by Laura Wright
“Just bring your ID when you stop by, Anthony,” she added.
“I will.” He glanced over at Nick. “Maybe when I come down to Maggie’s to sign up, you could meet us there. We could all have lunch.”
“Things are pretty busy at work,” Nick answered automatically.
His father only nodded. “With that bed and breakfast project…right, how’s that going?”
“Fine.”
Anthony turned to Maggie. “Did you know that my son beat me out of that contract?”
She looked at Nick. “No.”
Here it comes, Nick thought. The old “If only he’d come to work for me after college, he could’ve been doing jobs that size all along and lived in a house as impressive as this one by now.”
But his father only smiled. “He’s a damned fine contractor.” He scooped up some potatoes. “Damned fine.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed. What was going on? It was like an alternate universe. Praise? From his father? He had absolutely no idea how to respond to it. It was too rare—and entirely too fragile.
“So can you squeeze in a lunch Friday afternoon?” his father asked casually.
Everyone at the table stilled, waiting. Nick felt as though a steamroller was moving across his chest.
Memories of the past shot through his mind like darts. Then that phrase “Life’s too short.”
He nodded impassively. “All right, Dad.”
His father also nodded, said, “Good, good,” and continued eating.
Without thinking, Nick reached under the table and took Maggie’s hand. She didn’t pull away from his grasp, just squeezed as she continued her conversation with Anne about medical school.
Nick didn’t exactly know what made him reach for Maggie in such an intimate way. But he didn’t examine it. Instead, he reveled in the situation before him. Peace filled this previously disconnected household, and he couldn’t help but think that Maggie was partially responsible. For the peace, but what was more important, for the few bricks he and his father had just torn down from the wall that had divided them for so long.
And later, Nick thought, when he and Maggie were alone and the world was still, he’d show her his gratitude.
It was close to midnight when they settled into Nick’s bed.
A gentle rain fell outside the open window, cooling the air and scenting the breeze. But inside, beneath his sheets, a fire burned—one he knew would never diminish with Maggie near.
Candles now replaced the hall light, making it easy for him to see Maggie’s eyes change color as he pushed into her, driving her over the edge with each stroke.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing him deeper, their bodies moving in time to a silent song. Pure pleasure rippled over her features as her soft cries grew louder.
Out of his mind, out of this world, he plunged into her core. She gasped and tightened around him, her nails digging into his back as she took him with her, beyond the moon and into climax.
He stayed inside her and rolled them sideways, kissing her eyes, her cheeks and finally her mouth, knowing he’d never felt so exposed in his life. Or so powerful.
Ten
Would You Recognize The Love Of Your Life If He Walked Up And Introduced Himself? Maggie Would. Let Her Open Your Eyes To The Possibilities.
Maggie gazed across the candlelit table. She knew who the love of her life was. He was sitting here with her on the garden patio of the Sunset Café listening to the soulful sounds of an acoustic guitar player. And, yes—she realized now—she’d recognized him the minute they’d met.
The sweet scent of blueberry pie mingled with the tangy aroma of the nearby ocean. Their dessert sat untouched between them as they watched the entertainment, while, under the table, Nick squeezed her small feet between his larger ones.
It had been a perfect dinner. The food had been divine and the company extraordinary. All in keeping with the past two days and nights.
Maggie had always thought that sleeping with a man—the actual sleeping part—would be uncomfortable, even disruptive. But she couldn’t have been more wrong. With Nick it was comfortable and warm, like napping under a tree on that perfect summer day when it’s neither too hot nor too cool.
And to wake up with his arms wrapped around her, feeling his strength—what she wouldn’t give for a lifetime of mornings like that.
Her mind swam with possibilities she’d always been too afraid to consider. Every second she spent with him she felt her fear lessening and those irrational beliefs from the past floating away. Could it happen? Could she and Nick do the impossible: foil the curse?
Even if it were possible, she could never say to him, “I’m in love with you, Nick. Stop running and stay here with me. Let’s share our days and our nights together and build a family of our own.”
He’d never given her any indication that he wanted more, that he wanted a relationship. What he had told her was that he was leaving after his job ended.
“Where are you, Montana Eyes?”
Maggie’s head came up with a snap. “I’m here,” she said with a guileless smile. Oh, Lord, did he always have to look so good? So dark and dangerous? He wore a smoky-gray shirt, black pants and a killer smile. His thick, brown hair was tousled, his eyes a deep green and he hadn’t shaved since the morning.
Longing surged through her heart. Longing and a profound sadness. Beginning tomorrow he was going to stay at his father’s house. He had a week full of dates scheduled—dates that couldn’t be canceled now—and he didn’t want to stay at Maggie’s while that was going on.
Ironically, this time he’d given her no arguments about finishing out his commitment to her, no complaints. And, because she was slowly going nuts, her mind had already begun conjuring up all sorts of horrible scenarios: he was looking forward to the dates; he was anxious to meet more women; he’d had enough of her and was ready to move on to the next conquest.
“Maggie? Are you all right?”
