Parents Of Convenience

‘Oh. Then I guess you’d both better show me what you can do on it.’ Phoebe gave one final butt wiggle for good measure, but it backlashed a bit when Max issued a strangled groan that sent shivers through all of Phoebe’s reactionary sensors.

Phoebe’s head whipped up, cracking against the top of the tunnel. Face on fire, other body parts clamouring to follow suit, she backed out.

The moment she straightened up, Max pinned her in place with his gaze. ‘About last night.’

Yup. That would be the one subject she really wanted to discuss above all others. Not.

‘Forget it.’ She shrugged her shoulders in a dismissive gesture, reminded herself that her nose wouldn’t actually grow if she told a tall one, and proceeded to do so. ‘I promise you, I already have.’

Max hadn’t meant anything by it, after all. ‘I do want to talk about your sons, though.’

She issued the challenge in a quiet tone, lest Jake and Josh should hear her. ‘You should have made it clear to them that they don’t need to worry about their futures. That you love them, and will look after them properly.’

‘They will be looked after.’ Max moved away from the gym equipment. ‘That’s the whole point of getting a good nanny.’

‘A nanny is only an employee.’ Sometimes the truth hurt. ‘Your sons need the unconditional love of the person who created them. That’s you, Max. Refusing to commit emotionally to them is as bad as deserting them in reality.’

‘Don’t question what you don’t understand, Phoebe.’ Max gestured for her to follow him further away from the play equipment. ‘I thought I’d made it clear that you need to keep your opinions to yourself on that whole subject.’

She followed him, her gaze locked on the movement of his long legs, her thoughts tangled in what she wanted for the boys, in the distance she needed to maintain for herself. And in her awareness of Max. ‘I’m not sure that I can leave the subject alone.’

‘Try.’ Impatience laced Max’s tone. ‘And see if you can get your mind focused on this, will you? I’ve asked Brent to organise a load of sand for the boys as well. I had hoped you’d have some suggestions on the best position for the sandpit.’

Phoebe considered forcing the conversation back to the topic of the boys, then decided she would leave it. For now. Live to fight another day and all that. She’d had about enough, anyway.

‘Close to the gym would be good, so both areas can be watched at the same time.’ As she spoke, she heard a truck approaching.

Max heard it too and gave a single sharp nod. ‘You can tell Brent where to unload. I’m going to take the opportunity to do some work in my study. I’d prefer not to be disturbed.’

Phoebe’s hackles reared up. ‘What about spending time with your sons?’

But Max either didn’t hear as he strode away or pretended not to have done so. Phoebe was left standing there, fuming inwardly, wishing things could be different, feeling disappointed and wanting to shake some sense into Max’s stubborn head, all at once.

‘Where’s the sandpit?’ Josh wanted to know.

‘Look at the truck. Big truck,’ Jake piped up.

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