Magic Man Read online

  “Of course it matters. If you have to look at someone several times a day, they might as well be a cute boy.” Casey turned to Ivy. “You know any cute boys?”

  Ivy wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Boys tend to smell like tadpoles.”

  Casey and I both laughed, but it was Casey who replied, “You got me there. I cannot disagree with that assessment. When they get older they cover up that tadpole smell with aftershave, I think. That helps.”

  “What other information can I help you with?” Casey fidgeted with the rag while she waited for my answer.

  “We need new bedding. Sheets, comforters, the works. We also need groceries. I love your bakery, but we’ve already had microwave popcorn for lunch, so we are failing in the nutrition department today.” I took my last bite of the cinnamon roll with regret. I could eat two of those, no problem.

  “You need to drive over to Mathiston. It has a Target. But there’s a good grocery store just a couple of miles away from here, out on the main highway.” Casey stood and started wiping another table.

  “How far is Mathiston?” My poor car. I hope this town was close.

  “About twenty minutes.” Casey saw my frown and misunderstood. “I guess you are tired of traveling, huh?”

  “More like my car barely survived the trip here, but I guess it will be okay to go to Mathiston.” I frowned some more.

  The door jingled as another customer walked in, and we all turned to look.

  To my surprise, Maxwell stood just inside the door, regarding me with a slight frown of his own.

  “Maxwell! Come on in.” Casey seemed pleased to see him, so maybe he really was a nice guy.

  I don’t know why he was always frowning at me. Maybe he didn’t think I could do the job of horse trainer? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had been concerned that my small stature meant I couldn’t handle a 1,000 pound beast.

  No problem. I would show Maxwell tomorrow I knew my business.

  Maxwell greeted Casey with affection, and then he stopped in front of Ivy. “You’ve got a little pink icing on your nose, Monster.” He tweaked her nose as he had earlier, making her giggle, and then he turned to me. “I was looking for you, Millicent.”

  “Me? Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you said earlier to take the day to settle in.” Crap. Was I messing up on the first day?

  “I did. No worries.” Maxwell held up both of his hands, palms outward. “I just thought you might want to ride with me to Mathiston. I need to go to Target, and I figured you might have a few items you need to pick up for your new home.”

  Surprised, I said nothing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Casey try to hide a smirk that I didn’t quite understand.

  Ivy jumped into the silence. “Yes, Mr. Maxwell. We totally need a ride. Mom says we can have new stuff for the beds, thanks to the bonus money, but our car is super old and probably is going to die any day now. It might not even make it to Target.”

  Well. Thanks for summing up our lives so eloquently, child of mine.

  “That’s okay, Mr. Maxwell. I’m sure our car will be fine to make a Target run.” I knew my cheeks were red, and I couldn’t quite meet his eyes.

  “Nonsense. I’ve got to run an errand about a block from here, but I will be back in about five minutes. No reason we can’t all ride together.” And before I could object further, Maxwell was out the door, moving at a brisk walk despite the blazing heat.

  Casey laughed at my shell-shocked face. “Maybe this is the time I should mention that Maxwell has the reputation of being slightly psychic. He always seems to know when there is a need, and he just swoops in and bam! Everything is taken care of. Just like that.”

  Just like that, indeed.

  Ivy grinned. “Psychic! That’s so cool!”

  “And you aren’t to ask him anything about it.” I frowned at her, knowing how my daughter’s mind worked.

  “I swear I won’t bring up the word psychic.” Ivy schooled her features into a serious expression, and Casey laughed again.

  “Y'all are a trip, I swear.” Casey cleared away our plates, and I followed her back to the front counter while she rang up our total.

  Maxwell was back in less than five minutes, as promised. He stood in the doorway, twirling his car keys, and regarded me with those dark eyes that saw more than I wanted to reveal to him. “Ready?”

  Reluctant, I said my goodbyes to Casey, who already felt like a new friend, and I crossed the room toward him.

