Maddy stepped out of the bedroom and his eyes devoured her hungrily. Oh yeah, she certainly got his blood coursing every time he saw her.
Tonight she had dressed in a knee-length, flowing, pale blue gown that skimmed all those luscious curves, and over it she had a dainty little bolero in a darker blue with silver glints catching the light. In her hand she held a little black purse and as she walked forward he saw that she wore medium-heeled black pumps. Her silky brown hair swept her shoulders and her grey eyes looked at him happily, though a little uncertainly.
“Sorry about the mobile phone thing,” she said. “It was dangerous and silly. My only excuse is that I knew you would worry and I forgot to ring you earlier.”
He caught her around the waist and drew her to him, bending to kiss her gently. “Apology accepted.” Slapping her delectable bottom lightly, he made her giggle as he added, “Now.”
Oh, how he loved to make her smile and laugh, just as he loved to see her warm and sleepy-eyed when she awoke in the mornings, or looked at him out of hot eyes filled with desire.
How he loved every bit of this delightful, luscious lady.
She moved past him. “I think we’re going to be late. I’m sorry again.” Whirling around, she placed her hand over her bottom and grinned. “I’ll make that up to you later.”
Placing a hand in the small of her back, he laughed as he steered her to the front door. “I’ll keep you to that.”
He held the door as Maddy slid into the passenger seat of her car and then he went behind the steering wheel. He had to bring the seat right back.
“Maybe we need a bigger car,” she observed. “One for you.”
“I’ve got my motorbike.” He started the car and looked haughtily at her. “My beloved motorbike.”
“The sound-barrier breaker. Sad, very sad.”
“You love it. Admit it.” He pulled the car onto the road and accelerated. “When we went out for a ride on it last week you loved every minute.”
“Don’t mistake me clinging to you like grim death as loving it.” She shuddered. “Sorry, Mike, your bike and I will never have a love relationship.”
“Guess I’m the only one doing the riding around here.” He leered. “In more ways than one.”
Maddy rolled her eyes.
“So,” he continued. “How’s your patient?”
“Stable for now, but that could change.” She sighed. “He’s elderly and it’s not his first heart attack.”
“I’m sorry.” Knowing how much she enjoyed her job and how much her patients meant to her, he reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
“That’s okay.” She squeezed his hand back. “How’s your work going? Glad to be back on patrol, I’ll bet.”
“I do keep watch for a certain law-breaking Golden Link nurse, but apart from that worry, all is good.”
“Law-breakers.”’ Maddy shook her head and sighed, then sobered. “I’m really sorry we’re going to be late.”
“Hey, remember what you told me when I had to ditch our first date? You understood. It’s the same with me.” He smiled at her. “Nurses and cops, huh? Crazy hours and unexpected happenings. Told you we were a perfect match.”
“That you did.” She dropped her hand to his thigh and squeezed lightly. “Thank you again.”
“If you don’t remove your hand, I may have to pull into an alley for a dirty few minutes.”
“Really?” She slid her hand higher.
“I don’t think we should let innocent people see my boner.”
That had her hand shifting like lightening, and he laughed.
Maddy slapped his arm lightly. “You are so bad.”
He smirked. “It’s the company I’ve been keeping.”
The evening went perfectly, but he couldn’t seem to find just the right moment to bring out the ring. The movie was a horror feature, which he knew she’d enjoy. Then they met Alan and his date and chatted for a short time. Coming home, Maddy was happy but tired and he caught her trying to hide her third yawn.
“Sorry, baby,” she murmured as she snuggled up to him while walking up the garden path. “Busy day.”
He kissed her on top of her head. “Understood. Want a raincheck on the torrid night of passion I’d planned?”
“I’m not that tired.”
No, she wasn’t, in fact Maddy was a very willing participant, but within minutes of finishing making love, she was sound asleep in his arms.
Holding her in his arms, Mike gazed up at the dark ceiling and thought about the ring burning a hole in his pants pockets. When would the time to spring the question be right? Maddy chose that moment to murmur sleepily and snuggle closer, and he smiled. Not right then, but soon. Very soon.
He wanted a ring on his lady’s finger, and it had to be done at a romantic moment. The perfect moment.
~*~
Her personal mobile phone ringing had Maddy’s eyes narrowing. She hated it. She hated the mobile phone so much she almost wished she could toss it out of the window. She’d made the mistake of giving Cindy the mobile number, only to threaten her nearest and dearest friend with death if she didn’t stop ringing her for a chat on it.
Flipping it open, her frown eased when she saw that Mike was the caller. Even though she smiled, she managed to sound grumpy. “What? This better be an emergency, Carson, or you’re in big trouble.”
“I wouldn’t be game to call for any other reason.” She could hear the amusement in his deep voice.
“So what is it? Aliens have touched down outside town? Yamaha has commandeered the house keys? Alan wants a colonic irrigation?”
“A what?”
She grinned. “Nothing, big bear.”
“You are not to go near Alan’s anything for anything, understood?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Hell, yeah. If anyone’s going to get a colonic irrigation from you, it’ll be me.”
She started to laugh. “Do you know what a colonic irrigation is?”
