Page 63 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

Maya frowned at her phone. “Oh, Mum and Dad have the kids next weekend.” She looked up and met Sam’s gaze. “They like to take them out for the day for me occasionally. Enables me to get on with things I need to do or squeeze in some occasional Saturday work. I’ve got some appointments in the morning: a manicure and a bridal make-up.”

“Your parents can come too. The more the merrier,” Sam said. He was certain Heather wouldn’t mind.

“Oh, I think they’d like that. I’ll check with them and get back to you, though.” Maya continued tapping at her phone.

“Thanks for meeting me for lunch. I actually didn’t think you would be free this afternoon,” Sam said.

“I’d had a cancellation from a client. It’s rather annoying.” Maya placed her phone on the table and picked up her panini. “Some clients think that because I’m self-employed they can just phone for an appointment and I’ll be free, and equally they can cancel at the drop of a hat. They don’t seem to realise I do have a living to make, and it’s quite stressful as a single mum. This is my business.”

“Those with a regular income probably don’t get it.”

“Some are mums from school, who don’t work, or some are retired. They have all the time in the world, so they assume I have.”

Maya’s phone beeped. Sam watched her as she navigated through her phone to read the message. She huffed.

“Here you go. Someone who thinks I’m available twenty-four-seven. She’s wondering if I could fit her in at half-past three this afternoon for a manicure and pedicure. She’s going on holiday tomorrow and totally forgot to book.” Maya rolled her eyes. “Honestly, she knows I have kids.”

Sam reached out and stopped her as she was texting a reply, her hand soft and warm under his touch. He lingered there for a moment, before taking his hand away. “Say you’ll do it. I’ll fetch the kids. I’ve got to get Chloe anyway.”

“You don’t have to do that, Sam. I’ll just tell her I can’t do it.”

“No, I don’t mind getting the kids. Do it.”

Maya frowned, thumb poised over her phone. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t offer if not, Maya. Besides, Chloe has been angling to have Amber over for tea, so I’ll kill two birds with one stone,” he said. “This way, you don’t lose any money and you keep a customer happy. And I keep my daughter sweet.”

“As long as this client doesn’t think she can do it all the time.” Maya gestured to her phone.

“She won’t. Tell your client you can do it this once, as a friend has just offered to have your kids.” Sam winked.

“Thank you. That would be handy.”

“And I’ll cook tea for all of us, so you don’t have to worry about dinner tonight either.”

“Really?”

“Don’t get too excited. I’m an engineer, I’m no chef,” Sam said, holding his hands up. “Do your kids like pasta?”

“Of course.”

“That’s settled, then.”

Maya sent a text to her client. “Oh, I’d better call the school, so they’ll release the kids to you.” She picked up her phone again, and Sam carried on eating his panini while mentally trying to prepare a dinner in his head that the kids would eat and he couldn’t get wrong, if he wanted to impress Maya with his culinary skills. He had better visit the supermarket before picking up the kids, too.

Maya pulled up outside Sam’s house, stomach rumbling. She’d gone from her two o’clock client, straight to her three-thirty appointment, which had taken longer than anticipated. When Maya had mentioned she offered waxing as a mobile service, her client had asked if she could have her bikini line done too. The wax was already in the car from the previous customer, so Maya dragged in the massage bed, towels and set up the wax pot, allowing it to heat up while she painted her client’s nails and buffed her feet. This extra treatment had delayed Maya, and she had been stuck in the rush-hour traffic. She had texted Sam and he’d told her it was fine, but she had worried it looked as if she was taking advantage of his generosity. He reassured her the children weren’t killing each other and told her to take as long as she needed.

Sam opened the front door with a smile, the corners of his eyes creasing warmly, and boyish dimples forming in his cheeks. Maya’s heart quickened. Did he realise how he affected her? He welcomed her through to his kitchen after she had poked her nose in on the kids to say hi. They were watching television in the lounge. Both replied without taking their eyes off the screen. She secretly observed Sam’s clean and tidy house, confirming the man didn’t live idly.

Maya sat at his small breakfast bar. Behind her was a door leading to the dining room, with patio doors open, allowing a breeze into the house. She could see he’d already laid the table.

“How was it?” Sam asked as he put another larger saucepan filled with water on another ring on the hob, turning on the gas.

“Not too bad.” Maya could smell the sweetness of garlic and onions. “What’s for dinner? It smells delicious.”

“Spaghetti Bolognese. I figured it was something the kids would eat.” He popped a tray of garlic bread into the oven and set the timer. “I thought I’d wait until you arrived before I put the pasta on. The sauce is ready.”

Maya watched as Sam made her a mug of tea, and continued with the dinner preparations, all the while occasionally catching her eye with a smile. It was nice to be waited on, Maya mused, especially by a good-looking man.

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