Cupid Scores: (Western Historical Small Town Contemporary Romance)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  This meant that Meghan would have to cut her lunch short and return to her desk or be bombarded with Kevin's flirtatious dumbness until it reached a crescendo where he would ask her if she'd like to go to the movies with him Friday night.

  "Hi Kevin," she said. "The library is busy with seniors working on their final term papers."

  "Yeah, it's that time of year. Got any great plans for the summer? I'm going on a cruise," he said. "A single's cruise."

  "That's wonderful," she said knowing instinctively what his next words were going to be.

  "I was thinking, hey you're single, I'm single. What if we went on this singles cruise together. We could have a good time," he said and Max walked in the door.

  The expression on her face must have clued him in. He grinned. "Meghan, I was looking for you. What time do you want me to pick you up Saturday morning? We need to get an early start."

  She frowned at him. They weren't doing anything Saturday morning. He'd been pressuring her to go out with him again, but they hadn't confirmed anything. Sure she owed him one for helping with her car, buying her the new X, but she hadn't agreed to anything. But then again...if it got rid of Googly Eyes...

  "I was thinking eight o'clock. What are we doing?"

  He grinned and she knew he'd found an opening and he was going to run with it. "It's a surprise."

  Kevin looked between the two of them. "You're dating the coach?"

  Max smiled at him. "We dated back in high school. You weren't here then, but we were known as M&M. Now we've returned and well, I couldn't resist her. So we're seeing each other again. Who knows where this will lead."

  Glaring at him, she couldn't believe he was blathering about this in front of everyone in the lounge. The rumor mill would be working overtime, spreading gossip whispering M&M are back together again. And what could she do?

  Call him out and face Googly Eyes McBride's comfort everyday? He was staring at her like he was shocked.

  Keven stared at her like he didn't believe what he was seeing.

  "We've gone out once since he returned," she said.

  "And now we're going out again," he laughed.

  "I guess the singles cruise is out," Keven said dejectedly.

  "Sorry, I'm attending classes all summer," she said.

  Right now she wanted to commit murder. She wanted to hurt Max for making them a spectacle in the teachers lounge. But yet a tiny part of her was thrilled, they were going on another date.

  At four o'clock, Meghan walked through the door, her curly hair straight, dark circles under her eyes, her mouth pursed in a frown. Who said being a librarian was easy?

  "I need a root beer float," she said, sinking down at one of the tables.

  "Coming right up," Taylor said.

  Taylor placed the floats on the table and joined her friend. One of the best things about being in Cupid was spending time with her girlfriends.

  "Tough day?"

  "Since Coach Max rescued my naked ass, he thinks we should do all these school events together. As in organizing the spring dance next month. Crowning the Basketball Queen and now he volunteered us as Senior sponsors for next year. He's crawled up my butt so far, he'll need a flashlight to find his way out."

  Taylor started giggling. She loved Meghan. This cute little redhead who wore glasses and looked like a Mensa candidate had a sailor's mouth on her. You never knew what would come out. Sometimes sweet and sometimes a mouthy sassiness that could make her ears burn.

  "You shouldn't be laughing. This is all your fault."

  "You two have been dancing around each other for months. The Cupid incident brought it all out in the open."

  "Well, I would have preferred to sweep Max and our history under the rug. I don't want to deal with the professional jock itch."

  "Call his bluff. See if he really will tell the school board about the other night."

  "It's not that. Max would never expose me. It's just...I told him the science teacher, Mr. Googly Eyes McBride, has been clingy and doesn't take no for an answer. So today in the teacher's lounge, right in front of the scientist, Max asked what time should he pick me up Friday night."

  "Did the science nerd get the message?" Taylor asked, knowing Meghan didn't want anyone talking about her and Max.

  "Yes, it solved my problem with Googly Eyes McBride. More than half the teachers in school were in the lounge eating lunch and now Max and I are the gossips' latest buzz."

  "Wow, one problem solved, another created."

  "Yeah, I feel like I'm wearing a sumo wrestler outfit and we're bouncing against one another. I'm scared to death there will be Velcro somewhere and we'll stick."

  "Do you want me to put on a sumo outfit and you can practice with me?"

  Her brows raised and she giggled. "You're nuts."

  "Drink your root beer; it will calm you," Taylor said

  "Thanks," she said, "but I may need something stronger."

  Taylor took a bite of the rich float, letting the ice cream slide down her throat. "What can you tell me about Kelsey and Ryan's break-up?"

  "Good grief," Meghan said. "We're all back in Cupid. Sometimes I wake up and think we've returned to high school. Are we in a time warp?"

  "No," Taylor said, shaking her head. "You're a librarian. I'm a cook."

  "Don't make me rethink my career decision," Meghan said, tossing her auburn hair. "After days like today, being a rocket scientist might have been easier."

  "I know," Taylor responded, wishing Meghan would answer her question. Sure, they'd all changed since that time years ago, but maybe they had more growing in their future.

  "What happened between Ryan and Kelsey?"

  Meghan frowned at her over her root beer, studying her face, making Taylor's nerves tighten in her stomach.

