Coach Maddie and the Marine (10 page)

“It’s mine but I only drive this car on special occasions. It’s too much just to drive back and forth to work. I use the old beat-up sedan for that. This car was built for speed and excitement.” He pulled a baseball cap from the glove compartment. “Put this on and let me show you.”

As soon as she tugged the cap onto her head, he pressed the button to lower the top. Cool night air rushed into the cab and she breathed in the scents of early fall.

He took the on-ramp to the interstate. He geared down as they approached the end of the on-ramp. Then, with a flick of his wrist on the gearshift and just the right amount of gas, he urged the car out onto the highway. She loved the incredible vibration of the engine humming through her body. The night air tickled her shoulders and neck. She closed her eyes and leaned back into the form-fitting leather seat.

“Wow, this is incredible. I’ve never ridden in a car that made me tingle like this one does. It just feels so powerful.”

“I like it when my best girl can appreciate my car. I also like it when my car makes her tingle. Let’s see how fast we can go.”

He accelerated and the car sped along the highway, the signs on the road passing like tiny white and yellow dots. The interstate was quiet at this time of night and they had the road to themselves. He turned up the music and they drove, the sounds of rock guitar blaring. Maddie felt like a teenager, free of responsibility and stress, completely present in the moment. She reached for his hand and twined her fingers with his. His hand dwarfed hers, making her feel safe and protected.

She took off the baseball cap and allowed her hair to fall in waves. The wind took it, making it swirl wildly around her face. She sang along with the music, a song she hadn’t heard in ten years. He looked at her and smiled.

“I can’t wait to feel that gorgeous chestnut hair of yours tickling my chest.”

She smiled back, forgetting to blush, and enjoyed the ride.

When they got back to her house, Maddie put several of her favorite CDs in the stereo and adjusted the volume so that it would be perfect out back on the porch. She grabbed the bottle of wine David had left on the counter, two glasses and a corkscrew. She kicked off her high heels next to the back door and padded outside.

He had settled in one of the wicker rocking chairs. She handed him the wine and the corkscrew and sat down beside him. He uncorked the bottle and poured her a glass. She took it, enjoying the feel of her fingers wrapped around the cool, delicate stem. The night was ideal, one of those early fall nights that were cool enough for a wrap, but warm enough to enjoy.

The music drifting from the house gave the night a dreamy feel, like transparent gauze had been draped over the whole landscape. She listened to his even breathing next to her.

“That really was a wonderful dinner,” she said. “Tonight has been like a dream. I’m afraid that any minute I might wake up and it will all just dissolve into thin air.”

“It’s not a dream,” he said, reaching across the armrest of his chair and taking her hand. “It doesn’t get any more real than this. I hope there will be at least a thousand nights like this between us.”

Even in the dark, she felt the heat of his gaze. Although she was usually very reserved in declaring her feelings, the need to tell him blazed like fire deep in her chest. She couldn’t wait another minute to tell him what she was feeling.

“It may be the real thing because I’ve never felt anything like this before,” she said, her voice breathless. “On one hand, I feel like I’ve known you my whole life, and on the other hand, every time I see you my heart races like it’s the first time I’ve ever seen you. I don’t want you to let me go,” she said, leaning her head down. “But it’s so intense that it makes me afraid.”

“What scares you?”

“Afraid that you might leave my life as quickly as you came into it.”

...

There wasn’t any space left for words. What he’d wanted to say, what he’d planned to tell her, he couldn’t call to the surface. Couldn’t find the right way to express it.

He’d just have to show her.

He took both of her hands and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and they began to move together to the slow rhythm of the soft music floating around them in the still night. The sounds of a lonely blues guitar howling in the night expressed both the excitement he felt holding her in his arms and the dread of leaving her.

Their hips moved in perfect harmony. She laid her head on his shoulder, and draped her arms around his neck, and he felt her take a deep breath, exhaling into his chest.

He placed his hand under her chin and gently lifted her head so that he could look into her eyes. When he kissed her, the touch of her lips on his was as light and feathery as butterfly wings. He intensified the kiss and she met his passion with her own. Heat, hard and heavy, began to build deep in his belly.

