“Are we in the enchanted forest, Aunt Maggie?” The sweetest little voice asked.

“No, Molly.” Maggie chuckled. “We’re just having dinner at a friend’s place.”

“Does he live in the woods?”

I stepped out to where they could see me and smiled warmly at Maggie. My heart sped up when I saw her, and I glanced down at the cutest little girl with waist length blonde hair. I crouched down in front of her. “Hey, I’m your Aunt Maggie’s friend, Noah, and no, I don’t. But my parents do. Would you like to come with me and meet them?” I said, interrupting before Maggie could respond.

Watching Maggie intently, I saw her cast a glance around the heavy oak paneled walls until her gaze landed on the staircase, then her head turned as she followed the banister upstairs.

“Sorry, I hate to dispel the rags to riches image people expect from musicians. My grandfather was an accountant on Wall Street. This place was his weekend hideaway, hence the name,” I explained.

“It’s incredible—stunning,” she remarked as she continued to look around in appreciation, her head turning this way and that. Molly stood patiently waiting at first, then as if she saw an opportunity she suddenly broke free and did a cartwheel across the floor. Straightening up she threw her hands in the air as if she were competing for gold at the Olympic Games. Maggie’s jaw dropped, and she looked adorably embarrassed.

“Molly! What on Earth’s name do you think you’re doing? We’re guests and you must remember to behave when we’re invited to someone’s home.”

Molly frowned, and she stared at the floor for a second then slowly brought her eyes up to meet mine. “Do you still have a mommy,” she asked in a tiny sad voice.

“I do, sweetheart,” I answered honestly then felt lost for words.

“Mine went to Heaven because God wanted her to be an angel, didn’t he Auntie Maggie?”

Pain flashed across Maggie’s face and I thought how difficult those questions must be for her when she had her own grief to bear.

“Then she must have been very special because God only takes a few young mommies to be angels.” I was concerned at how I had answered in case I’d said the wrong thing. However, I had been brought up to believe death was part of life having lost my grandparents at a young age myself.

“Did you hear that, Aunt Maggie? Noah said God thought my mommy was very special,” she asked with pride in her voice.

“I did, darling—and she was,” Maggie replied. I saw the silent thank you in the look she gave me for giving Molly a positive thought to replace the worry of not seeing her.

“Shall we go to meet my parents?” I asked holding out a hand out for her.

“Are they wrinkly like Mrs. Richie?” I frowned and looked to Maggie for clarity.

“Our elderly neighbor,” Maggie advised me.

“Ah, I haven’t met the famous Mrs. Richie so I’m not sure. Why don’t you come with me and see, then you can tell me?” I replied and chuckled.

Molly slipped her tiny fragile hand into mine and a pang of hurt struck me like a punch to my gut. Her hand would be around the same size as Rudi’s. It was almost unbearable to keep hold of it.

My gaze fell to our hands and a lump unexpectedly grew in my throat. I’d never missed Rudi more than I had at that moment.

As if Maggie sensed I was struggling, she distracted me. “Can I use the restroom first?” Guiding her to the bathroom I stood outside and waited patiently for her to come back.

“Do you go to school, sunshine?”

Molly stared up at me with bright crystal blue eyes and they looked surprised. “My mommy always called me that.”

It was clear Shona was never far from Molly’s mind and she didn’t answer my question. I wasn’t sure what to say and wondered if I had made a mistake calling her that. Luckily, Maggie came back quickly, and I led them both into the comfortable den my parents had settled in after my siblings and I flew the nest.

My mom was instantly smitten with Molly and Molly with her, then Molly turned to look at me. “Your mom is nowhere nearly as wrinkly as Mrs. Richie.”

Maggie was about to tell her off again, but I shook my head and my mom spoke changing the subject. Within minutes Molly had tagged along behind my mom as she went into the kitchen to see what our old housekeeper had made for dinner. When I watched them go, it tugged at my heart and my soul ached for Rudi.

Of my mom’s six sons I was the only one who had given her a grandchild, the others all too wrapped up in their careers to be tied down with kids. When the restraining order was granted they were devastated both for me and for themselves. Mom being mom didn’t let the grass grow under her feet and sought her rights to visitation, so my parents saw Rudi four times a year.

