“He’s at Rowan’s. He’d live there if I’d let him. Rowan has a game system hooked to the internet. They play Minecraft nonstop. He’ll be back in the morning.”
He popped the last bite into his mouth and carried his plate to the sink. “That was great, Maddie. Thank you. Nothing like a home-cooked meal.”
Something electric cycled between them and he rose and walked around the table and put his hands on her shoulders.
She stood and turned to face him. Like magnets, they were unable to fight their affinity for each other. His nose nearly touched hers. He slid his arms around her waist.
“You move fast, Lieutenant Sterling,” she whispered.
Part of her wanted to resist, pull away from him and restate her determination not to fall into a relationship with him. But his masculine scent was jamming her brain and the other part of her, the wholly female part, carried the day.
“You have no idea,” he said, lightly kissing her neck.
She closed her eyes and leaned into the firmness of him. Dipping her head to the side, she allowed him to trace a lazy line down her neck with his lips, igniting a building warmth deep inside her. She rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the feel of his arms wrapped around her waist like iron bands. He wrapped her arms around his neck and he tilted his head. As their lips met, blazing energy sparked between them.
“We shouldn’t be…” Her voice trailed off.
“I can’t seem to help it,” he whispered against the sensitive skin of her neck.
She knew the feeling. Regardless of how much she rationalized it, tried to make her brain and body agree, her body always seemed to win out when he was within range.
She was tired of fighting the attraction. She kissed him on the lips. Ignoring the warning bells ringing in her head, she slid her tongue into his mouth. The taste of him heightened her arousal and she wanted him, all of him.
Just as she was about to suggest they move into the bedroom, the phone rang.
She pulled back and placed her hands on the flat muscles of his chest. “It might be Callie,” she said. It had been nearly two weeks since she’d heard her sister’s voice.
He grumbled under his breath, obviously irritated that she was letting the phone interrupt them. She found the phone on the table beside the sofa.
“Hello?” she answered breathlessly. “Oh, Callie, it’s such a relief to hear your voice.”
She listened intently, occasionally answering questions about Andrew. David sat silently on the sofa. If she hadn’t been so acutely aware of him she wouldn’t have even known he was in the room.
When the call ended a few minutes later, she placed the handset back into the charger and looked up at him. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
“Is she doing okay?” he asked quietly.
“She’s fine. I just miss her so much and it hurts like the devil when she asks me about Andrew. I can’t believe he missed her call. He’ll be crushed.”
Sobs rocked her body, and she curled into herself. He sat down and wrapped her in the warm strength of his arms. He held her for a long time, murmuring soothing sounds into her hair. When she stopped crying, he raised her chin up so she could see him.
“I know how worried you are. I know what it’s like to have someone you love so dearly in the line of fire. We can talk about it anytime you feel the need. I’ll listen.”
She saw a softness in his eyes that he’d never shown before. They glistened with a tenderness she’d never guessed existed.
Was it possible that underneath his tough marine exterior he was the sensitive man she’d been looking for her entire life?
“I’m fine now. It’s just so hard to hear her voice. I know she makes herself sound upbeat when she’s really scared stiff. I just can’t wait to hug her and see for myself that she’s safe.”
He pulled her close and said, “It’ll be sooner than you think.”
“Well, since I’ve totally ruined the mood, I guess we’d better get to work on those penalties I’m supposed to teach the kids tomorrow. Meet you back here in five minutes.”
She went into the bathroom and washed her face, erasing the black lines of mascara that ran down her cheeks.
Not sure if she was thrilled or terrified that the two of them had gotten so close to the point of no return, she silently thanked Callie for her impeccable timing. The call gave her a chance to really examine how she felt and what to say to him.
When she walked back down the hall, she saw him sitting on the sofa and he was more irresistible than ever. Underneath the crisp uniform, there was not only a terrific body, but there was a deeply empathetic and caring man. She felt like she knew a delicious secret. In her very own living room sat the total package.
And she couldn’t have him. Wouldn’t let herself have him. Like bobbing on a raft in the middle of the ocean. All that water and not a drop to drink.
“Ready, Coach?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, picking up the notebook. Even though she was learning a lot, it was a complex game of strategy and positioning—there was a lot more to football than just the physical element. She was beginning to understand why so many people enjoyed the game, and she was actually excited about learning more.
“Let’s start with the most common penalties. The first two are offsides and false starts. The first one, offsides, is when a defensive player is in or beyond the neutral zone when the ball is snapped. False starts are when an offensive player is in or beyond the neutral zone before the ball is snapped.”
“That’s easy enough. I’ve heard those called a lot on television,” she said, jotting down some notes.
He went through several more penalties, showing her the officiating signs the referee would use to signify them. Maddie fought to keep a straight face.
“You don’t have to teach them the signals, I just wanted you to know them. I’ll be there with you on the sidelines to clarify anything.”
“I think I understand all these. Are there any other ones that I should harp on tomorrow?”
