Opposites Attract

by Cat Johnson

  Hoped maybe—after dinner if he was lucky—but he never dared to assume it would happen.

  She lifted her head. “Regretting it already, are you?”

  He smiled. “No. No way.”

  When she smiled back, then leaned in and started to tease his ear with her tongue, his body reacted and told her exactly how much he hadn’t regretted it. Troy was right. There was nothing to be afraid of.

  She raised an eyebrow and glanced down at his erection between them. “Already? I’m impressed.”

  He laughed, rolled her off him and stood. He pulled up his boxers and reached to grab her hand, pulling her off the couch after him.

  “You said we had all weekend and I intend on taking you up on that. But unless I want to be at the chiropractor all next week, we better take this into the bedroom.” He pulled her to him, crushing his arousal between them. “You okay with that?”

  “I guess so, though we may have to stop occasionally for sustenance.” She looked positively wicked. Her hands slid down and gripped his butt cheeks. “But not right now.”

  “Definitely not right now,” he agreed.

  As she led the way toward the bedroom she glanced sideways at him. “Oh, by the way. My kitchen table is very sturdy but it kinda wobbles. I wanted you to know that, just in case.”

  His brows flew up. “Good to know.”

  ~

  The weekend flew by much too quickly for Antonio’s liking. But it was a blissful time spent enjoying each other, making love, cooking meals together. At one point they even managed to make love while cooking a meal. He’d have to remember to tighten the legs on that kitchen table before he left.

  Then there was that quick load of laundry they did since he didn’t have a change of clothes with him, not that he spent all that much time clothed. But they made that chore more interesting with some creative sex on the washing machine. Who knew the spin cycle could be so fun?

  Antonio couldn’t get enough of Maddie and luckily for him, she couldn’t get enough of him, either. He felt like he was eighteen again. The only difference being, instead of having to sneak around behind their parents’ backs and do it in the car, they had her whole condo all to themselves.

  He supposed they’d have to cool it down eventually, because when he stepped outside to get the Sunday paper on Maddie’s stoop, he got a very nasty look from the old lady in the adjoining condo. He had to smile at that. Where Tina had rarely made a sound, his Maddie liked it loud. And he liked her all the more for it.

  Now he lounged comfortably on Maddie’s couch with her lying against him but all he could do was wish it wasn’t already Sunday night.

  She groaned. “I can’t believe I have to go back to work tomorrow. Maybe I can get suddenly and mysteriously ill and stay home with you all day.”

  He smiled. “Don’t bother, I have to be at the firehouse by eight. And I want to stop by and see the kids in the morning.” Then the date hit him. “Oh, shit. I forgot. I volunteered for a double shift so some of the guys could go skiing. I’m so sorry. It was before I even met you. I don’t think I can get out of it now.”

  She pursed her lips and looked mischievous. “You’ll just have to make it up to me next weekend when you get off.”

  “That’s a deal.” His cell phone, which was limping along on nearly zero battery power because he hadn’t charged it since Friday, started to vibrate on the coffee table. He reached for it automatically. “Hello.”

  “So did you get yourself some Maddie this weekend?” Troy asked.

  Antonio glanced over at Maddie. “I’m not going to answer that.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Was there something you needed, Troy?” Antonio asked, anxious to get him off the phone.

  “You’re with her right now, aren’t you?” Troy asked way too loudly in his ear.

  He looked at Maddie. “Um…”

  “Oh, for god’s sake. Give me that phone.” Maddie grabbed the phone from his hand. “Troy? It’s Maddie. You can tell your cohorts that your matchmaking scheme worked. But since I have less than twelve hours left with Antonio before we both have to go back to work and I can’t see him for five long days, he has to hang up now. So you have a lovely evening. My best to Amy. Good night.”

  She flipped his phone shut and handed it back to him. She raised an eyebrow. “You have a problem with that?”

  Antonio shook his head, laughing as he pictured the look that must be on Troy’s face right now.

