Maid for Love Read Online Free

"Maddie?"
    A muffled sound from behind a closed door caught his attention. He put the food and her bag on the kitchen table and went to the door. Knocking softly, he said, "Maddie, are you okay?"
    "Will you please just go away and leave me alone?"
    "Why don't you come out here and we'll talk about whatever's bothering you?"
    No reply.
    "I got you something to eat. Come on out, Maddie."
    More silence.
    He waited another minute before he knocked again.
    The door clicked open, and she stared at him through tear-reddened eyes. Something odd and curious twisted deep inside him at the sight of her ravaged face. In that moment, he realized this was not going to be the stress-free vacation his doctor had ordered.
    "Are you in pain?" he asked, alarmed by her distress.
    "It's better since I took the pills." She took a step and grimaced.
    "Let me help you."
    Every muscle in her body tensed as he lifted her. Once she was pressed against him, she relaxed into his embrace. Her hair brushed against his face, and he absorbed the bewitching scent of summer flowers.
    "W-what're you doing?"
    "Nothing." He snapped out of the trance, carried her to the sofa and sat next to her. "How about you tell me what's got you so upset—other than the obvious, that is."
    "Why do you care?"
    Good question. "If I hadn't stepped off a curb into your path, you'd be at work rather than crying in your apartment."
    "It was an accident. No one expects you to fix everything."
    "We've already agreed that I'm going to help you until you're back on your feet, so why don't you start by telling me what's wrong."
    As if it was taking too much effort to hold up her head, Maddie leaned it back against the sofa and expelled a long sigh. Her weary resignation tugged at him and made him want to fix her every problem—even the ones that weren't his fault. "I don't know how I'm going to take care of Thomas in this condition," she said in a small voice. "Ever since he came along, I've worried obsessively about losing my job and not being able to take care of him. I never imagined I'd get hurt so badly—"
    "I'll take care of him. Whatever he needs, I'll do it."
    She turned her head so she could see his face and maybe gauge his sincerity.
    Their eyes connected, and Mac again felt the impact ricochet through him. He couldn't look away. Unable to resist the overwhelming urge to touch her, to offer comfort, he brushed the hair back from her tear-stained face and dallied longer than he'd intended when his fingers sank into the fine silken strands.
    "I don't want you to worry about anything."
    Her eyebrows knitted with confusion. "Why?"
    He combed his fingers through her hair, no longer because it was in her face but because he liked the thickness and texture. "I don't know," he said, bewildered by the undeniable pull.
    The statement hung in the charged air between them. With every cell in his body fully aware of her, he couldn't recall a single other instance in his life when he'd been as powerfully drawn to another human being.
    She licked her lips but didn't look away.
    Fascinated by the play of her tongue over her plump bottom lip, he shifted to hide his arousal.
    "This isn't going to happen," she said.
    "So you've mentioned."
    "I'm not interested."
    His fingertips skimmed over her cheek.
    A sharp intake of breath made a liar out of her.
    "Okay," he said. His face hovered half an inch from hers. "Maddie?"
    Her lips parted, almost begging him to take what he knew she wanted as much as he did, even if she'd never admit it. "Your lunch is getting cold."
    Glancing at the bag on the table, she broke the spell.
    An odd twinge of disappointment warred with relief. Just as well. He had no business wondering what it would be like to sink into the lush sweetness of her mouth, to run his tongue over that sexy bottom lip, to see her caramel-colored eyes darken with desire…
    He helped her get comfortable on the sofa and got up to find plates. "Ketchup?" he asked, glancing back to see her nod.