Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel (2 page)

“Well, you certainly don’t look it. That’s for sure.” Madison plopped down on the sofa and patted her mother’s leg.

“Thank you, sweetie.” Jessica smiled but didn’t look up, and continued to flip through the
Modern Bride
magazine, knowing that her eyes would give her away. Madison had an uncanny way of reading people, which was one of the reasons she was an amazing writer. Her sweet and poignant play
Just One Thing
was a smash hit at the Cricket Creek community theater last summer and had landed her a job teaching creative writing at Cooper College, a small but prestigious liberal arts school just outside of town.

“I just hope you’ve passed those good genes along to me,” Madison added, making no mention of the father she never knew or the grandparents who were mortified when Jessica had become pregnant at sixteen. Jessica had felt so
scared and so alone, but when she had shown up on Aunt Myra’s doorstep in Cricket Creek, Kentucky, twenty-four years ago, her feisty, free-spirited aunt had welcomed her with open arms. When Jessica and Madison had returned last year to help with the struggling diner, they hadn’t expected to stay, but, then again, Jessica’s life never seemed to go as planned. “I want to be a cougar just like you.”

“You can’t be a cougar if you’re married.” Jessica flicked her daughter an amused glance. “Or at least you shouldn’t be.”

“A MILF, then.”

“Madison!” Jessica shook her head so hard that her golden blond ponytail shook from side to side. “Wait, what is that?”

“A mother I’d like to f—”

“Okay, I get it. I swear you’ve got more of your outrageous aunt Myra’s genes than mine!”

“That’s because her outrageous genes overpowered your calm ones. Like little gene sword fights.” She made swishing motions with her hand.

“You are truly crazy.”

Madison lifted one shoulder and grinned. “I’m just sayin’. But really, Mom, I would never peg you as forty. You truly don’t look it, but . . .” Madison swallowed and then nibbled on the inside of her lip.

Jessica inhaled a deep breath and prompted, “But what?”

“You need to get out more often.”

Jessica drew her eyebrows together. “I
am
out.” She sliced her hand through the air.

Madison tilted her head downward and rolled her eyes up. “Mom, coming over to my condo isn’t going
out
. I mean going out . . . out.”

Jessica tried not to squirm in her seat. “Madison, Monday is the only day Wine and Diner is closed. You know how demanding the restaurant business is, and the remodeling of the diner has added even more to my workload.”
She didn’t verbalize that the financial burden was causing sleepless nights, and, like the rest of the town, she was banking on the new baseball complex to bring in tourists’ dollars. If that failed to happen, she would be sunk along with everyone else.

“Mom . . .”

“Sweetie, you know me. I like to kick back and relax during my time off.”

“But—”

“Oh . . . did you see this dress?” Jessica tapped the glossy page with her fingertip in an attempt to change the subject. “I love the simple yet elegant design. Don’t you?” she continued. “You should really say yes to a dress soon.”

“Mom, Jason and I haven’t even set a date yet.”

“And you’ve been engaged for nearly nine months!”

Madison tilted her head and sighed. “With all of the riverfront construction going on, Jason barely has time to breathe, much less worry about a wedding. When things settle down with the new construction, we’ll set a date. We’re thinking next spring. But anyway, about going out . . .”

“Madison,” Jessica warned in a low tone.

“Mom, it’s your birthday!”

“Just another day, as far as I’m concerned, and I am so grateful that you didn’t throw me one of those cheesy fortieth parties with droopy-boob gag gifts.”

“You made your thoughts on the subject crystal clear.” Madison leaned over and looked at the wedding dress. “But what do you say we head over to Sully’s and grab a bite to eat and a martini? Celebrate just a little?” Madison held her thumb and index finger an inch apart.