Her wandering mind cleared and focused on the man who sat across the table from her, the man who was filling her nights with unimaginable pleasure and her days with unending worry. “Fine. Just a little full.”
“You can’t leave here without at least one bite of this pie. It’s their specialty.” He scooped up his fork, cut a sliver of blueberry and crust and vanilla ice cream and held it out to her. “You don’t have to do a thing. This mouthful of decadence is coming straight to you.”
She laughed as he held the fork to her lips. “You sound like a TV commercial.”
He grinned, moving his fork toward her slowly. “The rich, plump blueberries burst on your tongue in a symphony of sweetness and juicy delight.”
“I think you missed your calling, Nick Kaplan,” she said, then devoured the bite.
“Hidden talents should remain hidden,” he said.
“I don’t agree. I say put it all out there on the table and see what happens.”
“Is that a fact?” He studied her with a twinkle in his eye. “Listen, I happen to know what amazing talents you have, Maggie, but what I’d really be interested in is what you do have hidden. Like something about a locket, maybe?”
As if guided by some cosmic force, her hand went to the gold oval at her throat. “I thought you would’ve forgotten about that.”
“Not a chance.” He took a sip of coffee. “Or were you just talking about me putting it all out on the table a second ago?”
Of course she was. Didn’t he understand women at all? “It’s just something to remember my father by, okay?” Odd, that didn’t feel as painful to say as she’d always thought it might.
“I thought you’d never met your dad.”
“I didn’t…I haven’t.”
“C’mon, Maggie,” he said, taking her hand and kissing her palm. “Talk to me. You know plenty about my family. Give a little here, maybe it’ll feel good.”
She wanted to do what she usually did at a moment like this—laugh casually and divert the conversat
ion. But she didn’t see the point this time. Nick was stubborn when he wanted something, and she wasn’t in the mood to fight him. It was just history. Besides, he’d shared his family—and his family secrets—with her.
“My mother met him at the beach during a summer break from college. He was a professional surfer, and all the women were just crazy for him. Tall, tan, handsome and all that.” She felt herself smile. “He only had eyes for my mother, though. The way my mom told it to me, it was all very Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello at first. Bonfires and picnics and long days in the sun. But one night at the beach, on the sand, they…” Maggie heard her mother’s voice in her own as she told the story and her heart ached. “A few weeks later she told him she was pregnant. And he told her he was leaving the next day for Hawaii.”
Nick’s eyes were filled with understanding, though he couldn’t possibly. “He gave her that locket before he left?”
“No,” she said softly. “He sort of left what’s inside it.”
He didn’t press her on that, and she was grateful. “You know, it’s entirely possible that you could have a completely different life from your mom’s.”
“I guess anything’s possible, right?”
“Right.” He kissed her palm again and said, “What do you say to a late movie?”
A movie was the last thing she needed. She needed him close, naked and beside her, making her forget the past and future for a few hours. “What do you say to having them wrap up this delicious slice of berry heaven and taking it home.”
“Dessert in bed again?”
She grinned.
“I love the way you think, Montana Eyes.”
And I love you, Nick Kaplan.
Power dating. It was the only way to describe what he’d been doing over the past week. Five women in seven days. It had to be some kind of record, he thought as he pulled into the parking lot of the Santa Flora newspaper, the Seaside Press.
The ladies he’d been matched with had all been pleasant and attractive. One of them was actually up for the interior decorating job for the bed and breakfast. So, needless to say, he’d had no trouble making conversation.
There’d been no upsets like that date at the Latin club. However, like those first two dates, he just wasn’t interested in anything more than conversation. He’d been a gentleman—charming and friendly—but when it came to the possibility of good-night interplay, his mind would fill with images of Maggie. So he’d tactfully excuse himself, and the night would end.
Never in his life had a woman captured his mind and his heart the way Maggie had. Every night he’d fly down the ocean highway on his bike, breaking the speed limit two times over. He’d needed it to clear his head and calm his body.
It had worked for a short time. But Maggie was a powerful force. Lying in bed at night, all he wanted was for her to be next to him. He missed their banter, their disagreements, that flash of smile when she was embarrassed or surprised.
Her phone calls to him about the dates were brief and businesslike, although he could feel that she missed him, too. Admittedly, they both had to fulfill the bargain that had started this whole thing before they could move on. But the more he was away from her, staying at his father’s and dreaming of her at night, the more he thought he’d like to give a relationship with her a go. He couldn’t offer anything permanent, but he knew he definitely wanted to see her more and often.
He chuckled as he walked through the big double doors of the Press. This wasn’t like him at all. He’d never been a one-woman man, hadn’t wanted to be, for that matter. The idea of actually trying it had crept up on him slowly, so slowly he couldn’t seem to stop it.
But somehow he knew he had to give it a shot.
And tomorrow night after his last date, he was going home to her, he was going to take her in his arms and tell her that he wanted a break from dating. Dating anyone but her, that is, he mused as he stepped up to the reception desk and gave his name.
He was about to tilt his sword to his own aversion to relationships in the only way he knew how—and as an added bonus, he was giving the Santa Flora newspaper a great story and giving Maggie some good publicity.