“No.”
“Ask Tim, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to tell you.” She was laughing so hard now she had to lean against the door.
“By the sound of that guffawing, it’s not pleasant,” Mike growled. “And to suggest I ask Tim means it’s definitely unpleasant.”
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” She wiped her eyes and reached for a tissue. “Oh man.”
“You owe me a serious explanation.”
“About what a colonic irrigation is?”
“No. Why you like to torture me so much.”
“Oh, sweetie,” she cooed, “it’s because I love you.”
“I always show my love in a nicer way.”
“What you see is what you get.”
He was silent for several seconds before his voice came over huskily. “And boy, do I love what I’ve got.”
That just made her all warm inside. “Then I forgive you for calling me on this stupid mobile.”
She heard him take several deep breaths on the other end of the phone and smiled.
“I’ve a favour to ask,” he finally said.
“Okay.”
“My bike-”
“The sound-barrier breaker.”
“-is in having a service, as you know,” he continued without pause.
“We could leave it there, like, forever.”
“And,” he ignored her suggestion, “I need a lift home from work.”
“What, Alan won’t let you ride in his shiny patrol car? He’s so mean. I don’t think you should play with him anymore.”
“Oh boy, Maddy, are you in for it when we get home.”
“Is that a promise?” She almost laughed out loud when he sucked in a deep breath, only to nearly swallow her tongue when he replied in that deep, growling voice that always had the power to make her blood thicken deliciously, “Oh, you betcha.”
“Okay then.” Grinning, she ran her palm over the steering wheel cover. “What favour do you want? And remember, you
’ll owe me and I intend to collect. Naughtily, I might add.”
“I’m sitting at my desk in the cop station supposedly writing out reports, and you’re giving me a boner.”
Maddy burst out laughing.
“You evil wench. Now listen up, this just might wipe that smile off your face.”
“I’m all ears.”
“What time do you finish today?”
“Two thirty.”
“I thought so. Same as me. Could you pick me up when you knock off?”
“As long as you promise not to behave yourself when I do.”
“Jesus, Maddy.”
“Finding it hard to sit?”
“Not as hard as you will, if you keep this up.” His voice became muffled and she realised that he had his hand over the mouth-piece while he spoke to someone.
Humming to herself, she checked the list of patients she still had to visit.
“So.” Mike’s voice sounded again in her ears. “Pick me up when you knock-off and we’ll go to my mother’s place.”
“What?” She sat up straight. “Your mother’s place?”
“Thought that’d fix your evil amusement. Yes, she has a box of things she found in the storage room and wants me to collect it.”
“Really? I’m actually going to meet your mother?”
“That’s correct. I’m about to unleash you on my family.” Amusement was evident in his tone. “See you later, sweetie.”
Maddy stared from the mobile phone to the Golden Link Association building right in front of her. She was finally going to meet Mike’s mother and she wasn’t even being given time to prepare herself.
Boy, he owed her big time. She had to admit, though, that she was curious about his family and as she worked through her patient list, her curiosity grew.
Managing to finish all her work in time, it was going on for two forty-five by the time she pulled up in front of the police station to find Mike leaning against one of the patrol cars waiting for her. As soon as she pulled up, he straightened and strode across to the car. Folding his length into the seat, he leaned across to kiss her deeply.
“Wow,” she said a little breathlessly when she finally came up for air. “Remind me to do favours for you more often.”
His teeth flashed in a grin.
Putting the car into gear, Maddy pulled out into the traffic. “So, your Mum, huh?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Anything I should know?”
“Just be yourself.” Relaxed back in the seat, he looked sideways at her. “Nothing to fret about.”
“Oddly enough, I haven’t fretted at all,” she cheerfully informed him.
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Because you know me so well?” At his sudden leer, she flushed a little. “I mean, apart from that way.”
“Are you blushing?”
“No.”
“You are. That’s so cute.” He pointed. “Take this exit here.”
“Someone wants to sleep alone tonight.”
“I have no idea who that could be.”
“So,” she said again. “Your Mum.”
“My Mum. Yes.”
“What can I expect?”
“She’s gracious. The perfect hostess.”
Maddy glanced at him. “And?”
“Watch the road. And nothing. My mother is a nice lady.”
“You don’t talk about her much.”
“I’ve told you about her and my stepfather. Take the next left.”
“And you mentioned a stepsister, but that’s it. So now I’m about to meet the family and I really don’t know a lot about them.”
“You never asked much.”
“I waited until you were ready to talk about them.”
“Are you nervous, Maddy?”
“A little,” she admitted.
“There’s no need.” He gave her thigh a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “My mother will like you.”
“Does she know about…you know, us?”
“I haven’t spoken to her for awhile.” Mike paused and she could feel his scrutiny.
She nodded.
“Does your family know about us?” He queried. “And turn right here.”
She sighed . “I haven’t spoken to them for awhile, either.”
“Maybe it’s time we visited them.”
She pulled into a quiet street. “Yeah, I guess.”
He rubbed his jaw idly as they went down the street. “That last bust-up with your family must have been a doozy.”
“Like I told you, it was.”
“You never told me what it was about.” He gestured. “Turn here. This is the driveway to her house.”
