Crazy Little Thing Called Matchmaking

by Maggie Van Well

  “Ack! Okay, seriously, Jake, this caveman bit is getting old.” He carried her over to the steps leading out of the pool.

  “Funny you should mention cavemen. I think we should be more like our forefathers, don’t you?”

  He slipped her off his shoulder and settled her onto the lush lawn. Then his body covered hers.

  “Jake, we can’t do this out here!”

  “Why not? You have a privacy fence, and as your only neighbor, I can assure you I don’t mind.”

  Kate had never had sex outdoors before, horrified someone might happen by or hear passionate cries. Yet she’d never been more turned on in her life.

  She stared into the darkening sky, her moans growing louder as his tongue worked its magic. A cardinal swooped from tree to tree. An airplane flew overhead. If passengers were peering out the window right now, would they see her and Jake? His face buried between her thighs?

  The thought brought on her sudden and intense release, making her dig her nails into his scalp. Moments later, he moved up her body and slid into her moist heat. Her body never stopped humming as he thrust into her. Soon he had her clawing at his shoulders, preparing to catch a second wave.

  She couldn’t hold back her pants of pleasure, and soon he joined in her chorus. Thank God for the loud music.

  Breathing heavily, Jake rolled onto his side. “You’ve really got to learn to be quieter once the boys come home.”

  The boys? Oh God.

  Feeling suddenly self-conscious, she jumped to her feet and hurried into the house, searching for her discarded clothes.

  “Kate?” Jake called from the doorway.

  She quickly pulled on her shirt and shorts. “Sorry, I just thought I heard someone coming.”

  “Um, that was me.”

  She barked out an unintended laugh, but then fisted her hands on her hips. “You know what I mean.”

  He walked into the kitchen and slid the back door shut. “We are going to tell the boys, aren’t we? Because I’m not cool with keeping something like this from them.”

  She studied him as a million excuses ran through her head. This was just a fling. How could she explain that to her sons? Would they be okay with her being with another man? What if it hurt them?

  But how could she keep something like this from them? Sneaking around behind her children’s backs just wasn’t right.

  God, she didn’t know what to do.

  She and Jake could be lovers for a while, but eventually he’d move on and find someone who could give him love and marriage. Possibly a child.

  A searing pain entered her heart as she imagined Jake with someone else. She was surprised by the intensity of it. She didn’t want to give him up. Not right now.

  “Yes, of course we will. Just give me a little time.” Her attempt at sounding nonchalant fell flat.

  Jake frowned. “Why can’t we tell them when they get home next week? Keeping this from them isn’t right.”

  How could she argue when he’d repeated the almost exact words she’d been thinking herself? Kate took his hands in hers. “We won’t for long. I just need to decide how to explain it.”

  He dropped her hands, aggravation written on his face. “It’s fairly easy. Just say, ‘guys, Coach and I are seeing each other.’ How simple is that?”

  It didn’t seem so simple to her, even though she knew he was right. “Okay, I’ll tell them, but can you give me some time to get used to this first?”

  With a sigh, Jake hugged her. “Just don’t take too long.”

  Kate laid her head on his chest. “I won’t.” She cleared her throat and smiled up at him. “How about some food?”

  “I’ll order Chinese.”

  With a sense of dread, she watched Jake grab his cell and punch in the number for the local take-out. Why not just tell Alex and Drew? They loved Jake. But that was part of the problem. Their inevitable break-up would hurt her sons for sure. But deep down, she knew it was more than that.

  She was afraid. To tell her sons would be to tell the whole town, and she wasn’t ready for that, wasn’t ready for her in-laws to find out about her affair.

  And since she and Jake had no future, it was probably best they never did.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “DUDE, YOU DID NOT just lose the holy water to that Fleigoon.”

  “Oh, shush. Let me focus.”

  Alex glanced over at his brother, who sat with his head huddled against Sammie’s, staring at something in her hand. “What are you two doing?”

