by Jean Joachim
“I do.”
“She’s proud of you. We’ve talked about how well you turned out and how it’s a fuckin’ miracle you did,” Tom gave a short laugh.
Matt bent down and sobbed into his hands.
Tom retrieved a box of tissues from the bedroom. Matt dried his eyes.
“Son, do you love this girl, Dusty?”
“I do.”
“Then, go get her. Forget all the crap about women. You’re not responsible for any of it.” Tom closed his bony fingers over Matt’s forearm. “Hell, look at me. It’s too late for me. I chose my path, maybe not a good choice, but one I made on my own. Don’t make my mistakes.”
“But Dad…”
“Never mind. Go to her. Take whatever happiness you can find, because it’s so hard to come by. Marnie would want you to. And so would your mother. Don’t let old ghosts stand in your way. Find your own happiness and forget the rest.”
“But what if…”
“Forget that shit. The world is full of ‘what if’s.’ You can’t control life. Nothing is safe. Be with her. Marry her. And if something happens, be grateful for the time you had together.”
“Do you feel that way about Ma?”
Tom nodded. “I do. I like to think back on the happy times. There were many. In her prime, she was a wonderful woman, a lot like you. Giving. Loving. Until alcohol wrecked her.”
“I never knew.”
“Now, you do. So, put it to rest. Let it go.”
“I’ll try. I’ll try.”
“Good. I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”
Matt followed his father into the bedroom, gave him his medicine, tucked him in, and kissed his forehead. He turned out the lights and tiptoed back to the living room. He flicked off the lamps and stood in the dark by the window with another glass of bourbon. He watched outside. The night was quiet, the moon full.
That famous phrase, “the truth will set you free” came to him, and he decided it fit his situation. His mind was topsy-turvy, trying to sort out all the new information. What a hard life his father had had, yet he still loved Matt and muddled along as best he could.
This new story changed everything. Perhaps his father hadn’t turned out to be as worthless as he had thought. He had stood alone to raise two kids, instead of letting the state take them away. Matt had to be grateful. It wasn’t the best home, but it was his. He wasn’t some foster child shuffled from place to place.
He only hoped it wasn’t too late for him.
* * * *
Before he could move forward with his life, Matt had to get his head, straight. He returned to the grief counselor who had helped him cope with his sister’s passing. He had four weeks before he had to be in Florida for the afternoon baseball camp for kids. He had wasted so much time. He visited the counselor three times a week, hoping to speed up the healing.
Finally, it was time to go to south. He’d rented the same house he’d shared with his teammates at spring training the year before. Camp was three weeks this year, expanded for an extra week based on the success of last year.
As he packed his bag, he wished Dusty would be there, instead of Nicki. It had been a couple of months since he’d seen her. Perhaps that ship had sailed, and it was too late for him to make amends and try again? He shrugged. No time to worry, he had a plane to catch.
Matt stood at the mirror, tying his gold tie, then he brushed off his black suit. He wore a new shirt, in light blue, not white. He’d decided it was time to start doing things differently. And the way he dressed was the first step. He threw his glove in the valise and closed it up. A ding on his cell alerted him to the fact that the limo was there to take him to the airport. When he traveled solo for the team, he went in style. Limo to and from the airport and a seat in first class.
He arrived in Paradise in time for dinner at The Salty Crab. Being alone, he ate at the bar. An attractive blonde made a play or him, but she couldn’t compare to Dusty, so he politely turned her down. Not that his dick wouldn’t relish some action, but it wouldn’t be the same unless the woman beneath him was the one he still loved.
The next morning, he had breakfast in his room. Parking his car at ten, he strolled toward the stadium. There was much to do to get ready for the kids that afternoon. Matt liked to start early and be prepared. He waved at the guard, who nodded and admitted him.
“My partner in crime here yet?” he asked.
“She’s in the locker room, Mr. Jackson.”
“Matt, please. Guess I’d better knock this time.”
The guard grinned. “Guess you’d better.”
He rapped loudly on the door and waited.
“Just a minute!” came to him in a clear, sweet voice.
Matt smacked his head. Dusty and Nicki were friends, but they didn’t sound alike. That sure as hell sounded like Dusty, not Nicki. Was his hearing going? Or would every female sound like her now?
He stood by the door, thinking, for a moment too long. It flew open, smacking into him, almost knocking him down. A woman followed, bumping into his chest. He grabbed her upper arms to keep them both from falling. Damn, it was Dusty!
“What are you doing here?” they said, in unison. Then, they laughed.
“You first,” he said.
“I agreed to do this, remember? I was told Nat was substituting for you.”
“Who told you that?”
“Nicki.”
Matt chuckled. “Cal told me Nicki was substituting for you. I guess there are a couple of matchmakers at work here.”
“A commitment is a commitment. I told Cal Crawley I’d do this, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to back out.”
“I told Cal the same thing.”
They laughed. Her smile warmed his heart.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” he said, boldly taking the first step.
“Me too.”
“Can we talk? A lot has happened since I last saw you.”
“Sure.”
Matt took her elbow. “Let’s walk,” he said, guiding her to the field.
