Under the Mask: A Multi-Genre Collection

by Monica Corwin

  The strange part of it all was that Kade had become the anonymous donor in her mind. God, she gave the man a face! Kade’s compelling blue eyes, generous mouth, his long, dark eyelashes. She must be losing her mind. Oh, yeah. Must be because she wanted a repeat of that night.

  Sighing, she inspected her image in the mirror. Deep red spaghetti strap top, black wedges and hair piled up, completed her whole ensemble. Simple. Satisfied, she went downstairs. She’d been checking the messages on her phone when the doorbell rang. Her heart reacted by thumping against her chest.

  He’s here. She quickly opened her purse, fished out her red colored lip gloss, then applied it to her lips. Squaring her shoulders, she opened the door.

  “Hello,” Kade greeted. “Heard you love fruits.”

  “You heard right. Come in.” He held a basket of assorted fruits. It was so big she didn’t think she could lift it. “Oh, my. Did you leave some at the store?”

  Kade grinned. “A few bits and pieces.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s heavy. Let me just put this…where?”

  “Dining table, please.”

  Before he moved, he leaned in for a quick kiss.

  Oh, holy hell. He smelled like fresh spring mixed with something uniquely Kade.

  “Strawberry,” he said.

  “What?”

  “You taste like strawberry.”

  “Oh. My lip gloss.” She followed him and watched him lay the basket carefully on her butcher dining table. She made a quick assessment. He wore dark blue hip-hugger jeans with frayed hems. His long sleeved pale blue shirt was partly tucked in and the sleeves looked to be rolled hastily. The ensemble only made Kade look scrumptious. And he made her giddy. Lord. “We should bring some to my parents. They would love to have some of these.”

  “Sounds good.” He looked around. “I like your apartment.”

  “Thank you. It has a bathroom and a kitchen. Not too big, not too small. It’s perfect for me.”

  “Is there a bedroom?” He winked.

  “Two.”

  “We need only one, love.”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  He stood in front of the fireplace then gaze at the painting above it. “That is a stunning painting.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah. It makes me want to know where that untraveled path leads to and what is behind that old church.” He noticed the other paintings, too. “That one is heart-warming.” He pointed at the unframed painting that Maddie had leaned against the piano music rack.

  “Oh?” She wasn’t one to fish for compliments, but if they were freely given, she’d accept them anytime. And for some reason, his opinion mattered to her. “Why?”

  “Look at the man. His smile says it all. He’s really happy to cross the short bridge so he could be with whoever is waiting in that well-lit cabin. I can almost feel the atmosphere. Makes me want to see him inside the cabin. There must be a wife and kids waiting and dinner is ready. This painting is not telling me what it’s about, but showing me a lot.”

  Maddie didn’t know what to say. He just described exactly what she wanted to convey in the painting.

  “Same artist made the rest of the paintings. MJM…” Kade faced her with a big smile.

  “What?”

  “You painted all of these remarkable paintings?”

  She shrugged. “They are good, I guess. But remarkable? Nah. So shall we leave?”

  “Wait.” Kade intercepted her when she tried to walk past him. “You didn’t tell me you were an artist. A painter.”

  “Didn’t get a chance. Besides, painting is just a hobby that I picked up when I was young. I didn’t take lessons or anything.”

  “Woman, you’re so talented. You love finding out the story behind a rock or anything that has survived the past. It shows in your paintings, babe.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But why hide behind the mask of being a curator when you could show your own talent? There are co-ops where you can join if you don’t want to open your own studio. I know one if you’re interested.”

  “My heart belongs to research, Kade. I love opening boxes from donors and finding out what I’m holding. Painting is something I like to do, if I’m inspired by a mysterious object. And you could say that I love unraveling secrets.”

  He nodded. “Passion glows deep inside you, love.” He planted a lingering kiss on her lips.

  Yes and it glows brightly. Maddie wanted to say, but she didn’t want the kiss to end. Wow, she’d dated her ex-boyfriend for a year and a half, but they never kissed like this. Kade kissed her as if he breathed life into her. Without it, she would be…gasping to live.

  When he pulled his mouth from hers, he asked, “Maddie, where have you been all my life?”

  “Inside the museum, covered in scroll dust.”

  He hugged her laughing. “I’m glad. You are my own artifact that I found—thankfully.”

  “Ah. And you want to know my history as well, right?”

  “Yes. I found out a little when we were at the observatory. I want to find out more. But not right now.”

  “Why?”

  Kade threw back his head and laughed. “As much as I’d like to test how comfy your couch is, we have a ferry to catch.”

  Maddie sighed. Boy, she wanted to test the couch. Badly.

  Chapter Five

  They’d just walked in the house when Maddie’s phone rang. “I have to take this. Everybody’s out back. Just follow the smell of food and you’ll find them.” She stepped aside.

  “Okay.” He stopped her from moving away. Without any warning, he kissed her. “I missed you already.”

  “What? But we just—”

  “I know. Go. Answer your phone.”

  “Right. Be right back.”

