Playing for Keeps by Jamie Hill Page B

to Sophie and was prepared to explain it to her, but the child pushed the 'On' button and began channel surfing like a pro. "Obviously someone lets her."
    Rob shrugged and smiled at Maddie. "Go shower. I have some retaliatory snooping to do."
    " Hah!" she snorted, and went to clean up. She took a quick shower and washed her hair. She dried off in the bathroom then opened the door to her bedroom to let some of the steam escape.
    Rob was leaning against the door frame.
    She jumped, startled.  "Shit! Don't do that!"
    He chuckled and looked up and down her naked body. "Oh yeah, just what I was hoping to find." He touched her chin and let his hand drift down to her breast.
    Maddie smiled. "Sophie." She nodded toward the other room.
    " Sophie is engrossed in some Muppet adventure. I figure she won't miss me for five minutes."
    Maddie shoved him away in a feeble attempt at protest. "You're crazy." She swatted him as she went to her dresser, slipping into some panties and a pair of skimpy jean shorts.
    He watched her, and when she reached for a bra , he shook his head.
    Maddie chose a dark camisole top with spaghetti straps that wouldn 't be too see-through.
    Rob smiled and nodded , watching her comb through her wet hair, and with nimble fingers put in a French braid. "You've got that down to a science."
    " Years of practice." She threw a few things into a bag for the next day. They kissed once more before rejoining Sophie in the front room.
    " Munchkin! Ready to hit the store for picnic supplies?"
    " Yep!" Sophie shut off the TV and they headed for the grocery store.
     
    It was almost too hot to enjoy the outdoors. They ate lunch on a blanket under a shade tree, and Sophie attempted to play ball with Bo for a few minutes. He wanted nothing to do with exercise; he preferred lying on the blanket with Maddie and Rob.
    " Move over." Rob shoved the dog away gently. "You feel like a furry blast furnace on my legs." He rolled on his side and looked at Maddie. "This bites. No breeze at all."
    She smiled at him. "Imagine how lovely it'll feel inside the house, then. This times one hundred."
    He yawned and nodded. "I suppose I should turn on the air conditioner. I hate to get used to it, since I have to be out in the heat all day. Makes it feel that much hotter."
    " I thought construction workers went to work and quit earlier when the weather got like this."
    He nodded again. "Most do. I can't because of Sophie. My crew's not real happy about it, but they do what I say."
    Maddie watch Sophie chase a butterfly , and thought about what he said. "I could watch her before the center opens, Rob. You could drop her off at my house whenever you wanted."
    He ran one finger over her arm. "I appreciate the offer, but she can be hard to wake up in the morning. I'd hate to dump that on you."
    Maddie shook her head. "So bring her in her jammies and let her sleep. I'll dress her and give her breakfast."
    His finger twisted around one of hers, and they both squeezed. "It's a tempting offer," he admitted. "If I could be on the job site by six, I could take off at two or three. Just when the sun really starts to bake."
    " So do it," she encouraged. "Or try it, anyway. If it doesn't work out, we'll change it."
    He smiled. "I have five guys on my crew. I know they'd be happy to switch to six a.m. I doubt I could convince them to switch back because it wasn't convenient for me."
    She wiggled his hand. "It'll be fine. You should do it. I hate to think of you baking out there in the afternoon sun."
    He rolled on to his back and stared up at the sky, holding her hand. He was quiet for awhile, and finally said , "You know what might be even more convenient, for me, anyway. You staying out here."
    She glanced at him.
    He went on, "It wouldn't be as handy for you, of course. But you'd have the added perk of me fixing you dinner every night. Plus a few other perks I can think of."
    She rolled on her side next to him. "You mean it?"
    " Sure." He looked a little