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

by C. J. Carmichael

  The stray stopped short, ears perked, tail wagging. Yeah, he remembered him all right. Robert scratched the side of the dog’s neck, then patted his side.

  “Oh, great. Don’t let Boy go,” Margo said.

  “Boy?”

  “That’s what we’ve been calling him. We still haven’t managed to pick a name. Everyone wants something different.”

  “Boy works for me. Pass me the collar.” He held out his hand and, after a pause, she passed it over. Robert snapped open the clasp, then slipped the leather strap around Boy’s neck. The dog reacted immediately to the unwelcome restraint, practically pulling Robert out to the street. “He’s raring to go.”

  “Maybe so, but we only have time for a quick bathroom break. The kids are upstairs working on homework.” She fell silent, then said, more slowly, “I haven’t seen you for a while.”

  Robert stopped and widened his stance against the dog’s straining. “I’ve had a bunch of job interviews.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s good.”

  “Yeah. Hopefully I’ll get a nibble or two.”

  She held out her hand and for a minute he stared at it, before he realized she wanted the leash. He passed it to her, electricity crackling at the smooth brush of her skin against his.

  The dog was small, but he was strong. As soon as he sensed Margo on the other end of the lead, he started to strain again. Margo rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t seem to be trained to wear one of these.”

  “Obedience school might be a good idea.”

  “If I only had the time to take him. Maybe I should have turned him over to the SPCA, after all. He’s way more work than I thought. On the other hand, Peter and Ellie love him to bits.”

  But they were too young to do any of the work associated with looking after a dog in an apartment in the city. Neither one had the strength to take him out for a walk, that was for sure.

  “Well…” Robert was about to ask if he could walk the dog for her, when he realized what day it was. “Aren’t the kids supposed to be with their dad on Wednesdays?”

  “Yes, but Tom had business in L.A. today and he wasn’t sure what time his flight…” Her words trailed off and her expression grew anxious. “Speaking of the devil…”

  Robert followed her gaze to a silver Mercedes pulling into a parking space near the bistro. He recognized Margo’s ex-husband as he climbed out of the driver’s seat. The frown lines on Tom’s brow deepened as he looked from Margo, to the dog, then to Robert.

  “Where are the kids?”

  Margo swallowed, then raised her chin. “Hi to you, too, Tom. You remember Robert?”

  Tom’s appraisal was brief and dismissive. “From the wedding, yes.” He looked at Boy next. “So this is the new dog. Not very well-trained, is he?”

  As Tom spoke, Boy lifted his leg and peed on a wrought-iron grill protecting a graceful oak tree.

  “Not yet, he isn’t. The kids are inside doing their schoolwork. Did you want to go up and say hi to them?”

  “That depends.” Tom checked his watch. “I take it they’ve eaten their dinner?”

  Margo’s jaw tightened. “We were just about—”

  “Margo. Regular meals are important.”

  “I know. I’m just running a tiny bit late. The dog hasn’t been out since noon and I wasn’t expecting the kids to be home tonight, at all, until Catherine called a few hours ago.”

  “God, Margo. Why does putting a meal on the table have to be such a big deal to you? If you’d just—”

  Robert started backing away. This was turning into a squabble and he figured he’d better butt out, before he said something rash. Tom was being a jerk and he longed to jump in on Margo’s behalf. Yeah, regular meals were important for a diabetic. But would a half hour really make a difference? He didn’t think so.

  But before Robert could complete his escape, the kids came rushing out the door.

  “I thought that was your car,” Ellie said as she raced into her father’s arms. Robert’s animosity toward the man softened as he saw Tom’s smile.

  “Hi, sweetheart. Hi, son.” He reached an easy arm around the little boy’s shoulders. “How was school today?”

  Robert glanced at Margo. She’d managed to pull Boy in tightly next to her and she was watching her ex interacting with the children, smiling ruefully. She caught his gaze and cocked her eyebrows as if to say, He isn’t all bad.

