Authors: C C Blaze
Dusty was still reeling from the effects of his lack of sleep. His body
positively ached just thinking about holding Maddy.
He had worked most
of the afternoon tidying up the cabin, and ensuring it was stocked with
supplies. He had a feeling she loved to garden to he was sure to leave some
seeds, starter plants, and gardening tools in the shed. He went upstairs to
be certain that everything was in order. He checked the fireplace flue, and
the shower. He also looked at the four poster bed and imagined making
passionate love to her until she was senseless.
Yep, it sure had been a rough night. He was standing down by the
greenhouse when he heard her car coming up the driveway. "That's funny,"
he thought, "I already know the sound of that car."
He smiled then and
waved as she pulled up and parked.
"Morning Dusty, have any more of that?," she asked, pointing at his
coffee cup.
"Sure do," he said with one of his patented dazzling smiles.
She followed him into the barn and helped herself to a big cup, and
took a sip. "Ahh...I love my coffee," she smiled.
"You need any help with anything," he asked?
"Nope, I think I can manage," she smiled.
"If you give me about fifteen minutes, I'll have some coffee brewed,"
she smiled.
"Really? Well, that's all you had to say!," he grinned and started walking
towards his Jeep.
"Hey, Dusty. How do you take your coffee?," she yelled.
"Strong and sweet," he grinned, "just like my women," he winked.
She laughed as she drove up to the cabin. He sure was a fine looking
specimen of a man, indeed. "I don't even need coffee with him around,
he's like a shot of adrenaline," she smiled.
She pulled up and parked in the gravel parking area next to her cabin,
got out, and looked in the back seat to retrieve a large bag containing her
coffee supplies. Glad she had thought to put everything she needed into
one bag earlier last night. Funny thing, she had packed two cups, not one.
She stepped onto her new porch and listened to nothing but the
Diamond River cascading over the rocks, the hummingbirds, and the wind.
She felt safe here and happy, for the first time in ages. Unlocking the door,
she was pleasantly surprised to see a bouquet of roses and wildflowers in a
red vase on the table. There was a note attached, "Welcome home pretty
lady, Dusty."
Her heart melted right there on the spot. "Dammit, he sure
makes it hard to be me," she smiled.
She brewed an extra-strong batch of coffee, placed two cups on the
counter, and went about putting some groceries away. She loved this place
already. She could imagine sleeping at night listening to nothing but nature.
The country air was already clearing her head and healing her heart. Well,
that, and Dusty, of course. Just then, she heard his Jeep coming up the
road. She felt her heart do a flip flop as he cruised to a stop.
"Hey stranger, what took you so long?," she said, as they both laughed.
"Here's your coffee, black with two sugars, just like you said...strong and
sweet, " she giggled.
"What's so funny," he smiled. "I wasn't kidding about the coffee, or my
taste in women," he winked.
"It's funny you should mention that cowboy, I prefer my men the same
way," she bantered.
"Is that right?," he teased with a devilish grin.
She
felt
like
she
was
jumping
into
dangerous
territory, was
this
considered flirting?
"Maddy, you must be certifiable," she thought to herself.
It was early fall now, and the days were growing shorter. Maddy and
“Miss G” got along just fine and before long, they were venturing outside
to take leisurely walks. Dusty watched from a distance as she drove up one
morning and began to stake out a garden spot for his mother. She worked
on it for days, and had even built a raised bed for it.
Touched, he watched as she and his mother would walk every day out
to the garden to plant winter squash, tomatoes, and sunflowers. Grace’s
complexion had taken on a rosy glow, her eyes twinkled, and she appeared
to be blossoming under Miss Maddy’s care. Eventually, she had coaxed
Miss Grace to go into town. She brought her to her Doctor’s appointments
and hair stylist. They shopped together, and had grown very close.
Walt himself was impressed. His wife was nearly looking like she was
her old self, and he had no one but Maddy to thank. She was the one who
was responsible for this incredible transformation. Grace had taken the
young woman under her wing. Maddy was like a daughter to her now.
Grace thought back to her younger days, and could see a lot of herself in
Maddy. She was strong and confident, yet vulnerable at the same time.
