Cross Country Chaos

by Lesli Richardson

  But he’d be a great role model for Denny, she couldn’t deny that. And Paulie too.

  Mart was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of shorts. She couldn’t get over how the sight of his body made her tingle in places she wasn’t used to tingling. He looked over and caught her watching him.

  “What?”

  She rested her elbow on the table and propped her chin in her hand. “I’m still trying to get it through my head that you haven’t run away yet.”

  “Why would I run?”

  “You’re the first man who hasn’t.”

  “I’m not your average man.”

  “I’d say you’re above-average. In a bunch of ways.” This last she said with what she hoped was a salacious wink.

  He grinned. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  “Really?”

  He set her plate on the table and leaned in for a kiss. One hand playfully sneaked under her shirt, making her gasp.

  “Really,” he whispered. “And I’m all yours.”

  He went to get his plate, leaving her breathless.

  How the hell did he do that?

  “Did you want to go out tonight?” he asked.

  “Huh?”

  He smiled. “Tonight. Want to go out somewhere? Or—” he stroked the back of her hand, “would you rather stay here?”

  “Honestly?”

  He nodded.

  She leaned over and kissed him. “I don’t want to go anywhere except back to bed.”

  Mart brought the newspaper inside. They took it to his bedroom. Eventually, she rolled over and brushed her fingers across his chest.

  He looked at her. “Yes?”

  “Am I disturbing you?”

  “I’m already disturbed, but you are more than welcomed to disturb me any time you want.” He dropped the paper to the floor and took her into his arms. “Just be prepared when you do.”

  “For what?”

  “For this.” He kissed her and rolled on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. They fit together perfectly. He was a little taller than she was, and although she knew he couldn’t feel it, she stretched her feet, pressing her toes against his. She wanted every inch of his body against her.

  When they came up for air, she said, “Roll over.”

  “What?”

  “I want to give you a back rub.”

  He needed no additional prompting. He stretched out on his stomach, and she straddled him. As soon as her fingers kneaded his shoulders, he moaned.

  “Oh, God, that’s fantastic.”

  “Haven’t you ever had a back rub?”

  “I’ve never had a beautiful naked woman give me one before. Somehow it adds to the sensation—oh!”

  She smiled, taking her time, working down his back to his waist. She noted the pale twist of scars around his spine, just above his hips. She leaned over and ran her lips down his skin.

  He shivered. “Oh, Kel,” he whispered, “that’s fantastic.”

  “And I’m just getting started.” She worked her way lower and slipped her fingers inside the waistband of his shorts, slowly tugged them down. He lifted his hips to help, and she continued her downward journey over the backs of his legs. She kissed them, stroking him with her fingers.

  “Tell me when you feel me,” she whispered. When she reached one spot, he gasped.

  “I’m guessing that’s a yes?”

  “Yes,” he replied, muffled by the pillow. She noticed he was squirming a little against the bed.

  She spent another half-hour slowly teasing him, discovering every place he could feel her touch. Unable to contain himself, he rolled over and pulled her to him. She let him take her, closing her eyes and hoping when she opened them she wouldn’t wake up from this fantastic dream.

  She awoke to find him propped on one elbow and smiling down at her. “How long was I asleep?” she asked.

  “A little bit. I think I wore you out.”

  She shook her head. “Not even close. Just recharging my batteries.” She realized too late how that sounded. Sure enough, he smirked.

  “I won’t say it.” But he grinned.

  “You thought it.”

  “You open the door like that, you expect me to not at least think it?”

  “I love your sense of humor.”

  “It’s the only way to get through life. If I didn’t have a sense of humor, I’d be a pretty miserable person.”

  She laughed. “Oh, the war stories we could share.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, for starters, I crawled under a bathroom door at a Georgia rest stop on the way out to Spokane because I thought Denny dropped his only cath in a self-flushing toilet.”

  Mart looked blank for a second, snorted, then fell back, laughing, on the bed.

  “Wasn’t funny.”

  He laughed harder. “Yes, it is.”

  “Okay, now it’s funny. But it wasn’t funny then.”

  “What else?”

  “Really?”

  He propped himself on one arm. “Yeah, really.”

  “This could take all weekend.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She thought about it. “We used to get the IV team to put them in Denny’s feet if they could, because he couldn’t feel it. So one time a couple of years ago, I think it was for a shunt revision, the IV team nurse is trying to find a vein in his foot. He’s sitting in bed watching her. She gets the IV needle and starts to poke his foot.”

  Mart waited for the punchline. “And?”

  “Denny yelled, ‘Ouch!’ and the poor nurse nearly had a heart attack.”

  Mart roared with laughter. “He didn’t?”

  “He did. Little stinker laughed and said, ‘Ha ha, got you.’ I thought she was going to strangle him.”

  Mart laughed harder, and she watched his face. Then her tears flowed, unbidden. When he realized she was crying, he pulled her to him. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  She shook her head and cried harder. “You’re the first guy I’ve ever been able to tell these stories to who thinks they’re funny, and gets why they’re funny.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, well, I warned you, not many women enjoy my sense of humor. And I have my own stories, too.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve quit counting the number of religious fanatics who’ve walked up to me and told me if I prayed hard enough, I could walk again.”

