Page 89 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

I lean in and give her a kiss on the cheek before taking her suitcase to stow in the car. “Still frugal. But I’m not frugal when it comes to your safety.”

“Safety? Logan, the press has realized I’m boring. We haven’t seen a camera in days. I’m pretty sure I would’ve been fine with commercial.”

“Didn’t want to risk it,” I say as I come around to open her car door. “But you’ve got to admit, it was nice, wasn’t it?”

She tries to fight the smile, but it’s a losing battle. “It was really nice. I had a full desk to work, and I wasn’t battling for tray space with my laptop and my drink. I could stretch my legs, and I slept for a half hour and didn’t have to worry about snoring.Oh, and I’m pretty sure you did this, but having Diet Coke and popcorn on it for me was a nice touch.”

“Glad to hear you enjoyed it,” I say as I get back into the car to start making our way to the hotel.

“Can I ask you something?”

I look over to Maeve, who looks less stressed than she has in days. Maybe this little getaway will be good for her. “Anything.”

“I know how you grew up, which is horrible, and that’s not what this is directly about. But I’ve heard of so many people who didn’t have money, got a few bucks, and blew through it in a few months. But not you? Didn’t you suddenly want to spend all this money you never had?”

“Wanted to? Of course I did,” I say, remembering back to the first time that I had multiple commas in my bank account. “In fact, when I received my first large earnings, I went out and bought a brand-new car.”

“As you should have,” Maeve says. “You earned it.”

“That’s what Kat said when I came home and immediately felt guilty. I beat myself up for days about it. It was a nice car. Expensive for me, but not exorbitant. I just felt so selfish.”

“Not selfish. Not when you’ve earned it.”

“In my head, I know that. It was just hard to turn that switch in my brain,” I say. “Kat had to sit me down and say that it was okay to spend some money. And if I was going to feel guilty on splurges, then to make sure I had reasons behind them. And if I didn’t have good reasons, then don’t do it.”

“And you never had a good reason for a plane?”

I shake my head. “It felt wasteful. It was just me and Kat who would’ve been using it. Maybe an occasional board member, if they asked nicely.”

“But now?”

I look over to my wife and shoot her a wink as we start to approach the hotel. “Now I have a reason.”

As we pull into the hotel, I want to pull right out. It’s a beautiful California day, and I want nothing more than to rent a convertible, put the top down, and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway with my wife. I want to put my hand on her thigh and let our problems fly in the wind. Maybe stop and sit at the ocean, Maeve in my arms as we just sink into the peacefulness of the waves. Skip the gala tonight. Forget about my work problems. Forget about the custody case.

Forget that this is fake.

The rope I’m walking with Maeve is thin right now. Not in terms of how we’re getting along—that’s been splendid. There’s a pull between us that’s always been there, but was easier to keep at bay when we were just designer and client.

But since she moved in? Since I see her every day and we’ve now shared things that are vulnerable and real? The pull is so strong I don’t know how much longer I can stay away.

I want her. I want her more than ever.

I want her to be my wife, in every sense of the word.

We don’t say much else as we get to the hotel and step into the elevator for the penthouse. This is the first time we’ve been in a lift together since that first night, and I can’t help but notice that Maeve is conveniently standing on the other side of the car from me.

“Why are you over there?” I tease.

“No reason.” Those might be her words, but she said it while staring down at her phone, refusing to make eye contact with me. I could tease her about it, but it’s probably safer if I let that one go.

Especially because she’s not going to be happy when she walks into theone-bedroomsuite.

“Logan?”

“Yes?”

“Care to tell me where the other bed is?”

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