Hide and Seek (2 page)

"As good as I sound. When I called Frances," she said the name in the exaggerated tone they reserved for their boss, "she told me if I miss one more day, I'd better have a note from my doctor."

Maddie chuckled. Rosa was sick
a lot
. She ate too much, drank to excess, smoked like a chimney and generally didn't take very good care of herself. "But you're really sick this time! Get the doctor's note and stay home."

"I thought maybe the blue sundress with the scooped neckline. I'll have to hold my hand up there every time I bend over with the kids…"

"But it'll definitely be worth it. Okay, you haul out the bait tomorrow. If he doesn't bite, I get to try."

"Deal. Feel better." Maddie hung up. She really wasn't worried about Rosa. They didn't usually go for the same sort of guy. Rosa liked her men big and beefy, and Rob was more on the long and lean side. But neither of them had been on a date recently, and Rosa settled for someone 'not her type' much quicker than Maddie did.

She leaned against the doorway and allowed herself to think about Rob. She envisioned him in her mind—his bright blue eyes, silky hair, and those long legs in tight blue jeans. The last thought was enough to make Maddie blush. She slipped into her flip flop sandals and headed out the door to her flower bed before her emotions got the best of her.

* * * *

Maddie spent much of Tuesday holding the front of her dress closed every time she leaned over. It was a pain and frustrating—she didn't see Rob for more than two seconds when he dropped Sophie off. Just as they arrived, Frances cornered her about some work-related nonsense. Sophie joined the play group happily, so Rob slipped out. The child had no second day jitters, and time flew faster than normal for Maddie.

She and Rosa stood by the building in their usual spot when Rob arrived that afternoon. Sophie spotted him before anyone else did. "Daddy! Look!" She showed him her new trick of hanging by the knees on the jungle gym.

"Careful, munchkin." He kept his eyes on her.

Maddie took a step closer to him. "She did so well today. Not one tear. Like she'd been here forever."

"I'm glad." Rob took his eyes off his daughter long enough to smile at Maddie. His eyes flickered when he noticed her neckline.

That small reaction made her whole day of inconvenience worthwhile.

Rosa cleared her throat.

Maddie said, "Rob, this is Rosa Munoz. She works in the other 'three to four-year-old' room. We're compatriots, so to speak."

Rosa extended her hand and smiled at him. "So to speak. Pleasure to meet you."

"You too." Rob smiled pleasantly at Rosa as he shook her hand. He turned back to Maddie and said, "Now I know Rosa. But I still don't know your first name, Miss Stewart."

"Madison. Maddie."

He took a step closer to her and apparently noticed the small flesh-colored bandage on the front of her shoulder. "Scratch yourself?"

Rosa rolled her eyes, looked around conspiratorially, and answered for her. "Tattoo. Can you believe it?"

His eyebrows shot up and he grinned. "Why no, I'm shocked."

Maddie gave Rosa a small shove and looked around the playground, making sure all was calm. She finally replied, "Yeah, well, Frances was too. So if I wear a dress that shows it, I have to wear a bandage."

Rob's eyes went up and down Maddie. "I like the dress. I'd stock up on bandages if I were you."

Before Maddie could reply, Sophie bounded into the group chattering ninety miles an hour. Rob picked her up, kissed her cheek, and interrupted his daughter mid-sentence. "Sounds like you had another great day. Let's get your stuff and you can tell me all about it on the way home."

"Don't forget to sign out." Maddie reminded him. "Mrs. Bergman will chase you down, and I promise you, it won't be pretty."

Rob hoisted Sophie on his hip and leaned in to Maddie as they walked by. "Maybe not, but you sure are. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

Her face heated, but it was a good feeling. "Me too." She watched them leave, then turned to Rosa.

"Not my type anyway," Rosa admitted, let out a long sigh, and sneezed.

* * * *

Wednesday morning, Rob was late and in a hurry when he dropped Sophie off. Maddie thought about little else than him all day. With Rob in mind, she looked forward, even more than usual, to going-home time.

The first parent to arrive had problems at home that she wanted to share with Maddie. Little Henry was biting. His mother, at her wits end, tried to stop it. Maddie gave her some disciplinary techniques, but the woman was upset and stood there rehashing the situation endlessly. Maddie tried to pay attention, but got distracted when Rob appeared. Sophie was unfortunately ready to go home on time, for once. Maddie saw him glance her way, toss her a small wave, and leave.

Her heart sank. All she could do was listen to the distraught woman drone on and on about the worst problem anyone had ever faced in life. Twenty minutes and four parents later, Maddie was alone excerpt for her mop and the 'Farmer Says' toy, with an angrily quacking cow. She was determined to talk to Rob tomorrow, even if she had to push little Henry's mother in the sandbox to do it.

Thursday, Henry's mother was concerned that Henry might be biting at Sunny Days, since he continued to chomp on his brother at home. Maddie assured her, there'd been no signs of it, all the while keeping one eye on the door. When Rob appeared she caught his eye, and he seemed to understand. He waited a short distance from them for a few moments.

Henry's mother droned on. "Because if he bit anybody here, I would be so mortified! What kind of a parent would people think I am? I'm just so worried that he might start doing it here, too!"

Maddie tried to reassure her when Rob stepped up and said in a rather stern voice, "Excuse me, Miss Stewart. My daughter has a bite mark on her arm, and I'd like some information about it."

Henry's mother turned three shades of pale and muttered, "I've got to hurry and get my other son from baseball practice. Thank you, Miss Stewart." She chased after Henry and the two of them were through the door before Maddie could catch her breath.

She looked at Rob with concern. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see any evidence of biting today. Sophie never cried or said anything."