  “Come back tomorrow, ladies, and I will have a cupcake on the house for Ivy, okay?” Casey was all smiles as we waved our thanks and headed out the door.

  Four

  Maxwell opened the car door for me with a solemn air. Still wearing his perfect suit, I wondered how he stayed alive in this heat, and I said as much when he climbed into the car.

  He lifted a corner of his lips. “I don’t wear a suit every day, but I had a real estate closing earlier today at lunch, and I wanted to be dressed appropriately. Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be back in my jeans.”

  Checking over my shoulder to be sure Ivy was buckled up, I swallowed. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious what his body would look like in jeans.

  Maxwell smiled at Ivy in the rearview mirror. “Okay back there, Monster?”

  “Yep. Your car is great.” She ran a hand over the smooth leather seat. “Soft as a baby’s butt.”

  I laughed, despite my nerves at my close proximity to Maxwell. Why was he all smiles for Ivy, but so brooding and intense with me?

  It didn’t help that a faint whiff of his woodsy cologne filled my nose and made me tingle in places that hadn’t tingled, in well, ever. This girl obviously needed some alone time with a vibrator and my journal.

  The problem was I had never owned a vibrator, had never had enough privacy from my child to have one. Maybe I could change that in this new apartment. My journal was a different story.

  After my rape, I had never written my feelings down like the therapist had suggested. There really hadn’t been time, and I hadn’t seen the point. I had left home when my mom’s disappointed silence had become too much to bear, and I moved in with my grandmother until I turned twenty.

  Under her kind, watchful gaze, I had access to proper maternity care, and later I learned how to take care of an infant with her help. I had gotten a part-time job at a ranch next door, and that’s where I discovered I was good with horses. Like, really good. Like, I was called a horse whisperer almost from the beginning.

  The purple notebook had become the place I wrote down my deepest fantasies. Over time, as I matured, the fantasies had become sexual in nature. I had never dated. I mean, who had the time? I worked, raised my daughter, and graduated from the local junior college.

  Maybe at some point, I would have found some breathing room and started dating. I don’t know. I wasn’t really eager to get to know men after that harsh experience in the empty classroom that night.

  But my reluctance to date hadn’t mattered to my body. I still had all the needs of any other woman. So I wrote down my deepest, darkest ideas about what I would like to do with my body if I was given a choice, and not forced.

  And those sinful fantasies were as velvety dark and delicious as Maxwell’s eyes.

  My goodness, why was I even thinking about the journal right now? I realized too late someone was speaking to me.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I turned my head when I realized I had missed something.

  “I said, tell me about yourself. Your resume says you graduated from community college with a perfect GPA while majoring in Animal Science. Did you have any thoughts about continuing to a four-year degree?” Maxwell never took his eyes off the road as he asked the one question guaranteed to sting me.

  He couldn’t know that, of course. Unless he was psychic.

  “I was going to continue on without taking a break, but then my grandmother died after a series of strokes. Ivy and I lived with her, and it took all of her small estate to pay off her medical
bills. So then we were on our own, and I had to work full time to make ends meet.” I spoke matter of factly as if that hadn’t been the second most painful time of my life.

  Maxwell glanced my way, considering. “There’s a great college in Peacock if you wanted to pick it back up. It’s small but has a great reputation. And the Randolphs offer tuition reimbursement. But you already know that part, of course.”

  “Tuition reimbursement? No, I didn’t know that. I was thinking about going back to school, and it was a big part of the draw of this job that a college was so close.” I was telling the truth, but I would have taken the job regardless of the college situation. I had needed this job right away.

  “I’ll find out the details for you. Don’t even mention it to the Randolphs.” Maxwell concentrated on the road again.

  Weird that he didn’t want me to even mention it to them, but okay. Maybe they were private people or didn’t like to be bothered with managing employees.

  “How did you get into horses as a career path?” He changed the subject smoothly.