  And he wasn’t, Robert realized, with a rush of relief. Tom was actually a pretty decent father. His kids obviously loved him and felt a close connection to him.

  Unlike Andrew, they didn’t need a father figure in their lives. Maybe he’d been worried about Margo’s kids more than he’d needed to.

  When Tom and the kids decided to walk down the block for a burger, he waited a few seconds then asked, “Boy obviously would appreciate a longer walk. How about you?”

  Margo passed him the lead. “Absolutely.”

  MARGO AND ROBERT ENDED up walking the dog for over an hour. When they got back to the bistro, she looked at her watch and almost shrieked.

  “Oh, my lord. My friends are going to be here in less than an hour. And I still have to bake a fruit crisp.”

  “Can I help?” Robert pulled her in close enough to give her a kiss. But now that Boy had seen home, he was tugging on his leash again and standing still was virtually impossible.

  “You’d better not come in,” Margo decided reluctantly. “Tonight you’d be more of a distraction than a help.”

  “And you don’t want to be distracted?”

  Actually she did. That was the problem. Robert ran a hand down her arm and she shivered.

  “Maybe I should come by later? After your friends have gone?”

  “That would be nice.”

  He left then, not a moment too soon, as she’d been about to weaken and invite him inside. Instead she took Boy around to the back entrance, settled him upstairs in the apartment, then went to the kitchen to make her crisp. Earlier Margo had invited an old high school friend of hers, Rosie DeWitt, to join the girls for coffee.

  She and Rosie had reconnected a year ago at their high school reunion. They’d promised to keep in touch, but Margo had just been going through her divorce then and she’d forgotten about the commitment. Last week, though, when Selena had called them the Singles With Kids group, she’d thought of Rosie.

  Rosie also had a young son and worked full-time as a political aide. The boy’s father wasn’t in the picture, so Rosie knew all about juggling work and family commitments. Margo had dug up her number and given her a call.

  “We aren’t a formal support group or anything. Just friends who like to talk about our kids and our jobs and well…life.”

  “I’d love to join you for coffee,” Rosie had said quickly. “The men I work with don’t get kids, at all.”

  As it turned out Rosie was the first to arrive that evening. She bounced in still dressed in her business suit from work, her long curly black hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Hey, Margo, great place.”

  “Thanks.” Margo usually felt proud when someone complimented her bistro. But tonight all she could think about were her unpaid bills and the upcoming meeting with her loan manager.

  She’d dropped the cash flow statement off yesterday and had managed to put off a face-to-face meeting with a loan officer until next week. Her stomach hurt just to think about it.

  To distract herself, she offered Rosie something to drink. She cleaned the frothing arm of the La Marzocco. “What kind of coffee would you like?”

  Rosie rattled off her request without pausing to think. “Non-fat, white chocolate mocha with a shot of espresso and whipped cream.”

  Margo grinned to herself and reached for the bottle of skim milk. “Coming right up. The others will be here shortly.”

  “Great.” Rosie perched on one of the stools and leaned over the counter. “So how have you been? You were still kind of shell-shocked over the divorce last time I saw you. But you’re looking good n
ow.”

  “Thanks. It’s been a busy year. Tom is remarried for one thing.”

  “And…? How are you doing with that?”

  “Fine. Sort of. Oh, I don’t mind about Tom having found someone new. It’s getting used to the kids having a stepmother in their lives that’s taking some adjustment.”

  Margo filled Rosie in on the other news in her life. The diabetes. The stray dog.

  “Wow. Sounds like you’ve had quite the week.”

  Nora and Selena strolled in together then. Everyone introduced themselves, and Margo handed Rosie her mocha, then started Selena’s espresso and Nora’s chai latte. Once the drinks were ready, they retired to the annex, where Margo curled up on the couch, more than ready to relax and have a good chat.

  “So how old is your son, Rosie?” Nora wanted to know. “My Danny is six.”

  “Casey’s only four. I can’t believe how much he’s changed this last year. He’s definitely a little boy now, not a toddler, you know?”