  Drew jerked up and spun around in his chair. They were sitting in the lounge area, waiting for a table at one of the hot-spots in town. Their grandparents had invited The Marshes to join them. “Nothing.”

  Jaime leaned across Alex and glared at her sister. “Did you bring your 3DS with you?”

  Sammie whispered, “I cannot confirm nor deny that.”

  Jaime sat back and threw her hands in the air. “Mom told you not to!”

  “I wasn’t going to take it out, but we’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, and we’re still waiting.”

  Drew shifted in his seat. “Totally! Why couldn’t they have just taken us to McDonalds?”

  “Because we can get that on Long Island,” Jaime answered. “They wanted us to have a new experience.”

  “I don’t need to experience some spinning restaurant perched on a pole.”

  Alex shook his head. “It’s a tower, and the food here is supposed to be really good.”

  “Yeah, the ‘adult’ food. Like lamb chops and broccoli rabe. I bet they don’t even have burgers and fries.”

  “Give it a chance; you just might like it.”

  “Here’s what I think’s going to happen.” Drew scooted forward in his chair. “I’m going to order the least gross thing on the menu, pick at it, and then have it wrapped up so I can throw it out when we get back to the hotel. All the while praying they let us get dessert.”

  Alex let out a sigh. He really hoped Drew was wrong. They were heading back to Long Island tomorrow, and he didn’t want anything to spoil his last night with Jaime.

  Since her parents and his grandparents hit it off so well, he and Jaime had been able to spend a lot of time together. They’d walked by the falls on several occasions, holding hands and stealing a few kisses. They had a blast at the wax museum and managed to fall back from the group at the Butterfly Observatory so they could get a few minutes alone.

  He only hoped the fun continued when they got home. They hadn’t talked about it, him being too afraid to bring it up.

  Thirty-five minutes after they were seated, order taken, and meal served, Alex realized his brother was right. While the adults raved about the food, Drew and Sammie stared at their plates like they’d been served five-day-old raw fish heads.

  Alex didn’t care. He sat next to Jaime, taking her hand under the table and squeezing it. She was so pretty with her hair down, but pulled up at the sides. Her brown eyes looked like melted chocolate in the dimly lit room. Every so often she would glance at him and offer a shy smile.

  They finished the entrées, and Alex thought Drew might cry in relief when Grandma suggested dessert.

  Until he saw the menu.

  As Drew’s eyes scanned down the list of items, his frown grew deeper and deeper. Alex couldn’t blame him. What kid wants something like ‘berries in season’ anyway?

  In the end, they all ordered the vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. More chatter, then coffee. Then a second cup.

  Alex thought they would never leave until Drew said, “Would you fine people mind if we headed back to the hotel so we can unwind before our long trip tomorrow?”

  All the adults laughed at his brother’s smooth question, and Grandpa signaled for the check.

  While they were waiting for the elevator, Alex whispered in Jaime’s ear, “Would you like to take one last walk by the falls? We’ve never been down there at night.”

  “I would love that.”

  She tapped
her mother on the shoulder, pulling her from what seemed like a never-ending conversation with his grandparents. “Would it be okay if we went to the falls one last time?”

  A moment’s hesitation, then she smiled. “It’s okay with me.” She shifted her eyes to include Drew and Sammie. “And you two can play video games if you want. But you both have to check with your grandparents first.”

  After getting the okay and promising to not be back too late, Alex and Jaime headed for Niagara Parkway.

  The scene was beautiful at night, with spotlights illuminating the curtain of water in bright pink, yellow, and blue hues. They stood at the railing circling the Horseshoe Falls, watching the fireworks that lit up the sky every Friday and Sunday night. Alex could hardly contain his smile when Jaime stood in front of him, facing the display, and circled his arms around her waist. He rested his cheek against her head, closing his eyes and pulling in the scent of her shampoo.

  This was a living dream.

  All too soon, the finale signaled the end of the show, and the crowd began to thin out.