  She’d heard that one a few times herself. “Or the ones who say, ‘I’m so sorry your son is in a chair—’”

  He finished. “And I ask them, ‘Why? Is it your fault?’”

  She exploded with laughter. Finally—someone who understood. “I hate when someone says he’s ‘suffering’ from the ‘illness’ spina bifida. He’s not suffering, and it’s not a disease.”

  “I’ve gotten stuck in more bathroom stalls than I care to admit.”

  She laughed. “I’ve done the toilet tango a time or two myself trying to get Denny cathed. I’m so glad he caths himself now. What else?”

  “When I was ten, my two oldest brothers dared me to jump off the roof into the pool.”

  “What? But how would you get onto the roof?”

  He nodded. “That’s what they thought. They were cleaning the gutters and left the ladder propped against the house. They went inside for lunch. They’d just been picking on me, right? Little brother torture. I managed to climb the ladder and waited for them to come out so they could see me do it.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Ben, my oldest brother, had a cow. He’s screaming, ‘Marty, no!’ and he gets under me to catch me. I landed on him, he broke his leg. I rolled away without a scratch.”

  She laughed harder. “What did your parents do?”

  “Grounded all three of us. Them for betting me, me for jumping off the roof.”

  “You didn’t get grounded for climbing the ladder?”

  “No, worse. My dad made me help cle
an the gutters. He said if I could climb the ladder, I could damn well help do it. He bought a safety harness, rigged it so one of them held it when I went up and down the ladder. I learned to be more careful what I let my dad know I could do.”

  “Your parents are still alive?”

  He nodded. “I can’t wait for you to meet my crazy family. They’re going to love you and the boys.”

  Kelly tried not to think about her own dad. David’s parents were both dead when they’d married. “They’ve never really known a grandpa.”

  “Well,” he said, nuzzling her neck again, “they’d better get used to it. My mom and dad have been dying for more grandkids to spoil.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. Were they talking marriage?

  Sensing her disquiet, Mart added, “Even if we’re not married, they’re going to love spoiling them.”

  “You did it again.”

  “You looked scared.”

  She shook her head. “Not scared.” She smiled. “Hopeful.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  He hugged her to him. “I don’t want to rush you.”

  She kissed him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  * * * *

  They picked the boys up from her mom’s house Sunday morning and had brunch before heading to Tampa. Sharon smiled but didn’t make any comments. Kelly could tell from her look she was pleased.

  For once, Kelly didn’t mind.

  Kelly watched the scrimmage, trying not to cringe when Mart went flying sideways or collided with the boards or another player.

  That’s why they wear lots of padding.

  At the break, they outfitted Denny and turned him loose. Kelly stood by the rink doorway and watched him scoot down the ice and swat at a puck, laughing.

  “Hey, Kel,” Mart hollered, “why don’t you try it? Ray’s not here. You can use his sled.”

  Kelly shook her head. “No, I’m okay.”

  The coach looked at her. “Sure, we can get you on the ice. Just to try it.”

  The other players, and even Paulie, encouraged her. She held up her hands in defeat. “All right. I’ll do it.”

  One of the assistants retrieved the gear, and they helped her into the sled. Like Denny, they only put a helmet and gloves on her. Mart skated over, his smile beaming through his face mask.

  She tightened the bucket straps and pulled the gloves on, fumbling the sticks until Mart told her to switch them around. When she was ready to move, she dug the picks into the ice.

  It was hard. How the players made it look so effortless was beyond her.

  Mart stayed with her, encouraging her, giving her pointers on stick technique. She tried to turn and promptly fell on her side.

  Denny laughed, and Mart smiled, talking her through righting herself. One of the able-bodied assistants skated over to help, but Mart held up a hand.

  “No, she can do it. Give her a minute.”

  The ice was slick. Kelly had a hard time throwing her weight in the opposite direction as she pushed back into a seated position. It took her over a minute to do it, and she was worn out, but she made it.

  Mart’s proud smile was worth it. “That’s my girl,” he said, low enough only she could hear. His words sent a warm, glowing tingle through her. David never talked to her like that, made her feel like he was proud of her.

  Denny skated up. “Good job, Mom.”

  She turned to say something and promptly fell over the other way. Even Mart laughed, although she could see he was trying not to.

  It was easier to right herself the second time now that she knew the tipping point. They coaxed her down the ice to the far goal, and Mart brought a puck over. He made it look easy. After ten minutes, she was ready to quit and started unhooking the bucket straps. They were still at the far end of the ice.

  “What are you doing?” Mart asked.

  “I’m going to get out.”

  He grinned and shook his head, pointing at the doorway. “Off the ice first, hon.”

  She looked down the ice at the doorway. “You’re not serious?”

  “You can do it. Come on.”

