Magic in Our Hearts

by Jeanne Mccann

  Taylor turned and kissed her lover softly shaking her head in frustration. “Just one more hour and then we’ll take our leave.” Brett had booked them a suite at a local bed and breakfast for the night so they could have the evening completely to themselves.

  Brett was a thoughtful and generous lover. Taylor was pleasantly surprised every day at the little things that Brett did to proclaim her love. She’d had Jeb pack up Taylor’s desk and office paraphernalia and ship them to Boulder. While Taylor had been busy with the ceremony and the Boulder spa project, Brett had their suite’s workout area divided by removable wall screens, separating the bedroom area from the workout area, and creating another office space for her desk and Taylor’s. Then there was the walk-in closet that Brett had expanded so that Taylor’s clothes could easily fit in. Every day there were gestures of love that made Taylor’s already full heart overflow with love. Brett would call her on her cell phone at odd times of the day just to say hello or I love you, even if she was only in another room of the house. Her actions spoke louder than any words she could utter.

  Taylor gazed around the room and stopped when she noticed Roselin’s gaunt face. “Brett, I think we need to take your mother upstairs. I’m sure she’s exhausted.”

  Brett turned and sighed as her eyes sought the face she loved so dearly. Roselin’s mouth was tight with pain, her complexion waxy. She was sitting next to Rex who had not left her side for the last hour, finding the charming woman delightful. He knew of her illness and his compassionate heart wanted her to be as comfortable as possible. He caught Brett’s eyes and, with a small motion of his head, communicated to her that Roselin needed to go upstairs.

  “Will you come with me?”

  “Of course, honey.”

  The two women approached Roselin and, as they got closer, her pain ravaged face relaxed for a moment expressing nothing more than love and delight for her daughter and Taylor. “Mother, we’re going to head out pretty soon and thought maybe you could use a break from all this chaos.”

  “Thanks, honey, I think I would like to go upstairs for a while.” Rex stood up as Roselin struggled to her feet with a grimace of pain. “It’s been a pleasure, Roselin.”

  “I enjoyed meeting you, Rex. Thanks for the entertaining company. Please give my regards to Jeb.”

  “I will.” Rex felt his eyes fill with tears as he watched Roselin’s face. He was amazed that she had stayed downstairs for most of the party. She was obviously in excruciating pain. He knew it was her love for her daughter and Taylor that made her stay and he was overwhelmed by her show of strength and love. He was very glad to have spent some time with the amazing woman.

  Taylor slipped an arm around Roselin’s waist as Brett supported her other side. They slowly made their way to the stairs and very carefully climbed them.

  Roselin’s body trembled as she entered her bedroom and was finally able to sit on her bed. Without a word, Taylor busied herself removing her shoes and nylons, then her jacket and skirt.

  “Mother, here’s a warm washcloth. I’ll wipe your face and then you can take a nap.”

  “Brett, I’m so happy for you and Taylor.” Brett gently washed her mother’s face as Taylor pulled the covers over the frail woman. “I love you, Mother.”

  “As I do you and Taylor. I’m so proud of you both.” Roselin began to nod off, while Brett and Taylor watched her body slowly relax.

  Brett returned the washcloth to the bathroom and came out in time to see Taylor kissing her mother’s cheek as she slept on unawares. The overwhelming emotion she felt filled her heart and she grew warm, as love for Taylor flooded every part of her. Brett bent and placed a kiss on her mother’s forehead. They left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar in case Roselin needed to call for anything.

  “I think it’s time for us to leave.” Taylor grinned at Brett as they walked through the still crowded living room. “Let’s leave all this to Helen and Fran and make a run for it.”

  “Good idea. Our bags are already in the car.”

  “I’ll go say goodbye to Rex and Jeb.” While Taylor quickly hugged and kissed her friends, Brett located Helen.

  “Helen, we’re going to leave. Are you sure you don’t mind that we take off for the night?”

  Helen and Fran had been adamant that the two women get away for the evening. “We’ll be fine. You two get out of here.”

  “Could you check on Mother for me?”

  “I will, Brett.”

  “We can’t thank you enough for today.”

