More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) by Christine DePetrillo Read Free Book Online Page B

woman’s short, sleek red hair, cut to frame an angular face. Her blue eyes shot lasers at Sage, but there was no denying the woman was beautiful. She wore a fitted, black pencil skirt and a white ruffly blouse that screamed style and power. Clearly a chick of high breeding, she should have intimidated Sage.
    “Orion only has two friends. Adam and his mousy sister,” she said. “He doesn’t have friends like you.”
    Hiss and scratch.
    “And what exactly does ‘friends like you’ mean?” Sage shot back. This lady had no idea who she was messing with.
    Orion and Myah watched the volley of words in silence, but Sage caught the grin Orion tried to hide behind Myah’s hair as he hugged her.
    “Slutty friends.” Witchy Ex-wife crossed her arms and straightened so she stood at her full height. She was about six inches taller than Sage. Regardless, no one called Sage Stannard a slut.
    Sage took a few steps closer to Witchy and heard Orion take in a breath. “Look here, I am not, nor have I ever been, a slut.”
    “Daddy, what’s a slut?” Myah asked.
    “He’ll explain it when you’re older,” Sage said. “Right now, you need to leave.” She pointed at Witchy. “Orion’s been through enough yesterday and today and you’re going to let him have some time with his daughter. Go get yourself some coffee or whatever it is beasts like you drink, and give him at least an hour with her. You can spare him that much courtesy at least.”
    Witchy opened her mouth to protest, but Sage gave her the Joy Stannard Stare-Down Special. Her mother had been using the power of her stare to keep Rick, Hope, and her in line for as long as Sage could remember. The skill had been passed on to Sage alone. Rick’s blue eyes were too kind and Hope’s brown ones were too puppy dog, but Sage’s green eyes could cut like a lawnmower blade. She enjoyed using them on Witchy right now.
    “Fine.” Orion’s ex-wife hiked her purse up onto her shoulder. “One hour. Then she’s mine again.” She stomped out of the hospital room and Orion and Myah looked at Sage with identical expressions of shock on their faces.
    “How did you do that?” Orion finally asked.
    “That was awesome!” Myah giggled, her tears now dry. “Are you magical?”
    Orion laughed, and Sage absolutely loved the deep, husky sound of it. His entirely too gorgeous face transformed into something even more breathtaking when he laughed.
    “I don’t think so,” she said. “I’m just a caterer.”
    “So you can make more than cookies?” Orion’s pupils grew as if the mere thought of food being prepared was a turn-on to him.
    Men and their stomachs.
    “Yes, I’m multi-talented.”
    Again, his pupils grew, but Sage was pretty sure cooking wasn’t the cause anymore.
    “Mommy can’t cook at all.” Myah scrunched up her nose as if she were remembering a meal gone horribly wrong because of Witchy Ex-wife. “Can’t she help us, Daddy?”
    “Help us with what, baby?” Orion asked.
    Myah slid off the bed and stood in front of Sage. She was so petite she reached just under Sage’s waist. Her delicate, doll-like frame looked as if it could barely support all that hair spilling black curls everywhere. She took Sage’s hand.
    “Can’t she help us win against Mommy?” A fat tear rolled down one perfect cheek as she looked up at Sage. “I just want to be with Daddy and Gramps.”
    Sage kneeled and brushed the tear away. “I’m not a lawyer, sweetie, but I’ll see what I can do.”
    Myah shot forward and wrapped her arms around Sage’s neck as she had done to Orion. Without thinking, Sage’s arms came around Myah, and she squeezed the child against her chest.
    In that moment, Sage discovered two important things. One, she truly was going to see what she could do for Orion and Myah. She had no idea how she could help. She just knew she had to.
    The second thing she learned was that once you got hugged by a little girl like Myah, you’ll never be the same.