“Just basic good sportsmanship things. Remind them that you’ll tolerate no taunting, cursing, tripping. No cheap shots. You might need to stress the three big ones that can really get someone hurt.”
“What are those?”
“Clotheslining, which is knocking a player down with a blow to the head or neck. Clipping is blocking a player in the back. And face masking is pulling on the player’s facemask.”
“How much of this do you think they know already?”
“Most of it, I’m sure. I’ll bet the majority of these kids have watched football with their dads since they could walk.”
“That makes me feel a little better.”
“The most important thing, Maddie, is that you demand they compete with true sportsmanship. Let them know that if they break the rules, your rules, they won’t be playing. The best way to let these guys know you’re the boss is to threaten their playing time. They’ll catch on fast when they have to sit on the bench. And don’t let the kids who are good players intimidate you. Make them realize they’re subject to the same rules as the benchwarmers.”
“That’s sound advice. Thank you again for everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“It’s nothing. Plus, I’ve enjoyed the perks of teaching you the game.” He winked at her.
Heat began at her hairline and moved down her face to her neck. She couldn’t believe they had almost tumbled into bed together earlier tonight.
What had she been thinking?
“David, listen, about that…”
“I’m sorry, Maddie. I know you aren’t interested in a relationship right now. And frankly, I’m not in a place where I could give one hundred percent to a woman. But I just can’t seem to resist you. I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t say you’re sorry. I wanted it as much as you. It’s just that I don’t think a relationship between the two of us is the right thing.
At least for now.”
“It doesn’t have to be a serious relationship, Maddie. We could just—”
She stopped him before he could go any further. “I can’t do that. I’m very attracted to you, but I’m afraid I’m not built that way. I don’t believe in—”
This time, he interrupted her. “I wasn’t going to say that. For heaven’s sake, Maddie. I was just going to suggest we let things unfold naturally. See what the possibilities are.”
“I don’t know. I just don’t think either of us is in the right place.”
He nodded and tried to look like it didn’t matter but she saw the hurt in his expression. “I guess I’d better get going. See you at the field tomorrow afternoon?”
“I’ll be there. I have to admit that I’m a little apprehensive, though. I mean, I thought I was prepared for the first practice.”
“Hopefully you know a little more about the game now and I’ll be there to help. And if things get out of hand, I’m pretty good at tackling people. Get some rest.” He placed his hand over hers and squeezed gently. “And I won’t let it happen again. Scout’s honor.” He raised two fingers and looked deeply into her eyes. “Unless you ask.”
After he left, she fell back onto the sofa and willed her heart to stop pounding so hard.
“Line up in front of the bleachers,” Maddie said, taking charge of the practice from the very beginning. “I’ll be assigning positions. When I call out your name, step forward and I’ll let you know where I’ve put you. Keep in mind, these assignments are not permanent. We’ll move people around as we see their strengths and weaknesses. So no complaints about where you’re assigned.”
Maddie read through the list quickly, calling each name out in a sharp voice. As the boys stepped forward, David handed them their equipment.
“Here’s the schedule for practice. First, we’ll run some laps around the track to warm up, and then we’ll work on some offensive drills. After that, we’ll take a water break and I’m going to go over the things I expect from each one of you, and I’ll refresh your memory on penalties. To finish up, we’ll spend a few minutes on a defensive drill. Every player will take part in each of the drills. I want you all to be able to play on either side of the ball. Any questions?”
Every eye on the team stared back at her.
“All right, then. What are you waiting on, fellas? Three laps around the track. No laggers. Fall back into line when you finish.”
As the boys jogged off around the track, she made a few notes on her clipboard, then felt David brush against her.
“Good job, Coach Maddie. You gave clear, precise instructions in a tone that allowed no argument. I’m proud of you.”
“I sounded a lot more confident than I feel,” she admitted. “And I wrote up a script last night after you left and repeated it to myself until I had it memorized.”
The boys fell back into line. It was easy to tell who was in shape. Some of the boys weren’t even breathing hard, while a couple of others had sweat running down their tomato-red cheeks.
“Good job, guys. A few of you were a little slow finishing up, though. I suggest that you run a few laps on the days we’re not playing or practicing. If you’re not in good shape, it’ll show in the game and you might not get as much playing time as you want. Okay, now Coach Sterling will be leading the offensive drill,” she finished and gestured toward David, then stepped back and let him take over the team.
“We’ll start with stance. Now, most of you played last year, but I’m going to show you guys the proper three-point stance.”
David demonstrated for the boys. Standing behind him, she tried not to gawk at the view. His upper thighs, hard as iron, stretched the fabric of his shorts and as he leaned forward, the muscles in his shoulders and back rippled. She reminded herself that she was, at least in name, the coach of this team and it just wouldn’t do to be drooling over her assistant coach.
The boys copied his stance with mixed levels of success. She walked behind the line of boys offering small suggestions.
“Relax your left arm a little bit, Wiley,” she said, moving along the line. “George, get your back straight.”