  “We loved doing it. Fran and I couldn’t be happier for the two of you.” Helen enthusiastically hugged Brett and then Taylor.

  “Thanks, we’re pretty happy ourselves.”

  Brett and Taylor escaped in a mad rush to their car as the guests caught wind of their exit and pelted them with birdseed.

  “It’s going to take months to get all this seed out of the car,” Brett mumbled, as she brushed it out of her hair.

  “Well, at least yours didn’t fall inside your clothes. I have seeds all over my breasts.”

  Brett’s head snapped around and her eyes grew hot as she looked at Taylor’s breasts barely covered by the top of her dress. Taylor was trying unsuccessfully to keep some of the seeds from falling any lower. “God, it’s going to take too long to get to the bed and breakfast.”

  Taylor looked up at Brett and gave her a sexy, sultry look that all but melted Brett into a puddle. “Then you’d better hurry, because I can’t wait much longer to touch you.”

  Taylor’s hand on Brett’s thigh was totally distracting as she navigated the crowded streets of Boulder trying to get to their destination in one piece. Her hunger for Taylor was all consuming, and it made her tremble.

  “Stop, please! You’re killing me here,” Brett pleaded as Taylor’s hand moved higher on her leg.

  Taylor’s hand stopped its progress but continued to radiate heat onto Brett’s leg. Their first lovemaking after their commitment ceremony was very important to both women, and Brett was nervous and completely overwhelmed at how much she needed and wanted Taylor.

  The check-in was excruciating. Taylor stood sealed to Brett’s side while she signed the register and accepted their keys. They barely made it into the suite before Taylor turned and shoved Brett up against the closed door of their room.

  Neither woman noticed the large, elegantly decorated room or the antiques that filled it. The king-sized bed sat prominently in the center of a large, Oriental rug.

  But all that was ignored as they reached for one another.

  “I can’t wait any more,” she groaned, as her hips ground against Brett’s and her hands reached for her breasts.

  “Oh, God, I can’t either. Let me … I need …” Brett couldn’t speak clearly as Taylor pulled her belt from her pants and unclasped them. Then her hand was between Brett’s legs and her fingers were deep inside her. Her mouth covered Brett’s with hot, slow kisses.

  Brett felt her orgasm almost immediately. She cried out in pleasure while her lover brought her quickly to the brink. “I want my mouth on you!” Taylor gasped, spinning the two of them to the bed and shoving Brett onto her back.

  Brett’s slacks were roughly shoved down her legs. She was naked from the waist down, and Taylor’s mouth found her quivering clitoris. “Jesus, God, oh my …”

  Taylor was relentless, driving Brett again and again until she was limp and unable to move. Then she slid up Brett’s body and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight as she shuddered once more in Taylor’s embrace.

  “You are trying to kill me,” Brett whispered against Taylor’s neck.

  Taylor giggled and opened her eyes to see Brett gazing at her with humor. “I just needed to have you.”

  “Well, you had me.”

  “Yes, I did, and I plan to have you several more times tonight.”

  “So you love me mostly for my body?” Brett rolled over and began to slide Taylor’s dress up her over legs so she could touch her skin.


  “I love you for your body. I also love you for your generosity, your compassion, your competitive drive, and your heart.” Taylor smiled up into the dark eyes that never left her face.

  “The first thing I fell in love with was your eyes. They looked right into me. I thought you could see into my heart from the first moment. Next, it was your sense of humor. Your laugh made me want to laugh with you. Then I watched how you were with everyone around you—so open, so honest. I thought you were incredibly beautiful from the first moment I laid eyes on you, but my favorite memory was when you looked at me at the zoo, a cotton candy in your hand, and grinned at me. You said, ‘I like this side of you, Brett.’ I remember asking you what you meant and you said the Brett you saw that day was someone who could love deeply and mean it. I do love deeply, and I will love you for the rest of your life. I do not take my commitment to you lightly, and I want us to have children that will grow up with your strengths and talents.” Taylor began to cry as Brett kissed her slowly, a kiss of love, commitment, and passion ready to explode. It didn’t take Brett long to remove all of Taylor’s clothes and then the rest of her own as she covered Taylor’s body from head to toe with kisses, tasting every inch of the woman she loved more than life.

