* * *
Ken and Maddy snuggled close together in their plush, clam-shell
shaped booth as they listened to the sensual rhythms of a professional
saxophone, each uplifted by the recent memory of their passionate
embrace twenty-plus stories high above the sea. When the cocktail
waitress came by to take their order, he smiled when he heard her ask for
cranberry juice. She was truly unique. And for the first time since his return
to civilian life, visions of white lace, diamond rings and picket fences
floated through his mind and lingered in his heart.
* * *
"Wanna come in?" she asked as Kenny threw the car in park. It was
somewhere between 1 and 2 a.m., and they'd just arrived back at the
house after driving through the darkened, tranquil streets of Ocean City.
"I'd love to sweetheart, but it's awfully late. What about your mom
and your aunt?"
He wanted nothing more than to curl up with her on the couch, to
hold her body close to his and smother her with kisses all over again. But
this was no ordinary girl, and definitely no ordinary family. He still
couldn't get over the way they'd all related to each other so easily over
breakfast that morning. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
She looked up at him with a mixture of disappointment and
admiration.
"You know, when you look at me like that, you make it awfully hard
to do the honorable thing, Madeline Rose," he laughed, kissing her briefly
on the lips.
"It's ok, I understand," she sighed as she leaned her head on his
chest.
* * *
"I had such a wonderful time, Kenny," she whispered, "Thank you."
Maddy stood up on her toes to reach him as he pulled her into another
divine embrace, leaving them both breathless. They were standing on the
steps by the front door, reluctant to face the inevitable end of a perfect
evening. As if suddenly remembering where they were, he quickly broke
away and gazed into her eyes.
"Baby, I gotta go," he said as he traced her cheekbone with his
thumb, then settled his hands on her waist. "Believe me, I don't want to,"
he added, bringing their foreheads together. She smiled as she placed her
hands on his chest. "And just so you know, the pleasure was all mine," he
whispered hoarsely. "Thank you for going out with me."
And after extracting another sweet kiss and permission to call her
again, Ken drove away in his sporty black Acura, leaving them both to
replay the night's exquisite events in their dreams.