  "Something went wrong right after we graduated at an end of year party, but I don't know what. Her family whisked her out of town and took her on an expensive vacation to Italy as a graduation present. We didn't speak again for years," Meghan said. "Sorry, I guess I wasn't much help. Why are you asking?"

  "Oh, I wondered what happened to the two of them. She hates him."

  Meghan's eyes grew wide and she put her spoon down, cursing beneath her breath. "Oh no. You're dating him."

  Taylor vigorously shook her head. "No. No, I'm not."

  Meghan sat across the table staring at her like snakes were crawling in her hair. "For some reason, I don't believe you."

  "No, Ryan and I are not seeing each other."

  At sunrise Saturday morning he picked her up and once again she brought out her overnight bag. Walking into her apartment, she looked beautiful in her jeans, unable to resist, he gave her a quick peck on the lips. Nothing like what he hoped to do with her later, just a nice reminder of what they shared.

  "Are you ready?"

  "Yes," she said.

  "It's a surprise. But you're going to love it."

  He helped her into the Corvette and then they were speeding along the highway on their way to Dallas. Three hours later, they were at DFW airport, where they where whisked on board a small private jet.

  "Good grief, I can't believe we're flying, in a private jet."

  "Relax we'll be there in about three hours and then the fun begins. By the way, I hope you're okay with us not getting back until late tomorrow. I made us separate room reservations at the hotel."

  "Sure," she said. "As long as we get back to school on Monday."

  "Can't miss. Tryouts for varsity start next week."

  "You really love football don't you," she said.

  "Yes," he said perplexed. "You didn't realize that all those years ago?"

  "I did. But I thought you would grow out of it. Even after you quit playing professional ball, I thought you would find something else. But you're still in the game, only this time its for other kids."

  In almost every football players life there was a coach who encouraged and helped you make it to the next level. His football coach had been the
one who first told him if he continued and didn't get hurt, he could go professional. And he had. All the way through college, he'd worked hard, done what the coaches wanted, worked out, eaten right, ignored the partying and in the end, he'd gone in the third round of the draft. Then he'd partied.

  "I feel blessed to have played ball for as many years as I did before I got hurt. It's in my blood and I want to help some other young man make it to the next level. That's what you do. Help others climb up the ladder and continue the game."

  Shaking her head she seemed perplexed. "You were a nice kid in school, but I like the older version of you even more."

  He grinned. "Good."

  "So what are we doing today? You've been so mysterious."

  "We're attending the science and engineering festival in D.C."

  "Oh my God. Not the national one with all the companies there talking about their latest inventions."

  "That's the one," he said with a grin. "When I checked the schedule, NASA, Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, all will be there with an exhibit and some will be doing demonstrations."

  She reached across the aisle and grabbed his hand. "Oh, I have wanted to attend this for so many years and it's just never been possible." She pulled his head to her and kissed him softly on the lips. "Thank you."

  "If I'd known you were going to react that way, we would have flown out yesterday."

  Glancing at her watch, she smiled. "I can't wait."

  "And we're staying at the convention hotel. So we'll have access to the show for as long as its open."

  He'd made the reservations with two rooms connecting but hoped to convince her to spend the night with him, but if not, at least they could have breakfast in her room. And still sometime he hoped to finally convince her to talk about the past.

  He could get closure, understand why she had not wanted their child and put this behind him. Then maybe he could move on. He'd never told a soul what had broken them up, but his mother knew he'd been deeply disturbed and tried to tell him things always worked out like they should. But he didn't think so. They should have married. They should have had a daughter or a son.

  Funny how he hadn't known when he planned this her reaction. Memories of the women he'd dated during his professional football days and not a one of them, would have stepped through the door to see a robot. Meghan was different, she was the other half of the M&M's and he liked the fact that she wasn't just a pretty face looking to hook up or boost her modeling career dating a pro ball player.

  He thought that maybe she would enjoy getting away from school and seeing some exhibits in an area that she was interested in.

  Now he knew exactly what would make her happy. Not too many women were interested in a grown up Science Fair.

  Chapter 5

  Meghan couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. She'd visited with several of the vendors and one had even told her to contact him when she received her doctorate. They were always looking for candidates. Her feet were aching, she just wanted to put her pajamas on, collapse on the bed and watch a few minutes of mindless television before she passed out asleep.

  Frowning, she noticed Max arguing with the registration clerk at the front desk. She leaned forward to hear what he was saying.

  "My assistant said she reserved two rooms with a connecting door. I have the confirmation number."

  "I'm sorry, sir, but the hotel overbooked. We have one room left if you want that or you're going to need to find another place to stay."

  Shaking his head, he gave a little laugh. "You don't understand. She's not going to believe me that I didn't do this on purpose. What about a roll away? Do you have a roll away you could send up to the room?"

  The woman punched something into her computer and glanced back up at him. "Sorry, sir. All of the roll aways have been used. We're at full capacity tonight with the fair going on."

  "Explain that to my..." she raised her brows and Max suddenly shook his head. "Never mind. We'll take the room."

