Petite Madeleine: Drew's Story (Meadows Shore Book 3) (16 page)

“Really? Because the sticker on the inside usually gets burned a bit if you turn it on without removing it.”

Everyone was now laughing, and smirking at how he’d been busted. Even knowing full well it could have easily been one of them on the hot seat, didn’t stop them from razzing him.

“How long have you lived there, Drew?” asked one of the coaches.

“Just moved in last week?”

“Have your fun at my expense, go ahead, get it all out.” Drew didn’t mind the ribbing.

An older man turned toward Cassie, “At least you know he hasn’t been cooking any women dinner when you’re not around.”

“Drew cooking some woman dinner is something I’ve never worried about.” She snaked her arm around his waist and squeezed while the guys chuckled. “Walk me out.”

“Thank you for saving us from another night of pizza.”

“My pleasure.”

“I’m not sure when I’ll be home. We’ll be a couple hours, at least.”

“Stay as long as you need to, I’ll be there when you get home.”

“If you’re asleep, can I wake you?”

“I’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”

* * *

Drew sat across from Ski at a small coffee shop in the North End. It was filled with neighborhood regulars, the kind of place where everyone minded their own business. “So you think you’re ready to come back, huh? It’s only been a few weeks.”

“I’m ready. Think the players are ready to have me back?”

“Yeah. You’ve been in touch with everyone. Let them all have their say right away. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but it was smart.”

“They’re a good bunch, treated me better than I deserved. I don’t want a big hullaballoo when I get back.”

“Me neither, but we can’t kick the press out of the park. I’ve already stepped on more than a few toes, and it left some bruised feelings.”

“Bruised egos, you mean.”

“That, too. We’ll do our best to keep things low key, but it’s not like we have a gorilla suit hanging around that you can wear to slip in and out of the stadium unnoticed.”

“A disguise like that wouldn’t work anyway, the reporters who follow the team have never been easily fooled.”

“Talk to me, Ski, tell me what’s going on with you. Pretend I’m your friend, not your boss.”

The older man gave Drew a small smile through moist eyes. “You’ve been a good friend through this. Don’t think I don’t know how you stuck your neck out for me. I won’t forget it, and I won’t let you down again, either. I’m back to meetings, even though it’s been years since I’ve need them. I had Sarah—she was all the meetings I needed to keep me on the straight and narrow. I found a sponsor in the clubhouse, and a counselor to talk to.”

“I know it’s not the same as Sarah, or a professional, but I’m a pretty good listener.”

Ski gripped his cup between two hands. “The first year after she died, people stayed close. I rarely had a minute alone, especially at difficult times, like the holidays, her birthday, the anniversary of her death. But then everyone went back to their own lives, just like they were supposed to. We were married for over thirty-three years, I still have a crater-sized hole in my heart … and the other night, when things got rough, I tried to fill it with booze. At first I resisted, even though I always knew it would numb the pain, help me forget for a little while.”

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t around as much as I should have been,” Drew responded, “and when I was, my head wasn’t in the game.”

Ski waved his hand as though to swat away the comment. “Ah, don’t be listening to the garbage those idiots are spewing.”

“It’s true. I haven’t been earning my paycheck, and I let you down. Let the team down, too.”

“You know something? There’s another way to look at this. Those kids stood up and came together in a way that I was having trouble getting them to do. We needed leaders, and this mess gave them an opportunity to step up. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not making excuses for myself, or for you.”

“They did step up. JD, too.”

“Sarah would have been thrilled to see how the boys rallied. She was always reminding me how those overpaid hulks were just kids. She gave me perspective, helped me be a better manager.”

“She was a great woman.”

“The best. I just wish I had more time with her. God took her from me too soon, and so quickly. I guess I should be grateful for that part. She had an awful headache, but she didn’t suffer long. I wish I’d been with her when she died.”

“You loved her every single day of her life, and she knew it. That was the most important thing you could have done for her.”

“She died alone.”