Grace did feel guilty, that perhaps Maddy was not paying attention to
her own needs.
One afternoon, they sat out near the garden and fed the ducks.
“Maddy, honey. Are you happy?” she asked.
Maddy looked into Graces blue eyes, “Of course, why do you ask?”
Grace held her hand and gave her a motherly smile.
“Well, I know there’s a lot more to life than taking care of an old
Maddy big brown eyes welled up with tears.
“Grace, I am very happy here. You have given me a beautiful place to
stay, a generous salary, but more importantly. . . you’ve given me your
friendship. I have hope now, when before there was none. I love my job, I
love my life...and I love you.”
Grace put a motherly arm around Maddy’s shoulder.
“I love you too, my dear. There, there now Maddy, I didn’t realize this
would upset you so much. You are like the daughter I never had, and I
appreciate you very much.”
With that, Maddy smiled and hugged Grace in return.
“Grace, each day as you grow stronger,
I grow stronger as well.
I
suppose your right. I do need to teach myself to learn to relax. Life can’t
always be about work . . .but it’s the only way I’ve been able to cope. I tend
to throw myself into anything I do one hundred percent.”
Grace smiled, “What about romance, don’t you want a man?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.... when the time’s right.”
Grace gave a knowing smile.
“Obviously . . .do you have anyone in mind?”
Maddy smiled through her tears.
“I can’t really say. There is someone for everyone, so they say. To be
honest, I haven’t been actively looking. I’m still a little gun-shy where men
are concerned.”
“Dear, sweet Maddy. Someday you will realize that life passes by much
too quickly. Don’t allow the actions of one man to sour you against them
all.”
Maddy nodded her head in agreement.
“I understand what you’re telling me, Grace. I suppose my own
insecurities do get in the way.”
Grace smiled.
“Honey, you deserve every happiness this world has to offer. Take it
from me, sometimes a woman can find love in the most unexpected of
places, and under the strangest of circumstances.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Grace?”
“All I’m saying is, if you take your blinders off . . .you’d be amazed at
what you might find.”
Maddy heard the familiar sound of Dusty’s Jeep coming up to her place.
The “strong and sweet” coffee that both enjoyed was freshly brewed and
filled her kitchen with it’s heady aroma. Somehow, the morning coffee they
shared had now become a daily ritual. As her duties with Grace began to
dwindle, she volunteered to take on more responsibility.
Her current
project was the avocado grove. As she glanced into the mirror, she felt as
though she were looking at someone else. Her skin had taken on a deep
healthy glow and her eyes sparkled.
She walked out on front porch just as he was pulling up.
“Man, oh, man...he sure can fill out a flannel shirt,” she smiled.
“Top o’ the morning to you Mademoiselle,” he grinned.
She walked in to get two mugs of coffee. “What was the airport kiss
for? Damn, I was hoping by now he’d at least try to kiss me...maybe I’m
just not his type,” she thought and frowned. Stepping outside, she handed
his mug to him and walked over to a spot by the railing .
She rested her arms on the railing, gazing down at the river.
"Dusty, can I ask you something?"
He looked her in the eyes, "Ask, away."
She had to come up with something quick, before she jumped him right
He leaned his muscular forearms on the balcony rail next to her. His
arm touched hers and she could feel the heat coming from his body.
"I don't know Mad, I like to think that everything happens for a reason,
why do you ask?"
Maddy looked away. "I don't know, I guess because I never could have
imagined that I would be standing in this spot, in such a magnificent
place....sharing my morning coffee...with someone like you."
He remained silent as he tried to maintain his composure. Horrified that
she had made such an admission, she quickly tried to change the subject
"So, why don't you give me a little history lesson on the Diamond," she
asked while pointing at the swirling waters below the cabin, "It looks so
beautiful, but dangerous.”
He suddenly turned and faced her.
She didn't know what to think. He
stopped about a foot away and placed his large hands on either side of her
against the cabin.
"You're right about the Diamond,
you know.
It's
beautiful and
dangerous . . . just like you."