“What’s up?” She turned a quizzical gaze his way.
“I’m feeling so different. I don’t know if you’ve moved on. I haven’t,” he began.
“Not exactly easy to move on from you, Matt.”
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He captured her fingers with his as they strolled through the outfield. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“About me?” Fear flashed through her eyes.
“Yes. In a good way,” he said fast, holding up his hand.
“How’s that?”
“I’d be okay with you continuing to play ball after we got married.”
She stopped short and faced him. “What?”
“Yep. I’d live with it. Having you’d be worth it.”
“And if something happened?”
“I’d find a way to be grateful for the time we had together.”
“Whoa! That’s a huge about-face,” she said.
“I know it is. I had a heart-to-heart with my father. Learned some things. I’ve been thinking a lot about you, about us. If you’re still willing, if you still love me, marry me. I’m going nuts being without you.” He patted his pants pocket, grateful he’d kept her ring with him for good luck.
“What? Are you sure?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my life. What do you say?”
“I say, I’m amazed.”
“Do you still love me?”
Tears clouded her eyes. “I tried to stop. I mean, what was the point? I figured it would be so much easier if I didn’t love you anymore. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t. Oh, Matt, I’ve missed you so much,” she said, disintegrating into a sob and falling into his embrace.
Matt’s eyes watered as he held her close, whispering into her hair, “Oh, baby. I’m so glad to hear that.”
Her arms tightened around his waist. She buried her face in his shoulder.
“I love you, Dusty.” Matt fishe
d the little, blue box out of his pocket. Fingering it, he tapped her on the back. “I still have your ring.”
Sniffling, she stepped back. Her gaze went to his hand. “No shit, Sherlock!” She shoved his arm, and he dropped it.
Matt stooped to pick it up then leaned forward on one knee. “Since I’m down here anyway… Will you marry me, Dusty Carmichael?” He glanced up, losing his gaze in the glow of her eyes.
“Can I stay with softball?”
“Yes.”
“Will you promise to love me forever?”
“Yes.”
“Then ‘yes,’ I will!” Her grin lit up her face.
Matt opened the box, took out the ring, and slid it on her finger. “Why do I think I’ve done this before?” He snickered.
She laughed. “But this time’s for keeps.”
“Damn right, it is,” he said.
He rose up, and pulled her toward him. She raised her chin to receive his kiss. The softness, the deliciousness, of her lips left his memory of it wanting. A jolt of desire flew through him.
He slipped two fingers under her shirt, enjoying the silkiness of her skin. Gratitude for being granted a second chance surrounded his heart. He couldn’t believe his luck that this luscious woman would be by his side for the rest of his life. He wanted to stay in the embrace forever, and now, he could.
Reluctantly, he released her, realizing that in a few more minutes they’d be out of control. As he walked back toward the locker room, his feet seemed to float. Was he awake or was he dreaming? He glanced down at Dusty, her arm snaked around his waist, matching him stride for stride, and his smile stretched from ear to ear.
He licked his lower lip to revisit the taste of her. Dusty would be all his, now and forever. Loneliness, his constant companion, now reduced to ash, fell off his soul like dust in the wind.
“Move in with me. I’m at the house. We’ll have it all to ourselves.”
“Even the swimming pool?”
“Even the pool.”
“We can go skinny-dipping?”
“Whenever you want, baby.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.”
The image of her naked in the pool kick-started his groin. Desire, dormant for months, sparked to flame, making him tingle from his fingertips to his toes. He could hardly wait to touch her, make love to her.
“Now, we can share the locker room,” she said.
Sparks flew straight to his dick. He’d never done it in the locker room before.
* * * *
Dusty and Matt spent the next two hours setting up the equipment, going over the roster, and deciding on criteria for selecting teams. The parents and kids started arriving at three thirty. By four, they had full attendance. Then, the work began.
The lovers worked side-by-side until five thirty. With an extra week, they could accomplish more, but that also meant more planning. At six thirty, they headed for dinner at the Salty Crab. There, they spent most of the time laying out goals and a timetable. As they had the first time they did camp, they worked well together.
After Matt paid the check, they headed for their cars.
“Let’s drive to your place and pick up your stuff.”
He followed her to the cheap motel on the strip, where she had been staying.
“Glad to get you out of that dump,” he said, hoisting her bag up and into the trunk of his car. “Tomorrow, we turn in your car. One’s enough.”
“Okay.” She didn’t expect to like a man with a take-charge attitude, but since she’d not had the support of her family, she’d come to appreciate his protective stance. He wanted to take care of her, and she realized that she needed it, wanted it, and welcomed it. With Matt, it was all about love, not about control.
“Like husband and wife already.” He chuckled.
“Works for me,” she said, a gleam in her eye.
Matt carried her suitcase into the master bedroom, where he was sleeping. The room was enormous. There was a ladies’ dressing table, in addition to a pair of dressers and a lounge chair. This room was big enough to be an entire apartment, needing only a kitchen to make it complete. After her cramped quarters in New York, an entire house was total luxury. She fell backwards on the bed, arms and legs outstretched.
Matt followed her, hesitating at the edge.
“Come to me, Matt.”