Drew squirmed in his chair, trying to find a comfortable spot. “I can’t imagine watching someone you love suffer, knowing there’s nothing you can do for them.”

“There would’ve been plenty I could have done for her if I’d been there. I’ve thought a lot about it in the last year and a half. I would’ve bathed her forehead with cold compresses, fed her ice chips, and held her safe in my arms while she passed. It would have been the greatest honor of my life to care for her in death. An honor I’m not much worthy of.”

It would have been the greatest honor of my life to care for her in death.
Ski’s words resonated with him, and for a minute he thought not of Sarah, but of Cassie. And while he hoped with all his heart it would never come to that, hoped a merciful God would take him first, after they’d shared a lifetime together, he knew he’d love her, and would care for her, as long as there was a single breath left in his body.

Cassie finished drying her hair and rubbed scented lotion into every inch of her body, making sure every spot was smooth and sweet-smelling. She was so excited she was practically jumping out of her skin. He’d be here in less than twenty minutes. She’d been in Boston as often as she could after Ski’s meltdown, only going home to grab her mail and give Tim, her baker, a day off here and there.

Ski was back with the team, but Drew needed to be much more engaged than he had been during the first half of the season. It was getting harder and harder to say good-bye every time she left him, even if it was just for a night. But as luck would have it, the Blues were in Baltimore for a four-game stretch, and then in New York.

He would need to work most of the time he was in Baltimore, but that would give her a chance to do a few things, and give Tim some time for himself. Drew was staying with her for the next four nights, and they planned to have dinner on Fenwick Island tonight.

So much had changed since she opened up to him. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and for the first time in years she was happy—not just content, but truly happy. She’d been given a second chance, in so many ways, and some days she could hardly believe how well things were going for her, for them.

They made love last week more times than she could count. For the most part, her body responded like the young woman she was, and when it wasn’t enough, the world hadn’t come crashing down. They’d simply used lubricant. It had become part of their routine, like condoms.

The sex had been toe-curling, but she knew him well enough to know he was holding back, just a little. Staying in control for too long. That wasn’t the guy she remembered. Maybe he was afraid of hurting her, maybe he was afraid to completely let himself go. Either way, he was careful with her. Careful with her feelings, her emotions, and her body. More careful than he’d been at Brown, and much more careful than he needed to be now.

She slid on the lace panties, adjusting the satin ties, and shivered when she thought about how they’d come off. And then she carefully laced up the camisole, catching the ribbon around each hook. After taking one last look around her apartment, she programmed her iPod so it would continue to replay the drum solo—his favorite drum solo, and hers too.

Her cheeks flushed when she thought about the first time he played it for her. She’d been lying on the floor, face down, wearing nothing more than a skimpy tank top and a thong, gyrating to the beat of the drums. He’d gotten up from the stool, gone over to his stereo, and turned on a drum solo. Then grabbing his drumsticks, he straddled her on his knees, gently playing along with the music, using her bottom as the main instrument. He played until she was moaning, moving her hips up and down off the floor.

“Roll onto your back,” he’d instructed, and proceeded to play the drums over her belly, using the mound buried in curls to raise the tempo. She’d spread her legs, hoping the sensation would soothe her throbbing clit. Every inch of flesh burned, every nerve smoldered. He tore at her thong, but before he sank into her, he held the pair of sticks in one hand, trailing them from her lips down between her breasts, and over her belly, across the soft mound to her clit, where he held them still, making her writhe for more. Then he tossed them over his shoulder and with one savage plunge, he entered her, and loved her to the beat of the drum. Pounding and tapping, half-crazed, covered with sweat, they rode the crescendo.

“God, I love you,” he’d said, nuzzling her neck while they basked in the afterglow. “Promise you’ll always be mine.”

“I promise. I’ll always be yours.”

She wanted that man back. The one who surrendered to his passion, let it take them to places that made her heart skip a beat just thinking about them.

* * *

Drew knocked on Cassie’s door with a bouquet of wildflowers and an overnight bag in hand. It was the weekend, but she’d have to be at the bakery tomorrow morning early, and he needed to be at the ballpark first thing in the morning.

