country. Are you ready to pick some apples?""Yes! Apples!" she responded, and she began to sing a song about picking apples.At nearly the crest
Chapter 130: So Typically MichaelBrian smiled warmly as he welcomed Maggie and Bobby into his office. "I'm happy to have you here," he said, "I only wish it were under different circumstances."Maggie nodded mutely as she took in her surroundings. The law offices of Brian Murphy & Associates occupied a converted three-story building on W. 79th. The building had once been residential. The outer walls were exposed brick, and Maggie found that along with wood accents and details, everything worked together to create a comfortable, relaxed feel. Brian himself was casually dressed in khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt topped by a forest green V-neck cardigan. "This is a nice place," she murmured thoughtfully.Brian gave her a curious look and smiled again. "Well, it's not Murphy, Rannigan, but I think I actually like it better. We don't stand on formality around here. We're a small firm, and we like to think of ourselves as the friendly neighborhood lawyers. You know, whe
Chapter 129: HeartbrokenSean Michael Rannigan was buried on a cold morning in late March. The frozen ground was bare of snow, but flurries swirled through the air on a biting breeze. Maggie found the grey day fitting for a funeral. As she watched the assortment of mourners gathered around the grave, her thoughts went back four days earlier to the day Michael had died.There had been a blur of activity. Rosalie had made the necessary calls to the necessary parties. Attendants from the funeral home had come and discreetly ushered his body away. Maggie had been disconsolate. Bobby had held her until she'd run out of tears.By the time they'd left to pick up Savannah from school, the apartment had been restored to normal, the medical equipment packed up and hauled away. Maggie had sensed the emptiness of the place and insisted that they pack up their things and return to her apartment.She'd forced a smile when Savannah came running up to the two of them in front of the school. "
Chapter 128: Michael's JourneyMaggie clasped and unclasped her hands as she sat anxiously beside the hospital bed in Michael's bedroom. Michael lay propped up against a mountain of pillows, his grey t-shirt showing above the crisp white cotton blanket that covered the rest of him. He'd insisted that the bed be placed beside the window and the drapes be left open so he could look out over the city. He drifted off now and again, but he seemed determined to be awake.It had been a rough night. Maggie and Bobby, along with the overnight nurse, had tag-teamed sitting up with Michael, who had alternated between sleeping fitfully and waking to spells of deep coughing and ragged wheezing.Bobby went to shower and get Savannah ready for school while Maggie and Michael watched the sun come up over the city. The colors were extraordinary, washing the sky in shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue. Maggie couldn't recall the last time she'd watched the sunrise. Michael watched the scene a
Chapter 127: Michael's Family By ChoiceSavannah's clear blue eyes were huge as Bobby introduced her to Michael. "Savannah, you remember Mr. Michael. We met him at the airport that time. He's invited us to stay here with him for a while until we find our own house."When the doctor had released Michael from the hospital, he'd given him a timeline of a few weeks. Maggie had approached Michael, asking if she and Bobby could bring Savannah and stay with him for a while, and Michael had balked. "I don't want a bunch of people waiting around for me to die."She'd convinced him that he'd be doing them a favor, buying them time to find the right place. The truth was, she couldn't bear to think of being all the way in the East Village when he might need her.Now, the little girl regarded Michael solemnly, taking in his gaunt appearance, his grey sunken cheeks and his eyes with their dark circles. Her little brow wrinkled. "What's wrong with your face?" she asked."Savannah!" Bobby excl
Chapter 126: FamilymoonMaggie sat up on her beach blanket and hugged her knees, wriggling her toes and burying them in the cooler sand below the surface. Further down the beach, Bobby dutifully carried a small pink plastic pail as Savannah gathered shells. Maggie gazed past them to the sailboat anchored a few hundred yards offshore. It was their home for the week, and they'd sailed it to remote coves and empty beaches, relishing the quiet and the opportunity to bond as a family. Her gaze returned to Bobby and his daughter, and she smiled contentedly. It wasn't conventional, but it was just right.As if he felt her eyes on him, Bobby turned and smiled knowingly. He bent and said something to Savannah who looked to Maggie and waved. Maggie smiled and waved back as the pair returned to where she sat, Savannah scampering along while Bobby strolled purposefully, dropping his tall frame to the empty space beside her on the blanket."You've worn me out, June bug. Let me sit here by M
Chapter 125: Michael, Back in the SaddleMichael sat back in his chair at the large oak conference table and relished the feeling of being in control. It had been too long since he'd done real casework. He'd forgotten how it felt, the rush of knowing that he held all the right cards. His charcoal grey suit hung a little loose due to the weight he'd lost, but he still knew how to project a confident presence. Figuring it would negatively impact his intimidation factor, he'd left his oxygen in the rental car.Bobby sat quietly beside him, tension radiating from his body. Michael had thoroughly prepped him. "Don't say anything. If they speak to you, look at me. Above all, don't let them bait you."Across the table, Deanna, in her white blouse and navy-blue knee-length skirt with her honey blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, looked more the sad abandoned single mother than the scheming opportunistic gold-digger that she was. Her gaze flitted nervously between Michael and Bobb
Chapter 124: Custody IssuesThe deceptively bright sun and cloudless blue sky seemed at odds with the brisk cold day. But it made for a perfect afternoon spent skating at Wellman Rink in Central Park. Savannah squealed in delight as she struggled along on her ice skates. She was in no real danger of falling, safely tucked between her father and Maggie who each held a hand. She looked up, and Maggie could see the child's pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. "Are you having fun?" she asked the little girl."Yeah! This is awesome!"Bobby looked at Maggie over his daughter's head and winked, smiling. He was beyond grateful to Maggie for taking the unscheduled visit in stride. She'd even taken off work on Friday afternoon so that she could stay with Savannah when he'd had to leave for the studio. He'd arrived home late that night to find the little girl fast asleep in a makeshift tent constructed out of a blanket draped over a card table. "We decided to pretend we were camping," Mag
Chapter 123: EngagedBobby's eyes twinkled with mischief. "How's that?"Illuminated only by the handful of candles scattered about the room, Maggie pulled against the restraints that bound her wrists to the bars of her iron headboard and giggled softly. "It's fine.""No, you're fine," he murmured as his hand lightly traced along the side of her body. He continued down her leg to bind first one ankle then the other to the corners of the bed. He stood at the end gazing over her nude body spread out before him, candlelight bathing her skin in a soft glow. "Aiee, cher, how did I get so lucky?"Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, he removed his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. His impressive erection stood at attention. "Where do I even start?" he whispered, and she giggled again.Bobby crawled onto the bed between her open legs, moving up over her body until he reached her face. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply. "Oh, Bobby," she whispered against his lips.He lightly nipped down t