Must Love Flowers(37)

Maggie straightened her shoulders, her heart pounding with such ferocity it felt like it was about to fly out of her chest. “I live here.”

“What the hell?” His eyes rounded with shock.

“Nick?” Joan came into the foyer.

“Mother,” he returned, looking none too pleased. “You didn’t tell me you’d taken in a boarder.”

“No, I guess I forgot to mention it when we last talked. Oh yes, I didn’t have a chance. The last time we talked was when you dropped off this puppy. And as I recall, you couldn’t get away fast enough.”

While playfully spoken, Maggie didn’t miss the sarcasm.

“I had to get back to work.” Nick had the good grace to look chagrined.

Joan shrugged, as if this was really none of his concern. “We discussed me taking in a boarder, remember?”

“And I said I didn’t think it was a good idea.”

“And I took your words into account and made my own decision,” Joan returned without the slightest hesitation.

“Why rent it to her,” he said, as if Maggie wasn’t standing right there listening in on the conversation.

“What’s wrong with Maggie?” Joan wanted to know, sounding perplexed. She looked from one to the other.

“Maggie and I have a difference of opinion,” Nick said, as if that explained everything.

“What he means is that he asked me out and I told him no,” Maggie clarified, infuriated that he didn’t appreciate the position she’d been in when he’d asked her for a dinner date.

“It seems a lowly construction worker isn’t good enough for Miss High and Mighty.”

“That’s not true.” Maggie couldn’t believe he’d say anything so asinine. Was that what he thought? “I…I figured out you were Joan’s son, and I didn’t know what to do. Surely even you could understand how awkward that would be.”

“You should have said something,” Nick flared back.

“I…couldn’t…not with a line of people behind you ready to place their orders.” He was smart enough to recognize her confession then and there would have been impossible.

“You made me look like a fool,” Nick returned, apparently unwilling to accept her excuse.

“If anyone needs to apologize,” Maggie flared back, “it’s you. I heard what Kurt had to say about you ditching your mother on her birthday and then pawning the puppy off on her.”

“That’s enough,” Joan said, coming to stand between the two. “I’m sorry to hear you two got off on the wrong foot.”

Maggie folded her arms over her chest.

Nick narrowed his eyes at Maggie as though to say what he thought of her and crossed his own arms.

Joan exhaled and seemed to collect her thoughts. “Now, it seems both of you have jumped to conclusions about each other. This can all be easily settled. Maggie,” she said, turning her attention to her, “Nick is a good son, and while he wasn’t able to be with me on my birthday, he later treated me to dinner at a restaurant that meant a great deal to his father and me.”

Nick smirked and nodded at Maggie as if to say he’d redeemed himself and she should appreciate his thoughtfulness.

“What about the puppy?” Maggie asked, and held back from reminding Joan of the sleepless nights they’d suffered when the puppy had cried and cried.

Joan glanced at her son with a pinched look. “Yes, well, that gift was a bit much and certainly unexpected.”

“I gave you the dog because you were lonely,” Nick insisted.

“But, Maggie,” Joan addressed her again, “you have to admit that Edison has been a joy. Yes, those first few nights were a trial, but we survived. We’ve both come to love this puppy.”

This was a truth Maggie couldn’t deny.

“Like I said,” Joan continued. “You two got off on the wrong foot. I would advise you both to reconsider your feelings toward each other. Knowing you’re living with me is a shock for Nick.”

“You can say that again,” Nick muttered.

“I know my son and he’s a great guy.”

Maggie lowered her gaze and rubbed her palms together. Joan was right. She’d handled it badly when Nick had asked her out and she regretted not accepting and telling him the truth earlier.

“And about the puppy,” Nick said. “My intentions were good. Edison had been abandoned at the construction site. When I found him, he was dehydrated and nearly starved to death. I brought him home with me and did what I could to nurse him back to health. But I work all day and I had to leave him in the crate. I was racing back to my apartment at noon and didn’t even have time to eat.”

Maggie remembered overhearing Kurt mentioning that.

“After a few days he was doing better,” Nick added, “but I hated leaving him in the crate all day. My mother hasn’t been herself since my dad passed, and I hoped this sweet little dog would help her. If you want to condemn me for that, then I’m grateful you turned down my offer for a date.”

Maggie looked away, unable to respond.

“Nick, you should know,” Joan said, “having Maggie live with me has been a blessing. I should have mentioned her earlier, but I hadn’t heard from you and decided you’d find out on your own sooner or later.”