“No.”
“But it’s been months.”
“I know. I just feel weird; knowing that women are there just to see him. I don’t know.”
“Well, you better go tonight. I’m not going without you.”
“I am. I promise.”
“Do you need me to pick you up? Doesn’t he have to be there a few hours before the game?”
“Yes, he does. That would be great.”
“I’ll be at your house by six.”
“Thanks, Jen. You’re a good friend.”
“You have no idea, sister.”
*****
Samantha sat beside Jen, nervously clutching the armrests on her premium seat near the field as the players rushed the ball towards the infield. Helmets cracked together loudly as bodies rushed towards the ball, looking to stop its mad-dash towards the goal posts.
Only a few seconds remained until half-time, and Samantha was chomping at the bit.
“Were you always this nervous before?”
“No. I guess it’s different when you know someone getting sacked.”
“I guess so.”
The buzzer sounded, announcing half-time and Samantha let out the air she’d been holding.
“Want to get something to eat, Jen?”
“No. I just want to stay here and relax. You look a little pale. Maybe you should relax in your seat.”
“You’re right. Besides, I want to miss the restroom dash and I’m not really interested in paying twenty dollars for a beer.”
“Exactly.”
The sports commentator announced the half-time show, and Samantha perked up a little.
“I love watching the cheerleaders. I always wanted to be one.”
“We’ll need a volunteer from the audience,” the voice said over the loud speaker.
Thousands of people stood in their seats, waving frantically. Several of the cheerleaders used miniature canons to fire balled up t-shirts into the stands above, but a small group ran towards the premium seating.
“Why aren’t you raising your hand?”
“They never pick me.”
“Well, they’re coming this way, Sammy, so maybe now is a good time to jump up and down like you actually want to be chosen.”
Samantha smiled.
“Fine.”
She jumped up, waving her arms to get the cheerleaders’ attention. To her surprise, they headed straight for her.
“What’s your name?” the blonde in the front asked.
“Samantha Banks.”
“You’re perfect. Come with us, doll.”
Samantha looked at Jen, who threw her the thumbs up and smiled wide before sitting down. Samantha followed the girls onto the field, feeling entirely overdressed in her jeans and team jersey featuring Blake’s number on the back.
“Stand right here, doll,” they instructed, forming a circle around her as the camera rushed in to get it all on the Jumbo Tron.
What did I get myself into? she wondered.
The crowd grew hushed and the cheerleaders pointed behind her. Samantha turned, afraid of what she would find.
She wasn’t expecting to see Blake there, in his uniform, holding a microphone.
“Hi Samantha,” he smiled at her, his hand over the mic so their conversation would be private for just that moment.
“Blake, what’s going on?”
He winked at her, pulling the mic up to his mouth and looking into her eyes.
“Samantha Banks, from the moment I first saw you, I knew you were special. When fate snatched you away and then brought you back again, I knew we were meant to be.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn’t help it. Suddenly, his recent behavior, his contemplative moods all made sense.
Blake reached out, wiping a tear from her eye before he continued.
“You didn’t make it easy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We never appreciate what we don’t work for, and courting you was by far the most intense thing I’ve ever done. But you’re worth that and so much more.”
A man stepped forward from behind the cheerleaders, and Samantha was surprised to see her dad step up to Blake, handing him a tiny box as Blake knelt to the ground. He grabbed Samantha’s hand before stepping back into place beside her mother. Even though she suspected it, her eyes still grew wide and her heart jumped in her throat. Her parents smiled at her, and Samantha couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment.
“Samantha Evelyn Banks, will you marry me?”
Samantha looked at her parents, who smiled encouragingly. They both mouthed I love you to her as the tears ran freely down her face.
Too emotional to speak, she nodded her head vigorously, a nervous laugh escaping her as he slipped the ring on her finger. He stood, his face filled with love as he pulled her to him, dipping her as he had on the dance floor all those months before and kissing her deeply.
The crowd in the arena erupted in applause as they walked off the field hand in hand, her parents and Jen close on their heels.
“I’m going to say that’s a yes folks!” the announcer declared.
***
One year later
The bell over the door chimed and Samantha hurried from the back to greet the customer.
“I’ve got it, Sammy. You need to slow down.”
Her friend stared pointedly at her swollen belly, slipping past her and to the front counter.
“Never mind,” Jen called out. “It’s Blake.”
Before Samantha could waddle up to the counter, Blake met her in the back. As usual, his face was colored with worry.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“Maybe it’s time to stop working and let Jen take over the business while you rest. Don’t you like the bakers I hired?”
“I do. I’m just not ready yet.”
“You’re due any day now. How ready do you need to be?”
He shoved his hands into his hair nervously.
“You’ve got to calm down. Stress isn’t good for you.”
“I don’t know how you can be so calm. Impending fatherhood is hell on my nerves.”
“Everything is fine. This time next week, you’ll be old hat at this fatherhood thing and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without your little princess.”
“This time next week?” He looked genuinely perplexed and Samantha waited for a full beat before realization dawned. “Wait. Is she coming now?”
“Feels like it.”