There was nothing else in the world except for the connection that pulsed between them.

He pressed another line of searing kisses along her breastbone and moved slowly up her neck. When he reached her chin, Maddie tightened her arms around him and pressed her lips against his. Liquid fire moved between them. The sultry flavors of orange, wine, and chocolate mixed with the heady, floral scent of her perfume.

He could think of nothing but her. All thoughts of the outside world fled. The feel of her, soft and feminine and incredibly real, erased everything.

He paused and said, “Maddie Westerfield, this is a magical evening.”

Chapter Ten

Maddie watched the hypnotic motion of the branches swaying in the late-night breeze while David danced with her. The sensual rhythms of Etta James singing the blues floated down around them. The sound reverberated off the wooden deck and made it sound like the band was just behind them, in the living room. The high resonant sound of the trumpet echoed the feelings that coursed through her body.

When the song ended, he said, “I’m warning you now. This might take the rest of our lives.”

She wanted to say something, wanted to express how deep her feelings for him were, but she couldn’t find the words. All she could say was, “I hope so.”

He kissed her, harder this time, betraying his need for her. She met his need and the kiss turned to fire.

“Madeline Westerfield, I want you to always remember this moment. More than anything, I want to see where we can go. Together.” There was bare honesty in the amber depths of his eyes. He grabbed the two wineglasses and handed her one of them. “Here’s to us,” he toasted.

She clinked her glass to his and took a long sip of the wine.

“Aren’t you going to ask where we go from here?” he asked after a few minutes.

“No. I thought it might be a little trite. They don’t even do that in romance novels anymore. I thought I would at least wait and see if you were going to hang around for the rest of the night. If you’re here when I wake up, maybe I’ll ask then.”

“Maybe you should ask now. I don’t have any plans to leave until you kick me out tomorrow morning.”

Her body shivered at the thought of him staying the night. “Okay. Where do we go from here?”

“Is that the most creative way you can think of to ask me that?”

“Without some practice in the mirror, that’s the best I can do.”

“Everything I’ve said tonight is the truth. I want to make this work. I want to be with you. Forever.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Not yet, but I will. Since we’re almost out of wine, I’ll need to order some more for the engagement celebration and buy you a big ring for your finger first. But that shouldn’t take very long.”

“Andrew asked me if I was going to marry you.”

“He did? He’s a pretty smart kid. What did you tell him?”

“I told him that I barely knew you.”

“Are you avoiding the question?”

“Maybe. I’ll let you know when I see the ring,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“Smart-ass,” he said, “put that wine down. I want to make love to you.”

...

Maddie awoke to the rich smell of coffee and bright stripes of sunlight streaming through the curtains. She threw back the covers and slipped into the knee-length silk robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door. She snuck a quick look into the mirror. A brilliant smile still lit her face. But her hair was another matter; it was wild, curlier than usual and sticking up in several directions. She ran a brush through it and pulled it back into a loose ponytail. She gave her teeth a quick brush and headed in the direction of that terrific coffee smell.

David sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. I was afraid I was going to have to wake you up for lunch,” he said.

“What time is it?” she asked as she moved toward the coffeepot.

“Almost eight thirty.”

“That’s nowhere near lunch. Actually, it’s pretty early for a weekend morning. How long have you been awake?”

“Since five thirty. I went on my run and grabbed a paper. Oh, and I picked up these at Jerry’s.” He pointed to the box of pastries on the counter.

“Did you go home to get your shoes?”

“No. I got them out of the trunk of my car. I’m a marine. I plan for every contingency.”

She walked toward the kitchen table. He grabbed her as she walked past him and pulled her onto his lap. He planted a soft kiss on her lips, raising the memory of last night. He nuzzled her neck and she giggled.

“You’re as beautiful this morning as you were last night.”

“Afraid you were wearing wine goggles?” she teased.

“No. I’m years past that. Let’s go enjoy our coffee on the back porch.”

It was a pleasant morning with a teasing chill that hinted at the beginnings of autumn. She sat in a rocking chair and sipped her coffee.

“What time is Andrew getting home?”

“Mid-afternoon, I’d imagine.”

