Page 15 of A Way Out
She didn’t need to stick around here, letting Riley become attached to his kids while Maria lusted after their guardian.
Yet she didn’t grab her phone or her laptop before heading downstairs to dinner.
Maria was exhausted by the time all four children went to bed. She was half-tempted to head straight upstairs to bed herself, except she’d feel like a quitter since Oz appeared to be wide awake. So she headed into the living room and collapsed onto the couch instead.
He appeared in the doorway. “Want a beer?”
She shook her head. “A glass of wine sounds lovely though.”
A few moments later, he placed her drink on the coffee table and sank onto the cushion on the far end of the couch.
“Now that you’ve had a taste, are you ready to book the first flight out of town?” he asked, like he knew what she’d been thinking earlier.
“I’m certainly reconsidering my previous desire to birth a basketball team,” she quipped.
His eyes widened. “You seriously want five kids?”
She laughed. In truth, she had no idea what she wanted. Riley came about because Vic wanted a child. If she’d stayed on her previous path, she’d quite possibly be learning to balance life with a toddler and a newborn right now instead of hanging out here, with Oz, on her sister’s couch.
Between the two options, she preferred hanging with Oz, although as far as more kids in the future…
“I’m just teasing you,” she admitted. And didn’t add, “I have no clue what I want. Other than you.” Probably best not to tell him that part. He’d seemed attracted to her initially, but somewhere along the line, he’d managed to rein in his libido.
Although maybe that had been temporary while they attacked the task of ensuring four kids ate dinner and cleaned up the kitchen afterward and were tucked into bed at a reasonable hour. Because now he was watching her with hooded eyes, and she was fighting the urge to shiver—and no, she wasn’t cold.
“Do you…have a date? For the wedding?” she asked, and two seconds later wondered what in the world she was doing and why she was asking. She didn’t want to know.
He snorted. “Nope.”
Why did he say it like that? She’d known him only a few hours and she was convinced he was a catch.
“Me neither,” she said.
He didn’t respond. With her mind now on the wedding, she began to catalog all the things she needed to get done before next weekend.
She needed to reach out to her sister, make sure there was a place near the wedding venue where Maria could schedule an appointment for an updo. And get her nails done. And she needed a dress. She’d forgotten about the wedding, so she’d not packed anything appropriate.
And, oh God, she was falling back into Old Maria mode. She’d made a pact with herself when she asked for the divorce. She wouldn’t continue trying to emulate her mother. To try to fit in with Roma, Washington, high society. Those people didn’t care about her, and she didn’t care about them, so why bother trying to impress them?
Except, this worry was for her sister’s wedding, so that made it okay, didn’t it?
Lord, figuring out her new lot in life was hard.
Her phone vibrated, startling her. Holly’s name flashed on the screen. “Oh, there she is.” She showed the screen to Oz, then stood and grabbed her wine. “I’m going to step outside.”
Pushing the button as she hurried away, she said, “Hello, whatever your name will soon be.”
Holly laughed. “I’m not changing my name, but hello to you too. Sorry I didn’t call you back until now. We were in the air when you left your message, and when we arrived at the airport, it was chaotic there for a minute because some fans recognized us. We’re finally at Sam’s parents’ house, and I can talk now.”
It was still shocking and exciting that her sister was a rock star, even though she’d been one for nearly a decade now. Although, according to her, they’d only truly broken out about four years ago.
“I’m better now,” Maria said. “I was a little panicked when I called, though.”
“Sounded like it. Did Oz take care of you?”
It was just like Maria’s butt comment. Not intended to be dirty, but apparently she had become a dirty, dirty girl. At least in her own head.
Instead of saying I wish, she said, “He has been a perfect host.” She paused. “He offered to let me stay.”