  “Not at all.” He put the phone back on the table and hooked an arm around her neck. “Only twelve hours, huh? We better get started.”

  Chapter 6

  She was late.

  Maddie looked at her calendar again, recounted the days and confirmed that she was very late. Three days late, to be exact when she’d never ever been late before in her life. She’d been so busy with Antonio and singing again, she hadn’t even noticed she missed her period. In fact, if she weren’t filling in the dates of her upcoming gigs in her calendar, she probably wouldn’t have noticed now.

  What the hell was this about? She couldn’t be pregnant. Could it be menopause? That must be it. But damn, she was only thirty-one. Somehow that just didn’t seem fair. For the first time since Alan, she could imagine a happy future for herself. That future could possibly include Antonio. His two kids, hopefully one day a baby of their own, even if she had to try invetro fertilization to get one.

  Now she was in menopause? The thought was far too depressing for words. Even more depressing than the gray hairs she discovered last year right after her divorce. She blamed Alan for each and every one of those. But whom could she blame for this?

  She slid out of the booth at Xavier’s, stowed her calendar and her purse behind the bar and walked over to the band. “Can I see the set list?”

  The guitarist handed the list of songs for the night to her and she looked it over. A black mood settled over her. “Can I have a pen? I have a few changes.”

  A couple of melancholy hours later when she was about to leave, the owner came over to her. “I have to tell you, Maddie, you’ve been bringing in bigger and bigger crowds every time you sing here, but what the hell was up with you tonight?”

  She watched the other three members of the band exchange worried looks. “I know, Peter. I was a little off tonight. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, your singing was great as usual. But the songs, one was sadder than the next. I think you even made one customer cry.”

  She grimaced. She’d seen that too. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  “But actually, the bartender says he’s never sold so much liquor, so maybe keeping the crowd depressed is the way to go. I’ll give it some thought and get back to you.”

  Always the businessman, that Peter.

  “Great, glad I could help.” Maddie seriously hoped the sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.

  ~

  Antonio sat at the firehouse, eagerly waiting for the last hour of his shift to pass so he’d be free. He’d have to wait for Maddie to get off work for the day, but as long as he could see her later, he was happy. Two weeks they’d been together, and he still felt the thrill every time he saw her face or heard her voice.

  In fact, he found he couldn’t wait. He’d barely gotten home and changed when he missed her so he couldn’t stand it, so he picked up the phone. He dialed her work number, only to be told she’d called in and said she’d be late. That was funny. She didn’t mention that last night when they talked. Although come to think of it, he hadn’t talked to her for very long because she was singing. He just hoped she wasn’t sick. They never did figure out what Alyssa had a few weeks ago. Hopefully she didn’t pick up that nasty little bug.

  Concerned now, he dialed her cell phone. He felt a bit of relief when she answered. “Hey, sweetie. Are you all right? They said you called into work.”

  She hesitated a beat. “Yeah. Fine. I just had an appointment I forgot about. That’s why
I didn’t tell you.”

  “Maddie, you don’t have to report to me. I was just worried you were sick or something. So, when will you be done? I off now and if you’re not going back into work today, maybe I could come over early.” He could hope. It seemed like forever since he’d seen her.

  “Um, actually I’m not sure. Can I call you?” Maddie sounded very strange.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you later. And Maddie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you too,” she said softly, but as he hung up the phone, Antonio’s sixth sense told him something wasn’t quite right.

  ~

  Maddie closed her cell phone and concentrated on the traffic surrounding her.

  After being concerned she was in menopause, she did some research online and found she was probably way too young for even perimenopause. So she called early this morning and made an appointment with her gynecologist, afraid now that she may indeed somehow be pregnant.

  She swallowed hard. How had this happened?

  A vision of her and Antonio’s numerous and very creative recent sexual escapades flashed before her. Okay, she knew how it happened, but why now after trying for so long?

