---

At first, I sat there numbly while I held my head in my hands. I couldn’t believe my ex-husband thought to punish me for surviving his treachery. Practically every woman with children I knew suffered some form of mom guilt. It really did exist. Some blamed themselves for premature births, others for working outside the home, a few for not having the time to prepare home-cooked meals. Me, I struggled with long hours, but there wasn’t a way around it. How else was I going to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs? The worst part was knowing if Rueben, who I’d turned down for a date roughly a dozen times since the divorce, decided to get back at me with pro bono work, I’d be gone even longer to fight back and save my daughter. After a few minutes of panic while I wondered what the hell should I do, I remembered Max. As much as I hated the idea, I’d have to make him my savior.

I opened my laptop and began to run through current listings in the area. While I knew every property there, I wanted to make sure I had all my numbers straight, my thoughts in order, before I contacted him. I glanced at the clock. It was after seven. If I hurried, I might be able to get done in time to see Penelope and read her a book. I picked up my phone, swallowed hard, and hit the button to place my call. “Hello, Max?”

“Why, hello, Vicki!” He answered with far more enthusiasm than I anticipated. “We drove by the office a little while ago and I saw your light was on.”

My mood soured instantly. “Oh. You’re with Bre. I’ll let you go,” I muttered.

“Bre? No, I’m with Bodhi. You should join us.” I could hear the smile on his face.

“I really need to finish up so I can spend time with my daughter,” I explained quietly.

“Kids eat. Bring her too. We’re down by the waterfront. Hey, Bodhi, what’s the name of this place?” he asked.

“Oh, Wharfside Eatery,” Bodhi replied. Then he called out, “Hi, Victoria.”

Their rivalry made me laugh and almost wish I’d had a sibling. More than that, it reminded me I had hoped Penelope wouldn’t be an only child. “Hi, Bodhi,” I responded with a laugh. “So, can we talk properties and the possibility of showing you a few places after we go back to the condo?” There was no hiding the hopeful edge to my voice.

“Sure,” Max agreed. “In person. See you soon.” Then he ended the call.

That rat bastard. I had a life. I couldn’t be running off to meet him at all hours of the day and night. Then I growled low in my throat. I couldn’t be turning away potential sales either. Dammit. I shoved my chair back so hard it hit the wall. Jolted slightly, I hopped out of my seat and packed up for the night, stuffing my laptop in the bag, then closing down the office and locking up behind me. I made it to my house in less than ten minutes. Penelope rushed to hug me when I walked through the door.

“You’re home!” She squealed in delight.

I nodded and gnawed on my cheek. “I am, but I’m leaving.” I watched her face fall. “Want to come with me?”

She squeezed me even harder around the middle. “Yes, please!” Then she rushed past Maria, who worked as my nanny and Penelope’s occasional chauffer.

“I’m sure you already fed her…”

“Yes, Ma’am.” She grinned. “I was about to give her a bath.”

“I’ll manage it later. Thank you. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Then I turned to Penelope who had already returned to my side. “Don’t you even want to know where we’re going?”

She shook her head. “No. I just want to be with you.” She smiled up at me and it broke my heart a little more.

We followed Maria out the door, and drove to the restaurant. I recognized Max’s vehicle immediately and parked near it. “Okay, please be on your best behavior and let me talk with Max.”

“Who’s Max?” Penelope perked up.

“He’s buying some property from me. So, yes, you’ll behave?” My brows arched.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Yes, mommy. I know how to act in public.” She smiled sweetly at me. “Maria says I’m good at home too.”

I laughed, but the guilt was strong tonight. “Okay, let’s go sell some real estate.”

We entered the half-empty restaurant and picked out the guys immediately since they were waving to us. I had my computer bag slung over my shoulder, proof I was here for work and not some social occasion. I’d barely sat down when the waitress appeared to get drink and food orders.

“I’ll have a coffee, no cream, lots of sugar. She’ll have a lemonade and French fries.” After she departed to grab our drinks, I began to pull out my laptop. The minute Bodhi saw it, he grinned and shook his head. “Come on, tater tot,” he urged as he reached for her hand. “Let’s go out on deck and watch the fishing boats return.”

“My name’s Penelope,” she objected.

Bodhi laughed. “I know that, but I’m still going to call you tater tot.”

I turned to Max. “Looks like you aren’t the only one in your family to give annoying nicknames.”

“Come on, Vicki is an obvious nickname. Why do you hate it so much?” His brow furrowed.

“My ex-husband called me that whenever we were fighting, his way of belittling me. So, excuse me if it rubs me the wrong way.” I huffed as glared at him.

“So, you’d prefer tater tot?” he teased.

“I’d prefer Victoria. Can we get to business, please? Penelope has school in the morning.” I stared at him evenly while waiting for my laptop to boot up.

Max seemed to have sobered. “Yes. Let’s talk business.”