Jessica scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think so.” She nonchalantly turned another page of the magazine, but had to swallow a stupid lump forming in her throat. Flipping through the bridal magazine reminded her of the fact that at forty, her chances of a fairy-tale wedding were getting slimmer and slimmer. She put out the vibe that she was
happy as pie with her single status and treasured her independence, but lately, seeing her feisty aunt Myra blissfully in love and Madison happily engaged suddenly hit Jessica with bouts of loneliness. It sure didn’t help that sexy-as-sin Ty McKenna, manager of the Cricket Creek Cougars, ate at Wine and Diner several times a week. And he didn’t simply eat the food, but savored and appreciated her culinary efforts, carefully choosing the perfect wine to go with his meal. For Jessica, there wasn’t a better turn-on, and she was growing way too accustomed to his visits. Ty McKenna had awakened a yearning she had thought was long gone, but she knew him from his pro-baseball days when he’d frequent Chicago Blue Bistro, where she had been head chef. She had never seen the hotshot athlete with the same woman twice. She might be physically attracted to him, but he was definitely not the type of man she should let herself get involved with. He could flirt until he turned blue in the face, but she wasn’t about to let him see how it affected her.

“Earth to Mom. Are you getting hard of hearing in your old age?” Madison teased, and gave her arm a playful shove.

“What?” Jessica cupped her hand over her ear, but then mustered up a chuckle. “Sorry. I was thinking about the summer menu,” she fibbed.

“Well, give yourself a break! It’s your birthday!”

“So you keep reminding me.”

“Because you seem to keep forgetting, old lady.”

Oh, I haven’t forgotten.
“Madison, thanks so much for the lovely necklace. Nicolina Diamante makes such beautiful handmade jewelry. It was so sweet that you remembered how much I adore her creations.” Jessica put the
Modern Bride
magazine on the glass coffee table and dusted her hands together. “Now, I really should get home and start working on the menu. Summer will be here be
fore you know it,” she added breezily, but it was true. She had invested so much time and money into revamping the diner and she was really starting to feel the heat. “I’m thinking about adding a mango salsa, cold corn, and black bean dip—”

“Come on, Mom!” Madison pleaded firmly, but her expression was soft and knowing. “The menu can wait until tomorrow. Let’s go celebrate. You deserve it.”

“Sweetie, I love my gift! And, look, I know I’m turning forty, but like I said, to me it’s just another birthday. You know I don’t want to make it a big deal.”

Madison pressed her lips together, which was a sure sign she wasn’t giving up. “Well, then, let’s go out and celebrate my teaching position at Cooper. You promised we’d go out and clink glasses together, but we never did.” Her chin came up in challenge.

Damn
 . . . Madison had her there.

“Besides, I’m hungry and I don’t have anything in the fridge to fix.”

“Imagine that.” Jessica cocked one eyebrow. “You really need to learn your way around the kitchen, Madison. Jason is a small-town boy used to home-cooked meals.”

“I can’t believe my ultraindependent, modern mother just said that to me,” Madison muttered.

“The boy’s gotta eat . . . and so do you.”

Madison bounced around on the sofa cushion to face her mother. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal. Come with me to Sully’s and I’ll find some time soon to come over to the diner for some cooking lessons.”

“Oh . . .” She really wasn’t playing fair.

“Come on, Mom.” Madison pounced on her slight wavering. “Jason is working more long hours at the baseball stadium. I’m bored. And hungry!”

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Girl, you want some cheese with that whine?” She kept her voice light, but she truly didn’t
want to celebrate. What she really wanted was to go home, get into her pajamas, and wallow with a bottle of merlot. The fact that this so-called milestone was hitting her hard took her by surprise! But deep down, Jessica knew the reason why.

Her birthday reminded her how many years she’d been living without any real romance in her life. It was something she thought she’d never missed, but now her heart kicked into high gear every time Tyler McKenna walked through the door of her restaurant. She wanted to box his ears for making her long for a hot kiss and strong arms wrapped around her.

“Yes! I do want some cheese. Mozzarella sticks will do nicely.” With a laugh, Madison stood up and tugged on Jessica’s hand. “Let’s go. Pete Sully declared Monday as martini night in my honor.”

Jessica gave her daughter a pointed look. “That might not be something you want to be proud of.”

“But I am.” In true Madison form, she gave her hips a sassy wiggle that had her blond curls brushing against her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and Jessica felt another wave of emotion wash over her as her own eyes misted. This unfortunate
mistake
—as her parents had called her teen pregnancy—had become a lovely, talented, vibrant young woman, and Jessica was abundantly proud of her daughter. Hot moisture gathered in her throat, but she swallowed hard. Tears were for the weak, and over the many years of working endless hours in the restaurant industry with temperamental men, she had developed a backbone made of steel that refused to bend beneath the constant pressure. On the toughest of long days, it had been Madison’s golden curls and smiling face that had kept her from collapsing. And now her sweet baby girl was engaged to be married! She sniffed again.
Wow!
What in the world was coming over her?

