Page 79 of Taming the Boss

Maddie seemed to be in an unnaturally good mood.

As it usually was, especially when dealing with Owen, but she came down from organizing the playroom to throw in a load of Owen’s laundry. Then she’d tackled dinner. She’d whipped up a casserole using tater tots, canned soup, and she’d even shredded her own cheese, along with using the ground beef she’d purchased while we were out, claiming it could be used for many different things.

I’d figured hamburgers, but I still needed to buy a grill, and she hadn’t picked up any rolls to go with them. Apparently, she’d had other ideas for her meat. All good by me. The smells coming from the kitchen were delicious.

And she’d hummed the entire time while preparing dinner.

“Why are you so happy,” I murmured, coming up behind her to kiss her hair as she set the table in the dining room for the very first time.

We’d never eaten in there all together, usually opting to have our meals at the kitchen counter if we didn’t just eat on the couch while we watched a movie or something.

“I like being domestic, I guess.” She shrugged, laying out cloth napkins for the silverware. I didn’t even know Caro had purchased napkins. I supposed she’d taken me seriously about wanting to be prepared for possible future big family dinners.

“Well, whatever you made smells delicious. You know why I got all this stuff, right?”

“What stuff?”

“The dishes and the cloth napkins and all that. I told Caro to get a nice set with lots of dishes because your family is so huge. I was hoping someday they’d all come over and eat with us.” I wrapped my arms around her waist, noting how she softened in my arms. “Do you think that could happen someday? Maybe?”

“You want that? Really?”

“I do. So much. I love having you here with me and Owen.”

“I love being here with you.” She rubbed the back of my hand, tipping her head back so I could easily drop a kiss on her glossy lips. She shifted to turn in my arms, leaning up to link her arms around my neck. “And if you like dinner, I’ll make another casserole tomorrow. I have a trove of recipes to call on.” Laughing a little, she eased back as we heard Owen running up the hall.

“Hungry,” he announced from the doorway, holding up his spotted fish. “So’s Spot.”

“See, even the fish wants your casserole,” I said teasingly, kissing her once more.

“It’s almost done. Just a minute or two more.” As if on cue, the timer she’d set went off in the kitchen and she hurried in to tug on the big mitts Caro had also remembered to buy.

She’d thought of literally everything. I needed to give that woman a raise.

A few minutes later, we sat down to our first official family dinner, and Owen liked it so much he ate a couple servings, as did the two of us. By the time we were done with dinner, there were no leftovers, which Maddie noted sadly after Owen had finished and run off to watch TV. “Nothing for a late night snack.”

“Aw, do you think you’ll be hungry?” I couldn’t help dropping my gaze to her flat belly, and though I swiftly looked away, I caught a little smile curving her mouth.

“Never know. Maybe you’ll be hungry. You certainly ate every bite.”

“I did. Just goes to show you’re a good cook.”

“Right, when it comes to tater tots and canned soup made in the oven.” Rolling her eyes, she rinsed out the pan and started the dishwasher before stepping back to check the time. “Fireworks will be starting in not that long. Before that, there’s a band and food trucks and an open house for shops in the village. Game?”

“Sure, I’m game.”

“Great. I’ll go get ready and get Owen ready too.” Maddie started down the hall but before she reached the stairs, the bell rang. “I’ll get it,” she called, hurrying to the door.

A moment later, a familiar female voice made me head to the door, where Maddie was blocking the entrance.

“Melissa?” I questioned. “What are you doing here?’

She reached up to push her long dark windswept hair out of her eyes. “I was in town, since my play ended, and I wanted to see my boy.” She huffed out a breath and stepped around Maddie, who looked as if she didn’t have a clue what to do. “Owen?” she called.

No Owen. The TV was still on, but he wasn’t in the sitting room on the couch where he usually was.

“You couldn’t have let us know you were coming first?”

“I tried to call you, but you didn’t return my calls. What did you expect me to do?”

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