  What the hell kind of cosmic joke was this? She tried for five years to get pregnant. She had her husband get his sperm checked…

  Her heart started to beat faster as a horrible new theory hit her.

  “That bastard.” Maddie swung the car around in a very illegal u-turn and headed for her condo. She’d have just enough time to run home and look around before her appointment. And if she was right, what the hell would she do then?

  She pulled practically sideways into her parking slot, threw the car in park and flung open the door. After sprinting up the walk, she struggled with the lock. With the keys still hanging in the door, she ran to the room she and Alan had jointly used as a home office.

  Alan was absolutely anal about keeping every piece of paper he ever touched and his file cabinet full of stuff was still here. She grabbed at the drawer and nearly ripped her fingernails off when she discovered it was locked.

  Determined one little lock wasn’t going to stop her, Maddie tore open desk drawers one by one. She found a key in the corner of one. Good thing the guy didn’t have a creative bone in his body. He hadn’t even tried to hide it.

  With shaking hands she unlocked and yanked the top file drawer open. She ran her fingers over the top tabs of the folders. She thanked God that his obsessive-compulsive habits included an addiction to the label maker as she pulled out the file clearly marked “Medical”. Maddie flung the folder open on the desk and began sifting through medical bills and insurance forms that spanned from the year they were married until the day he left. She flipped until she reached one page that stopped her dead.

  “That fucking bastard.” She gritted her teeth. Closing her eyes she tried to process the information on the page before her, then realized she still had to get to the doctor. Now her visit was more important than ever.

  Maddie glanced at her watch as she stormed out of the room. She was going to be late. She’d just have to deal with her lying ex later.

  Even running late, she arrived at the doctor’s office and checked in at the front desk with five minutes to spare. She was so angry with Alan, she must have been speeding. Still flustered, Maddie hung up her coat and sat in the waiting room, too agitated to bother flipping through the year-old magazines spread out on the table. She was tapping her foot rapidly against the coffee table and most definitely annoying the other occupant of the waiting area, judging by the looks she was getting, when the door opened and in walked both her brother and Alyssa.

  In a panic, Maddie glanced around the waiting room for someplace to hide. Unless she was willing to leap behind the couch and squat on the floor behind that large Tonka toy truck, she wasn’t going to be able to avoid being seen.

  Great. Weren’t there any other doctors in this town? All she needed now was for maybe Troy and Amy to walk in. That would be cozy. They could all discuss how she got herself pregnant with Antonio’s baby after she assured him it was safe.

  Maddie tried to calm down as Brad and Alyssa stopped at the front desk to check in and then turned toward her in the waiting area.

  Brad stopped dead when he saw her. “Maddie. Uh, hi. What are you doing here?”

  “Hey, you two. Time for my annual checkup.” She put on her happy face and greeted them but the excuse sounded pretty lame even to her.

  “Yeah, uh, Alyssa too. What a coincidence, huh?”

  “Huge coincidence.” Alyssa nodded, looking a little paler than usual. She couldn’t still have that bug. That was weeks ago.

  Maddie shifted over one seat so Brad and Alyssa could sit next to each other. The three sat in awkward silence for a few minutes until the nurse came out carrying a stack of charts. She glanced down at the top one. “Ms. Morgan?”

  “Yes.” Both Maddie and Alyssa stood up.

  The nurse frowned and glanced down at the chart again. “Alyssa Morgan.”

  “That’s me.” Alyssa stepped forward and Maddie sat back down.

  “The doctor will examine you first, then your husband can meet you in her office to go over pre-natal care instructions.” The nurse continued.

  Alyssa shot Brad a look as she was whisked away to the back.

  Maddie turned to him. “Pre-natal? Brad! Exactly when were you going to tell me?”

  “I’m sorry, Mads. Alyssa has this superstition and didn’t want us to tell anyone until she was three months along. I really did want to tell you. God, I hinted enough when she was throwing up after dinner that time you should have guessed. Good thing you’re an attorney and not a private investigator. Jeez.”