Madison tilted her head to the side. “Mom, are you okay?” she asked softly.

“I’m fine,” she assured her daughter with a quick, firm nod. “It’s just stupid middle-aged hormones. It sucks.”

“We don’t have to go,” Madison said uncertainly.

Jessica took a deep breath and shook her head. “No. Suddenly a cold, crisp martini sounds heavenly. And I did promise to celebrate your creative-writing position at Cooper. You know I’m so very proud of you, don’t you, sweetie?”

“Yes, I do.” Madison’s smile wobbled at the corners, but she laughed as she tugged Jessica to her feet. “Happy birthday, Mom. I love you so much,” she said, and sniffed hard. “Now, are you ready to have some fun? You do remember how, right? Look, I totally respect your dedication, but sometimes you work too damned hard.”

Jessica clucked her tongue at her daughter. “For someone so petite and cute, you sure have a potty mouth. Learned it from your aunt Myra,” she said with a chuckle, but Madison’s teasing comment hit a little too close to home. Did she remember how to kick back and have a good time? How long had it been?

Since Ty McKenna last summer
snuck into her brain, but she shoved it away. That magical night had scared the crap out of her. Losing her heart to a player like him would just be plain stupid.

She needed somebody solid and dependable.
What?
She didn’t need anybody! She needed to concentrate on the success of Wine and Diner and not be distracted. While there was a buzz of excitement in the air, everyone in town knew what was riding on the success of the season. She was no exception.

“You didn’t answer the question. Mom, are you
ready
to have some fun?”

“I’m ready!” she insisted with more conviction than she felt, and then gave Madison a quick hug.

“Okay, I’m going to freshen up just a bit,” Madison announced with an excited grin.

“Oh. Am I dressed okay?” Jessica glanced down at her skinny jeans and billowy lemon yellow tunic cinched below her waist with a woven leather belt.

“Sure.” Madison reached down and opened the long box containing the necklace. “Hey, why don’t you put this on? It will glam you up a bit, even though we’re only going to Sully’s.”

“Excellent idea.” Jessica brushed her sleek ponytail to the side and tilted her neck forward so Madison could fasten the sterling silver and red coral strand offset by a bold turquoise pendant. “Why, thank you.” While touching the smooth stone, she turned to her daughter with a smile. “What do you think?”

“Lovely, even at your ripe old age,” Madison said with a wink, and then ducked out of the way of a shove. With a giggle, she gestured toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you grab a glass of wine and relax on the balcony while I change out of these sweats? It’s not too chilly out yet. It’s been so unseasonably warm that I put the patio furniture out there already.”

“I think I’ll do that. I just adore the view of the river.” Water always had a calming effect on her. “And it’s great to see so many of the empty units in this building finally being sold or rented by the Cougar staff and baseball players. I’m sure you do a super job showing the model unit.”

“Yeah, I was lucky to land that job. I love living here, so it’s an easy sell. Oh, Mom, I’m so glad that Noah Falcon came back home last year to star in my play. None of this would have happened without him. The stadium is amazing, and I’m so proud of my Jason’s hand in designing it. He has so much more talent than simply doing remodeling.”

“Jason Craig is a fine young man, Madison. Just another reason I’m glad that we moved back to Cricket Creek.”

“Me too. I miss some things about Chicago, but I truly enjoy this little town. And the baseball complex is going to be so much fun!”

“I can’t believe it’s almost finished. It’s hard to imagine that just last year we were wondering how this little river town was going to survive the lack of tourism. Now we just need to fill the stands.”

“Mom, stop worrying! Noah Falcon built it, and they will come! And eat at Wine and Diner. Positive thinking!” Madison tapped her head firmly. “The Cougars have already been practicing. Jason said that Ty and Noah should have the team picked by the end of the week.” Madison cocked one eyebrow and then gave her a slow smile. “You should totally be like Annie Savoy in
Bull Durham
.”

“Madison! For Pete’s sake, were you watching a Kevin Costner marathon or something?”