Page 44 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

“Nice to meet you again. I know we formally met the other day, but please, call me Kat.”

Maeve extends her hand. “Thank you for getting back and meeting with me on such short notice.”

“Of course,” Kat says as the two shake hands. “Thank you for reconsidering. And not punching this guy in the face for canceling six times. As his publicist, I don’t know if I could have taken his side when I had to spin that to the tabloids.”

This gets a laugh out of Maeve, but properly embarrasses the hell out of me. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m glad we’re able to finally get this going.”

“We were, too,” Kat points Maeve to one of the chairs in front of my desk. “And actually, you left the other day before I could see you again. This is for you.”

Kat picks up the check we cut the other day for Maeve to make up for the cancellations. I study Maeve closely as she sees what it is. Her eyes nearly bounce out of her head before she trains her gaze on me.

“Really?”

I nod. “It should’ve been more. Please consider this just a token of an apology from me.”

She continues staring at me for a few more beats, waiting to see if I’m going to say, or do, anything else.

But I’m not. She wanted business? Then business is what she’s going to get.

“All right then,” Kat says with a clap of her hands to break the tension. “Maeve, why don’t you start us off.”

“Thanks,” she says as she grabs her bag and brings out a notebook. “Logan, I know you said I could have free rein. And while that’s very nice of you, you’re the one living here. I need to make sure every room is decorated with things you’re comfortable with.”

“I’m really not particular,” I say. “I trust your instincts.”

“You say that now, but just wait until I start showing you wallpaper samples.”

“He’s very serious,” Kat says. “You should’ve seen our first apartment together when we were roommates. His room was?—”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I ask pointedly. For one, I don’t need a babysitter. I definitely don’t need her wisecracks.

She shakes her head. “Nope. Morning is clear.”

I narrow my eyes at her, but thankfully, Maeve continues on with the questions. “Okay, what rooms are we looking to have done?”

Shit, was I supposed to know that answer?

“Everything,” Kat chimes in.

“No, not everything,” I protest. “My video game studio is done.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

Was that a joke from Maeve? It was quiet, like she was trying to keep it under her breath, but I do believe it was. And even if it was at my expense, I’ll take it.

“I meant what I said, Maeve, you know more than I do. I’m clueless when it comes to this stuff. I’m sure if you really wanted me to give input on options, I could tell you I like one blue better than another, but if you know one will work, please, go for it. I’ve checked out your designs. You’re brilliant. And I trust you. Implicitly. I have a hard limit at pink walls, but other than that, this is your project. Wow me.”

Our eyes lock, and I think if Kat weren’t in the room with us, the tension between us might snap. As I keep looking at her, I have the feeling she’s trying to gauge if I’m serious or not.

And I am. Serious as I’ve been about anything in my life.

I want Maeve’s touch all over this house. I want to feel her presence in every room. Because if my plan of the long game doesn’t work, and she’s out of my life when this project is done, at least I’ll know that a part of her is always here.

“Yes, please do whatever you need,” Kat butts in again. “And also, I don’t know if Logan has mentioned this yet, but we’re throwing a big benefit Christmas party right before the holiday.”

This takes Maeve’s look away from me and turns it into a panicked one to Kat. “That’s in like…very fast.”

“Yes, I know it’s tight,” Kat says, her voice turning pleading. “And I know this is a huge ask on top of the already big one, but if you could have this mostly done by then, and decorated for the holidays, you’d literally save us. And I know we don’t know each other well, but you seem like the kind of woman who makes the impossible possible.”

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