Three of Hearts (6 page)

Seth couldn’t help his next series of actions. He got up and went to the window that overlooked the driveway, where he saw a small black sedan. He then went to the door and saw a young man walking toward Mae’s place. She was waiting half way down the stairs for him. Seth could see the man clear enough to see he was close enough in age to be dating her. Seth was suddenly pissed off. He went back to the couch and watched the weather report, seething. But if you asked, Seth Finn couldn’t tell you if it was going to be a heat wave or a snow storm.

Mae and Robert had a good time together getting dinner ready. The conversation flowed easily and they found they had a lot in common, sharing similar tastes in music and movies and even ice cream. By the time Leo arrived, they were onto bottle number two of the wine. Over the next couple of hours the wine continued to flow, as did the conversation and laughs. Before Mae knew it was time for them to head off. Robert left first, saying that he needed to be at the hospital in a couple of hours. Leo lingered a little bit longer but soon enough it was time for him to go as well. With his arm draped over her shoulder in an age old fashion, Mae walked Leo to his car and before he left he gave her a long hug and friendly kiss. They promised to do it again soon and Mae knew that they would. She walked back to the stairs that led to her apartment and was just about to go in when she heard a deep voice coming from the deck.

“Have fun?”

Is that Seth? What they heck is he doing out here in the dark with no lights. Mae walked through her screened porch and out through the other door. Sure enough there was Seth sitting in the same seat he had the night him and Dylan were drinking beer. But this time there was no music and there was no light.

Mae said “Sorry Seth, I didn’t know you were there. Were we too loud?”

Knowing that she was feeling giddy from the wine, it was very likely she had been too loud. She didn’t want to set a bad precedent with the homeowner.

“No you and your boy toys were not loud at all, but I have to say you didn’t strike me as the type to be into threesomes,” Seth hissed feeling rage as his words led to vivid mental images.

Mae was sure the wine was now affecting her hearing.

“I’m sorry what did you say?”

“I said you didn’t strike me to be the type that would be into group sex.”

She was incredulous at his accusation.

“I beg your pardon Seth I don’t know what you are talking about and I do not appreciate you speaking to me like that. What I do in my apartment, that I pay rent for, and with whom, is none of your damn business.” Her bravado definitely was enhanced by the wine, but it was also making her stomach roll.

She started to walk to the porch door when suddenly she was pushed so her back was against the door and her head was between both of Seth’s big hands. His mouth was close to her ear, he spoke softly “Do you have any idea what it is like to walk around all day with a hard on thinking about you and then to see you with two guys?”

Mae tipped her head up so she was looking at his face. His eyes were wide and his mouth was inches away from her forehead. Before she could move or say anything he whispered “and even knowing you were just with two guys, I can’t suppress the need to kiss you right now.”

Without knowing it, her body moved, Mae went up on tip toes and touched her lips to his. His goatee was scratchy but his lips were soft. The kiss started sweet but quickly went to hot in seconds. Remaining on her tip toes she put her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to him. The first lick of his tongue was intoxicating. His lips and tongue moved as if dancing to music. Mae had never been kissed like this. She felt liquid need all the ways to her toes. By the time he ended the kiss, they were both panting. His hands were moving up and down her sides, enjoying her softness, her warmth.

“They’re gay,” she whispered against his lips

“Thank God,” and with that Seth kissed Mae again.

Mae woke the next morning with a smile and swollen lips. She had gone to bed late after staying up with Seth. They had talked about their mutual attraction and had kissed some more. She tried to cut away from him but as if a force was taking over control of her limbs, she just couldn’t move away. They left each other with the understanding that they would look deeper into this chemistry between them and would spend some time together today. Seth had a meeting at Aidan’s school but would be back after lunch.

Mae did what she needed to do around the house and decided to grab a book and head out to the gazebo. She trotted down the stairs and over the mulch path she stepped into the gazebo and found Megan sitting on the floor with two dolls.

“Hi Megan, I didn’t know you were in here, do you mind if I come in?”

The little girl had her fire colored hair in two pigtails and a ketchup stain marred her white shirt. Her knees were covered with dirt and one of her shoelaces was undone. But when she looked at Mae she smiled. Her smile was so big; Mae could see she had lost one of her front teeth.