“Good. That gives me plenty of time to seduce you again.”

“Not until I have another cup of coffee and finish this Danish. I need to keep my strength.”

“Maddie,” he said, “I really did mean everything I said last night. No matter what happens, you need to know that I want to be with you.”

“I know you meant it.” She’d seen the truth of it in his eyes.

“I’ll always come home. To you.”

“Promise me that if you ever decide it isn’t working out between us, you’ll tell me. I couldn’t handle not knowing what happened.”

“You have my word on that.” He took a sip of his coffee. “We were so into each other last night that I forgot to tell you how proud I was of you and the boys. You coached a great game. That was quite a win.”

“Thanks. Since you’re so proud of me, do you want to run my laps for me?”

“I don’t think so, Coach, but I
might
be persuaded if the terms are good enough.”

The grin on his face made her want him all over again.

“Good terms, huh? Come on back to the bedroom, I’ve got something there that might seal the deal.”

She took his hand and led him down the hallway.

After a shower, they settled on the sofa. David clicked on the television and tuned in to the early football game. They were midway through the fourth quarter when Andrew came home. He walked into the living room, mumbled hello and trudged down the hall toward his room.

“Is he okay?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. I’ll go check on him.”

Maddie knocked on Andrew’s door. No answer.

“Andrew? Can I come in, kiddo?”

Muffled sobs.

She opened the door and found Andrew sitting on his bed facing the wall. His shoulders were shaking. She sat next to him and put her arms around him.

“What’s gotten you so upset?”

“My touchdown. Mom missed it. It might be the only touchdown I ever make and she wasn’t here to see it. Is she ever coming home, Aunt Maddie?”

“Of course she’s coming home. Soon. She may even be home before the end of the season. And as fast as you ran that ball today, I have no doubt that’s only the first of many touchdowns. She’s going to be home before you know it.”

“You’ve been saying that since the day after she left. It’s been over a year. I’m afraid I won’t even remember what she looks like.”

“Andrew, honey, look at me. You will remember what she looks like. It’ll be like she never left, only better, because now you’ll know what it feels like to miss her and you’ll appreciate her more.”

“What if she doesn’t come home? Like that kid’s dad last month? He was only a couple of days from coming home and he died. What if that happens to Mom?”

“Your mom will come home safe and sound. I promise.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” Andrew said.

“Hey, I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t we start planning a welcome home party for her? Since we’ve got a few weeks, we’ll have time to plan everything perfectly. No rushing around at the last minute. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“Sorta. Where would we have a party?”

“I don’t know. That’s why we need to start planning now. Come on, let’s go into the living room and get Coach Sterling to help us. I’ll bet he knows just what kind of party a soldier might like.”

David jumped into the project enthusiastically. He suggested they host the party at the house. He knew a couple of guys that had a pretty good garage band.

With the venue and entertainment decided, Andrew came up with an idea that would really personalize the party: a scrapbook that summarized everything that happened while Callie was away.

David praised the idea. “That would be awesome. You could print out a bunch of pictures from the time your mom’s been away and put them into a scrapbook. You could use Aunt Maddie’s computer to type out captions for them. Your mom would love that. Any soldier would.”

“You really think so, Coach?”

“Absolutely.”

The three of them got into the car and headed to the craft store to pick up the supplies Andrew might need for his project. They came home almost two hours later, arms full of construction paper, glue, markers, and rubber stamps. Andrew dragged the bags into his room and began to work on his project.

David was sitting on the back porch flipping through one of the novels she’d just checked out of the library.

“Wow. Do people really do this?” he asked, holding up the paperback.

“I think some of them must be acrobats or really into yoga.”

He put the book down and asked, “Is he feeling a little better?”

She nodded. “Thanks for being there for him today. He needs a man’s opinion sometimes and unfortunately, he’s never really had that.”

“I can’t imagine how I would have felt when I was his age if my mom had been gone for so long and I couldn’t see her or talk to her. He’s holding up remarkably well.”

“He’s done great, but I’m glad she’ll be home soon. I don’t think he can take much more.”

“We’ll just have to keep him busy for the next few weeks. I’ll help out in any way that I can. With any luck, he might be my nephew, too, someday.”

