Page 48 of British Daddy to Go

My anger disappears. She won’t see anyone but me, and I won’t see anyone but her. “I’m sorry for getting so angry,” I tell Maggie. “But you understand why, right?”

“I do, and I’m sorry, too. I should have told you about Randall before it happened.”

“I’ll forgive you if you can forgive me for losing my temper.”

Maggie smiles. “You’re forgiven. Is that what your father told you?”

“My father is a smart man. He knew what I needed before I knew I needed it.”

I make a mental note to apologize for my abrupt end to our conversation. He and Mum will be in the city tomorrow morning, so I’ll have an opportunity to do so then.

Maggie pats the spot beside her on the couch. “We should talk about us, though. So that we never have to have a fight like this again.”

We smile at each other. “I like that idea. What do you want to talk about?”

“You’re my first relationship, so I’m still learning. Please bear with me as we work through this."

“Maggie, I’ve been with other people, but this is my first real relationship, too.”

She laughs. “We’re learning together then, I guess.”

“We are,” I respond. “I understand if you have to see Randall again to please your parents. Going on that date with him is why you were able to stay out until 10:30 tonight, isn’t it?”

Maggie considers this. “I guess that’s probably true. They didn’t explicitly say as such, but they have been elated since the dinner with Randall. I don’t want to go out with him ever again, though.”

There’s something I have to know. “Did he kiss you?”

Her face sours. “He did not. Well, he kissed me on the cheek, but it was prickly and quick.”

A cheek kiss I can handle. In Europe, cheek kisses are akin to waving hello. “Okay. If your parents ask you to see him again, just tell me beforehand, okay? I care about you, Maggie, and I don’t like the idea of you being with someone else.”

“Then I won’t do it,” Maggie promises.

I take her hands in mine. “If you don’t do this one thing for your parents, they might tighten the reins. We’ll tell your parents about us together when you’re ready. For now, maybe pick your battles.”

She doesn’t look pleased, but she nods.

“Your parents will realize how important we are to each other once we tell them. They might be miffed at first, but they’ll see. I promise.”

Maggie nods, still unconvinced. “I care about you, too. If you think it’ll work out, I trust you.”

I pull her knuckles to my lips for a soft kiss. “Nothing will come between us. Not even your crazy parents.”

“They are crazy, aren’t they?”

“Just a bit,” I confirm. “Lucky for me, they made a pretty incredible daughter.”

She tosses her hair over her shoulder. “I am fantastic, aren’t I?”

We both laugh. “The best. What time is it?”

Maggie holds her phone up to me. “9:30. We still have an hour before I have to be home.”

I plant a kiss on her cheek. “How should we fill the time?”

She grins seductively. “I have an idea of what we can do.”

“Maggie,” I groan. “I don’t want to rush you into anything you’re not ready for.”

Maggie moves so that she’s straddling me, her perfect breasts lined up with my lips and begging for my attention. “Do I not seem ready to you?”

“Are you absolutely sure?”

She nods. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” Maggie promises. “Now, make love to me, Sean. I want you.”

That’s all it takes. I pick her up, her legs wrapped around my waist, and take her to my bedroom.

Finally, I think. Since that first day in the dressing room, this is what I’ve been hoping for.

I’m going to make it good. For both of us.