Touchdown - Leslie North Page 0,21

with that?”

“I don’t know any lady who’d have a problem with that. Though I think you’re just being nice.”

There it was again. The wall. “Of course I want to be nice to you. You’re an amazing woman who is saving my life these days.”

She smiled out into the backyard, but he detected a twinge of sadness there. “Yeah, yeah.”

“You fit in perfectly here, too,” he went on. “Obviously the kids love you.”

“Are they still sticking to their bedtime routine?” she asked.

“So-so,” he admitted. “There were some tears last night.” When she tutted, looking genuinely disappointed, he saw his window of opportunity. “Maybe you should start spending the night again. Just to help them get really settled.”

She didn’t need to know they hadn’t fussed that much, or that the tears were related to the divvying up of bedtime books. But Maxwell knew one thing was certain.

More Jill was better than less Jill. And he wanted all of her in the meantime, until he could figure out exactly how to convince her that the next time she used his bathtub, both of them needed to be in it.

8

The rest of that week went by in something similar to agony for Jill. She couldn’t tell what had shifted exactly, but every time she and Maxwell were alone in a room together, she could feel the barometric pressure drop. Or skyrocket. Either way, the hairs on her arms stood at attention. Everything went prickly and warm beneath her clothes. And she felt like if she took one wrong step, she’d fall straight into Maxwell’s arms and never leave again.

His work schedule was the only saving grace. He worked long hours, and by the time bedtime rolled around, they were both exhausted enough to part ways without much pressure for adult time afterward. Which meant Jill was bolting into her room and counseling herself on why it was not a good idea to sneak into Maxwell’s bedroom and see what she might discover in the darkness.

By the time Monday rolled around, she’d actually forgotten to head to her own place Sunday night as she’d planned. And when Maxwell asked her if she’d be okay with the kids alone on Monday night so he could go celebrate a friend’s engagement, of course she agreed—which meant another night at Maxwell’s house.

Do you stay here because it’s easier or because you secretly love it?

It was a hard question to answer. And she tried not to think too hard about it because she was afraid of what she might unearth there.

After an exceptionally busy but fulfilling day at work on Monday, she headed home around seven to find Maxwell already dressed and ready to go out. She fought to keep her jaw from clattering to the floor. Normally he wore what she liked to call NFL chic, which consisted of brand-heavy workout gear that accentuated all his muscles in all the best ways.

But tonight, he was dressed like something that defied categorizing. Like a dapper Hollywood star met the brute strength of an NFL athlete. Powerful, handsome, and dominating all in one fell swoop. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep her cool when it was so obvious she had no cool left at all.

“Wow. Hey. Hi. Are you, uh—” She looked around, spotting the triplets in the living room over his shoulder. “So you’re ready to go.”

“Yeah. How do I look?” He adjusted his navy pinstripe suit coat. A waft of cologne set her ovaries spasming.

“Um…” Sexy as hell. Fuck-tastic. Bend me over the countertop and have your way with me now. “Spot on.”

He held his hands out to his sides. “That’s it?”

“What do you want me to say?” she asked, setting her purse down. The weight of it was making her feel faint. Or maybe it was just the suffocating hotness of Maxwell’s look tonight. “You’re…looking fine.”

He narrowed his eyes as though he’d been expecting a little more than that. “All right. I’ll take it.”

Maxwell headed toward the living room, where the triplets were hanging out with the TV on. She couldn’t take her eyes off the strong roundness of his ass as he walked away.

Lord have mercy. This man is going to kill me.

She adjusted her hair while Maxwell was busy with the kids, trying to see herself in the reflection of the microwave. Horribly underdressed in business casual from the workday, she was suddenly desperate to go with Maxwell to wherever he was heading. Bust out a pretty dress, add some dangly earrings…and maybe just see