Each time they brought home pictures for me and tried to keep me involved in his life, I died a little inside. Still, It was more than the authorities did by providing me with two measly update letters and two school photographs per year.

Maggie gave me a rueful smile as she watched Molly go and without thinking I reached out and pulled her into my side, kissed her temple, and squeezed her upper arm. I inhaled the scent of her shampoo, it was pears and something floral and her perfume was highly intoxicating.

“She’ll get there. Just keep doing what you’re doing, honey. It’s early days yet,” I offered then realized how spontaneously tactile I was with her. She felt so soft and feminine in my arms and I felt her lean in for a second before she stiffened, like she’d forgotten herself and suddenly realized what had happened.

It made me feel awkward for acting so intimately, especially given the fake news that had previously caused her so much distress, so I dropped my hands to my sides and wandered around the sofa. “Take a seat, Maggie; my father will be joining us in time for dinner.

When I sat next to her, I wondered if I should have given her more space and sat on the other sofa across from her. I’d never been awkward around women, but with Maggie I felt out of my depth because one minute I felt close to her and the next like I had no idea how to act. Another pause in conversation stretched into silence.

Maggie’s curious eyes scanned the photographs dotted around the occasional tables and on the huge mantel above the fireplace in the room.

My attention was firmly on her because I couldn’t stop looking at her any chance I got. Her beautiful even features, small perfect nose, and full lips, complimented her huge almond shaped, crystal-blue eyes—just like Molly’s—and had me transfixed.

Without sounding biased, she was truly one of the most beautiful looking women I had ever seen. She was wasted hidden from the world as an elementary school teacher. She could have been the face of any business, a model, or promoted something very high end and glamorous with the way she looked.

“What is it?”

“Huh?” I asked as her voice dragged me out of my daydream. I turned to see her watching me intently.

“What’s wrong?”

“Wrong? Nothing, why?” I asked trying to keep an even tone.

“You’re staring?”

Busted.

“Yeah,” I said in a thin voice because my throat was dry. I cleared my throat and tried again, “Sorry, yeah, I was. Busted. Forgive me, Maggie, I can’t help that I find you fascinating to look at. I was only thinking how beautiful you are.” My answer was straight from the heart, but I regretted voicing it when I saw how uncomfortable it had made Maggie feel.

Shifting uncomfortably on the sofa she fiddled with her earing and I could tell she had no idea what to say. I looked away to give her time to recover and felt confused by how unguarded my thoughts were around her.

Since the moment I’d met her I had felt the need to touch her, to comfort her, like words weren’t enough. I’d never been a tactile person, but with Maggie I struggled to keep my hands off her.

“Maggie, I’m sorry. I don’t know what it is about you, but I act differently toward you than I have with any other female. Perhaps it’s the circumstances we met under, or maybe I feel responsible for the situation you’re in.

“I don’t need your pity, Noah,” she said as she sat up straighter and bristled defensively. My father shuffled into the room interrupting another awkward moment. He was a welcome distraction.

“Wow, Noah, when your mom said you were bringing someone to dinner she never warned me how beautiful she was. Kennedy Haxby, my darling, but you can call me Ken, as in Barbie and Ken.”

Maggie’s eyes brightened with the instant smile that stretched her lips as she reached out to accept the hand my father had offered her. He was hilarious, my father.

“Has anyone told you how gorgeous you look, my dear?” he asked again because he obviously felt he hadn’t embarrassed her enough the first time.

“Has anyone told you your directness since falling out of a tree makes people uncomfortable?” I threw back.

Dad chuckled and perched himself on the edge of the antique love seat that sat in the bay window. "Room for one more," he said pointing to the empty space and winked at Maggie. It was an effort to wind me up… and it had worked. I cringed.

Mom heard him and entered the room with a sassy swagger, “I hope it’s okay, Maggie. Molly’s taken charge of our housekeeper,” she informed her with a sweet smile then turned to my father. “And don’t be ridiculous, Ken; how could you even begin to think you could compete with our handsome hot rock star over there?”