For once in her life, she didn't know what to do. She began to speak,
but he bent down and silenced her with his mouth. She didn't resist, simply
put her arms around his neck as she savored his gentle kiss. His hot breath
felt like liquid fire as he ran began to kiss her neck. She clutched his thick
hair in her hands and moaned. Her passionate response made him hunger
for her even more.
He pulled the clasp from her hair and it tumbled down around them.
She groaned as he pinned her hands above her head while continuing on
with his exploration of her neck. Her world was spinning around her, and
she felt as if she was going to lose control. Just then, she pulled away.
"Dusty...please," she panted.
"What is it? Did I do something to hurt you?" he asked in a husky
voice.
"No, no. You didn't hurt me. I haven't been with a man for a very long
time. I think under the circumstances; it wouldn't be wise for us to do
this."
He turned away, and steadied himself on the railing that overlooked
the Diamond.
"I know you're right, Maddy and I apologize for what I almost did.
However, I'm not going to apologize for wanting to kiss you. I'm not going
to pretend that there's nothing between us, because we both know that
there is, and I'm sure as hell not going to apologize for wanting to make
sweet love to you. I want to explore every inch of your sweet body.”
Maddy's face turned red. Her mouth was still stinging from his kiss.
God, how she wanted him
“I...really don't know what to say," she managed to confess.
He straightened out and looked her straight in the eye.
"You asked me how I feel about fate.
It's obvious, I've been head over
heels for you since day one, and if your response to my kiss was any
indication; I think you feel the same way about me too, am I wrong?"
She had to admit, he wasn't.
"Dusty, you’re right. I admit, I haven't been able to think about
anything but you," she confessed.
Her words touched something deep inside of him.
He reached down
and gently moved a stray hair from her face.
“Maddy, I swore up and down, I'd never get involved with a woman any
time soon; but when it comes to you, I can't help myself. I knew from the
minute I laid eyes on you at the diner, that I wanted you to be mine. All
mine. I want you. Not a one-night stand ...I mean permanent.”
Maddy was too stunned to speak.
"Now, the way I see it we're both free and over twenty one.
I can't
change the way I feel. I know you've got things to do, and I have so much
on my platter I can't think straight. I'll be by tonight around dusk. He
pulled a white bandanna from his pocket, and handed it to her. If you want
me, just tie this on the hitching post."
She was far from finished decorating, yet was pleased that she had made
so much progress in the last few months. Her cabin was beginning to feel
like home. She decided to unpack a few more boxes and headed upstairs to
her loft.
“I may not have the best taste in men, but I sure know how to make a
house a home,” she complimented herself.
She stepped back to admire her handiwork. The main focus of her
bedroom was a magnificent antique four-poster bed.
She smiled.
“My rule of thumb, there’s no such thing as too many pillows.”
The
room was awash in the glow of assorted candles.
She had placed her
beloved books in a beautiful hand-carved pine bookcase. Small houseplants
were strategically placed into the garden window that faced the Diamond.
The room had a massive stone fireplace for those cold winter nights.
“Perfect to snuggle up in front of...yikes, stop it Maddy. The man is
your boss...never mix business with pleasure,” she reminded her reflection
in the mirror.
She turned on the radio and Mickey Gilley was singing a beautiful
country love song,
"No I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand by me...if you're in need,
won't you stand, won't you stand by me..."
Maddy sang along. She'd heard the song a hundred times before. This
time, she really listened to it and the words touched her deep inside. Dusty
had managed to crawl under her skin, like an itch she couldn't quite scratch.
"Oh Lord, I'm in trouble," she said while she smacked her forehead.
"What am I doing?, I can't really be falling in love with the man, I just met
him. “I’m lonely, that’s all,” she muttered. She had been without a man for
so long. Even though she had lived with Jack for such a long time, they
hadn't made love for years.
She decided to luxuriate in a long, hot bubble bath. Candles illuminated
her oasis, and she leaned her head back against the tub.
“Dammit, why can’t you stay out of my head...”
She closed her eyes and envisioned his startling blue eyes, boyish grin,
and those dimples.
He certainly could fill out those wranglers he was
wearing. His sense of humor, his deep voice, his square jawline with just
the right hint of stubble. “I’m definitely attracted to you Dusty. . .maybe
someday, I’ll take you up on your offer.”