When she opened the door, his mouth went dry and his dick jumped to attention. No slow-growing burn, it skipped all the preliminaries. It had been misbehaving all day at the mere thought of her, but now with her standing there in her green-light underwear, it was fully primed. The drumbeat in the background registered just before his brain completely ceased functioning, all of its power relegated to sending “breathe!” signals to his lungs.

His mouth automatically found hers. He didn’t need fully operating brain cells for that. When she held onto his ass and pushed her hips into him, the flowers and the duffel hit the floor. He needed both hands.

She skimmed her fingers up under his shirt, and with one tug he had it flying across the room. “Don’t want anything to get in your way, baby.”

He kissed her neck, nipping at every inch of flesh he could reach, until her moans nearly undid him. He pulled on the ribbon between her breasts.

“Let me,” she demanded in a voice so husky he needed several deep breaths to control his response to her.  She stepped away from him, out of his reach, so he could watch but not touch. She propped the bottom of her foot against the wall behind her, while she slowly and methodically unlaced the ribbon holding the camisole together.

Her eyes never left his, and her hands were steady as she put on a little show for him. Gliding her tongue over her lips, wetting them, spreading the moisture over every crevice. His dick was straining under the denim. She cocked her head and gave him a sultry half smile, and that was it, he couldn’t take one more second. He needed to touch her, now.

He reached for her, running his fingers over her exposed breasts, taking a hard bud under each thumb. She arched her back against the wall before pressing her hips into him. He moved closer still, so she could feel him, thick and hard.

She gasped.

“While I’m kissing you, touching you, I want you to think about how that’s going to feel buried inside you later.” Sliding his fingers into her panties, he could feel the moisture collecting, seeping from her core.

Her hands went to his belt buckle, and his mouth to her breast, and he wondered if she could feel the vibrations of his pleasure against her nipple.

“Let’s find your bed.”

“No, here,” she said, unzipping his jeans with her palm grinding into his erection.

“Here? Here,” he repeated, tugging at the ribbons holding her panties together, one in each hand. They slid down her legs resting in a dainty heap at her feet, just as he’d imagined.

She was kneading his backside with one leg hooked over his hip, while he focused all his attention on her clit. With her nails dug into his back, she came hard, her entire body trembling in his hands. Afraid her legs wouldn’t support her, he held on tight, steadying her, while he searched his discarded pants for a condom.

After sheathing himself, he lifted her from the floor, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, using his shoulders and his neck to hold herself up.

“Hold on tight, sweetheart.” He sank into her, leveraging her against the wall, cradling her head protectively. “Quick and dirty, baby. Quick and dirty.” When she whimpered, it crossed his mind for a nanosecond that he was taking her against the wall like an animal. But then she began to move her hips, her fingers sinking into his flesh, while she met his thrusts. There was no way he could stop. Absolutely no way.

It didn’t last long, but neither of them was left unsatisfied. She mewled into his neck, after coming for him a second time. Soft little whimpers, so familiar, so damn sexy, he was almost ready for another round, and he hadn’t even gotten the condom off from the first.

He carried her toward the bedroom, but stopped at the spare room instead, and kicked the door open.

“This isn’t my bedroom.”

“I know, but it’s our chair.” He sat in his favorite chair with her straddling his lap, and she rested her head on his chest. “I noticed it the last time I was here. I was surprised you kept it.”

“I had to. It held so many wonderful memories.” He coiled his arms around her, and boneless, she melted into him.

“I think I’ll spend the rest of the weekend right here, just like this.
Mmmm.
I’m sorry I lost control out there. I didn’t…”

“I loved it. I’ve always loved it when you wanted me so much you couldn’t wait, and you’d lose all control. We’d both lose all control.”

He ran a finger down her spine and she trembled. “Cassie, promise me, no matter what happens between us, if you kick my no-good ass out tomorrow, promise me you won’t ever settle for a nice life and comfortable sex. Promise me.”