“Sure, I’m just having a tea party with my dolls. Would you like some tea?”

“A cup of tea sounds wonderful.”

Mae sat on the floor with her legs crossed and sipped tea out of a pretend cup. Mae was introduced to Megan’s dolls and was told all about life at Megan’s preschool.

After talking for a while, the tea party was forgotten and Megan asked Mae questions about her life. Mae quickly learned she was a sponge for information. Mae told her all about growing up in the military and how she moved around a lot. How she loved being a nurse and that she helped take care of people. She also told her how much she liked living here at Megan’s house.

“I’m glad you moved in. I miss my Auntie Robyn but I’m glad a nice lady moved in. Can I come over and have tea with you sometime and use your tea cups? I saw them when I was over there with Lynne. They are really pretty. I like how some have flowers and others just have designs on them” Megan said quickly that Mae wasn’t sure she caught all of it.

“A royal tea party at my house sounds like a lovely idea. Maybe tomorrow, if it is ok with your dad.”

“Daddy works a lot. But he always plays with me when he’s at home, especially when I’m sad.”

Mae had a hunch of what made Megan sad, so, trying to ease her sadness, she just said “well that is what Daddy’s are supposed to do. They are supposed to play and take care of their little girls. And do you want to know a secret?” Mae whispered to Megan.

“What? I want to know a secret.” Megan said with such intrigue.

“Daddy’s love to have tea parties” Mae thought of Seth sitting having a tea party and she wanted to laugh, but she also knew that if it is what his daughter would want, he would do it for her.

Mae and Megan continued to talk about this and that then Lynne called out for Megan to come in for lunch. Mae decided she should eat something too.

Megan asked Lynne if Mae could have lunch with her. Lynne said that was a splendid idea and offered to make Mae a sandwich as well.

“What kind of sandwich would you like, Sweet Mae?”

“I’ll have exactly what Megan is having.”

“Two peanut butter and fluff sandwiches with chips and juice boxes on the side.”

Mae and Megan sat at the patio set on the far side of the deck closest to the driveway. They were almost done with their lunch when Seth’s truck pulled into the driveway. Both Aidan and Conner hoped out of the back and ran up the stairs to the deck.

Seth was warmed by the sight of Mae sitting with Megan. Conner and Aidan were talking to her a mile a minute explaining that since he had gone to Aidan’s school he decided to dismiss them both earlier to get a jump on the weekend.

A weekend Seth planned on spending getting to know Mae.

“Hey Dad, can we go out on the speed boat and go tubing? It’s so warm and it’s been forever since we’ve all gone together.” Conner said with hope in his eyes.

“Why not? Everyone inside to get their suits on, Mae would you like to join us?” he said and couldn’t help but notice how her face lit up when he looked at her.

“I’d love to come along. Let me just go get changed and I’ll be right out” she said and went in to her apartment.

With a smile on his face and savoring the excitement of seeing Mae in a swim suit, Seth walked into the house. Conner was already in his swim trunks coming toward Seth when he said “you really like Mae don’t you?”

The conversation Seth knew he needed to have but didn’t want to have. He told himself he would always be honest with his kids, so he would be honest with Conner. “Yes I do, and she seems to like me. I don’t know where it is going but we are taking it slow.” Waiting for a response from his oldest son, and hoping it was a good one, he was relieved when Conner said, “cool.”

Twenty minutes later they were all in their swim trunks waiting for Mae to come down to the dock. Seth was getting the speed boat ready for departure. He made sure Megan had her life jacket on and the boys had tied the line for the tubes correctly to the boat.

“Hey Dylan, down here on the dock” Conner yelled. Seth looked up to see Dylan making his way toward them.

“Where’s everyone off to?” Dylan asked and was answered by Megan “We’re going tubing, want to come?” She flashed that toothless smile and quickly had added another person to their party.

Seth was just about to yell for Mae when he saw her walking toward the boat. She was wearing a pale pink button down shirt that hung to right above her knees. The shirt was not fitted but still showed off curve after curve. The ways she walked made her breast jiggle. As she stepped down on to the boat she took Seth’s hand. He looked at her straight in the eye and hoped she would get the unsaid message that she looked fantastic.