She shrugged as she pulled into a tree-lined driveway. “It’s not worth talking about. Not yet, anyway. One day.”
“Okay.”
That’s what she loved about Mike. He was so accepting of her decisions and he never pushed unless he thought it was necessary. Yeah, she’d tell him one day, and then she’d take him to meet her family.
The house came into view, big, double-storied and beautiful, a small mansion. Several big, expensive cars stood in the driveway and she pulled in beside them.
He thrust open the door. “Let’s go.”
She got out and looked around. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Mum likes her gardens, only nowadays a gardener does it for her.” He sounded almost wistful.
“You miss the old days, don’t you?” She slipped her hand into his.
“Yeah. I still remember working in the garden beside her, getting our hands dirty. It was a lifetime ago.”
“Time changes people.” Maddy gave his big hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, Mike. You can get your hands dirty in my garden all you like. It’s almost time to weed.”
His eyes were tender as he gazed down at her, and then he gave a deep, soft laugh and kissed the tip of her nose. “I really love you, Maddy.”
She smiled up at him and leaned close. “Ditto, you big Neanderthal.”
Humour twinkled in his eyes as he slipped an arm around her. “Let’s get that box so we can go home and neck.”
“I do like where your priorities lie.”
They went up the wide, elegant staircase and were met at the door by a maid. She smiled politely and held the door open. “Mrs Bernard is in the lounge room with visitors, Mr Carson.”
“Visitors?” Mike frowned. “Can you tell my mother that we’re here?”
“She requests your presence in the lounge.”
Feeling his displeasure, Maddy leaned close and whispered, “If you’re a good boy and do as your Mummy wants, I’ll reward you.” Slipping a hand behind him, she gave one of his muscular buttocks a hard pinch. “Most handsomely, I’ll add.”
He actually jumped, then shook his head at her, humour chasing the frown from his face. “You are so bad.”
“The company I keep.” She winked.
The maid smiled slightly and strode ahead.
Maddy and Mike followed, hearing voices coming from one of the side rooms. The maid stood aside and gestured, and they entered.
A small group of people sat on the lounges drawn up around a coffee table, which held an elegant array of saucers of cakes and biscuits, as well as cups of hot drinks.
A woman stood up, slim and dainty, and she came forward with a smile on her face. “Michael. I’m so pleased you came.” Not one grey hair showed in her elegant coiffed roll, even though she had to be on the far side of fifty.
Bending down, Mike gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek. Straightening, he placed a hand at Maddy’s’ back. “This is Maddy. Maddy, my mother, Grace Bernard.”
Mrs Bernard looked at Maddy, her gaze sweeping across her even as she smiled and held out a small hand. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Maddy.”
No sooner had Maddy taken the dainty hand in her own than she heard several surprised gasps.
“Madeleine?”
“Maddy?”
The voices w
ere familiar, all right, and her misgivings were proven as soon as she looked over to meet the gazes of her parents as well as Matthew and Belinda.
Chapter Nine
“What are you doing here?” Mrs Lovett stood and hurried over to kiss Maddy’s cheek. “My goodness, how do you know Grace?”
“I don’t,” Maddy stammered. “I know Mike.”
Mrs Lovett’s gaze went to him and her eyes widened. “Oh.”
Mr Lovett moved up behind her, his gaze running up and down Mike. It was hard to know exactly what he was thinking, for his features were politely blank as he held out his hand. “I’m Madeline’s father, Gary Lovett, and this is my wife, Mary.”
“What an unexpected surprise,” Maddy managed as Mike shook her father’s hand.
“But a lovely surprise.” Mrs Bernard smiled. “Mike doesn’t bring many of his friends over. In fact, I don’t see enough of him.”
Mike’s face was unreadable and Maddy could feel the slight tension in him from his hand at her waist.
She saw her father glance down to where Mike’s hand rested and she cringed inwardly as his disapproving gaze slid back up to meet her gaze.
“Sit down, everyone.” Mrs Bernard shepherded them all to the sofas. “Now Michael, you’ll have a cup of hot coffee?”
“Thank you, but no,” he replied. “I had one down at the station before I left.”
Mrs Bernard looked at Maddy.
“Um, sure.” Maddy nodded. “Thanks.”
Mike sat down on one of the two-seater sofas, his big frame barely fitting on his side of the delicate furniture. Maddy sat next to him, perching on the edge uneasily.
Eyes sparkling, Belinda leaned forward. “So you know Mike?”
“He’s my neighbour.” With a nod of thanks, Maddy took the cup of tea from Mrs Bernard. “It’s how I first met him.”
“Just add your own sugar and milk,” Mrs Bernard said.
Maddy started to spoon sugar, immediately feeling the disapproval in Belinda’s gaze as she added three teaspoons of sugar and a generous dollop of milk to her cup.
“Just a neighbour?” Matt raised his eyebrows at where Mike’s hand still rested at her waist.
“We’ve been going out.” Maddy felt the familiar blush rise in her cheeks as her family studied her and Mike.
“I see.” Mr Lovett picked up his cup of coffee. “You haven’t mentioned it to us.”
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