Blake went into a panic, and Samantha reached out, her hand steady on his arm.
“Slow down. Relax, we’ve got this. Remember to breathe,” she said, mimicking the breathing technique they’d learned in the birthing class.
“Wait. I’m supposed to keep you calm.”
“Well, I guess this time, I’m going to take the lead in our relationship.”
She pulled him in for a kiss, groaning into his mouth as a contraction tore through her body.
He released her, gently brushing her silky hair out of her face and lightly touching the thin scar on her forehead.
“I was wrong, Blake.”
“About what. You’re not in labor?”
“Oh no. I’m in labor. I was wrong before. This is real life, and I am a princess in my own fairytale.”
Blake smiled, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
“It’s about time you realized how lucky you are.”
She elbowed him in the ribs, and he laughed. Threading his fingers through hers, he took her hand, leading her to the car and the rest of their lives knowing that they were destined to live happily ever after.
THE END
Bonus Story 10/40
Eve’s Pleasure
Eve heard the shout from the aft deck and looking over her shoulder she saw a man in the water. She pulled the throttle back and cranked the wheel to bring her boat sideways.
“Keep station until I say otherwise and get the Coast Guard on the line!” she said to her s
hips mate. She jumped down the stairs from the upper deck and grabbing a life preserver ran to the port side where the client went overboard.
“I heard a thump and when I turned around he was in the water,” said Mr. Langston.
Eve made sure the line was coiled right and threw the life preserver out to the man floundering in the water. It landed right next to him and he reached for it and appeared to have it, but lost his grip. The man sank below the surface for a moment and then struggled back up. Eve felt a coldness in her stomach and she had to push back her fear. Then she saw a blood stain on the rail of the boat where he went over.
“He is injured!” Eve turned back to her mate on the pilot’s deck.
“Let the Coast Guard know the man in the water is injured!” she shouted. Katy had the radio to her mouth and waved in answer. Eve was wearing a bikini top and cut off shorts so she just climbed up on the railing and dove into the water. She swam quickly to the man as he sank below the surface again. She came up behind him, remembering her training. She lifted his head above water and he sputtered and gasped. She got a secure grip with one arm around his muscled chest. She could see blood in his blond hair along the temple. He began struggling in panic, as most people did in that position.
“Easy Harden! I got you. Relax and let me get you to the boat!” Eve began back stroking with her free arm as Mr. Harden seemed to relax and she nodded to herself. He had good control. The man coughed and spat out the water he had swallowed, and soon they were at the side of her boat, Eve’s Pleasure. Eve hooked her free arm around a rung on the ladder that had been dropped over.
“Above ya Captain. Can you get him up higher? The Coast Guard is nearby and on the way,” Katy called down to her
Eve brought her legs up to her chest so she could put her feet on the bottom rung of the ladder that was in the water. Once she was secure she straightened her legs, affectively picking Mr. Harden up and out of the water. Katy and Mr. Langston were reaching over and managed to get a grip on Harden. Eve had to re-position herself to get out of the way as they hauled the injured man back up to the deck. Eve scrambled up after him. Harden was laid out on the deck and Katy was bending over him. Pushing her long wet hair out of her eyes Eve moved toward them when she heard the blast of a ships horn. She turned and saw the Coast Guard coming near. She waved them in.
Soon, the Coast Guard had a medic on board and Eve was standing back with Katy, Mr. Langston and the Captain of the Coast Guard cutter, Captain Gerald Manson.
“Nice work Captain. The man owes you his life. How did he go over?” he asked.
“I just heard a yell and he was in the water. There is blood on the railing and he has a gash on his head. I am not sure how he managed to hit his head with the railings as high as they are,” Eve told him. As if in answer to his question they heard Mr. Harden talking to the medic.
“I made the mistake of trying to climb that thing while the boat was moving,” he said pointing to the Flag pole. There were steps on the side of it, but it was not supposed to be climbed when the boat was moving. Eve groaned and closed her eyes rubbing her temple.
“Not your fault Captain, it seems like user error and he is copping to it,” Captain Manson told her. She smiled slightly and looked at him.
“I know. He was warned but that is the hazard of doing tours. At least he is ok,” she said. They watched the man arguing about going to the hospital.
“The hell he is not going to the hospital,” Mr. Langston said and walked over to where his friend was being treated.
“You have to go Brock. If for no other reason than the stockholders need to know you have been checked out. You know they will find out about this,” he told his friend. “Excuse me sir, could we have a minute,” Langston asked the medic. The medic agreed and got up. The two Captains and Katy backed further off as well.
“Stockholders?” Katy said bemused.
“You didn’t know?” Captain Manson asked with a humorous glint in his eyes.
“Know what?” Eve asked.
“That is billionaire Brock Harden. It was in the news that he was moving his main offices from New York down here. It is something of a big deal, so is he. And you just saved his life Captain. Congratulations,” he told her. Eve was stunned.
“Jeez, now I am really glad it wasn’t my negligence,” Eve couldn’t help saying. The Captain laughed and she traded a glance with Katy.
