MYSTERY: COZY MYSTERY: WOMEN SLEUTHS: Madeline's Secret Recipe Series (Cozy Humor Kitchen Detective Mystery) (Suspense Sweet Cove Short Story Culinary Comedy)

by Lorrie Bannett

  Daniel and Meri made it a habit to go on their nightly walks. It was where they first got to know each other and it seemed to allow them to communicate better when they could see and hear the waves crashing on the shore. On this particular night Daniel led Meri to a place where they had made memories, it was the place where he had first introduced her to passion. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Daniel spoke up.

  “I love being here with you,” Daniel said. “I was afraid we might never get things back on track. I don’t know what I would do without you in my life.”

  “Losing the baby was hard on me,” Meri said. “I know that I wasn’t ready for a baby, but at the same time I could never do anything to hurt a baby either. I had started to come to terms with the fact I was pregnant. I think I knew all along that you would not really put our lives in danger by wrecking the bike, but it was easier for me to doubt you than it was for me to accept reality.”

  “I would never do anything to put you in danger,” Daniel said. “I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I have fallen head over heels in love with you. I realize that you still have a couple of years left in college, but I still want you in my life. I want to be there with you when you finally graduate, when you pass your state exams, and when you get your first job.”

  They sat for a long time just enjoying the ocean breeze, satisfied to just be together. Meri was more at peace than she had been in a long time. She knew that she loved this man with his dark looks. Beneath that rugged exterior beat a heart that was pure gold. Daniel is her soul mate, and she couldn’t ever imagine a life without him in it.

  The next morning Daniel decided to take Meri on a helicopter ride. After breakfast they boarded a chopper that gave them an aerial view of the entire city. Meri delighted in seeing the people playing on the beach. They went out over the ocean and she spotted a school of dolphins frolicking around a fishing charter. It was amazing to her how different the world looked from this perspective.

  Chapter 8

  All too soon the spring break was over and Meri returned to her studies. She signed up to take summer classes again so that she could stay in Memphis. It was the only way she could think of to tell her mother that she was not going to spend the summer in Jackson. She and Daniel were closer than ever and she could not bear to spend the entire summer away from him.

  One Saturday Daniel had promised Meri he would take her to the zoo. She planned to stay at his place on Friday night so that she would be ready the next morning. When she walked into his apartment she was surprised to find the entire place lit with candles. There was a table set for two and she found a vase of red roses in the middle. Something smelled delicious and she looked at Daniel with a questioning look.

  “I have a great evening planned for us,” Daniel said. “All you have to do is sit at the table and allow me to wait on you.”

  Meri did as he said. He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two plates filled with spaghetti and garlic bread. It looked and smelled great and Meri found herself starving.

  “You never told me you can cook,” said Meri.

  “Well, there are a few dishes I am fairly good at,” Daniel said. “I learned a long time ago that if I was going to remain a bachelor I had to learn to cook something. Eating out all of the time got old, not to mention expensive.”

  The spaghetti was delicious and Meri cleaned her plate. She made a mental note that she could not eat like this all the time or she would gain weight. After they finished their meal Daniel cleared the dishes and returned with two pieces of chocolate cake.

  “I couldn’t fix you a good meal without dessert,” Daniel said. “But I have to admit, I didn’t bake the cake. It came from a local bakery. My cooking skills are limited to the top of the stove.”

  After the cake, Meri was stuffed. She leaned back in her chair and surveyed her surroundings. Daniel had gone to a lot of trouble to turn his place into a romantic getaway. He came around to her side of the table and took her hand. When she was standing he kissed her gently. He knew that it was too soon to get her desires stirred up. He still had a surprise in store and he needed to have a clear head. He took her hand and led her down the hallway to his bedroom. When Meri stepped inside, she noticed that the room was also bathed in candlelight. She got goosebumps just anticipating what Daniel had in store next.

  Daniel led Meri to the bed where his next surprise was waiting. Her eyes widened when she noticed there was a heart made from rose petals on the top of the bed. In the middle of that heart was a small box. She turned to look at Daniel, but he told her to look inside the box. She leaned over to pick up the box and she noticed that it was light. She cried out when she opened it and found a giant diamond glimmering in the candlelight. She turned to Daniel only to find him in the floor on his knees.