  Reluctantly, knowing she’d pay for it in the morning, Kelly dug in her picks and followed him. Halfway down the ice, she made the mistake of looking over her shoulder at Denny and promptly overturned.

  Mart saw her plight and returned to her side. “Tired, babe?”

  She lay there like a stranded turtle and nodded. “Yeah.”

  He laughed and waved one of the able-bodied assistants over, who used his hockey stick to help pry her upright. Then Mart leaned in close, his helmet touching hers.

  “You’re a sexy hockey mom, you know that?” he said.

  “You have a very twisted sense of humor, Rawlings.”

  “I warned you.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  He dropped his voice even lower. “I love you, Kel. I know Denny got a kick out of this. And so did I.”

  “I’ll be too sore to move tomorrow, won’t I?”

  “Probably. But I sure do love you for being a good sport.”

  That was enough to get her moving again. The warm feeling rushing through her helped her make the last few yards to the doorway. Once out of the sled, she stretched her arms and rubbed her sore muscles.

  Mart flipped up his face mask and grinned. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “I’ll live, but I’m sure I won’t enjoy it for a couple of days.”

  “That was so cool, Mom,” Denny said, now back in his regular chair.

  Even Paulie smiled. “That was neat, Mom.”

  Okay, so maybe she could be a cool hockey mom.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Wednesday morning, Kelly sat at her computer after Paulie and Denny caught the school bus. It had been days since she’d had time to write. She was about to plug in her MP3 player when the phone rang.

  She considered letting it go to voicemail, then looked at the screen.

  “Hi, handsome.”

  “Hi, yourself,” Mart said. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. Still a little sore. I’m not getting into a sled again any time soon.”

  “Yeah, it’s something you have to learn how to do.”

  “What’s up?”

  “You ask me that?”

  She groaned. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “You love it, and you know it. Dinner tonight?”

  “David is supposed to get the boys at five and have them back by nine.”

  “I know. Paulie told me on Sunday.”

  “What else did he tell you?”

  “Just guy stuff.”

  “I’m not up to watching David butt heads with you tonight.” The men had crossed paths several times since their initial meeting. Every time, David invariably made a snide remark.

  Mart always put him in his place.

  “Let me cook you dinner,” Mart offered. “I’ll be over by five.”

  She considered it. It was great he wanted to spend time with the boys, but she needed time alone with him. At least she’d made it to the doctor; they could do away with the condoms.

  “Sometimes David brings them back early.”

  “I wasn’t planning a marathon sex session.”

  “Okay, all right. I’ll see you tonight. Until then, I need to work. I have an article due by the end of the week.”

  “Great. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Kelly smiled and put on her headphones. While she didn’t want to witness another confrontation, she enjoyed the sick look David got on his face every time the boys mentioned Mart.

  The boys got home from school and prepared to go with their dad. Paulie was in a funk but wouldn’t talk about it. Kelly mentioned Mart was coming over for dinner. Denny got upset, but Paulie brightened.

  “Why can’t I stay here and have dinner with Mart?” Denny whined.

  “Because, Squirt, we need to eat dinner with Dad.”

  “He doesn’t want me there.
He wants to show you off to whatshername.”

  Kelly knelt in front of him. “Honey, I’m sure that’s not true.” She looked to Paulie for help, but there was none. He was finished defending his father.

  “Go have fun with your dad. I’m sure Mart will have plans with us this weekend.”

  Mart arrived before David. Denny greeted him, and Paulie helped him bring in groceries.

  David walked into the living room without knocking while Denny was showing Mart something he drew in school.

  “Don’t you ever knock?” Mart asked.

  “Don’t you have a home of your own?” David shot back.

  “Paulie, your dad’s here,” Kelly called, interrupting their exchange. Denny hesitated. Kelly sent him to his room for his backpack. When he left, she turned to David. “Mart’s right. You don’t live here, David. Knock. Do not walk in like you own the place.”

  David looked like he wanted to say something but thought better of it as Mart took up a defensive position next to Kelly. The boys appeared, hugged Kelly and Mart, and left with their father.

  Mart watched them drive off. “God, he’s an asshole.” He put his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. “Now, about dinner…” He kissed her.

  “You said you were going to cook for me.”

  “That I did.” He patted her on the leg. She stood and followed him into the kitchen.

  “We could always skip dinner and go right to dessert,” she said seductively.

  He started unpacking the bags. “That we could. But I don’t like to be rushed.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes, really.” He pulled her to him for another quick kiss. “Besides, there’s plenty of time for that.” He looked into her eyes. “I mean it.”

  Her feet practically floated above the floor. Dinner was excellent. He turned out to be a great cook.

  “Leave the dishes,” she said, looking at her watch. They had at least an hour before David brought the boys back, she hoped. They returned to the living room. Instead of curling up on the couch, Mart pulled her into his lap.

  “I want to talk to you about something.”

  “This sounds serious.”

  “It is.”

  Her heart jumped. She couldn’t tell if this was good or bad.

  “I know we’ve only known each other six months,” he continued, “and we’ve only been dating for a little while.” Her stomach tightened at his words.