It was only partially a joke. Eve had inherited the luxury cruiser from her father and had been trying to pay it off. She had come close to having it repossessed twice and if it was not for this job she might have lost it. A major scandal would have ruined her. Katy knew the problems she had getting her business going. A female Captain was not always desirable with tourists or other ships’ captains. Mr. Langston got up and came over.
“He has agreed to go to the hospital Captain Manson. May I go with you?” he asked.
“Of course sir,” the Captain told him.
“Great, thank you. Let me grab our stuff from down below and I will be back before you can get him on board your vessel,” he said with a handsome smile and disappeared below deck. His long black hair had come out of a pony tail and was a mess. It made him look more than cute to Eve.
Eve went over the incident paperwork and promised to have it in that evening. She discussed everything she had done, one more time, with Captain Manson and he assured her she would be fine, with no problems coming from the incident. It was a relief to Eve. Thankfully the Captain knew her and knew she ran a tight ship. As she finished up and the patient was loaded safely onto the Coast Guard cutter, Mr. Langston came back up with their bags. He waved to Eve and Katy.
“I will give you a call tonight Captain Sage. I do believe we will be wanting another tour,” he said and went across to join his boss. Katy and Eve looked at each other in surprise.
*****
Eve came out of her room into the lounge located in the center of Eve’s Pleasure. Around the walls were the doors to the two guest quarters, the Captains quarters and one she let Katy use when they were doing overnight bookings. Not that there had been many of those yet. Katy was sitting in a comfortable chair, relaxing, before they called it a day. She had changed into a light flowery blouse and shorts. Eve hadn’t bothered yet so was still in her bikini top and shorts.
“Well this has been a weird day. I can’t believe a well-known billionaire almost died on my watch,” Eve said with a soft, self-depreciating laugh.
She smiled at Katy and went to the bar and got them both a beer. It was an end of the day ritual that they had both come to cherish. She handed her friend her drink. Katy laughed and took a sip.
“Typical Eve. You could have said it was a day you saved a man’s life you know,” she said rhetorically. Eve laughed and shrugged.
“I guess I do have a tendency to look on the gloomier side of things. Ok how is this, I will try and put a positive spin on everything. Why not. This job actually paid enough I can go and make my third to last payment on this old girl and forestall a repossession. How is that for optimistic?” she asked her friend, sitting in a chair across the round room from Katy.
“That’s better. I will get you to be optimistic….” Katy began but was interrupted when Eve’s smart phone buzzed. Eve sighed.
“Great, a happy hour interruption,” as she reached for it Katy waggled a finger grinning.
“Ok, alright! A new client!” She said and Katy nodded at her fake optimism as she answered it.
“Eve’s Pleasure Cruise, Captain Sage speaking,” she said.
“Hello Captain, this is Sonny Langston calling. I hope your day is ending well,” he said cordially. She mouthed who it as to Katy.
“It is going fine here. How is Mr. Harden, is he going to be ok?” she asked, truly concerned. The man snorted humorously.
“He will be fine. The hospital is running a barrage of tests, although they have admitted he will be fine. He just needs to rest for a few days. Mr. Harden of course is not happy
about staying in the hospital overnight and part of tomorrow, thank you for asking. Actually there was something we wanted to discuss with you, if you have the time,” he said.
“Sure, what’s up?” Eve asked. Katy was watching her with eyebrows raised.
“Well Captain, first off, I wanted to thank you and Miss Norton for your hospitality and for being so quick when Brock went in the water. Due to his head wound stunning him the doctors say he very likely would have drowned if you had not acted so fast diving in after him, and Katy for getting the Coast Guard so quick,” Eve felt herself blush slightly.
“Katy is sitting right here with me. I can put you on speaker if you would like,” she said.
“That would be great,” he answered.
“Ok, you’re on. It is just the two of us,” Eve told him.
“Hello First Mate Norton. I was just telling the captain that your fast response today was instrumental in saving and assuring Brock’s life. I wanted to thank you both for your actions today,” he said humbly. Katy blushed and looked uncomfortable, but she smiled.
“Thank you, sir. I just followed my training. Also you don’t have to call me first mate. I am the only mate so it is a title by default,” she said. It was one of her favorite lines. Mr. Langston laughed heartily and Eve joined him. It was an infectious laugh.
“Fair enough. Then with your permission I will call you Katy and you can call me Sonny. Hearing my last name all the time makes me feel like my father,” he said. They agreed.
“Actually I also wanted to make you a proposition Captain. We have spent the last few weeks going on tours with different boats to find someone we could be comfortable with on an extended tour of Key West and other places. We had decided, before Brock’s curiosity got the better of him, that Eve’s Pleasure was the boat we wanted to travel on. Would you be open to a two-week trip?” he asked.
Eve’s eyes widened as did Katy’s and they stared at each other. Eve was certain the same thing was going through Katy’s mind - that it would be a lucrative trip and they both could really use the income. Eve pretended to think about it without needing to check her schedule.
“I think we could do that Sonny. When would you like to begin? I am guessing that Mr. Hardon will be laid up for a while?” Eve said casually. She stood up as did Katy and both of them were practically dancing with excitement.
In the Arms of the Dragon Princes Page 34