  “We should probably head back to the hotel.” At the disappointment in her voice, Alex wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was.

  Their time together here was ending.

  Taking her hand, he walked with Jaime up the steep hill, his heart sinking with every step. He tried to reassure himself that crossing the border back into the U.S. wasn’t the death of their relationship, but the beginning.

  And that thought added a little bounce to his gait.

  Halfway up the street, Jaime pulled him to the curb and came to a stop as she pulled out her cell phone.

  “Sammie just texted. My mom said she and Drew could go to your room to play the Wii as long as we’re there with them.” Jaime smiled up at him. “Is that okay with you?”

  Was she kidding? Alex wanted to jump in the air and click his heels together. Instead, he offered a rather casual, “Sounds good.”

  Not as smooth as Drew would’ve been, but at least Jaime seemed happy with his response.

  They hurried the rest of the way, nearly out of breath by the time they reached his room. He slid the key through the slot and barged in. “Hey, guys, we’re—”

  It took him a second to register that the lights were off and he was talking to an empty space. He turned to Jaime, who stood a few feet inside the door. “How could we have beaten them up here?”

  She held up her phone, reading the screen. “They’ll be up in a few minutes. They went to get ice cream, and they’re just finishing.”

  “Oh.” Now what? Was it okay to stay in the room, or should they wait for their siblings in the lobby?

  “O.M.G., you have a balcony!”

  Jaime rushed over to the glass door facing the falls and slid it open. She stepped outside and breathed in deep. “How are you not out here like all the time? This is so nice!”

  Alex joined her at the railing, immediately putting his arm around her. “I like to leave the door open at night so I can hear the water.”

  Jaime grinned. “How does Drew handle that?”

  “He thinks I’m weird.”

  “Well, I think you’re perfect.”

  A glow of happiness grew in his stomach. Alex leaned down and placed his lips against hers. Even though he’d kissed her several times, he’d always made sure not to push too far.

  He went to pull away, but this time Jaime moved with him until his back pressed against the railing.

  Alex didn’t need a second invitation. He moved his lips against hers, praying he was doing it right. The kiss grew deeper, lingered longer.

  This was fucking awesome!

  Until Jaime moved even closer. Until his body’s untimely reaction.

  Oh, God. What if she felt it? What if she freaked and called him a pervert?

  Panicked, Alex pushed her away.

  Jaime stared at him, her eyes rounded in horror. “What did I do?”

  He wished he could see if she had tears in her eyes, but it was too dark to tell. But by the huskiness of her voice, it was a safe bet.

  “Nothing. You did nothing.” Alex wanted to die. Jaime was a virgin, like him, and innocent when it came to sex.

  “Then why did you push me away?”

  For once in his life, Alex was glad to be the one with the quick thinking. “Because the lights are off, we’re alone kissing on the balcony, and Drew and Sammie will be here any minute.”

  “I didn’t think of that.” Jaime’s stance relaxed, and she let out a small laugh. “I guess we better go turn them on.”

  Alex walked back into the room, switching on every light they had in the room. He hated this. Hated that he was never suave around girls, especially this one. Hated that he had no idea how to deal with things like this.

  Hated that Dad wasn’t around to talk to.

  A few minutes later, Drew and Sammie burst into the room, giving Alex a much needed break from the tension that seemed to exist only in himself. Jaime was all giggles and smiles again, sitting next to him and holding his hand.

  He felt lost. Alone. He needed to talk to someone.

  Coach would understand.

  With that thought in mind, Alex waited until it was Jaime’s turn to play and then send a text to Dr. Harris. He held his breath until his phone buzzed that he had a message.

  By the time Coach told him to relax and go have fun, Alex felt tons better. Maybe Dr. Harris and Mom weren’t meant to be together, but for the first time in a long time, Alex didn’t feel like he had the world on his shoulders.