  “I remember when Drew was that age. When we’d go for walks, he’d point out every truck on the road. And we had to stop to pet every dog….” Selena turned to Margo. “Speaking of which, I hear you’ve adopted one.”

  “Sort of. I’m not sure if it’s permanent. He’s so cute and good-natured, I’m sure someone will claim him before too long.”

  “Well, if they don’t and if you decide he’s too much work for you, let me know. I’ve been thinking now that Drew’s older it might be good for him to have the responsibility of looking after a pet.” Selena took a sip of her espresso. She was wearing another great piece of turquoise jewelry today—a ring that kept catching Margo’s eye.

  “I’ll keep your offer in mind, but be warned. The dog is sweet, but he doesn’t respond to any command except ‘come.’ And he sure does have a lot of energy. The other day he destroyed an entire package of Ellie’s washable markers.”

  “Anyone ready for dessert?” Nora asked.

  “Thanks, Nora,” Rosie said as she was handed a dish of the crisp. She took a small taste. “Wow, Margo. This is exceptional.”

  “Thanks.” Margo smiled at Rosie’s rapturous expression as she dug in to her dessert.

  “Maybe you should talk Tom and his new wife into taking the dog,” Nora said. “Didn’t you say their new house is in Pacific Heights?”

  Rosie sat up tall. “Is that right? Impressive.” Like any true San Franciscan, Rosie knew what it meant to live in a neighborhood like Pacific Heights. “Obviously your ex is doing well for himself.”

  “Their home is perfect. So much nicer and bigger than mine.”

  “A house is just a material possession,” Nora reminded her. “Love is what your children really need. Never forget that.”

  “You’re so right about that. But lately life has been such a struggle. On top of everything, I’ve had some issues with the bank lately.”

  “Nothing serious, I hope?” Rosie’s keen eyes flashed with concern.

  “Not really.” Margo couldn’t admit how precarious her financial situation was. During their walk Robert had reiterated his promise to help her find efficiencies that would improve her bottom line. She appreciated his offer, but couldn’t help worrying it would be too little, too late. The produce bill had come in today and she was going to have to dip into her savings to cover it.

  “Hey, Margo.” Nora tapped her shoulder. “Isn’t that your guy?”

  Margo craned her neck to see, then caught her breath. Robert had returned as promised. He was a little early, but she didn’t mind, at all.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “IS THAT ROBERT?” Selena glanced over her shoulder, then drew in her breath sharply. “Oh, yum. It is, isn’t it?”

  “You didn’t say anything about a new guy in your life.” Rosie gave her a jab. “And he’s so cute….”

  “Would you all please stop staring at him?” Margo focused on her coffee cup. “I feel like I’m in high school, again.”

  “Only with better skin,” Nora said.

  “And bigger boobs.”

  “Rosie!” Margo knew her cheeks had to be bright pink by now.

  “Don’t worry, Margo. We aren’t going to embarrass you anymore.” Selena downed her last swallow of espresso. “Come on, ladies. Let’s clear out of here.”

  “But it’s still early.”

  “I’m with Selena,” Nora said. “I think you and Robert need some alone time. We’ll talk later, okay? Call me.”

  Before Margo knew it, all her friends were gone, leaving her alone in the annex room. But not for long.

  Robert cleared his throat. He was still standing by the French doors, which the women had left open. “I didn’t mean to close down the party early.”

  “That’s okay.” Nora was right. They did need some alone time. She moved to make room for him to join her on the sofa and when he did, brushing his thigh against hers, warmth infused every cell in her body.

  The burning intensified when she saw how he was looking at her. His obvious desire filled her with the crazy heat she’d experienced when he kissed her. For a few moments she remembered what it was like to be young and in love.

  But she wasn’t young anymore. She was thirty-four years old. The mother of two children. A responsible business owner. How could she be falling so crazily in love with a man she’d known for less than a month?

  “Where are Ellie and Peter?”