  “Meri Kee, I want you to marry me,” Daniel said. “I realize you must first finish college, but I don’t ever want to lose you. I love you and I don’t ever want to spend one day of my life without you in it.”

  Meri had tears running down her cheeks. She never expected this. Of course, they had discussed spending their future together, but she figured it would come much later once she had graduated. She gently lifted the ring from its box and started to put it on her finger. Daniel stopped her.

  “Please, let me put it on you,” Daniel said.

  Meri held out her hand while Daniel slowly slid the ring onto her finger. She held her hand up and admired its beauty. The ring was a perfect fit. She turned to Daniel and kissed him while the tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

  Daniel tasted the salty tears as the kiss intensified. He loved this woman and he felt the need to make her his. He slowly started removing her clothes. When she stood before him naked he took the time to admire her beautiful body. His clothes followed hers in quick succession. He kissed her again and she could feel his manhood throbbing between them. She loved the fact that she had that effect on him. He laid her across the bed and his mouth immediately started its slow torture to her body. He sucked on each of her breasts, causing the nipples to harden. His mouth continued down her body, leaving a hot path of desire across her stomach and lower. She felt him spread her legs and blow on her clitoris. His tongue soon followed, licking and biting until she thought she could not stand anymore. Daniel used one hand to spread Meri’s lips while he tortured her with the fingers on his other hand. He loved watching her reaction when his fingers came in contact with her deepest womanhood. She was already very moist and he could see her juices start to flow out of her.

  “Please, I need to feel your cock inside me now,” Meri begged.

  Meri was surprised when Daniel lay on his back. He told her to straddle him with her legs. When she did as he said, Daniel picked up her hips and positioned her to take entry. Meri’s eyes widened when she felt Daniel’s hard manhood enter her deeply. She felt herself convulse around him when he started moving inside of her. Her body naturally started to respond as she started moving to meet his thrusts. She felt a sense of power when she realized that this position gave her control. She watched his face as their passion started to build. She threw her head back and shut her eyes when Daniel reached down and started playing with her clitoris at the same time he was pounding into her. She felt that wonderful feeling between her legs start spreading across her body. She moaned when the pace quickened and hot fire consumed her. Daniel matched her moans as he pounded her as fast and hard as he could. He felt her canal convulsing as his hot seed buried deep inside her.

  Anna was shocked when Meri came back Sunday evening sporting an engagement ring. She could see how happy Meri was and offered her congratulations. They sat up late talking about their future. Meri told Anna that her and Daniel plan to wait until after graduation before getting married. But in the meantime she wanted to start planning her wedding. She knew that at some point they would have to tell their parents, but she dreaded that day. Meri wanted everybody to be happy for her, but she feared her mother might obj
ect at her choice of men.

  Meri and Daniel discussed when they were going to tell their parents, but they agreed to wait until after graduation. Meri didn’t need any undue stress in her life right now. She needed to stay focused on her studies and she didn’t need the distraction of trying to convince her mother that she was in love with Daniel. She would have to remember to take off her ring any time she was home for a visit. Oh how she longed for everything to be out in the open.

  Meri and Daniel continued spending their weekends together, but lately she found herself taking her books with her and getting Daniel to help her understand complicated math problems and how they related to medicine. While Daniel couldn’t answer a lot of her questions, he could quiz her and help her prepare for her upcoming finals. He knew that it was very important to her to not just make a passing grade, but to pass with the highest score possible.

  Meri is a bundle of nerves. She had finally made it through her final exams and now she is supposed to graduate in a little over a month. The problem is, her mother wants her to come home and stay until graduation day. Meri doesn’t want to leave Memphis because she wants to stay near Daniel. She and Daniel discussed it and decided that she should move back home for the time being. They could still see each other on weekends, they just wouldn’t get to spend the night. Daniel said he did not mind driving to Jackson if it meant getting to spend time with her. And after graduation, they were going to have to tell their parents their plans. Nothing good could come from them continuing to keep up the charade, and Meri hated not getting to wear her ring.

  Graduation day finally arrived. Meri had driven back to Memphis the previous day so that she could purchase her cap and gown. She told her mother that she would stay at a hotel, but instead she went straight to Daniel’s. She had sorely missed getting to spend her weekends in his apartment. Daniel had told her he was going to attend her graduation, even if it did make their parents suspicious. And that’s exactly what it did when he walked in. Both Amanda and Harold asked him why he was there. He simply explained he was there to support his stepsister.