  Maddie scowled, but got over her hurt quickly and hugged him, tears in her eyes. “I’m very happy for you two.”

  Brad hugged her back, looking a little teary-eyed himself. “Thanks. And listen, I know you really wanted kids too, Maddie, and it didn’t work out, but you’ll be the best aunt ever. I know it.”

  Just then the nurse reappeared. “Now. Madeline Morgan.”

  Maddie stood and glanced down at Brad. “Gotta go.”

  He nodded.

  The nurse opened the door for Maddie and held it, waiting for her to walk through. “Based on what you said on the phone when you made the appointment, the doctor wants a urine sample to run a pregnancy test. Bathroom is second door on the right. The specimen cups are inside.”

  Maddie cringed. She didn’t miss Brad’s shocked expression as the door to the waiting room slid closed. She really did have the worst timing ever.

  She went to the bathroom and then delivered the sample to the nurse, expecting to be led to an exam room.

  “You can go back and wait outside until the doctor’s ready to see you.”

  Panic overtook her. “Um, can’t I wait in here?”

  “It won’t be long. We’ll call you in a few minutes when an examining room is available.”

  All too soon, Maddie was thrust back into the waiting room and directly in front of the accusing gaze of her brother.

  “Something you want to tell me?” He crossed his arms.

  No use hiding it now. She shrugged. “I guess that depends on the results of this test, now doesn’t it?”

  “Well, whose would it be? Antonio?”

  “Yes of course Antonio. What do you think, I’m sleeping all over town now that I’m back on the market?”

  “No. It’s just…a shock. How do you feel about it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s too soon in the relationship to even consider it, but after thinking I was infertile for so long… We don’t even know if it’s positive yet, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. And not a word to anyone, not even Alyssa. I haven’t even told Antonio I’m late. If it is true, he should be the first to know.”

  “Okay.” Brad covered her hand with his just as the nurse came bac
k out. “Madeline. The doctor will see you in her office now to discuss the test results.”

  This was it. It would either be negative or positive. Her heart pounded wildly as she considered that. Maddie gripped Brad’s hand harder.

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Brad offered. “Alyssa will probably be a little while.”

  Having her brother in the room when she found out if she was pregnant by her new boyfriend was strange, but she wasn’t sure she could face this alone. She swallowed hard. “Yes. Thank you.”

  When she and Brad both rose together, the nurse raised a brow, apparently wondering why Brad was here and holding hands with two possibly pregnant women both with the same last name.

  Never one to miss an opportunity, Brad wrapped an arm around Maddie. “Come on, sweetheart.”

  “He’s my brother.” Maddie scrambled to explain.

  The nurse’s brow rose higher. Great, now she probably had even more perverse thoughts. Maddie shot Brad a look. She couldn’t have frowned any deeper if she tried as the nurse led them to the doctor’s office.

  “The doctor will be right in.” With one more look, she was gone.

  Once the door closed, Maddie spun to Brad. “Now the nurse thinks we’re incestuous.”

  He smiled. “That’s her own problem if she jumps to the wrong conclusion.” He reached over and squeezed her hand again, serious now. “It’s okay, Maddie, whatever happens. Alyssa and I will both be here for you.”

  “I know. Thanks.”

  Chapter 7

  Antonio pushed aside the nagging feeling that something was up with Maddie. He figured she was probably just flustered at almost forgetting an appointment. As fun loving as she was when she was off, he’d discovered she was just as serious and diligent when she was working.

  He decided to stop by the food store and surprise her with a traditional Latino home cooked meal. Shopping bags in hand, he let himself into her condo with the key she had given him. He got a tingle of happiness using his new key for the first time. He set the bags down in the kitchen and rummaged through until he found the bag of disposable razors he’d purchased to keep in Maddie’s bathroom for when he slept over. Using the razor in her shower, the one she used on her legs, was killing his face.