Love And The Single Mom (Singles.... With Kids #1)

by C. J. Carmichael

  “You’re running out of money.”

  “The summer months are coming. I’m expecting an increase in business….”

  “Revenue generation isn’t the problem. This place is leaking cash.”

  Her face whitened.

  “I’m sorry to be the one to deliver the bad news.”

  “But we’re almost always busy. We only have a few slow times during the day.”

  “The problem lies with your expenses. They’re just too high. You need to manage your staff more efficiently. Improve your product pricing and inventory control.”

  Margo sighed. “I know I haven’t been focusing on the business end enough. But there’s never enough time to study all those reports. Besides, numbers were never my strong suit.”

  Robert hesitated. Today was supposed to be the last time he helped Margo with her accounting. But how could he deliver bad news like this, then walk away?

  He was no expert on managing restaurants. But he could help her. He knew that he could.

  “Let me see what I can do. I can juggle some numbers and do a little analysis. Maybe I can help you figure out what you need to change in order to make this business profitable.”

  She looked hopeful and worried at the same time. “But do you have time? I know you’re searching for a new job. You’ll probably be offered something really soon.”

  He wished. “I do have a couple interviews lined up for Friday and next week.”

  “Well, that’s great. Congratulations.” He could tell she was making an effort to be happy for him.

  “Yeah. We’ll see how it goes. But in the meantime, I’ve still got some extra time.” He’d make the time to help her. He checked his watch and saw that it was almost four.

  “Aren’t you late to pick up your kids?”

  “They spend Wednesday nights with their father.” Margo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Robert felt his heart take on a heavy, pounding rhythm. His mouth went a little dry. Leave, he told himself, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. “Feel like going for a walk and maybe grabbing a bite to eat?”

  He didn’t think it was his imagination that Margo’s face brightened.

  “I’m sure Em won’t mind being on her own for an hour until my evening staff arrives. Hang on and I’ll grab my purse.”

  Five minutes later, they were strolling down the street. Margo had slipped a little jean jacket over her pink T-shirt. He had a hard time looking anywhere but at her.

  “This was such a good idea.” Margo grinned like a kid who’d snuck out of school early and was thrilled at the unexpected freedom. “I don’t get out enough. Back when I worked in an office ten hours a day, I used to dream of having the freedom to roam the streets during daylight.”

  Robert stepped aside to make room for a teenager with purple hair and earphones, walking two dogs on a tandem leash.

  “Look at all this life.” She waved her arm in a sweeping gesture meant to encompass everything on the block.

  Obligingly, Robert looked. He saw lovers sitting at an outdoor café, a kid on Rollerblades—surely not yet twenty—carrying a fat briefcase. Two women, arms linked, window-shopping in front of an art gallery and arguing about whether or not they should step inside.

  “Let’s go this way,” Margo said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him around a corner.

  The feeling of being tugged by a lively, sparkly eyed Margo was not at all unpleasant. “Any particular reason?”

  She looked at him as if he was brain dead. “Don’t you want to go to the Yerba Buena Gardens? Whenever I go for a long walk in SOMA, I always head there.”

  He cocked his head. “I’ve only lived here a year, but I do think I remember driving by—”

  “Driving? That’s terrible.” She started pulling harder on his arm. “You have got so much to see, Robert.”

  He hurried along with her, caught on the current of her enthusiasm. Yes. He definitely had that feeling. He had so much to see.

  ONCE THEY REACHED the gardens, Margo took Robert to all her favorite places. She started with the twenty-foot falling water memorial to Martin Luther King and ended up at the carousel, where she tried to cajole him into climbing on one of the painted ponies. “Pleassse. It’ll be so much fun.”

  Smiling, he shook his head. “You go. I’ll watch.”

  She kept a grip on his hand. “You come, too.”

  But he let her hand slip away, and she found herself alone in the line.

  “Go on,” Robert mouthed, and she decided she would.

  She picked one of the horses on the outer circle and when the music started and the carousel began to rotate, she couldn’t help but laugh for the sheer fun of it.

  Every time she circled by him, Robert smiled and his eyes never seemed to leave her. When the ride was over, he was right at the exit, waiting for her.

  This time it was him pulling her to a quiet spot under a tree. He swung her around so she was facing him, then he put both hands on her waist and brought her in close for a kiss.

  The moment their mouths met she felt a connection that sizzled through her body, all the way to her toes. When he pulled away for an instant she thought he whispered, “Wow,” but she couldn’t be sure.

  They kissed again, more deeply, and when he cupped her face with his hands, she felt…treasured. He eased back a little, let his mouth linger on hers, then released her.

  She put a hand on his shoulder. Dizzy from the carousel? Or the kiss? Both had been wonderful, but no question which she’d preferred.

  “You’re good at that, Robert.”

  “We’re good at that.” He looked bothered, suddenly, as if sharing a great kiss wasn’t a terrific thing.

  Maybe, for him, it happened all the time. “That woman you moved to San Francisco for? She must have been special.”

  “I thought so at the time.”

  “I know how that feels. What happened?”

  “She met someone new. Someone from work. They’re living together now.”