  “I got a job as a teenager cleaning out stalls and doing the mundane tasks around a neighbor’s barn. That’s where I learned to ride, and soon I discovered that horses responded to me. There was a master trainer that worked there, and he taught me a lot about natural horsemanship.” I paused to watch the scenery flowing by for a moment, and then I continued. “I made friends with a horse during a really difficult time in my life, a gelding named Widowmaker, of all things.”

  Maxwell laughed at the name, and I smiled.

  “He was a young horse that needed breaking, and I learned how to do that on him. And he gave me free therapy in return. Something about a horse’s eyes, am I right? So deep and so soulful. And Widowmaker, despite his name was gentle and sweet.” I swallowed, remembering. “I miss him.”

  “Where is he today?” Maxwell glanced my way, not seeming to be put off at all by my overshare.

  “He’s still at that barn, I imagine. My grandmother died, and I had to move on to a better paying job in order to support Ivy, so I had to leave him behind.” I blinked back tears, and I turned to look out the window again to cover my emotions.

  Jeez. I hadn’t expected to get so choked up. I was only trying to make small talk with my new boss.

  Maxwell told me a little about the horses at Peacock Alley as we continued our drive, and before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of the Target. Ivy jumped out of the car, but Maxwell turned to me in his gruff way.

  “Stay in the car.” He got out and closed his door.

  What? I came all this way, but now I’m not allowed to get out? Confused, I twisted around in my seat.

  Maxwell crossed in front of the car and came around to my door. He opened it, and I gaped at him, feeling idiotic.

  He smiled down at me. “Just trying to be a gentleman.”

  Flustered, I scrambled out of the car and glared at him. I couldn’t read him, and he kept surprising me.

  I didn’t like surprises from men. I had found that out when I was only fifteen years old.

  Maxwell laughed at my angry face. “I’ve got some things to pick up from here and next door.” He indicated the Home Depot in the adjoining parking lot. “I’ll meet you in the Target food court when I’m done. Take your time as I may be a while.”

  And with that, he walked off towards the store next door.

  Exasperated, I watched him go, distracted until Ivy grabbed my hand. “Uh, Mom? It’s hot. Can we go in already?”

  I shook off my dark mood. “Let’s go do some serious shopping.”

  Five

  It didn’t take us long to pick out a beautiful abstract pattern for Ivy’s new bed set. She loved the bright colors, so I splurged and got her towels to match. I was planning on putting most of the bonus into my meager savings account because it needed the boost, but we had some immediate needs, too.

  I bought myself some new sheets and decided my grandmother’s quilt would serve as my comforter. We added a couple of new pillows to the cart before moving on.

  Soon we were in the shoe department, and Ivy picked out some new tennis shoes. My heart broke a little at how excited she was, and I said a short prayer that this job would be a good one so I could do a better job paying my bills and taking care of our needs. No child should be this excited over new shoes.

  Amen.

  After that, we cruised by the food court to make sure Maxwell wasn’t waiting. Despite his words telling me there was no rush, I had no intention of making him sit and wait on us. There was no sign of him, so we continued on to beauty supplies.

  I stocked up on shampoo and bubble bath for Ivy, since we had the new tub. She was perusing the bath bombs with way too much fascination, so I slipped over to the next aisle and discovered that Target sold vibrators.

  Who knew?

  Not only did they sell vibrators, but they had a huge selection. I saw rabbits, vibrating rings, and even one with a remote control. I frowned over that one, and read the package carefully. How would I possibly use a remote control?

  A deep voice spoke close to my ear, and I jumped, squeaking in surprise, dropping the package.

  “You don’t use the remote yourself. Your partner does.” Maxwell bent over and retrieved the vibrator, handing it back to me with a smirk.

  How did he know what I had been thinking?

  I stammered something nonsensical, and Maxwell laughed at how flustered I was. Ivy chose that moment to come around the corner, and she paused in front of the vibrators.

  “Are those for sore muscles?” She reached for a pink model, and I intercepted her.

  “Yes, sore muscles, right.” I was an awkward mess.