The smile slipped from Maggie’s face and she looked very uncomfortable. I knew I had to put the record straight. Except I didn’t know exactly how, so I played it safe and made it about Maggie and diverted attention away from me.

“Cut it out. Both of you. Look at me. I doubt Maggie would ever be interested in what I have to offer with so many sophisticated men out there ready and waiting to sweep her off her feet.”

Maggie glanced in surprise for a moment longer than I expected then flicked some imaginary lint off her skirt.

“I don’t know about that. You’re beyond handsome, Noah. Of all my boys you were the one that had the girls beating down the door since fifth grade,” my mom reassured me. Maggie’s lips curved up at the edges and she smiled to herself. I pretended not to notice and was about to change the subject when Molly swung by the door looking completely at home.

“Dinner is served,” she announced in her cute little voice and curtseyed. We all chuckled but managed to hold it together enough so as not to make her feel self-conscious. I knew my parent’s housekeeper had put her up to saying that. She had done the same to my brothers and I growing up, the only difference was we bowed.

* * *

Mom was very taken with Maggie and chatted easily to her about her job as a fourth-grade teacher, and my dad became absorbed in chatting to Molly. I sat quietly glad not to be the center of attention for once and waited as Maggie shared the professional side of her life. I’d be hard pushed to tell you what she said because I had been so taken with watching her, rather than hearing what she had to say.

The atmosphere around the table was more relaxed than any meal I’d eaten in a long time and as I couldn’t take my eyes off Maggie, I hoped she didn’t notice how attracted to her I was. I didn’t want the evening to end because I enjoyed Maggie and Molly’s company so much I didn’t want them to leave.

Molly helped clear the flatware and take it to the kitchen as she helped my mom and our housekeeper to finish clearing up. It was Mom’s excuse to keep Molly out of the way because she knew I had wanted to speak to Maggie.

When I suggested showing Maggie around the floodlit gardens at the back of the house, she jumped at the excuse to get out. I showed her around the grounds; the back of the house where my father had created a beautiful private walled garden.

I clicked the black wrought iron latch, opened the small arched gateway, and revealed the plot. Placing my hand on her lower back. I led Maggie inside, down the steps and we stopped side by side at the bottom. She rubbed her upper arms and shivered a little.

“Damn, are you cold? I should have grabbed your coat,” I said as my eyes fell to her hardened nipples sticking through her thin top. My cock stirred in my pants at the sight of them and I tried to ignore the urge to pull her into my arms.

“I’m not that bad… there’s a tiny little nip in the air,” she replied and nursed her arms again.

Reaching over my shoulder, I bunched some wool in my fist and pulled my sweater over my head. I tugged at the hem of my t-shirt and pulled it back into place, but not before I noticed Maggie checking out my bare abs. My heart fluttered erratically when I realized she wasn’t entirely immune to me and I bit back a grin.

“Here, let me put this on you,” I offered, then rolled the sweater up and pulled it over her head. Again, I was surprised at how passive she was when I did that. She didn’t protest or resist and shoved her arms into the sleeves. I continued to help her set it straight and fixed the hem in place, then smoothed my palms down from her shoulders to her wrists.

“There. Is that better?” I enquired still holding her upper arms.

Maggie nodded with a coy smile and without thinking I slid my hands behind her long hair at the neck. Her breath hitched when I touched her soft skin at the nape. I felt her shiver and her eyes darted up to look at mine.

She eyed me with an unsure serious expression and in that split second, we shared a moment until I looked away and broke the connection. I pretended not to notice the questioning look she gave me afterward and freed her long silky blonde hair from inside the sweater.

When Maggie didn’t attempt to fix it in place herself, I smoothed it down and held the sides of her head in my hands. Then I noticed again that I touched her all the time.

“I don’t know why, Maggie, but I can’t stop touching you. Since the first time I saw you I wanted to touch you. I’m not sure if my instinct is to protect you, comfort you, or if my motives are less selfless.”

I expected her to pull away from me like she had most other times; however, her gaze fell to my mouth then she looked back up into my eyes and her gaze pierced my heart. Then my pulse raced when she kept our connection going without wavering.

“I so want to kiss you. You wouldn’t believe how badly,” I confessed.

