Read Maid for Love (A Romantic Comedy) for Free Online Page B

not leaving hers. “Zoe, I need to ask you something.”
    Her heart began to race. The last year had done nothing to erase her attraction to him. If anything, it had only intensified her desires. She made a conscious effort to keep her breathing steady, but if he came any closer, all bets were going to be called off. He was the most attractive man that she’d ever known and she was only human. “I really think I should go.”
    Michael reached out and laid his hand over hers. She felt full of longing for more of his touch. It was as if she were being pulled into a force field that she was powerless against. If he was going to try to kiss her, she knew she was going to let him.
    “Zoe, I need-”
    A loud crash from just outside the kitchen caused them both to jump. She followed Michael into the hallway.
    Josh and his sister were busy gathering up toys that were scattered around the hallway. “Sorry, I tripped,” he said. “We didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
    Zoe knew an escape hatch when she saw one. “No problem, I was just leaving.” She tried to sidestep around Michael but he reached out and laid a hand on her arm.
    “Wait, Zoe, we need to talk.”
    “Did you ask her yet, Uncle M?” Kathryn asked.
    Zoe frowned. She shot Michael a questioning glance but he looked away. Not a good sign.
    “Not yet.”
    The teens rolled their eyes at exactly the same moment.
    Not yet what? She wasn’t sure she wanted to stick around and find out. No, she was sure she didn’t want to stick around and find out. “Listen, I’ve got to meet a new client pretty early tomorrow morning so I’m going to cut out of here.”
    “I’ll walk you to your car,” Michael said. His tone of voice left little doubt that she shouldn’t bother to dissuade him so she didn’t.
    With a quick goodnight to Josh and Kathryn, Zoe grabbed her purse and followed Michael out into the night. The cool air was a welcome change from the warm kitchen. Once they reached her car, she glanced up at the stars. They were sprinkled in the sky like they were a handful of diamonds tossed from heaven. She sighed. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
    Michael’s gaze was focused solely on her. “Incredibly.”
    She tore her attention from the starlit sky and turned it to him. “I am sorry about tonight, Michael. About everything. I hope you know that.” And she meant it. It had been unfair to tamper with his memory the way she did. He had deserved better. At the very least, he’d deserved the truth.
    “Make it up to me.”
    His voice was so low and intimate that she wasn’t sure that she’d heard him properly but his tone sent a small shiver of excitement through her. She needed to go home. And the sooner the better.
    “Zoe, I know you can feel what’s going between us. Obviously, for some reason I can’t figure out, you want to pretend that we aren’t both feeling the same thing. You’re acting like we’re strangers with no connection. It doesn’t make sense.”
    She felt a rush of panic at his word choice. Did he remember? Or was he talking about how he felt after meeting her just a few days ago? She couldn’t tell. In need of some support, she leaned against the car. How on earth had she not thought of this? She’d been so wrapped up in the past, and the fact that Michael used to love her, that she hadn’t considered what would happen if they spent any time together. “Oh, Michael,” her words came out in a soft breath.
    He reached out to caress her face, his movements slow and gentle so as not to startle her. She stood transfixed, and while her mind willed her to move, her heart ordered her to stay right where she was. Her eyes were locked onto his, they were all she could see. It was as if the stars knew they were no longer being admired so they faded away. Unable to stop herself, Zoe lowered her eyes to Michael's lips.
    Seeing that as an invitation, Michael leaned in closer. Zoe lifted her face, unable to stop herself. She’d been in