Rob smiled. "I made that up. I haven't even seen Sophie. But I did want to see you. I thought that woman would never leave."

Maddie clutched her heart. "Thank goodness! Talk about being mortified. I'd have wanted to fade away."

He shrugged. "Stuff happens. Frankly, I'm more concerned for the poor fool who tries to bite my Sophie. She's likely to cuff him on the nose but good."

Maddie laughed, and froze when Rob ran one finger down her arm from the elbow to her wrist. He looked at her seriously. "Am I crazy, or have I sensed a connection between us this week?"

She shook her head slowly. "You're not crazy."

The tension she'd seen on his face faded into a big smile. "Good. Because I'd be sorely disappointed if this was all one sided. I haven't been able to think of much else since I first laid eyes on you. And five minutes at the end of the day… maybe…if we're lucky…just isn't cutting it."

Two of his fingers wrapped around two of hers, and he squeezed. She smiled and squeezed back. "I feel the same way. Pathetic, actually, that I'm so desperate to catch a glimpse of you."

His smile widened. "I was feeling a little pathetic, myself. If I didn't get my five minute fix tonight, I don't know what dastardly deed I might have come up with. I might have started biting kids myself, just to get your attention."

Maddie chuckled, then remembered to check on the children in her care. Everyone was fine, and she returned her attention to Rob. "So…"

"So…" He swung her hand back and forth. "I have to take Sophie into the city tomorrow night for a weekend with her mother. We're doing a reverse custody thing this summer. I get her for two months, and her mom gets every other weekend."

Maddie nodded, scarcely able to breathe.

"I was thinking I could pick you up about seven-thirty. We could get something to eat and maybe do some dancing."

"That sounds great," she said, feeling the warm flush start somewhere around her knees and work its way up to her face. She couldn't control it, but she hoped her cheeks weren't bright red again.

"Good." He let go of her hand. "Wear something comfortable if we're going to be doing some boot-scooting. I'll break out my nicer set of jeans."

Maddie's eyes dropped below his waist. "Nothing wrong with those jeans."
Shit!
She knew the red flush was upon her.

Rob grinned again. "I'll remember that, thanks. Want to give me your address in case little Henry goes on a biting spree tomorrow and we don't touch base?"

She feigned an expression of horror. "728 Walnut. It's a duplex, but it's well-marked."

"Excellent. I'll pick you up at seven-thirty. I'll be working on some embarrassing comments for you. I do love to see that blush."

Maddie blushed again at the mere mention of it, and smiled at Rob as he went to corral his daughter.

* * * *

He arrived at seven-thirty-five on Friday night. Those last five minutes were agony for Maddie, with all kinds of thoughts running through her head.
He changed his mind. He was in a car accident.
The sound of the bell was music to her ears.

She opened the door and smiled when she saw him standing there. "Hello."

"Hello yourself, gorgeous." Rob looked her over and gave a low whistle. "Man, I thought you looked good in your work clothes."

Maddie raised her hands. "Not good?" She'd chosen a pair of form fitting jeans and a tight white tank top with a light blue shirt over it, knotted at the waist.

He shook his head. "Just the opposite. Very good. A knockout, in fact."

His reaction pleased her. She motioned toward her living room. "Thank you. Would you like to come in for a minute?"

"Sure." He walked past her, and Maddie caught of whiff of his very tantalizing after shave.
Cologne
, she decided, because he definitely hadn't shaved. The look worked for him. For one moment, she let her mind wander, curious how his scruffy face would feel against the tender skin of her inner thigh. She shook her head to clear it and checked out the rest of him. His jeans were as tight as hers, and she liked what she saw filling them. He wore a black t-shirt with a red and black shirt over it. His hair was loose. She hadn't realized how long it was, over his collar in the back, with bangs that almost covered his eyes if he didn't push them back. He carried a black cowboy hat in one hand and a bouquet of daisies in the other.

"You look great, too." She struggled to regain internal composure, secretly hoping he didn't look around too much and wind up in her bedroom. She wasn't sure what the sight of him in there would do to her, but she had an idea. "Quite the cowboy."

Rob faced her. "I'm not really a cowboy, but I like to play one." He offered her the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thanks." Maddie took the flowers to the kitchen to get a vase.

He followed. "Nice place you've got here. Really close to your work, too."

She nodded as she arranged the flowers then added water to the vase. "That is a plus. The landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Peabody, are a retired couple who live next door. Any little problem I have gets fixed ten minutes after I report it. And the rent is dirt cheap. I think they like me."

Rob took a step closer to her. "I know the feeling."

Maddie grinned. "So where do you live? I suddenly realize I know nothing about you, except what Sophie has innocently offered up. You drive a truck, you make good pancakes, and you have a dog named Bo."

He grinned and took her by the arm. "You've got to admit, it's fun to get all gussied up and go out sometimes. Now come on, I'll answer any question you have and any others you can think of on our way to Harry's." He stopped. "Harry's is all right with you, I hope."

"Sure." Maddie grabbed her keys as they walked out the door. "Harry's is great." She shoved her keys in her jeans pocket, and watched him pull the front door shut then rattle it to make sure it locked. Maddie kept her arm through his, enjoying the anticipation of the evening to come. "Nice truck," she told him as he helped her in.

It was an old Ford, sadly in need of a paint job and new upholstery. Rob chuckled as he got in the driver's side and slammed his door shut. "I put every one of the 200,000 miles on this baby myself. I've done every oil change, tune up, you name it. She may not be pretty to look out, but I'd bet my last dollar that she's a safe and reliable ride. I drive my daughter everywhere in this truck. What better reference could you ask for?"