She decided to ignore the hint at marriage.

The wine and the lovemaking made me brave. I’m not sure I’m ready for something so real.
A new relationship with David is all my brain can process at the moment.

“I’m excited about meeting Callie,” he said.

“You’ll love her. She’s so warm and compassionate. I just can’t wait to hug her and tell her how much I’ve missed her.”

“I’m sure I’ll love her, especially if she’s anything like her kid or her sister.”

David left shortly after dinner. Maddie put Andrew to bed and settled in on the sofa with the paperback he had been scanning earlier. She tried to focus on the pages, but her heart wasn’t in it. The last forty-eight hours had been so full of emotion and passion. It was like a pleasant hangover. She wished she could call Callie and tell her all of the juicy details. She vowed not to forget a single detail so she could share them with her sister over a pitcher of margaritas as soon as she got home.

For as long as she could remember she’d wished for a family of her own. She’d always wanted a house filled with kids and a wonderful husband to come home to in the evenings. And now, finally, after the loss of Frank, her first love, and the lonely years without anyone, her dreams just might come true.

She grabbed her football notebook from the coffee table and opened it to a blank page. She wrote her new name in print. Then in cursive. Maddie Sterling. Mrs. David Sterling. Lt. and Mrs. David Sterling. Then, on the next page, she wrote out her wedding announcement in her best block printing.

She fell asleep on the sofa in the middle of deciding on the color of her bridesmaids’ dresses.

...

His apartment felt so empty. After spending the night with Maddie and the afternoon with her and Andrew, the quiet of his place drove him bananas. He tried to watch television but he couldn’t get interested in anything, even football. He left it on for noise while he paced back and forth in front of the sliding glass door leading to his balcony.

At nine, he stopped wrestling with himself and called his parents.

“Hello?” His mom answered.

“Mama?”

“Hey, honey. Did you have a good weekend?”

“It was great. Remember the girl I was telling you about? I took her out to a really nice place last night and I think I’m pretty close to bringing her home to meet you guys.”

“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I can tell by the way you sound that you’re really happy. Have you told her how you feel?”

“I hope to be bringing her home as my fiancée, Mom.”

His mother gasped. “You already asked Maddie to marry you? We had no idea that you were this close, or we’d have—”

“Mom, relax. I haven’t officially asked her yet. But I intend to ask her as soon as I can find the right ring. I’m not letting her get away. She’s too perfect.”

“I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet her. I’m sure she’s wonderful. I only hope she knows what a great catch you are.”

He laughed. “I’m sure you’ll tell her when you meet her.”

“You’re darned right I will. You’re welcome to your grandmother’s wedding ring. Your dad and I have always said that we wanted the first one of you to get married to have it. Since Robert…” Her voice trailed off and he heard the familiar choked sob. She recovered quickly. “I’m sorry, dear, I had something in my throat. If you think the ring might be the right one to give to Maddie, I’ll be happy to send it through the post.”

“I think she’d love Grandmother’s ring. But don’t mail it just yet. Maybe I can get down there for a weekend soon. I’ll call you when I figure out my schedule.”

“Okay. I can’t wait to tell your dad the good news. He should be home from his fishing trip tomorrow. He’ll be thrilled.”

“Sounds good. Thanks, Mama.”

“Isn’t love wonderful? I know it’s cliché, but it’s still the best thing out there.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s definitely the best thing out there. Mama, on second thought, would you go ahead and mail the ring? Just in case the perfect moment comes along?”

“I sure will, darling. I’ll get it in the mail soon. Love you.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

Maddie was going to love the sentiment behind her engagement ring, and if he remembered correctly, his grandmother’s ring was quite a showpiece. He knew just how he was going to pop the question. He’d take her on a picnic, ply her with wine and kisses and then pull the ring out of the picnic basket.

They’d spend the afternoon on a blanket in the grass, holding hands and planning their life together. Sipping chilled white wine, they’d discuss what to name the kids, where they’d spend their honeymoon.

Now that he’d found Maddie, he was excited about his life for the first time since the day he got the news that Robert was dead. No one was going to take that away from him.