after they split up. William was like a kid at Christmas when he found her. Penny had left them some chicken and a salad to eat when they got home. He was in love with the fireman’s pole and the whole house. And he’d had an idea while she was giving him the tour.
“Would it be possible to use one of the upstairs guest rooms to do some writing?” It was away from everyone and quiet, the kind of space he needed to work in if he was going to spend time with her in New York, and he had some editing to catch up on.
“Of course. No one ever goes up there. They were for my kids, who never used them. I’ve always lived here alone.”
“Not anymore, my darling. Whenever you want company, just call and I’ll come running. And I’d much rather use the pole than the stairs.” She laughed as she listened to him. He was like a kid at an amusement park. She set dinner out for them, and they ate while he sang the house’s praises to her. “This place is so much fun. No wonder you were panicked about your daughter wanting you to sell it. You can’t possibly give up this house if you live to be a hundred.”
“She hates it. It’s not chic enough for her.”
“I think it’s incredibly chic. I wanted to try on all the helmets as soon as I saw them. Your clients must love it here.”
“They do, and so do I,” she said with a sigh of relief. She didn’t dare ask him how long he was staying and risk seeming inhospitable. But she had three shoots in the coming week, and she could suddenly envision him sliding down the pole in the middle of them. It was going to be an art sharing the house with him. But at least he loved it. It was a major hurdle overcome, and one less worry, a big one.
He helped her tidy the kitchen after dinner, and they went upstairs and showered together. No more luxurious huge bathtub in the Hong Kong suite at the Peninsula, but her shower was big enough for both of them, and afterwards they climbed into bed and made love with all the passion and thrill they had shared in Paris, Hong Kong, and London. Now they had made the firehouse theirs too. It was a brave new world for both of them.
* * *
—
Maddie started work with Penny at eight the next morning and they were going through files and plans when William made his way down the stairs with a mug of tea and smiled in at them. Penny gave a start and stared at him. He was even better-looking than she had imagined from Maddie’s description of him and the pictures she’d taken. He was younger and sexier in real life, with a killer smile. Maddie had mostly said he was nice and extremely intelligent. She had forgotten to say he was a hunk with a fantastic body and great face. He looked like he went to the gym in California and stayed in shape.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said to both of them, and Maddie introduced him to Penny. He chatted with her for a few minutes and then went upstairs again, to set up his computer in one of the guest bedrooms.
He reappeared at lunchtime, via the fire pole, which shocked Penny, and he asked Maddie if she wanted to go for a walk in the neighborhood and get some lunch. He compared it to Notting Hill in London, with lots of little shops and small restaurants. They went to a nearby deli and had sandwiches, and Maddie told him she wanted to introduce him to Deanna and David.
“Is that wise?” he asked her. “She won’t give you a hard time? Daughters don’t always like their mothers having boyfriends.” Particularly women like Deanna. He could already tell she was jealous of her mother from what Maddie had told him.
“She might react, but you have to meet her sometime. And she’s being careful with me right now. She outdid herself when I broke my ankle, so she’s on her best behavior.”
“Why don’t we take them out to dinner? She might be better in a restaurant. What’s her favorite restaurant or food?”
Maddie was touched by the thought he put into it. “Anything French or sushi. David is easy, he doesn’t care.”
“I’m not worried about him. Blokes usually