Chapter 1 CHA

"Maggie."

I was conscious of a soft, pleasant body against my side. I opened my eyes and looked down to find. Maggie. The pillows I'd put out on the bed to give us some separation were nowhere to be seen, and now I had her against me. Not that it was a terrible thing.

She felt nice, with my arm around her. She was drooling on my chest, I could be certain of that.

What was the time?

Reaching across for the clock, I saw that it was a little after seven. I needed to pee but did not want to disturb Maggie.

How did men escape this?

I hadn't been fibbing to her last night when I said I'd never shared a bed. I hadn't. This was the first time I'd shared a bed with a woman, and well, I rather liked it. I couldn't recall a time I'd slept so well.

One of her legs was also pinning me down, and I was pretty sure my knee was touching her.

This was not right. It ought to be illegal with how close I was to this woman.

I glanced down and saw the crown of her head. I could stay here and develop the worst case of blue balls or wake her. Neither of those things sounded like a good idea.

I did not have a choice, however. "Maggie."

She murmured.

"Come on. I've got to pee."

She wriggled and leaned against me, and it felt like she was actually getting more comfortable, which didn't please me.

"Maggie," I said, my voice a bit louder.

I rocked her shoulder, and she sucked in a breath and sat up.

"What? Where am I? Huh?" She turned and looked behind her and groaned. "What happened?"

"We slept together in the non-sex variety."

"Where are the pillows?" she asked.

"You can only assume you pushed them aside."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Apparently, you did."

She shifted sideways and over to the side of the bed. "I'm sorry. The bed, and sleep. I guess I didn't know how much I needed that."

"You don't need to worry about anything." I winked at her. "It's all right with me."

She groaned and stretched.

Her top rode up over her chest, and I happened to notice how hard her nipples were.

Time for me to take a leak. I got up and made a run for the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I took a leak, washed my hands, put water on my face, and brushed my teeth. Coffee was what I needed to clear this haze from my mind. It was driving me crazy.

Exiting the bathroom, I found Maggie at her suitcase, going through some clothes. She did not say anything to me as she slipped into the bathroom.

I put on a pair of sweatpants and an old shirt. I made the bed and, instead of waiting for her, went out and downstairs into the kitchen.

My mom, Catherine Blackwood, was at the stove, already in the midst of preparing a killer breakfast.

"I figured you'd have been occupied this morning."

"Gross, Mom, I don't want to hear how you know about sex and stuff," I replied.

I moved over to the coffee maker and got myself a good large cup, taking it black.

"Maggie does appear nice. Not your type, though." My mother knocked over a newspaper. I bent to pick it up.

"This was a few weeks ago."

"Yeah, and you want me to believe that you've just happened to meet this woman and you've been living two lives? One with the cleaner and one where you're an asshole playboy?"

"I don't know what you're gonna believe, but what I feel for Maggie is real. This, I was pissed off. I didn't sleep with any of these girls. The moment they started on the drugs, I got out of there."

"And you think it makes me feel any better?"

"No," I said. "Look, I take care of myself, I promise."

My mother looked over at my shoulder, and in the doorway stood Maggie. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all. Why don't you take a coffee and Glenn will give you the tour? I've got heaps to do, and it'll give me time to get everything ready."

"She doesn't want to do the tour."

"Actually, I'd love to. I'd like to see where you grew up."

I glanced over my shoulder. "Fine. Fine."

"Glenn, get her coffee," Catherine ordered.

"She can get her own coffee."

"I didn't raise you to be an ass. Get her a coffee."

"Fine. Fine." I grabbed another mug and hoped she didn't care that it was black and unsweet. My parents hadn't bought my non-dairy milk yet, and this was how I consumed coffee until they did.

She opened the rear door with cups in hand, and we moved out into the cold morning air.

"You made the bed," she said.

"Yeah, I did. It's what all civilized sorts do."

She laughed. "I didn't mean it that way. I know you make your own bed back in the loft. What is it about being clean that you like so much?"

"Besides the obvious?"

"There's clean and then there's your high standards. Like, I'm only supposed to clean your territory, correct? I've been told numerous times my only task is to ensure you're happy. Most cleaners have a number of places and homes to visit. I only need to endure you."

"You should be thankful, then."

She laughed. "You're impossible. Are you going to answer my question?"

"I guess I just like clean space." I shrugged and sipped my coffee. "I don't really think about why I do something in the first place. If my home is clean, then I can think."

"It's not a problem or anything. I just happen to enjoy cleaning your space. Mondays are the worst. A weekend's worth of dust."

"You're making fun of me now."

"A little bit."

She sipped her coffee and made a face.

"Don't like it?"

"It's alright. I like a little milk, but it's alright."

"I know."

"It has to be non-dairy milk."

"Again, I know. You drink the same as me."

"You noticed?"

"Yes, and I noticed you only took food that I ate."

She laughed. "If you've something to ask, ask it."

"Are you a vegan?"

"I am. Have been for a bit now."

"Why?"

"I suppose you can say because of you," she said.

"How?"

"The diet that you're on. I went and looked it up and knew that it was healthier for you. Although I do enjoy snacking all the time, it has been fun. I enjoy a challenge, and the food is amazing."

"Well, I had no idea I was such an inspiration to you."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."

"I won't. Come on. Let me show you around the grounds." I showed her through everything, from the tennis court to the pool. My parents even had a track. It was a smaller track than normal. We were surrounded by privacy and fences.

"This is every kid's dream all combined. This wasn't where you hung out much though, was it?" she asked.

"No. Don't get me wrong, my parents were wealthy by the time I came along. Dad, when he wants something, nothing's going to get in his way. When he found this piece of land, he did what he needed to do to turn it into the family home that it is today. They'd wanted more children, but after Lily, there were issues, and well, he'd always wanted grandchildren."

"And you're getting on a bit."

"Don't be cheeky."

She laughed.