  “Decided to go home with their father.” She dropped her gaze, so he couldn’t tell she was thinking about the empty apartment and the potential for privacy that it offered. It was way too soon for that to be happening here.

  She had to cool things. And quickly.

  “So tell me more about the job interviews you had today.”

  He gave her a look that told her he knew exactly what she was trying to do by changing the subject. Still, he went along with it. “They were both assistant general manager positions.” He gave her an outline of the job requirements.

  Margo noticed his passion and smiled. “Have you always known banking is what you want to do?”

  “Oh, yeah. It runs in the family. Mom was in the business, too. She passed away a few years ago. What about your parents? Do they live around here?”

  “Retired in Florida.”

  “Any siblings?”

  “None. I hated that.”

  “Me, too. Is that why you had two kids?”

  “I would have had more, but Tom was against it.”

  “More, huh?” Robert’s gaze lingered on her and she sensed a question in them.

  She was almost afraid to ask. But she couldn’t resist. “Do you want to have kids?”

  He nodded.

  “Oh.”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “Well, there were a few times when you gave me the impression that you don’t like children very much.”

  He looked away from her, and Margo’s heart dropped. She’d been right. This was going to be an issue. She started to get out of her chair. “If you have problems with my kids, there’s no point in us—”

  Robert reached for her hand. “Wait. I did have concerns about your children at first. Can I tell you why?”

  Reluctantly, she sank back into her seat, not at all sure she was interested in his so-called explanation.

  “The fiancée I told you about? Belinda?”

  “Yes…?”

  “She has a son. His name is Andrew. He still calls me sometimes. He was really upset when I didn’t go to his birthday party a few weeks ago.”

  “Why didn’t you go?”

  “Belinda has asked me not to see him anymore. She wants him bonding with her new boyfriend. I see her point, but it hasn’t been easy. Strange as it may sound I miss that kid. And I know he feels like I abandoned him.”

  “Oh, Robert.” She put her hand over his, feeling his hurt and his sense of responsibility. Warmth rushed over her for this man who would care so much about disappointing a child.

  “When love go
es wrong, it’s one thing to deal with it as an adult. Quite another when children are in the picture.”

  And that was why he had hesitated to get involved with her. “What changed your mind with me?”

  “Frankly, I just couldn’t stay away.”

  Her heart raced.

  “But tonight, when I saw your kids with their father, I realized that your kids already have a dad in their lives. Andrew didn’t.”

  Robert turned his hand so he could hold on to hers. He intertwined their fingers, then pulled her closer so he could kiss her.

  Their lips touched softly, their mouths opened perfectly to each other. “Oh.” Margo sighed.

  “I love kissing you.”

  She knew what he meant. She felt exactly the same way. The connection was deeper than just physical, which ought to be great, only was it? This didn’t feel at all like the casual, fun relationship Nora had suggested she needed.

  It felt like falling in love. Something she definitely didn’t have room for in her life right now.

  FRIDAY MORNING the kids were up brushing their teeth before Margo realized it was a professional development day for their teachers. She stared at the notation on the calendar, wondering how she’d missed it.

  She went to the bathroom door. “Did you guys know you don’t have school today?”

  They nodded, unable to talk with toothbrushes in their mouths.

  Other kids might have taken the chance to sleep in. But her two were early risers, like her.

  “I’m going downstairs to put some muffins into the oven. I’ll bring some up for breakfast when they’re ready.”

  Peter spat. “Will you bring one for Boy?”

  The dog was in the bathroom with them, sitting on the tile floor, wagging his tail. He looked darn happy and well he should. Margo had already taken him outside for his morning constitutional. It would be so much easier if she could only open a door and let him out to a backyard to do his business.

  “No. Boy shouldn’t eat people food. You can give him two scoops of the stuff under the kitchen sink.”

  She ran downstairs and removed the bowl of muffin batter from the fridge, then put spoonfuls into the tray she’d prepared last night. Em popped in briefly to grab a bag of bagels for the front.