Match (Coronado Series Book 5)

by Hart, Lea

  “Is that what you young people are calling it these days? I may be an old priest, but I’m not uninformed or blind.” Taking a step into the classroom, he looked around approvingly. “I like what you’ve done with the nativity scene this year, Catalina. I just stopped by to ask you to let your mother know that I will be there tomorrow for dinner.”

  “I’ll let her know, Father.” She tried to move away from Frank, but his hand held on to her hip in a vise-like grip. Placing a sweet smile on her face, she folded her hands in front and tried to pretend like this was a completely normal situation. Smooching up a man in her classroom, moments away from…who knows what.

  “All right. I’ll leave you both to it.” Before he left, he studied the couple and gave them a beatific smile. “Don’t forget that the church calendar fills up quickly in the spring, so you might want to secure the date for your wedding with Millicent as soon as you can.”

  “Good night, Father,” Catalina responded. Once the classroom door closed, she let out a huge breath and stepped away from Frank and collapsed in a chair. “That’s going to cost me in confession next week.”

  Studying the door where Father Finley had just exited, Frank let out a little laugh. “I think that went pretty well. Don’t you?”

  “What are you comparing it to? Natural disasters?” Moving her head to her hands, she let out a low moan and wondered if screaming or crying would be more effective. Frank crouched in front of her, took her hands in his, and gently kissed her nose. Gazing into his eyes, she felt a small measure of relief because he appeared to be concerned with how she felt and didn’t try to ignore it. “I was caught making out by the principal of the school—my boss—and my priest.”

  “I guess we should just talk to Millicent and book the wedding, and then it won’t be a problem. I think it’s the only thing we can do to save your reputation.” Nodding his head as if agreeing with himself, he gave her a big satisfied grin. “I think that April is a good month to get married. What do you think?”

  Standing abruptly, she started to pace. “I’m not marrying you until you take me on a date.”

  “All right.”

  “And I have to sleep with you, because I’m not marrying a man that’s no good in bed.” Once she stopped moving, she glanced at him and noticed his look of disbelief. “Okay, I know that you probably have the skills, but that doesn’t mean that we are going to be any good together.”

  “Oh, we’re going to great together. Hell, that kiss we just had was better than anything I’ve ever experienced.” He heard her mumble something and couldn’t make out what she’d said. “What, honey?”

  “Me, too.”

  Wrapping her up in his arms, he held her close and rubbed small circles on her back. That was all he was willing to do, because he didn’t want to take the chance of things firing up again. He wanted to be at home, alone with blinds drawn, doors locked, and a couple of free days before he was going to let it happen again. Because the next time he got his mouth on her, he wasn’t going to stop…for a long time. He’d waited almost a year for this opportunity, and it wasn’t something that he was going to waste. “Let’s go home and plan the rest of our lives together.”

  “This doesn’t count as a date, Frank. You have to plan something.”

  “I know, love. I know.”

  “Let’s get this finished quickly because our show is on tonight and I made a pot roast in the crock pot. Did you pick up the bread today?”

  “Of course. I get it every Thursday; why would I not get it today?”

  “I’m just checking. I’m the checker and I like to make sure that we have everything for dinner.”

  “Every week you check and every week I get it. Someday, you will trust me and know that I know when to go to the bakery and pick up the bread.”

  “Frank, twenty years from now, I’m still going to ask you if you got the bread. It’s just the way I am.”

  “I know, love. And, twenty years from now I’m going to have the same answer. Do you think it’s strange that we have a routine and we haven’t had a date yet?”

  Leaning forward, she kissed him quickly. “Maybe. Probably. Yes, it’s definitely strange. I guess we are just going to do things backwards.”