“I promise. But I’m not kicking you out, yet. You promised me dinner.”

His lips curled. “I’m going take you to dinner, but first I want another helping of dessert. And this time it’s going to be long and slow.”

* * *

The Blues were playing in New York, and she’d made the weekend trip to be with Drew. Her parents were in town too, and were having dinner with them after the game on Saturday.

It promised to be a big weekend.  Three Yankees and Blues games, which were always an event unto themselves, her parents together with Drew after so many years, and her news. She’d made a big decision, and she’d decided to share it with Drew Sunday morning before the game.

She grabbed his hand as they exited the elevator to her parents’ apartment. “Don’t be nervous.”

“Can’t help but be a little uncomfortable. If I were your father, I’d kick my butt and toss me to the curb with the rest of the trash after what happened at Brown.”

“My parents have always had great perspective. It’s what made my father so successful. And they’ve always really liked you. Thought you were a nice boy,” she teased. “Now if they’d known about all those things you’d been doing to me…”

“What about all those things you did to me?” he said poking his finger into her side while she rang the bell.

“Cassie, honey, it’s so good to see you.” Her mother wrapped her in a hug. “And Drew, let me look at you. So tall and handsome, and you’ve filled out that frame nicely. Come here,” and he got a generous hug, too. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, thank you.”

“How are your brothers?”

“Everyone’s doing great.”

“It must have been nice to be together at Cole’s wedding.”

“It was wonderful. I’m so glad Cassie was able to share it with me. Still hard to believe he’s married, but Alexa is amazing, and she’s a wonderful addition to the family.”

“Dee, did I hear someone selling something at the door?” George Anteros was an imposing figure, not as tall as Drew, but a highly successful, self-made man, who built a Fortune 500 company from the bottom up. Hardworking, honest, and loyal, and a true family man.

“Cassia, my love. You need to come visit us in Miami more. I’ve missed you terribly.”

When he let go of his daughter, he held out his hand to Drew, “How are you, young man?”

“I’m fine thank you,” Drew replied, shaking hands. “Are you enjoying retirement?”

“Don’t let him fool you, he’s not really retired,” Dee Anteros rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Let’s take this inside. You guys go into the living room, and George can tell you all about his
retirement
. I’m stealing Cassie for a few minutes. Come, help me get snacks from the kitchen.” She slid her arm around Cassie’s waist.

George Anteros lounged back in a large upholstered chair. “Good game today.”

“Not a pretty win, but a win’s a win. I’ll take it. The season’s gone better than we expected, maybe better than we deserved. But that’s baseball. Yankees should finish solid, too.”

“From your mouth to God’s ear.”

“Mr. Anteros?”

“We’re all adults now. George, please.”

“I’d like to apologize to you for the way I fell apart at Brown, and left Cassie to pick up the pieces. A responsibility she didn't need. I know she spent a lot of time worrying about me… And I’m also sorry I wasn’t there for her while she was sick. I assure you, I’ve grown up a lot since then, and it’ll never happen again. You have my word.”

George’s face contorted in way that made him look decades older. “When Cassie got sick, the light in her eyes dimmed until I was afraid it had gone out forever. Nothing made her happy. For that matter, nothing made any of us happy. For months and months, everything was some gradation of bad. Her mother and I thought about calling you, we thought you might be able to offer her the comfort we didn’t seem to be able to provide. But each time we brought it up, she flew into a fit, and in the end we decided it wasn’t fair to either of you.”

It was heartbreaking to watch this larger-than-life man reduced to near tears over something that happened so long ago.

“As for what happened at Brown, you were a kid. I can’t imagine Cassie having had that experience. I lost my parents one at a time, and I was much older than you were when it happened. I know how difficult it was for me. There’s nothing to apologize for, son.”

Drew started to speak, but George raised a finger to silence him. “But Cassie’s my daughter, and you’re no longer a kid. She been through a lot, more than any young woman should have to endure, and next time … next time, I won’t be so forgiving.”