  “You should get one. It would help you relax after a hard day of training.” Ivy’s face was earnest and innocent. “I’m getting new shoes, bedding, and bubble bath. You should get something for yourself, Mom.”

  If I blushed any harder, I would die.

  “I’m getting new sheets, too, remember? That’s all I need today.” I turned back to our cart, trying not to look freaked out.

  “But you could use this on your new sheets. That would be so nice, wouldn’t it? You could take a long bath with my bubble stuff, and then climb into your new sheets and work out your sore muscles.” Ivy wasn’t letting this go. “I like the purple one best, but pink is your favorite color. So a pink one?”

  Maxwell swooped in and snatched up a pink one. “Tell you what. I’ll buy one as a hiring present for your mom, Ivy.”

  I glared at him. I didn’t even try to hide it. “Ivy, won’t don’t you go back and pick out five bath bombs, okay? I need to talk to Mr. Maxwell for a minute.”

  Ivy scampered away happy to add to her bath collection.

  As soon as I saw the flash of red as she turned the corner, I jumped on Maxwell. “You cannot buy me a vibrator. That’s inappropriate. That’s sexual harassment. That’s...” I ran out of words in my frustration.

  Maxwell leaned in. “That’s hot. That’s what it is. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I would never want to be a bad boss.” He put the vibrator back on the shelf, laughing when my face fell.

  I did want a vibrator, damn it. All the girls in school had them, and I was tired of missing out. I’m sure I could figure out how to keep it hidden from Ivy in that big apartment. But no way was I letting a man buy one for me, much less my new boss.

  I huffed and pushed my cart over where Ivy was gathering her bath bombs, and Maxwell followed us to the check out counter. He helped carry our bags and loaded them in the trunk.

  Back on the road, Maxwell insisted on pulling into the Chik-fil-a and buying us all chicken tenders and fries to eat on the ride home.

  “This has been the best day ever, Mom.” Ivy dipped a tender into her honey mustard and beamed at me.

  “Yeah, if the best day ever means worst nutrition ever, it certainly has been.” But I smiled as I talked. I was glad she was getting to have a free day of fun without worrying about mo
ney or whatever. “Don’t drip on the seat.”

  “It’s leather. It will wipe clean easily enough.” Maxwell bit into his own tender, and I saw the tip of his tongue come out and lick his lips clean.

  I squirmed. Who knew chicken tenders were erotic?

  Ivy spoke up from the back seat. “How did you know we needed to go to Target, Mr. Maxwell? We only found out about five minutes before you showed up at the bakery.”

  I knew where she was going with this, and I shot her a look.

  Maxwell smiled, comfortable. “First day in a new apartment? Everybody needs a Target run under those circumstances.”

  “Yeah, but you knew exactly where we were.” Ivy wasn’t letting this go.

  “I saw your car as I was driving by. Easy, peasy.” Maxwell ate his last tender and took a long drink of his sweet tea.

  “Hmm.” Ivy was skeptical, and so was I.

  He knew what I was thinking when he saw me holding that remote controlled vibrator. I didn’t believe in psychic power, but something was a little odd here. He knew I was worrying about money this morning, and suddenly I had a fat bonus in my hand.

  The vibrator thing might have been a lucky guess, and anybody who looked at our car knew we needed money. Maxwell was intuitive, not psychic.

  I told myself to stop being silly. Nobody was psychic, and even if Maxwell was psychic somehow, why would he worry about us? We were nothing to him.

  I wiped my fingers on a napkin and started bagging up our trash, anxious that we not make a mess in his expensive car.

  “So next stop is the grocery store in Peacock, right?” Maxwell accelerated on to the highway and glanced my way, a question on his face.

  “How’d you know we were going to the grocery store?” Ivy was getting a little indignant.

  “New home. You need groceries, Monster, unless you are planning on eating junk food for every single meal.” Maxwell shifted his seatbelt strap as he waited on my reply.

  “Yes, Ivy and I will be going to the grocery store after you drop us off at our car.” I kept my tone even. I was still irritated by the vibrator incident.