  “Funny how some people step from one relationship straight into another.” That was what Tom had done, too. “I think it’s better to adjust to being alone first, but I guess some people are afraid of being on their own.”

  Robert put his hands on either side of her face again. “When your marriage ended, did being alone frighten you?”

  “For a short time, yes. Until I figured out that it’s actually less lonely living without a man, than living with one who doesn’t love you.”

  Robert stared at her deeply. “I don’t get it.”

  “Why it’s hard to live with someone who doesn’t love you?”

  “No. How someone could not love you. What was the matter with your ex, Margo? If you’d been my wife, and if Ellie and Peter were my kids, I’d be counting my blessings.”

  Lord, it did her soul good to hear those words. She’d never had self-esteem problems before. But when she’d found out Tom was having an affair, and then when he’d left her, she’d found herself battling self-doubt.

  “I’m not much of a housekeeper, Robert. Our house was always full of friends, neighbors, the children’s playmates. It was noisy and chaotic and never the same one day to the next. Tom hated that.”

  “What about you? What did you hate?”

  She thought for a moment. “That nothing I did ever made him happy. That when I tried to share an experience that had thrilled me, he didn’t care.”

  Robert swallowed. “I just thought of another reason someone might jump from one relationship directly into another.”

  “Yes.”

  “It could be a simple matter of timing. When you meet the right person, you just know.”

  He kissed her again, and Margo was even more dazed than she had been the first time. They didn’t talk much after that and Margo was glad. Inside she felt all giddy and happy, but the feelings were tender and she knew they’d fall apart all too easily.

  “I need to return to the bistro before closin
g.”

  They held hands all the way back, but Robert didn’t kiss her again. Instead he brushed a hand over her cheek and told her he’d see her the next day.

  Margo waited a minute before stepping inside.

  She’d started falling for Robert from that first day when he’d hogged the table in the back corner…but their kiss had sealed things. It suggested a connection that was deeper than anything she’d experienced before. And as much as that excited her…it also scared her to death.

  In her marriage, she’d laid her heart bare, but Tom had never known what to do with the gift. If she was going to love again—and that was a big if—she was going to proceed with extreme caution.

  Margo took a deep breath, then finally went inside. She looked around at the warmth and creative energy of her restaurant. Lots of tables were full now. Inviting scents permeated the air and the background music was subtle, but inviting.

  Everything was going great. All she had to do was push Robert’s financial verdict to the back of her mind, and she’d believe that this was a successful venture.

  She spied Sandy behind the counter and looked around for Edward. He was standing by that table of girls again. When he spotted her, he hung his head guiltily, then made his way to the kitchen. Margo glanced at Sandy, who shrugged her shoulders, then continued steaming milk.

  Margo slipped past the lineup of customers and joined Sandy behind the counter. “How’s it going? Can I help?”

  “We could use some more poppy-seed cake if you have any. I sent Edward for some about ten minutes ago, but—”

  “Yes. I saw how that worked out. I’ll go get it for you.” Margo saw no sign of Edward in the kitchen. She pulled out the cake, took it out front for Sandy, then went looking for Edward again.

  She noticed his jacket was missing from the hook by the back door. That was when she saw the note by the phone.

  Sorry, had to leave early. Also, someone from the bank called, just before six. They said to remind you about those reports. They’d like to see them as soon as possible.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Days Unemployed: 12

  THE NEXT MORNING Robert had to acknowledge that his plan had failed. He had not managed to contain his involvement with Margo as easily as he had hoped. Not only had he committed himself to helping her further with her business, but he’d asked her out.

  And he’d kissed her.

  That kiss had kept him up for an hour last night and had followed him into his dreams.

  Keeping his distance from Margo was now patently impossible. All he could try to do now, to mitigate the potential fallout, was to avoid any close involvement with her children.

  But that afternoon his latest resolution was put to the test. He’d spent several hours working on cost management analysis alone in Margo’s apartment. When the time came to leave, he went to say goodbye and found Margo alone behind the counter.

  “Where’s Em?”

  “Her daughter is sick and she had to go home.”

  “But don’t you have to pick up your kids?”

  She gave him a pleading look. “Could you go for me?”

  Oh, no. He wasn’t going to walk her children home from school. “You go. I’ll stay here and take care of things while you’re gone.”

  “Robert, I don’t have enough time to show you how to work the cash register, let alone the Marzocco.”

  He took one look at the imposing red espresso machine and knew he’d been licked. “Okay. Fine. I’ll go get them.”

  She gave him the directions to the school, and he jogged the whole way so he’d get there in time. He found Peter waiting on the corner Margo had described.

  “Ellie’s not here.” Peter sighed. “She’s always slow.”

  He didn’t seem surprised that Robert, and not his mother, had come to pick him up. Soon Robert found out why.

  “Are you Mommy’s new boyfriend? Ellie says you are. She says you’re going to get married and I’ll have to wear my suit again.”

  Robert scratched his head. “Want to play on the jungle gym, Peter?”

  Peter’s face broke out in a smile, his question forgotten. Little boys were so easy to distract. But Robert guessed the sister wouldn’t be as easy. When Ellie did show up, about ten minutes later, he took an offensive approach. “Let’s play twenty questions. Do you guys know that game?”