  “As long as we do it together.” He grinned.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Who would be calling me so early in the morning? Cat wondered. Pulling the covers over her head, she tried to ignore it. There was no way that she was going to get up early on her first day of vacation. Snuggling down into the covers, she continued to disregard her jangling phone. It finally stopped, and she closed her eyes and tried to drift back to sleep. Just as she was about to fall into dreamland, she heard her front door open and the alarm disengage. The only people who had keys to her home were her sisters, her mother, and Frank. She knew it wasn’t her sisters, and her mother wouldn’t come over unless there was an emergency. Maybe that’s what the phone call was about.

  Sitting up quickly, she grabbed it and read the missed calls. Frank had called, and she had a good idea that he was the one in her house. Letting out a loud groan, she slipped back under the covers and pulled them tightly over her head. This was not an auspicious beginning to her vacation or Frank’s future as a boyfriend. Footsteps echoed down the hall, and she knew by the sound of the heavy footfalls that it was him.

  “Good morning, love. I brought you donuts for breakfast; rise and shine…sunshine.” Standing in the doorway, he noticed that Cat had the covers pulled tightly over her head and she wasn’t moving. Maybe showing up with breakfast wasn’t such a good idea after all. Stepping quietly over to the bed, he sat down and unlaced his shoes. Lying down next to her, he dropped his arm over her stationary form and smiled to himself. “I thought we could start the first day of our relationship having breakfast together. But since you’re pretending to be dead, I’m guessing that you wanted to sleep a little longer.” Patting her gently, he waited for her to peek her head out. He heard a muffled response and decided to live dangerously by peeling back her pink blanket. Looking into her sleepy face made him smile. “Hi, love. It’s the first day of the rest of our lives.”

  “We are not going to have a rest of our lives if you wake me up early on my first day of vacation.”

  Scooting a little closer, he lifted her up and rolled her into his arms. “The next time I wake you up early, it will be with my body buried inside of yours.” Kissing the top of her head, he felt her give him a swat on his arm. “What? Too much this early in the morning?”

  “You can’t say things like that to me.”

  “Oh, yes, I can. I’ve been thinking them for the last year, and you told me yesterday that we are going to start this thing between us. So this is us starting. I’m not holding back anymore.”

  “Whatever. It’s too early to bicker. If you want to begin something, why don’t you make coffee?” Moving out of his arms, she walked into the bathroom and closed the door firmly.

  That didn’t go as well as I hoped, he thought. “I’ll be right back with your coffee,” he called.

  Cat stood in front of the mirror and studied her reflection…maybe a shower would improve her looks and her attitude. Dragging a brush through her long hair, she waited for the water to get hot. It was so unfair that Frank was so handsome in the morning. He probably woke up that way. Getting most of the knots out, she threw the brush on the counter and climbed in the shower. A nice, long hot one would certainly go a long way in improving her mood.

  Standing under the warm water, she considered what it was going to be like with Frank as a boyfriend. She had been resisting the idea of him for so long that it was going to take a while to readjust her thinking. Maybe she should begin by not being so cranky and mean to him. I could try being nice to him and not giving him a hard time. Throwing back her shoulders, she decided to show him only the best side of her, no more sarcasm and criticism. Just the thought of that made her tired because it would require a personality transplant that she wasn’t sur
e if she was ready for. Maybe just start with a smile and see how that goes.

  ********

  Entering the kitchen, she admired the man sitting at the table with his feet up on the chair reading the paper. His hair was up in a man bun, and his standard white T-shirt stretched across his chest tightly, showing off his biceps. “Good morning. I’m sorry about being cranky earlier.”

  Looking up with a half-smile, he studied Cat and noticed that she’d done something to her hair and she was wearing make-up. She looked pretty, but different. Like she was going to work or a meeting with the principal, not hanging out with him at home on a Saturday morning. Also, she was smiling at him widely and twisting her hands together. Something was off, and he wasn’t sure what had caused it. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Yes, of course,” she replied impatiently. Moving to the coffee pot, she poured herself a cup and added a big spoonful of sugar. Maybe it would help sweeten her personality. Being this nice was draining, and it had only been five minutes. Twirling around, she pasted another smile on her face and tried to think of something witty to say. Nothing came to her, so she collapsed into the chair and stared at the man who was causing so much angst. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes and let her shoulders slump. It was going to take a lot of effort to become the person she needed to be if she wanted to be in a relationship that succeeded. Also a lot more coffee.