He winked at her over the heads of the boys and she knew she was doing okay. When she listened to herself, she actually sounded, at least a little bit, like a real coach. And the boys hadn’t given her any problems yet. Maybe her crash course in the game actually taught her more than she thought.
When he turned the practice back over to her, she stepped forward and began with the rules they discussed.
“We’ll start with the things I expect from each member of the team. The rules are simple.” She paced in front of the boys. “One: Respect the coaches, each other, and the players on other teams. Two: Conduct yourself with good sportsmanship, at all times. No swearing, taunting, or cheap shots. Three: You come to practice or you don’t play. I hope those rules are clear because if you choose not to follow them, you won’t be playing on my team. You’ll be warming the bench. Is that clear?” she asked, moving down the line of boys and making eye contact with each one.
The boys nodded.
“I asked you if you understood.” She deliberately put a hard edge onto her voice.
“Yes, ma’am,” the boys answered in unison.
“Good. Let’s move on to the penalties. As I explain each one, Coach Sterling will show you what the call will look like.”
She quickly went through the list. David did a great job of showing the boys the signals. The boys all seemed to understand the penalties, so as soon as she finished, they put the boys through twenty minutes of defensive drills.
With the practice finished and the boys heading to their parents’ vans and SUVs, she sat down on the bleachers and took a deep breath. David sat beside her.
“I think it went pretty well,” he said.
“Me, too. I’m shocked, actually. I thought they would all still resent me being their coach, but they seem to have adjusted. It can’t hurt to have a rock-star jock as my assistant.”
“Maybe it helps a little. But it was obvious to me and the kids that you do know the game. I’m really proud of you. You worked hard to learn this stuff.”
“I’m starting to understand why everyone is so crazy about football. The strategy and the competition could become addictive,” she said with a laugh. “Come on, let’s round up Andrew and go to the community center pool. This heat is unbearable.”
Andrew waved good-bye to the last of the players on the team and stood beside David.
“Let me take you to the one on base, at the Officers’ Club. You can be my guests. They have a slide,” he said.
“Yay,” Andrew shouted.
After stopping by the house to pick up swimsuits, the three of them piled into David’s car and drove to the base.
Even though she had an ID card so that she could shop at the commissary for Andrew, she avoided the pool since there weren’t always lifeguards on duty. She wasn’t much of a swimmer and it made her nervous to be responsible for Andrew in the pool. While he’d had a few swimming lessons, he wasn’t very confident in the water. The pool at the community center was always well-staffed and that made her a little more comfortable.
“Andrew hasn’t had many lessons,” she said.
“I can work with him.”
She chewed on her thumbnail. “Promise you’ll watch him?”
He smiled, making her attraction meter go crazy again. “Of course I’ll watch him.”
Her nerves were shot, and it was about more than Andrew’s swimming. It had been ages since anyone other than Callie or Andrew had seen her in her bathing suit. She took a deep breath. While there was heat with David, it wasn’t like they were dating.
In fact, it was almost better if he didn’t like what he saw when she came out of the changing rooms.
David parked near the entrance to the pool. He leaned across the center console and whispered, “We’ll stay in the shallow end if it will make you feel better.”
She nodded. “Thanks.”
The guys went into the men’s locker room to change while Maddie went across the hall to the ladies’. She tossed her tote bag on a bench and took her suit into a changing room. At least it was a one-piece in black.
While it didn’t hide much, it didn’t bring attention to the flaws either. After turning to see herself in the mirror from all possible angles, she decided it would have to do.
Holy smokes.
Her bathing suit fit perfectly. Too perfectly. So perfectly he could think of nothing but peeling it off.
Thank God for cool water. He sank lower into the pool, and his trunks plumped up a bit from the water.
He tried not to stare. After all, he’d promised that he’d keep a close eye on Andrew. They were in the shallower end of the pool and the boy was splashing around, paying little attention to anyone. This late in the afternoon, there were only a couple of other swimmers and they were all in the other section of the pool swimming laps.
It was black. Sleek. He flashed back to his longtime crush on Catwoman. Maddie would make a perfect Catwoman.
She bent over the edge of the pool and he couldn’t help but stare. Her cleavage deepened, and he half wished her breasts would spill over the top of the suit. The temperature rose and he stuck his hands in the pockets of his trunks.
“Y’all okay?” she asked.
More than okay. Thankfully I didn’t say it aloud.
“Just fine. Thought I’d let him splash a little before I gave him some pointers.”
She nodded and rose.
“You’re not coming in?” he asked.
“I thought I’d just sit on a lounge chair.” She pointed to the one where she’d tossed her tote bag and towel.
He grabbed her ankle. “Come swimming. The water feels great.”
She shook her head. “I’m good.”
“Come on, Aunt Maddie, please. Come swimming with me. Please, please.”
David raised one eyebrow and looked at her. “He’s begging.”
Coach Maddie and the Marine Page 8