  “I want you on top of me, please.” Taylor’s arms tightened around Brett’s back as Brett settled between her thighs and rocked against Taylor’s wet center.

  Again Brett slid her hips harder against Taylor’s and she smiled at the quiet gasp that escaped from Taylor. Their hips began to slide against each other in a rhythm they both felt. Taylor’s breath became heavy, her hands slid down to pull Brett’s hips more tightly against hers. She locked her legs around Brett’s thighs opening herself fully. She watched Brett’s face inches above her own.

  The strength in Brett’s arms had returned, and she arched away from Taylor’s body and spoke. “Look how we’re joined, Taylor. This is who we are—lovers, connected in the most perfect way.”

  Taylor’s eyes moved down, and she saw their bodies sliding together. Her heart pounded as Brett reached between them and entered her fully. Using her hips she drove her fingers deeply into Taylor over and over until Taylor’s muffled scream against Brett’s shoulder proclaimed her climax. Brett collapsed on top of Taylor, trying to catch her breath.

  “Honey, are you okay?” Taylor’s hands stroked Brett’s back as she tried to settle her own wildly racing heart.

  “I think I died and went to heaven.”

  “Well, then, you have company, because you aren’t going anywhere without me.”

  “That’s perfect then.” Brett drifted into sleep, still tightly locked in Taylor’s embrace. Taylor smiled and tightened her hold on Brett, reached over and pulled the comforter over them, then closed her own eyes and went immediately to sleep.

  CHAPTER 20

  Life became fairly settled for the couple after the ceremony. Brett continued her heavy workout schedule which had expanded to include running, much to Taylor’s surprise. Taylor was kept busy reviewing properties and buildings in the Boulder area, looking for a good property in which to put their next spa. Roselin’s pain had become manageable, and she seemed to be going through a period of remission. Everyone was happily living her life, ignoring for the moment the inevitable outcome of Roselin’s condition.

  The three women spent hours talking, laughing, and making memories to be shared long after Roselin’s time was over. They were painfully aware of the fleeting nature of this time and didn’t want to waste one moment of it.

  One summer afternoon several weeks later, Taylor was sitting on the back deck enjoying the warm sunshine with Roselin when Brett rushed out and exclaimed excitedly, “Well, it’s official! I’m the new U.S. Ski Team coach for the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy!”

  “Oh, honey, congratulations! I’m so proud of you.” Taylor hugged her partner tightly.

  “Mother, what do you think?” Brett sat down on the chair next to her.

  “I couldn’t be happier for you. You’ll do an excellent job.”

  “Thanks, I feel pretty good about it. I’m just a little worried about whether I’ll be able to go up on the slopes again. I haven’t been on a ski slope since my accident. My job will require it.”

  Taylor looked at her partner with compassion. She knew how hard that admission had been. “How about you and I take a hike tomorrow and go up the chairlift?”

  Of course Taylor would understand. Brett responded quickly, “That sounds good. There’s another thing I need to talk to you two about. They would like me to come to New York for a couple of days and meet the sponsors and sign all the paperwork.”

  “When do you need to be there?”

  “Next week, Tuesday and Wednesday. I would fly out Monday and be back Thursday afternoon.”

  “We’ll be fine, honey. Won’t we, Roselin?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you sure?” Brett hated to leave either woman.

  “We’ll be fine. I’m taking Roselin to get her hair done on Tuesday so we won’t miss you too badly.” Taylor grinned and reached out to squeeze Brett’s hand as she teased her. She wanted Brett to know that her trust in her was unwavering.

  Brett grinned back and sat holding Taylor’s hand. The three women discussed Brett’s triumph in securing such a prestigious job and didn’t go back inside until Helen announced that dinner was ready.

  It wasn’t until later that night that Brett and Taylor discussed her upcoming trip. Brett was brushing her teeth as Taylor sat on the toilet watching her. Brett had on a pair of red boxers and a tee shirt. Her newly muscular legs and arms made her look healthy and downright sexy.