  Chapter 9

  After the graduation ceremony can to an end, Amanda and Harold agreed to take Meri out for a great dinner. Daniel was invited and he and Meri stole a minute of privacy, determining this would be the best time to tell their parents about their love. Amanda was expecting Meri to move back home and Meri had been trying to find an excuse to stay in Memphis.

  Meri decided to put her ring on when she went to dinner. She had butterflies in her stomach, but she knew that once everything was out in the open it would be better for her and Daniel.

  When they arrived at the restaurant, the hostess seated them in a quiet corner where they could have a conversation. It almost seemed to Meri that the hostess was aware of their need for privacy. Their waitress came and took their drink orders and to tell them about the special for the day. When she returned with their drinks, Daniel took a deep breath.

  “There is something that Meri and I need to discuss with the two of you,” Daniel said. “We have been seeing each other for about three years, and we have fallen in love with each other.”

  Meri couldn’t help but notice the dark look on Harold’s face. Amanda just sat there staring, not sure what to say.

  “I know this comes as a shock to the two of you, but we really want the two of you to be happy for us,” Meri said. “Daniel has asked me to marry him, and I have agreed.”

  She held her ring up to show them that they were serious. Amanda started to cry, and Harold was obviously not happy.

  “We really want the two of you to be involved in helping us prepare for a wedding,” Meri said. “We have agreed that we will wait until after I take my state exams, but once I get my license I plan to look for a job in Memphis. Daniel has too many years on his job for us to live anywhere but here.”

  Neither Amanda nor Harold made any move to congratulate the two. Amanda was in shock and didn’t know what to say, but Harold was disappointed that the two of them felt the need to keep such a secret from their parents. And Harold knew his son’s past with women and he was afraid Meri would get hurt. If this thing between Daniel and Meri ended badly, it would also put a strain on his marriage to Amanda.

  They somehow managed to get through their meal, but the situation was uncomfortable. Meri told her mom that she planned to stay in Memphis so that she could study for her exam, and also look for a job. Amanda was a little disappointed, but she knew it made good sense, since the state exam was given in Memphis.

  Meri wished that her mother was more excited. She really needed to have her advice on planning a wedding. And she and Daniel wanted both of their parents there. They both desperately wanted their parent’s approval, but they knew they had to give them a little time to adjust to the idea.

  One day Meri came up with an idea that she thought might help bring their parents around. She called her mother to tell her she had passed her state exams, but she also needed her help. She asked Amanda if she would consider coming to Memphis and helping her shop for a wedding gown. There was a temporary silence at the other end, but finally Amanda agreed. They planned to get together on Saturday while Amanda had the day off.

  When her mother came to Memphis they agreed to meet for lunch before going shopping. She needed to talk to her mother and make her understand that Daniel was right for her. Meri told Amanda that she and Daniel had developed a friendship with they all went on the family vacation to Florida. At the time they hadn’t made any plans to see each other again, but then they ran into each other at a dairyette that was close to the college. Meri even told her mother about the pregnancy and the accident that ended it. She hoped that Amanda would understand that if the relationship made it through that, then it was likely they would be happy forever.

  Amanda could see how much it pained Meri to tell her about the pregnancy. She could also see how Meri smiled at the mention of Daniel’s name. She looked at Meri and she realized that her daughter had grown into a beautiful young woman. She appeared to be in complete control of her life, and she knew what she wanted. She loved Daniel, and she had been willing to open up about something so personal as a miscarriage to win her mom’s approval. How could she not be happy for her daughter? Her daughter had stuck to her guns about completing her education before getting married. She was a grown woman who had made smart decisions for her life, and she must somehow make Harold realize that Meri and Daniel belong together.

  Meri and Amanda left the restaurant arm in arm, heading toward Davis Bridal. Amanda was looking forward to seeing her daughter find that perfect gown. She knew that Meri would be beautiful, no matter what gown she chose. Love looked good on Meri. Amanda hoped that Meri and Daniel would find the same kind of happiness as she and Harold. She looked forward at the future and smiled. Their family get-togethers would definitely be interesting!