  Pushing the bakery box in her direction, he waited for the real Cat to emerge. The person sitting across from him was a scary facsimile. Maybe she’d hit her head in the shower, and that’s what was causing the sudden personality change. When she didn’t flip the box open immediately and dive in for the first chocolate donut she could find, he knew something was definitely wrong. “Okay, Cat, what the hell is going on? First, you have on makeup, which you never wear on the weekend. Second, you’re doing that weird twisty thing with your hands, which you only do when you are speaking with your mother and feel guilty. Third, you’re smiling at me like you’re trying to sell me a vacuum. But the real kicker is that you haven’t even opened the donut box yet. Did you hit your head or something?”

  Throwing her hands in the air, she let out a small cry. “I’m trying to be nice to you and act like a girlfriend. Why is that so weird?”

  He leaned forward, took both of her hands in his, and gave her a small smile. “Love, I need you to stop, because you’re scaring the shit out of me.” Feeling her hands relax, he felt a small measure of relief. “That’s better. Why did you suddenly decide to transform your personality?”

  “Because I thought you wouldn’t want to be around me if I continued to act the way that I always do.”

  Standing, he put out his hand and waited for her to stand and join him. “Come on. Let’s go figure this out. Bring your coffee.”

  Grabbing her cup and the donut box, she stood and followed him out to the living room. She placed the donut box on the coffee table, held onto her cup, and plopped down with resignation. “I don’t think that I’m very good girlfriend material. I’m sometimes impatient, and I’m always sarcastic, and I have a weird sense of humor, and I like to lie on my couch and read and eat Cheetos. Also, I don’t have a push-up bra.”

  Sitting down next to her, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I know. I’ve been around you for a year. I’ve seen you at your best and at your worst. I know what I’m getting into, and I don’t want you to change at all.”

  Leaning her head against his shoulder, she let out a sigh and took a sip of her coffee. “I thought when I told you that we could start dating that I should start behaving better. Maybe try and be a girlfriend or something. It was a crazy thought, and one that I’m not very proud of. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I realized that I’ve never been very good at being a girlfriend. I have a tendency to say what I think, and I lack the ability to fake enthusiasm. It’s been my downfall since grade school.”

  “It’s weird and disturbing that you think that you suddenly have to change.” Feeling a hard elbow in his ribs, he felt better. That was the Cat that he’d come to know and love. “I’m not interested in some Stepford version of you. I like the snarky, funny, and real you. What I see is what I get. I don’t have to waste time figuring out the hidden meaning of what you say, because you don’t hide anything. That’s one of my favorite things about you. That and your mind-blowing body. I can’t wait to see you naked and wrapped around me. And if you call out my name really loud when you come, well, that would just be an amazing bonus that I wouldn’t complain about.”

  Throwing her head back, she let out a loud snort. “We are perfect for one another, because what you just said is so politically incorrect that it makes me laugh. Who else would want to take you on?” Patting his leg, she felt his massive thigh under the material of his jeans. “I pray that you make me scream your name, because I’m way overdue for a mind-bending orgasm. Just saying.” Pulling his face toward hers, she kissed him gently. “I don’t plan on putting makeup on again this early on a Saturday morning ever again.”

  Before she could pull away, he kissed her back with a lot of heat. Heart beating rapidly, she tried to understand why this particular kiss was so explosive. As their mouths melded, she felt a flash of desire and understanding. She’d been waiting for this feeling of excitement and chemistry forever. He was definitely going to bend her mind, her body, and probably her heart.