  They did and so Robert thought of a word, then challenged them to guess what he was thinking of. The game kept both kids occupied for the entire walk home. As they neared their street, Ellie zoomed in for the kill. “What is a saltshaker?”

  “That’s right, Ellie. I’m impressed.” He held the bistro door open and both kids rushed inside. Ellie climbed onto one of the stools, while Peter rushed to use the washroom, then returned a minute later.

  Robert watched as Peter downed a glass of juice in no time flat, then asked for another. No one seemed to find anything odd with how much the little boy drank, but he couldn’t help but be suspicious. He wondered if he should say something to Margo or just mind his own business.

  “Can I have a turn to think of a word now?” Peter asked.

  Robert had been planning to leave, but he didn’t have the heart to say no. He perched on a stool next to Ellie’s and drank a coffee as he and Ellie posed questions to the little guy.

  Though Margo was busy with customers, he saw her shoot a few approving looks his way. Those looks made him nervous. He hadn’t meant to ingratiate himself with her kids. Quite the opposite.

  “I should be going,” he murmured to her, after both Peter and Ellie had each taken their turn at the game.

  “Of course. Thanks so much for helping me out here. Again.”

  “No problem,” he said, though it wasn’t true. It was becoming a huge problem. Mostly because he kept enjoying himself so much. He started for the door, then his conscience forced him back. “Say…has Peter seen a doctor lately, by chance?”

  Margo, usually a dervish of activity, stilled ominously. “Why?”

  “I just notice that he seems to drink a lot. And go to the washroom. When I was about his age, I had a friend with the same symptoms. Turned out he had diabetes.” Seeing Margo’s stricken expression, he quickly backtracked. “Not that Peter has diabetes. I’m sure it’s highly unlikely. It’s just that you might want to get him checked.”

  Margo’s face remained pale. “Peter’s teacher phoned me yesterday with a similar comment about the washroom. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. Diabetes didn’t even occur to me.”

  He said nothing. If Peter’s teacher had noticed the symptoms as well, then this was definitely something Margo needed to check on. She seemed to come to the same conclusion.

  “I’ll make an appointment with his doctor. Next week, maybe, once I’ve taken those cash flow statements to the bank.”

  “I don’t think you should put it off.”

  She looked scared. Then she nodded. “Okay. I’ll phone right now.”

  Friday’s Soup of the Day: Alphabet Goop

  MARGO TOLD HERSELF not to worry about Peter. Once a dentist’s comment about inflamed lymph nodes on Ellie’s neck had convinced her that Ellie had cancer. But Ellie had been fine. And Peter would be, too. The doctor’s appointment was just a precaution.

  An inconvenient precaution, as it turned out. She’d booked an appointment shortly after the lunch rush, but when the time came to pick Peter up from school, the bistro was insanely busy. She didn’t see how Em would cope if she left. Just as she was about to phone the doctor’s office and see if they could squeeze her in later, Robert showed up.

  “The soup of the day sounds awful. If it didn’t smell so good in here, I wouldn’t order any.”

  Margo couldn’t help feeling better at the sight of him. “My other customers don’t seem to share your concern. We’re almost sold out.”

  His eyebrows rose in alarm. “Then I guess I’d better get my order in right away.” He leaned over the counter. “Didn’t you have a doct
or’s appointment for Peter this afternoon?”

  “I do. But I can’t leave Em with all this.” She gestured at the lineup of customers.

  He took one look then calmly walked over to where she stood behind the counter and reached his arms around her neck. For one crazy moment she thought he was going to kiss her. Right there, in full view of the customers and Em. But all he did was lift the strap of her apron over her head.

  “Go.”

  She stared into his eyes and thought the last thing she wanted to do right now was leave him. What she wanted was for him to put his arms around her again.

  “Em will show me the ropes,” Robert added. “Won’t you, Em?”

  “He’s right, Margo. You better pick up that boy of yours and get him to the doctor.”

  Margo drove to the school and she and Peter headed straight to the clinic from there. Last night she’d arranged for Ellie to go to her friend Stephanie’s house for a few hours after school so she wouldn’t need to tag along to the appointment.

  At the doctor’s office Margo had to coax a urine sample from her son, then cross the hall to the lab where a tech pulled tubes of blood from her little boy’s veins. Peter held her hand tightly and scrunched his eyes closed.

  “It’s okay, honey. Don’t look at the needle, okay? Look at me and tell me what happened at school today.”

  All the while she was trying to distract Peter, Margo wondered how Robert was making out at the bistro. She shouldn’t have let him talk her into leaving him there. It scared her how much she’d started to depend on him. She had to be more careful.

  And it wasn’t as if this was an emergency. Anyone could tell from looking at Peter that he was fine.

  Once the blood test was over, she took Peter down to the car and on the long drive through rush-hour traffic thought about what to cook for dinner. Maybe she should invite Robert—to thank him for all the help he’d given her today. She could offer to pay him, too, but the wages she usually gave her employees would probably be an insult to an MBA.

  As soon as she and Peter walked in the front door of the bistro, Robert whipped off his apron and tossed it behind the counter.