Her eyes averted to the floor for a second before she looked up and into mine. There was heat in them, but I could also see conflict. “What is this, Noah? This… thing between us? What’s going on here?” she asked, eying me with confused suspicion.

“I’m not sure, but I’m so attracted to you. I didn’t invite you here to hit on you if that’s what you think. Nothing that’s happened at any stage since I met you has been planned. Trust me, I’m not usually a very tactile person, but I can’t deny the compulsion I feel to touch you, or the swell of pleasure that shoots through my body when I do. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find you attractive—mesmerizing, actually. From the very first moment I saw you on the plane I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.”

I studied her carefully and waited for the rejection I felt would come when my words sunk in and was surprised when her gaze dropped to my mouth and lingered there. She swallowed audibly then glanced over my shoulder to look past me as if the connection between us was suddenly too intense. I didn’t miss the heated look she gave me before she did that which confirmed she felt something too.

“Does it feel wrong… the way we feel when we’re together?” I gently asked and willed her to say, no.

At first she didn’t reply, then she glanced back at me through her long dark eyelashes and considered her answer. “Yes—I mean, we’re not… together, but you make me feel… excited and scared at the same time. Alive, I suppose. It’s been a long time since any man has touched me.”

Her honesty made my chest tighten in sadness when I remembered what she’d told me about the guy who ditched her.

“Fuck,” I muttered. I hated that she couldn’t see how amazing she was, and I wanted to hunt down the guy who left her and hurt him for hurting her. “Do you want me to stop?” I prayed she’d think there was enough between us to let this happen.

“Whatever I say will be the wrong answer,” she said in a sad, defeated tone as she shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

“What makes you say that? Why would it be wrong? You’re in charge of your own destiny here.”

“Think about how we met—what happened to Shona—your history with alcohol. I’ve been there before with a man who fought his demons through drink and I’ll never put Molly through that if I can help it.”

Her words stung, and my heart sunk to my stomach. “Shit, and here was I starting to think someone really believed in me. If you never understand anything else about me, understand this. I came through that. I’m a survivor—not a victim. Yes, I’ll be a recovering alcoholic for the rest of my days, but my son’s life is worth a hell of a lot more than a bottle of bourbon. It took me a while to figure that out during my darkest days, but I’m over those now. I don’t want my son to look at me when we finally meet and be disappointed.”

A look of shame passed through Maggie’s eyes before she replied. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You’re not my father and unlike him you stopped.” She exhaled and her eyes softened when she looked into mine. “I admire you for breaking free from it, that takes strength. I take back that part.” I stared pointedly into her eyes, looking for truth in her apology, then decided she was only being rational and if I were in her shoes, I’d probably have felt the same.

“Apology accepted.” I said and forced myself to smile even though the after effect of her words still lingered. I took a deep breath and tried again. “Okay. What about this? Forget everything. Clear your mind. We’ve only met for the first time, tonight. Now consider how you feel.”

“I can’t, it’s too dangerous,” her reply told me she liked me… she wouldn’t have trusted herself not to go all out if the circumstances had been different. The response lifted my spirits.

“Dangerous? Why would you say that?”

“I’m older, you’re a rock star, for Christ’s sake. It wouldn’t be good for Molly. She’s barely dealing with her loss without…”

“Since I met you, Maggie… no, since the first time I ever saw you, I was drawn to you. Even given the circumstances I couldn’t stop myself from being attracted to you. You make me feel centered. My thinking has never been as clear as it has been since I met you. And it’s been a long time since I felt this grounded. Certainly not since Andrea took Rudi from me. Despite what happened to Shona, you give me hope.”

“You don’t know how much I’d like to believe that. How much I want for your fame and our ages not to be an issue. Then I think about your past relationship with alcohol, the press intrusion, your ex-girlfriend, and your son, and all I see is a recipe for disaster.”

“Not forgetting Molly, your father’s relationship with alcohol, your baggage with your ex-boyfriend, or your dead sister,” I threw back harshly in frustration. My voice sounded much harsher than I had intended, but it got Maggie’s attention. There was no point in hiding how annoyed her comments had made me.