“Oh hi Dylan, how are you?”

“Doing fine, Mae. Just fine. I’ve been asked by a lovely redhead to join her out on the water. So how could I say no? The fact that I get to look at not one beautiful lady but two just makes this day better and better” Dylan smiled, winking at Mae and giving Megan’s shoulder a squeeze.

They headed out away from the dock, Seth and Dylan were talking about someone named O’Neil and Conner and Aidan were talking about how long they each could stay on their tubes. Mae noticed Megan sitting next to Dylan with her eyes closed with her face in the wind. From Mae’s vantage point she could see Seth perfectly. He was standing as he drove and he wore blue swim trunks with a white sleeveless shirt with blue down the sides. His head was shiny from the sun’s reflection and his sunglasses were composed of reflective blue glass. Mae smiled at the way he looked at her when she stepped onto the boat. She understood the need to keep things low key while the kids were around but she hoped that they would have some time alone soon, because she honestly couldn’t think about anything but his kiss.

The next hour went by fast, the boys raced each other time after time and Megan got to ride on the two person tube with Dylan and then Conner. Even Seth got out on the tube a couple of times while Dylan drove the boat. After so much fun tubing they decided to go out to the floating dive deck. The boys were in the water having a splash fight with Dylan while Megan sat on the dive deck with her feet in the water. Seth sat in the driver’s seat and pulled Mae towards him and placed her between his spread legs. The wind whipped her pony tail around and kept hitting Seth in the face. He put his hands on her waist and squeezed. “Hey, I missed you” he said in his sexy voice.

“You did?” Mae couldn’t help herself; she still couldn’t believe Seth was interested in her.

“I did. I had some very provocative dreams last night after I left you and I have to tell you Mae, and that got me to wondering…” Seth left the sentence unfinished.

He wanted to know what she had on underneath the button down shirt so as she stood there with her hands on his shoulders he slowly unbuttoned the first button.

Mae watched as his big hands deftly handled the tiny buttons. He made quick work of four buttons. He pulled the sides apart and a smiled spread on his face. “Beautiful, just like I knew you’d be.”

She wore a purple tankini that had a small circle cut out at her cleavage. The hem of the tankini showed off her belly before the waist of her black swim shorts.

Mae was ecstatic at his admiration of her suit. She didn’t feel comfortable just wearing the suit without the cover up but Seth didn’t seem to mind.

“I wish we were alone right now and I could show you how sexy I think you are,” Seth whispered in her ear.

All of a sudden there was kissing sounds coming from the water. Both Mae and Seth looked to find Dylan, Conner and Aidan looking at them making kissing sounds.

“Excuse me, honey” and with that Seth got up and walked around Mae, pulled off his sunglasses and shirt and jumped right in to start the splash fight of all splash fights.

As Mae watched the guys splash and laugh, she noticed that Megan was staring at her from the dive deck. She gave Megan a smile and was answered with Megan looking away and crossing her arms. Mae gave Megan some space by not trying to draw her attention again but she kept looking over to Megan. The little girl never said a word or changed her position.

They all climbed back on board and headed back to Seth’s dock. It was a quieter ride in, but only Mae felt uncomfortable. Once they reached the docks, the boys hopped right out and on to the dock. Conner reached in and lifted Megan out. Dylan and Seth went about untying the tubes and securing them. Mae climbed out and didn’t know if she should wait for Seth or head back to her apartment.

Dylan walked by her and winked at her, he said “later Mae” while giving her butt a small pat as he passed by.

Smiling at Dylan’s outrageousness, Mae decided to wait for Seth. Seth had his glasses back on and walked towards her. He gave her a soft kiss on her lips, “Have fun?”

“I did, but I think there is a problem with Megan. After she saw us she looked so unhappy,” Mae said with concern.

“I noticed it to. I’m sure she’ll be fine later. I told the kids I would take them to Luigi’s for dinner. Why don’t you come with us? We can eat and talk and then when we get home and the kids are in bed, I can have you for dessert.” He bobbed his eyebrows at her and her stomach started to get butterflies.