  “Honey, could you promise me one thing when you’re in New York?” Taylor leaned her chin on her knees, where they were tucked against her chest. She was wearing a back silk nightshirt.

  “Anything.” Brett turned to face Taylor.

  “Don’t let any girl reporters get near you.” Taylor’s eyes teased, but Brett felt that there was still some underlying doubt in Taylor’s mind.

  She reached out and placed both hands around Taylor’s beautiful face. “You have nothing to worry about. I love you completely and I wouldn’t let anyone or anything come between us.”

  “I love you.” Taylor looked up into the clear dark eyes that hid nothing from her.

  “Then come to bed and prove it.” Brett grinned, pulling Taylor up into her arms.

  Taylor couldn’t have been happier with their sex life. She and Brett didn’t make love every night, but their lovemaking was frequent, healthy and passionate. What she valued most of all was the time they spent talking after they went to bed, sharing their dreams and fears. It was this time that cemented their relationship and made them stronger as a couple.

  CHAPTER 21

  Taylor dropped Brett off at the airport with a hug, a passionate kiss, and a promise. “I’ll miss you and we’ll have a big reunion when you get back.”

  “Love you.”

  “I love you, honey, and I’m so proud of you.” Brett walked into the Boulder airport, her stride as strong as her confidence.

  She was wearing a pair of tan pants, a pale gold silk shirt, and a brown suede jacket. She looked professional and downright sexy. Brett was back, and she was going to prove to her mother, Taylor, and herself that she was the best ski coach in the world. Failure would not be an option. When Brett and Taylor had jumped off the chairlift at the very top of the ski slopes on Friday afternoon, all Brett felt was excitement–-excitement at the thought of being involved in what she had loved her whole life, skiing. She missed skiing very much, but she had faced the fact that physically she would never be able to do it again. She could teach others how to be world-class skiers. Now she had another goal and that was to be the best ski coach she could be. She had a new dream and was about to embark on another career she could be proud of.

  Taylor’s eyes welled up with tears as she watched her partner and the love of her life head off to pursue
her next dream. Nothing could have pleased Taylor more than to know that Brett was healing in both mind and body.

  Two hours later, Taylor returned home and was surprised that Roselin wasn’t waiting downstairs in her usual place. She headed upstairs and knocked on her bedroom door.

  “Come in.” Roselin’s voice sounded weak.

  “Roselin, are you okay?”

  “Yes, Taylor, I’m just a little more tired than usual. Do you mind if we reschedule my hair appointment?”

  “Of course not. Is there anything else I can do for you?” Taylor didn’t like Roselin’s coloring. She looked ashen.

  “Tell me how Brett was when she left today.”

  “Confident, excited, and a little arrogant.” Taylor sat on the side of the bed and placed her hand on Roselin’s as she spoke.

  “Ah, the Brett we both love.”

  Taylor couldn’t keep from laughing as she smiled down at the astute woman.

  “Yes.”

  “She’ll be a good coach.”

  “Yes, she will.”

  “Taylor, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a nap.”

  “Of course, Roselin.” Taylor stood up and bent over kissing her gently.

  Roselin reached up and patted her softly on her face. “I’m so lucky to have you in my family.”

  “I feel like I’m the lucky one.” Taylor stood up and left the bedroom, her face drawn. She found Helen and Fran in the kitchen canning green beans from the little vegetable plot in the garden.

  “Helen, Fran, have you noticed any changes in Roselin lately?”

  “No, she still doesn’t have much of an appetite, but she seems to have less pain lately.”

  “She’s taking a nap upstairs and she looks way too pale. I’m worried about her.”

  “We’ll check on her for you.”

  “I appreciate that. I’ll be in my office if you need me.” Taylor entered her suite and headed to her desk where plans for the spa were laid out. She’d found an empty building in town that had once been a large ware-house. It needed a lot of work to get it into shape, but she had seen beyond its current sorry state to what she could create. She was going to call Jeb and discuss it with him. The price was right, and the space was even larger than they were looking for. And there was plenty of parking, a necessity to the business. The building was located in the heart of Boulder, near restaurants and local shops.