  "Good," the woman said and quickly processed the key. She handed it to him. "Have a good night."

  He started walking towards Meghan and she pretended to look through the exhibits brochure. When he walked up, she glanced up at him. "Problems?"

  "Yes. I have a confirmation for two hotel rooms, but we were lucky to get one."

  "That's convenient," she said. "You sleeping in the car?"

  "Hardly," he said. "It's D.C. We can go try to find another hotel if you'd like."

  She shook her head. "Oh no. I want to get up early and hit that last exhibit. The one about life on other planets."

  But that would mean she would have to sleep in the same room as Max.

  "No rollaways?"

  "All gone."

  "How about I'll sleep on the floor and you can have the bed."

  "Absolutely not," he said. "I'll sleep on the floor."

  "No. You're not," she replied staring at him, realizing they were drawing attention standing in the lobby of the hotel discussing where they were going to sleep. "You're football injuries don't need a hard floor."

  "Let's go check out the room," he said directing her towards the elevators away from the people staring at them.

  When they arrived at the concierge level, they pulled their suitcases in and glanced around the room. A king size bed in the center of the room.

  Meghan walked over and sank onto the mattress. She laid down, so tired she didn't know if she would ever get up again. "Do you promise to be a gentleman?" she asked.

  "I'm too tired to be anything but a gentleman," he said with a laugh.

  "Good, me too. What if we just put a rolled up blanket between us. You sleep on your side and I'll sleep on my side." She gazed at him and he walked over and sank onto the bed beside her. "No talking at school about how we spent the night together."

  He laughed. "I'd be too embarrassed to admit that I took a fellow teacher to a hotel and all I could do was sleep."

  She grinned at him. "Could we put on our pjs, order room service and go to sleep?"

  "Sounds like a wonderful plan."

  "Then let's do it."

  Later than night, a sense of peace overcame Max. On the other side of the bed, Meghan lay, in her pajamas. He was wearing a pair of workout shorts and a t-shirt. Together they were in bed with a rolled up blanket between them.

  They had watched some weather and then she pulled up the covers and closed her eyes. He turned off the television.

  Reaching over the blanket, he took her hand. "Good night Meghan. Sweet dreams."

  "Night, Max. And thank you for today. I had such a great time."

  His heart warmed and he would have liked nothing better than to have rolled over and pulled her into his arms. But he didn't want to scare her. "You're welcome."

  The next morning Meghan awoke to the feel of a hard male body wrapped around her. His arm lay across her stomach and the two of them were snuggled in the covers deep. This wasn't suppose to happen. Yet, it felt so good to be laying here in bed with him all curled around her.

  She was trying so hard not to be affected by him, but he just kept doing nice things for her and he'd always been a great guy, just one who put sports and football and his team ahead of her. When she thought she was pregnant, he hadn't even called. It was like he disappeared from the planet for three days and finally when he didn't respond to her texts, she couldn't handle it any longer.

  By that time, she'd learned it was all just a big scare. Probably because of the uncertainty in her life and all the stress of graduating high school, preparing for college and just everything around her changing. It was one of the few times in her life she been truly frightened. The thought of a baby at eighteen was more than she could fathom. And yet she would have learned to cope if she'd been pregnant. Other women went to college after having a child and she would have done it.

  "Good morning," he said in her ear.

  "Good morning," she whispered. "What happened
to the blanket."

  He laughed. "I didn't touch it. But it was gone and I got cold last night and with no blanket on the bed, I went in search of warmth."

  "Looks like you found it," she said.

  "Feels pretty darn good," he responded kissing the side of her neck.

  A shiver went through her and all the old fears rushed back at her like a freight train. She wasn't on the pill. Had no need to be on birth control and they were in bed together, he was caressing her and she had to get away. If she did this, he would hurt her again and she wasn't going to let him hurt her a second time.

  "Time to get up," she said throwing back the covers. "We need to shower, eat breakfast and make it to the convention when they open up at nine. What time is our flight?"

  Jumping out of bed, she glanced back at him as she gathered her clothing.

  "We can leave any time but I told the pilot two."

  "Then let's get rolling," she said hurrying into the bathroom.

  Max rolled over in bed and let out a heavy sigh. "I must be a sadist."

  "What?" she asked.

  "Nothing. Hurry, I'm going to need in there or we could share the shower. It would take less time."

  Meghan quickly locked the door. If he touched her in any way, they would be right back to the way they were before, only this time they would be older, a little wiser and could be hurt so much more.

  The plane took off and he glanced over at Meghan. She was sitting back, looking out the window at the lights of D.C. They had not arrived at the airport until almost five, which would put them late getting in.

  "It's a beautiful city," he said glancing out at the lights flickering below them.

  "Yes. I can't tell you how much fun I had this weekend. This was wonderful. Thank you," she said. "I even picked up several cards from companies who want me to contact them when I'm ready to intern."

  With a sigh she smiled at him.

  All day he'd watched her almost running from booth to booth, talking to the people, watching their exhibit. The excitement on her face had been like watching a child and it made him feel good that he'd been able to bring her here and let her experience something he had no interest in.