  An explosion went off in his brain when her soft skin brushed against his and her body relaxed. She was giving him what he wanted most in the world, and that was her open arms, open heart, and open mind. Finally, she had stopped resisting and started surrendering. He let go of her mouth slowly and took a much needed breath. Leaning his head against hers, he kissed her head. “Are you sure that we have to go on a date before we sleep together? I feel like I’ve been courting you for a long time, and I’m ready to do it naked now. I know for a fact that I can give you a couple of mind-bending orgasms before we hit lunch time.”

  “Yes. I’m sure.”

  “All right. I will take you on a date tomorrow, and I want you to clear your calendar for a couple of days. Because once I get you into bed, I’m not letting you out. We need at least three days together with no interruptions.”

  “One day.”

  “Two days and that’s not negotiable.”

  “Fine. I have to be at my sister’s house on Tuesday to help bake the pies for the dinner that we’re making for the guys at SAI for Thanksgiving.” Leaning up, she kissed him and then grabbed the donut box and pulled out a chocolate éclair. Taking a big bite, she let out a moan of pleasure.

  Admiring the woman who was sitting next to him, he swiped his finger against her lips and wiped the chocolate off the corner of her mouth. Moving quickly, he planted a big kiss on her lips and felt her start to laugh. “Mine…all mine.”

  “Get your own donut.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Opening the door with his key, Frank entered Cat’s home with two large bags of food. After they were done with their date, they were coming back here and not leaving until Tuesday afternoon. Knowing that fuel was important for any physical activity, he’d stopped by the grocery store for supplies. There were going to be no excuses for leaving the house before they absolutely had to. Walking into the kitchen, he started to unload the provisions. When he opened the fridge, he saw a full one and hoped like hell that Cat had the same idea he did. Calling out for her, he waited for a response.

  “What do you need?” she yelled from the other room.

  “Your fridge is full. Where do you want me to put the food I brought?” He felt her enter the kitchen and turned when she strolled in. There was his woman. She looked like she always did…messy hair in a ponytail and a big sexy smile. Well, the sexy smile was new, but he wasn’t going to complain. “I got some stuff at the store. Should I put it in the fridge in the garage?”

  Stepping up to him, she put her hand on his back and leaned over and looked in the bags. “Why did you go to the market?”<
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  “Because I didn’t want to leave for a couple of days. I wanted to be sure that we had what we needed.”

  “I went yesterday. Have you ever come to my house and not been fed? Let me answer that for you. No! I’m Italian. It’s not genetically or culturally possible for me not to feed you.” Leaning up, she placed a kiss on his mouth and then stepped away. “I will always cook for you.”

  Wrapping her up in his arms, he held her close. “Thanks, love. How about if I promise to always do the dishes?”

  Running her hand down his face, she grinned. “You do the dishes already. What else can you promise me?”

  “To always have your happiness as my first priority.” He watched her dip her head and lean it against his chest and squeeze him tighter. “And to always put the toilet seat down.”

  “Sweet talker.” She kissed his chest and gazed up into his grey eyes and fell a little bit deeper in love or lust. Oh, it had been lingering out there, but it seemed that the waiting was over. “Where are you taking me on our date?” Looking down at her clothes, she smoothed out her sweater and laughed when she noticed that his eyes had become unfocused. “Quit thinking about me naked, and go put the groceries away.”

  Grabbing the bags, he headed toward the garage. “It’s a surprise. Get a jacket and be ready to go in ten minutes.”

  “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” Laughing, she went back to her bedroom to do as she was told. He may think he could give her orders, but he was in for a surprise because she had a few of her own orders.

  ********

  Frank drove them up to the SAI warehouse, which was in a hangar on the north end of the airfield that serviced private jets. Glancing over, he wondered if she had any idea what was in store for her. He’d come up with the idea late Friday night, and he’d made sure everything was set for their adventure this morning. She might not think this was a great date, but he wanted her to understand something before their relationship really started.