The Maid's Best Kept Secret (The Marchetti Dynasty 1)

In a way, Maggie was glad of the reprieve. She wouldn’t have to attend the event that evening with Nikos. She wouldn’t have to try and hide the fact that each outing only seemed to expose her more and more in her growing need for him. Physically and emotionally...

Madrid

Nikos came back to the apartment after midnight. He’d missed Maggie by his side tonight. It unnerved him how quickly he’d become used to her presence. How natural it felt and how unnatural not to have her there.

He opened his tie and the top button of his shirt, shucked off his jacket. He felt restless—a different kind of restlessness from the kind of dissatisfaction that had plagued him for the last few years. He hated to admit it, but it usually dissipated in Maggie’s presence.

The way it had dissipated the first time he’d set eyes on her.

He poured himself a shot of whisky and opened the sliding doors that led out to a terrace which looked over the majestic capital city of Spain. He recalled Maggie’s awe and wonder at the Roman medieval palace. He could barely remember a time when he’d felt that same kind of awe. He’d been so angry for so long. And since his father had died, he’d focused solely on work and pleasure. Nothing in between.

He heard a sound and tensed. It sounded like a cry. He went back inside and put his glass down. He heard it again.

Daniel.

Nikos walked down the corridor to the bedrooms and stood outside Maggie’s door for a moment. He could hear Daniel gurgling to himself now. Following an instinct he couldn’t ignore, he pushed the door open. One low light was on. Maggie was in bed, asleep on her back, hair spread out around her.

Nikos went over and stood by the cot. Daniel was on his back, arms and legs kicking. Eyes wide open. Dark. Nikos put his hand over Daniel’s belly and at the same moment the baby smiled up at him. A wide, gummy smile.

Nikos felt as if he was falling. Falling with nothing to cling on to. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

Daniel gurgled again and Nikos looked over at Maggie. She frowned in her sleep. He could see the shadows of tiredness under her eyes even from where he was, and so he did the scariest thing he’d ever done in his life. He put his hands under his son and lifted him up, cradling him against his chest.

He took him out of the bedroom before Maggie could wake, and walked back into the main living area. And then he stood there and looked at his son in his arms. And he felt a kind of awe infuse him, washing aside any hint of restlessness or dissatisfaction.

When Maggie woke she sensed immediately that something was wrong. She looked over and saw that Daniel’s cot was empty and jumped out of bed, instantly awake.

Marianne wasn’t here and Nikos had gone out. Where could—

She left the bedroom—and came to a stumbling halt in the doorway leading to the living room.

Nikos was standing on the terrace, just outside the French doors, and she could see Daniel’s head in the crook of his arm. Her heart stopped and started again. She was afraid to breathe in case she disturbed the moment.

She could hear Nikos talking to his son in a low voice, in Greek? Italian? Saying...what? She didn’t care. The fact that Nikos had actually taken his son in his arms... Her chest felt tight and she put a hand to it. This was huge.

After a moment she walked further into the room and stood in the doorway leading out to the terrace. He must have sensed her presence, as he tensed and turned around.

‘He was a awake. I was afraid he’d wake you too.’

Maggie smiled. ‘That’s okay. Thank you.’

But now, sensing his mother was near, Daniel let out a cry, and Nikos looked suddenly uncertain. ‘What did I do?’

Maggie reached for him. ‘Nothing—it’s just time for his feed. That’s why he was awake. You bought me a few more minutes of sleep.’

Maggie sat down in a nearby chair and undid her nightdress buttons, helping Daniel to latch on without baring too much of her breast. She looked up and saw Nikos had an arrested expression on his face.

She said, ‘Would you mind getting me a muslin cloth from the bedroom? There should be some on the nappy changing table near the cot.’

‘Of course.’

Nikos left and came back quickly with a couple of cloths. Maggie took them. Nikos sat down on a sofa nearby.

‘Do you want me to get you anything else?’

She shook her head. ‘No, thanks. How was the event?’

‘Not as much fun without you there.’