She gestured, and he followed. Opening her arms, she welcomed him. He took the hint and trapped her legs between his. Bracing himself on his hands, he lowered his mouth to cover hers. He tasted heavenly, like a bit of steak and coffee, with a touch of chocolate thrown in. She wound her arms around his neck, arching into him.
He pushed up and moved his attack to her neck. Rolling on his side, he freed up one hand to cup her breast.
“Oh, I’ve missed these,” he muttered.
“They’ve missed you too,” she replied.
As he caressed and kissed her, time stopped. When she was so aroused she could barely stand it, he plunged into her. As if in slow motion, she raised her gaze to his, watching him as he thrust in and pulled out, slowly.
The experience was different than before. The emotion ratcheted up a thousand times in intensity. Matt’s guard was down, gone completely, and love shone through his eyes. It warmed her, covered her heart, like a protective shield. It was all about them, as if there weren’t any other people on the face of the Earth. She fell into the rhythm of their joining as he moved in and out of her, again and again. She rested her palms on his butt, feeling it ride along as he made love to her.
As their bodies became one, so did their hearts. No walls, no hiding, no secrets, no fear—they united in a new, basic, primal way. Worries about him breaking her heart drifted away on a tide of mutual adoration. She loved him, wholly and completely, holding nothing back.
As the sexual tension grew inside her, she licked her lips. She shut her eyes as her climax made her tremble, her muscles tightened, releasing pleasure. He dropped his head, his mouth on her shoulder, and convulsed in her arms.
He rested his sweaty forehead on hers. The experience rendered her speechless. Dusty thought she’d hit the heights of sexual pleasure making love with Matt before, but that couldn’t hold a candle to this. The complete blending of love, lust, and trust took their union higher than she had ever dreamt possible.
Afterward, Matt tucked her into his shoulder and pulled up the covers.
“I can’t believe we’re going to get married.”
“Is that bad or good?” She turned, resting her palm on his chest.
“Beyond good. A dream come true.”
“I love you, Matt.”
“I know, babe. And I love you. We’re the two luckiest people on the planet.”
“You can say that again,” she said.
“I’ll be saying it every day for the next fifty years.”
* * * *
The next day, they were surprised by visitors. Dan and Holly showed up at the stadium about noon.
“Can you have lunch with us?” Dan asked.
“What’s up?”
“It’s kind of important.”
Matt looked at Dusty and shrugged. “Sure. Fine,” she said. “Let me grab my bag.”
They headed for the Salty Crab. They ordered beer and fish and chips.
“So, what’s up?” Matt asked, taking a sip of his brew.
“We have a big favor to ask,” Dan said, glancing at Holly.
“Shoot,” Matt said.
“Well, Holly and I have decided to get married, down here.”
“Here?” Matt cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah. In Paradise. We’re going to a justice of the peace, and we wanted to know if you two would stand up for us.”
“What?”
“Oh, how romantic!” Dusty beamed.
“Will you? Both of you?” Dan’s glance skipped from Matt to Dusty and back.
“Of course, we will. But what happened?”
“My parents were being a giant pa
in in the butt,” Holly said.
“Mine weren’t much better,” Dan piped up.
“So, we decided to get married here, and they could each throw whatever kind of party they want for us, in their own town, with their own friends. I mean, we don’t give a damn about the party. We just want to get married in peace. Ya know?”
“I get it,” Dusty said. “I think that’s so romantic. I’m in.”
“Me too. Very brave, guys, very brave,” Matt added.
“Thanks,” Holly said, her face flushed.
“So, when’s the big event?” Matt asked.
“We didn’t set a date yet, because we wanted to talk to you first.”
“We’re off this weekend,” Dusty put in.
“Hmm. How about Saturday, then?” Holly asked.
Matt and Dusty nodded.
“I’ll take everyone to dinner after. It’ll be our wedding feast,” Dan said.
“Damn right, you will. And I’m ordering steak and lobster. On your dime, buddy.” Matt smiled.
Dan laughed. “Hell, throw in caviar and vintage champagne. A guy doesn’t get married every day.”
They parted at the parking lot. It was Thursday. They still had two days before Dan and Holly’s wedding. And a ton of kids to teach at camp. Days were exhausting and nights were filled with love. On Friday, after the kids left, Matt and Dusty cleaned up and stowed the gear before they headed for the locker room.
“How about we conserve water, babe. Shower together?”
“Here?”
“Yep.” He snickered.
“Why, you naughty boy. Sure! Why not?” She tossed her clothes on a chair. “Last one in’s a rotten egg.”
Matt laughed as he stripped off his sweats. Once under the spray, they soaped each other up. After rinsing off, Matt bent Dusty forward. She was flexible and could touch her toes. As she reached, Matt came up behind her. He nudged her feet farther apart, rubbed himself along her sex, and then eased in. She gasped then giggled.
“Good?” he asked.
“Amazing!” she replied.
Matt barely controlled himself. Sex with the woman who had committed her life to him cranked up the heat level in his blood to boiling. His dick saluted every time she touched him. Their connection grew stronger every day, every night. Waking up to her snuggled into him brought peace and comfort to his heart.