  Maddie’s family home was welcoming, homey. Shelves were filled with mementos, plants resided in every corner of the room, pictures lined the walls. Most of them were Maddie’s. She never mentioned that she was a cheerleader in high school and played the violin. He smiled at the young Maddie with her missing front teeth and felt his heart thud against his chest when he spotted her homecoming picture. A queen. Hot damn. A cute baby picture caught his attention. Maddie sat in the stroller with a pacifier in her mouth. Someday, she’d have one in a stroller. Maybe a boy or a girl. They would have her hair, nose, and eyes. They would be lovely and smart.

  Thinking about Maddie married to some man didn’t sit well inside him. No. he didn’t like the feeling at all. He was still staring at the picture when he heard yelling. Someone must be arguing. Following Maddie’s instructions, he went toward the back of the house. Kade found four people sitting around the table holding cards.

  A man with thick dark hair wearing a policeman uniform sat beside a pregnant woman with red hair. He could tell the other two were Maddie’s parents. John Henry and Cecilia. Maddie had her mother’s full lips and her father’s nose and eyes.

  “You can’t use spade, John Henry. That’s the wrong suit.” Cecilia pinched her husband’s arm.

  Kade smiled. Maddie liked to pinch, too.

  “Listen to your wife, Uncle John. Stop cheating!”

  “Don’t accuse me of cheating, young man. Unless you can prove it.”

  “There’s the proof! You used a spade for clubs. That’s cheating.”

  “Oh, blow it up your ass.” John Henry drew a card from the pile.

  Cecilia finally glanced in Kade’s direction. “Hello, there. You must be Kade.”

  “I am.”

  Cecilia picked up the bowl then walked toward him. She gave him a big hug. “Glad you made it. Holy, moly. Maddie wasn’t joking when she said you were tall.”

  “Just a little over six two, ma’am.”

  “Oh, no need to be formal here. Call me Cecilia. And that there is my husband John Henry.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cecilia.”

  Both Kade and Cecilia looked over at John Henry as he swore when he pulled a card from t
he deck.

  “Stop your cursing. We have company.”

  “I’m not going to pretend I drink tea when I want strong black coffee,” John Henry yelled back.

  “If you play, don’t let him cheat.”

  “I heard that, woman.” John Henry then gazed at Kade. “Hi, there, son. Come grab a seat.”

  “Hello, sir.” Kade shook hands with him.

  “Just John Henry. Everybody calls me that.”

  “Hi, Kade. I’m Ryan,” the man in uniform interjected. “This is my wife, Liz.”

  “Good to meet you. Hi, Liz. Congratulations.” Liz was a green-eyed beauty.

  “Thank you. Glad you two made it.”

  “Me, too. Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”

  “Nope. We want it to be a surprise. Boy or girl, Maddie is going to be the godmother. We’re still thinking about who should be the godfather. However, when we heard that my cousin was bringing you, we thought—”

  “You’re matchmaking, Liz.”

  “No, Uncle. Now, Kade. If it’s okay with you, I would like you to be my baby’s godfather.”

  Ryan gave Liz a kiss on the forehead. “Honey, don’t put him on the spot.”

  “Oh, no. I’d be happy to. Thank you.”

  “Great! Told you he’d be okay with it.” Liz beamed at her husband.

  Maddie joined them. “Pico de Gallo, everyone.”

  “Heck, yeah. Maddie, Kade just said yes.”

  Maddie raised a brow at Liz. “Yes to what?”

  “Godfather, silly. What do you think? I asked him to marry you?”

  “Don’t be a do-do brain, Liz. I wasn’t just sure what you’re talking about.”

  “You can ask me.” He grinned at Maddie.

  She turned bright pink. “Shut up.” To Liz, she said, “You know we’ve just met. I’m not sure yet if he’s a mass murderer or a Republican.”

  Liz waved her hand, dismissing what Maddie just said. “I know you to be a good judge of character. You wouldn’t be bringing him here if you didn’t think he’s a good egg.”

  Maddie shook her head at Liz. “If he turned out to be a pedophile, don’t come blaming me for making him a godfather to your baby.”

  Liz just laughed.

  “Are you winning, Dad?”

  “He’s cheating,” Cecilia claimed while holding two bags of chips.

  “I did not. There’s a difference between cheating and making a mistake.”

  Ryan snorted. “Do you play Crazy Eights, Kade?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ooohhh. Maybe you’ll be Maddie’s downfall.” Liz pointed at the scoreboard on the wall. “Cousin is undefeated.”

  Kade raised a brow at Maddie.

  She shrugged. “What can I say? I am the master of Crazy Eights in this crazy family.”

  “Well, I think I can stop the Homecoming Queen’s reign.”

  “Ha! Game on, Mister Kade Laughlan.”

  Kade found out right away why Maddie was the champion in Crazy Eights. She took the game seriously and was very, very competitive. If he were right, her good memory helped her win all the time. She remained so focused on her cards that she didn’t see him and her family showing each him their cards, helping him win three times in a row.

  “Finally found your match, Maddie,” Liz teased while laughing.

  “He’s just lucky,” she retorted while frowning at her cards. Then she glanced up in time to see Ryan and Liz showing their cards to Kade. “What?” She looked around the table. “Cheaters!” Maddie threw chips at Kade.