  Coach would always be there when he needed him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “OH, MY BABIES. I missed you so much.” Kate fought back tears as she kissed one of her boys, then the other. Alice and Roger had just left, and she’d had to fight to not gush over her sons while they were still there.

  Drew pulled away and rubbed his cheek. “Jeez, do you have to do this every year?”

  “Um, yeah!”

  “We missed you, too,” Alex said.

  “Did you have fun?”

  “Yeah, but it was a close one, Mom.” Drew dragged his suitcase away from the door. “But guess who was there? Jaime and Sammie Marsh. The trip turned from boring to rockin’ faster than Link can swing a sword.”

  “I’m happy you had a good time. Now take your bag to your room.”

  As Drew did as he was told, Kate studied Alex. He’d been uncharacteristically silent, his face holding a secretive smile. “You guys didn’t desert your grandparents, did you?”

  Alex appeared startled as if surprised she was even there. “Oh, no, we wouldn’t do that. Grandma, Grandpa, and Jaime’s parents all hung out together. Grandma was actually smiling most of the time.”

  That warmed her heart. In the last few years, Alice smiling was a rare sight.

  Kate was about to question him further when a loud shriek from Drew made her jump. She froze for a moment then she and Alex ran to her son’s room. Oh, God, he’d only been home thirty minutes and already he was hurt?

  “What happened?” she asked, searching for blood or disjointed limbs.

  “You cleaned my room.” Drew flopped, face down on his bed with a horrified groan.

  Kate breathed a sigh of relief and swatted him on the tush. “And I’d say it’s about time, too.”

  “Screw the unpacking.” Alex sat down next to his brother. “Let’s play that game Sammie loaned you.”

  Drew shot up and nodded approvingly. “I like the way you think.”

  They sat in front of the TV and didn’t even budge when the doorbell rang.

  “You gonna get that, Mom?” Drew asked.

  “Glad to see you missed me, too,” she mumbled as she headed for the door. Her tummy flipped when she saw Jake standing on her doorstep. He’d always hopped over the fence and entered through the back door whenever he came to her. Apparently, he had taken her request to not tell the kids about them just yet seriously.

  “Hi.”


  “Hey. Are the boys home yet?”

  Kate nodded. “Yes, they’re in Drew’s room.”

  “Can I say hello?” The anticipation on his face made her heart melt. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he missed her boys as much as she did.

  “Of course.”

  Jake grabbed her hand and led her to Drew’s room before dropping it and rapping his knuckle again their doorjamb. “Knock, knock.”

  Drew hopped off the bed. “Coach!”

  “Hey, guys.” A high five for both of them. “Welcome home. What are you playing?”

  “Travels of Lunthor.” Alex offered a warm, almost secretive smile to Jake.

  Huh, what was that about?

  “Great game.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I just started playing, and I’m already stuck.”

  “Maybe Coach can help us?” Drew asked.

  Kate rested her head against the doorjamb, a toasty feeling enveloping her as Alex handed Jake the controller. William had never played video games with his sons, insisting they were silly and would eventually be the downfall of mankind.

  Jake sat on the bed. “Sure, but I can’t stay long.”

  “Aw, why not? You just got here.” Drew plopped down next to him.

  “I’m going out tonight.”

  Kate shot him a questioning glance. He was going out tonight? Where? With whom? Was it another woman? Surely, he would tell her if he’d met someone else.

  She turned on her heel and left the room, stomping all the way to the kitchen. Her stomach churned as she pulled hamburgers and hot dogs from the freezer, fighting the urge to slam them down on the center island. She did not succeed with the hamburgers.

  With more force than necessary, she yanked open the sliding door and headed to the grill.

  This was stupid. She had no rights to Jake. He was free to see whomever he chose—she’d made that abundantly clear. But that didn’t stop her from jerking up the lid to the barbecue and snapping the pilots on one by one.

  Jake stepped through the open door. “Kate? You okay?”

  “Yup.” She walked past him and back into the kitchen. Without another word, she took out buns and the condiments they would need, biting her tongue.