It would be his gift to her to let her know that after all his griping and protests about matchmaking services, he believed in her. She’d have to wait a few days to see the story, though, until the article about her grand opening on Saturday night ran in the business section. But it would be worth it.
Her query that night on the beach brushed through his mind. “You could stay in one place if you wanted,” she’d said.
He wanted, he thought as he waited for the reporter to come and get him. For now he definitely wanted.
The next day Maggie woke up early and retrieved her messages from her voice mail. After a slew of sales calls and advertising pitches, she learned that Nick’s last date had canceled. The poor young lady had the flu and could barely lift her head off the pillow.
For exactly one minute Maggie tried to feel disappointed—after all, finding Nick as many dates as possible had been her goal.
But it was no use.
Happiness and relief filled every inch of her as she jumped out of bed, tossed on her robe and trotted down the stairs with a twenty-four-karat smile.
Maybe she should call Nick right now, she thought, tell him to get home—or better yet, she could go on the date tonight in her sick client’s place. A surprise. Oh, what would he think if she walked into the restaurant in that red Vegas dress and sat down beside him?
What would he think, she wondered, coming face-to-face with herself in the hallway mirror. Sure, they’d had a few nights of fun together, but what was their future? Lord, did they even have one? From day one, Nick had warned her that he didn’t believe in love, relationships, soul mates or permanency of any kind. And in less than six months he was leaving Santa Flora.
Was she up for having a six-month affair? Could her heart let him go when the time was up?
Her gaze slid downward in the mirror. The gold locket at the base of her throat winked tauntingly, reminding her not to forget its power—asking her if she was really willing to risk a few amazing months for a lifetime of sorrow, not to mention potential harm to the man she loved.
Turning away from the mirror, she tried to clear her mind, but the effort wouldn’t take right away. For most of her life she’d given in to the overwhelming strength of her fear. Was she going to do it again? she wondered as she went outside and grabbed the newspaper.
She went into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. Maybe she’d immerse herself in work today, try to put all questions, all worries, aside for a few hours. Her grand opening was tomorrow night, and though she had everything pretty much under control, there were still a few things to be done.
Expelling an apprehensive breath, Maggie sat down at the kitchen table with her coffee and flipped through the pages of newsprint. She’d put a full-page ad in today’s paper to invite all of Santa Flora to the grand opening. Hopefully, they’d made no mistakes and it was as eye-catching as she’d planned. Tossing a couple of lumps of sugar into her cup with one hand, she thumbed through the pages with the other.
Suddenly she froze.
Opposite the ad was an interview. An interview with Nick. The headline screamed, Maggie’s Made Me A Match!
With wide, disbelieving eyes, she scanned the contents of the article. “I was a skeptic, but the service really works…. If you’re looking for your soul mate, go to Maggie’s Matches…. Maggie found me the woman of my dreams.”
Her mouth felt like cotton, her heart thundered like the hoofbeats of a wild horse. Nick had found the woman of his dreams? How was it possible? Why hadn’t he told her? Of course, they hadn’t spoken much, and when they had he’d acted a little distant. But she’d just chalked that up to annoyance for having to follow through on dates he’d been forced to go on.
It had only been a week, she thought dimly, her throat tight as a steel trap. Was it love at first s
ight? Lord, she’d always known it could happen. In the beginning it’s what she’d hoped for. But now…
She threw the paper down, her coffee cup skittered sideways as she put her head in her trembling hands. How could she have been such an idiot? How could she have let herself believe that it was possible to challenge the curse? And win?
And most foolish of all, how could she think that Nick Kaplan might ever be able to care about her the way she did him?
She was the matchmaker. She’d promised him she’d find him the love of his life—and she’d done it. Yippee, she thought, tears welling in her eyes. Hallelujah.
She came to her feet slowly. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks and she swiped them away, her gaze shooting to the phone. All that needed to be said could be said over the phone, right? She didn’t have to see him in person, look in his eyes, searching pathetically for the possibility that it was all a mistake—that he wanted her the same way she wanted him.
All those questions went unanswered. She knew she was going to that restaurant tonight. Just as she knew that today she was going to have to prepare herself for one of the finest acting jobs of her life.
Because tonight she had to pretend that Nick Kaplan meant nothing to her at all, except a really great, really heartbreaking headline.
“Can I get you a drink, sir?”
Nick glanced up at the waitress and smiled. “I’ll take a beer.”
He was in a really good mood. The B and B was going up fast and the crew was doing a fine job. He and his father had a—he hated to use the word—date to play golf next week. He didn’t know squat about the game, but what the hell, it was good to finally have a friend in the man.
Nick had told his father about his plans with Maggie, his plans to stay in town. And Anthony Kaplan hadn’t said one word about taking over his company when he gave Nick a hug and said, “Welcome home, son.”
Who would have thought it? His life was coming together. But, more important, tonight was his last date, the fulfillment of his promise to Maggie. She had completion on her little experiment, however misguided, and now he could have her.