  Everyone laughed.

  Chapter Six

  Kade washed his face with cold water hoping to wake himself. It was only five thirty in the morning, but Maddie told him they would be going bike riding early. Damn. Felt like he hadn’t slept at all. Last night, he stayed up until midnight chitchatting with John Henry and Cecilia while Maddie used her iPad. They had so many interesting stories to tell. And he took them all in, especially when they talked about Maddie. He learned that she was born a week early with jaundice and strong lungs. She walked at the age of eighteen months and used a pacifier until she was two. Maddie never worked with anything half-assed. When she started a project, she would see to it that it was finished. Despite being popular at school, she had kept her feet on the ground, which made her parents really proud.

  Listening to them had brought back memories of when his parents came home from their many trips abroad. Something that Kade still missed and would forever miss. When John Henry and Cecilia said goodnight, he stayed with Maddie for another hour. She told him not to believe everything that her parents said about her growing up. But what he really wanted was to hold her and spend the night in her pink bedroom with a double bed.

  He was brushing his teeth when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.” He quickly rinsed then put his toothbrush into his toiletry bag.

  Maddie walked in wearing tight skinned yoga pants and white tank top that made his cock harden in a hurry. God, she looked fantastic. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning. I hope you slept okay last night. The bed is too soft, I know.”

  “The bed was fine. Do you always look this great in the morning?”

  “Were you born a flatterer?”

  “Just telling the truth. So where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “Come here.” He didn’t wait for Maddie to get closer, he took three long strides and closed the gap. He leaned in to plant a long wet kiss on her mouth. “Hmm. You taste like cookies.”

  “I saved you some. Mom made them this morning.”

  “You all rise early? They should still be sleeping.”

  “They’re retired. They can take naps anytime. As much as I’d like to stay on this very spot kissing, we have to go before the sun rises.”

  Sighing, he let go of Maddie. “Alright. Let’s go.”

  If he were in good shape, Maddie was too. The woman could pedal like crazy and he had to work to keep up with her. Well, he liked to stay behind her anyway. He could look at her great form and imagine her sweet ass pressed against him. Man, he wanted her to be his goddess at the mask ball and perhaps...forever.

  Finally, Maddie hopped off her bike then started walking with it. “It’s just up here, Kade.”

  “Awesome! Nice view of the water, too. Do you come here a lot?”

  “Yeah. This is the first time I brought someone with me.”

  “Really?”

  “True. I didn’t even bring…”

  “Who? Your boyfriend?” The idea that she had a boyfriend struck him hard.

  “Well, ex. I never brought him here.”

  Good. He liked the idea that she was sharing something with him that no one had shared with her before. “Why?”

  “Somehow, I knew he didn’t deserve to see this place with me. And I was right. He got some girl pregnant. They have two kids now. The whole time I was going out with him, he’d been keeping secrets. I hated it. That’s why when Carly opened up to me, I respected her right away. A good relationship is founded through trust. Secrets would only eat the foundation away and eventually, nothing would be left.”

  Kade nodded. He should thank the guy for being a dick because he found Maddie, but he also wanted to smash the guy’s face for hurting his love. “Why did you bring me here?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because you made my Mom and Dad laugh. You listened to their stories like a little boy promised with freshly baked brownies.”

  “That’s it?”

  Maddie stopped walking. “What do you mean?”

  “I thought you asked me to come here because you are attracted to me and bordering on falling in love.”

  “Nah. I just feel sorry for you because you don’t have friends and smell like dirty socks.”

  Kade laughed. “Very funny.”

  “You took me to the observatory to watch the night sky. I thought it was only right that I show you this spot where you can watch the magic of the m
orning, of the new day.”

  “Fair trade, huh?”

  “Yup.” They kept walking until they reached the top of the small hill. There, he saw three huge square looking rocks in a straight line. “What are these rocks doing here?”

  “Don’t know. It’s a mystery to everyone around here. Carly tried helping me find information on them but came up with nothing. Strange, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Some people say the rocks were used for sacrificing, maybe, humans or animals.”

  “What do you think?”

  Maddie studied the rocks. “I think these rocks are here because a Greek god and a human fell in love. They had a secret relationship, but were found out. So other gods punished them.”

  “How?”

  “By turning the woman into a sheep.”

  “Cruel gods.”

  “Yeah, but not that cruel. She would turn back into her human form when the sun rose. The besotted god placed the rocks here, so she could be separated from the other sheep.”

  “And the god would know it was her.”

  “Yes. Here, she would sit while the love of her life looked down on her. For an hour, they would share their love for each other. Just an hour. But it was enough.”

  “Ahh. So this is a place for a tryst?”

  Maddie laughed. “I don’t know!”

  “You like Greek Mythology?”

  “I’m obsessed.”

  Kade grinned. “Good to hear.” He’d travelled around the world and watched the sun rise and set, but it was nothing compare to having the woman he’d been obsessed and felt passionate about in his arms while they witnessed the magic happening in front of them.

  It felt like a new day dawning with her by his side.

  Chapter Seven