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

Why?”
    As if she herself knew. But she wasn’t about to admit that to her mother because it would only fuel her belief that Zoe wanted Michael back. Which she didn’t. She didn’t. Really didn’t.
    Zoe made a point of glancing down at her watch. “It’s getting late so I’ll give you the short version. I just want to make certain that Michael doesn’t remember me. You know, check to make sure that I did a good job when I erased his memory.” Her words, once they were out, sounded woefully lame even to her own ears. Judging by her mother’s smirk, she agreed with Zoe’s self- assessment.
    “If that’s what you want to tell yourself, who am I to disagree?” Her mother leaned forward as if to disconnect their session but stopped to share one last bit of advice. “Don’t wear the silk blouse, darling. It’s something you’d wear on a date, which you insist this isn’t. Goodbye.”
    Zoe watched as her mother disappeared from the screen. She glanced down at the blouse she was clutching. A t-shirt it would be.
    Once at the bowling alley, Zoe found herself enjoying Kathryn and Josh’s company. She’d never spent much time with teenagers before, and apparently somewhere along the line she’d internalized a few negative stereotypes without realizing it. But the kids were great; polite, fun, energetic, and hell-bent on beating her bowling score.
    Zoe was glad she’d forgone the silk blouse. The t-shirt was much easier to maneuver in, neither of the kids appeared to care what she wore, and there was no sign or mention of Michael.
    “That’s a strike guys, write it down.” Exhilarated to have finally bowled a decent frame, Zoe whirled around triumphantly and came face-to-face with a man’s broad chest. A chest she recognized. “Michael.”
    “Nice job, Zoe.”
    She stared up at him. His smile was warm and the expression in his eyes was amused. She dropped her eyes back to his chest. He wore a blue button down Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Clearly, he still worked out. She didn’t drop her gaze any lower so she forced herself to look back up at him. “Hello, Michael.” She glanced around for the kids but they weren’t in sight. “Where are Josh and Kathryn?”
    “Gone to grab a pizza and some sodas." He grinned. "They’re teenagers, they need to be fed pretty regularly.”
    She nodded, feeling awkward. Awkward and something else. Something she didn’t want to name. Because being attracted to Michael Archer was so not a part of her plan. She took a step backward.
    “Thank you for bringing the kids here,” Michael said. “I don’t like the idea of them being bored at the house while I’m at work.”
    “I was happy to do it. They’re nice kids.”
    Michael smiled. “They are. I’m enjoying having them with me.”
    Despite the crashing of the pins and the blaring music, an uneasy silence settled between them. Zoe stuffed her hands in her back pockets. “Well, I’m going to take off then. Please tell Kathryn and Josh that I said good-bye.” She reached for her purse but Michael reached out and laid his hand on her arm.
    “Please don’t go.” He withdrew his hand. “The kids will be disappointed if you’re gone when they get back. Unless you have other plans?”
    She hesitated. Her only plan was to spend enough time with him to make sure he didn’t remember a single thing about their relationship.
    “Oh, wait, you probably have a boyfriend waiting for you at home,” Michael said. “You want to call him to come down and join us?”
    Zoe shook her head. “I’m single.” She didn’t say more. The less said the better just in case she inadvertently said something that triggered his memory. She glanced around but still didn’t see his niece or nephew. “Shall we bowl?”
    His smile was slow but so sweet that Zoe's knees went weak. Whatever Michael had been up to in the last year, he hadn’t lost a single ounce of charm.
    He gestured toward the ball return. “Ladies