Love at Large (19 page)

“We’re friends.”

“My. That was fast. So, when did this little relationship go from just being a passenger and a pilot to friends?”

“Last night.”

“Oh?” China raised an elegant eyebrow. “Were we the co-pilot of his mattress?”

“No.”

After waiting for more information that never came, China sighed. “Okay, I get it. None of my business, right?”

Jade took a sip of her now cold coffee.

“He was too old for me anyway,” China said after a short silence.

The thought of China being hurt by her admission had never crossed her mind until now. She looked at the slightly disappointed frown on the younger woman’s face. “China, I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, really.” China shrugged and stared at the street. “Just don’t hurt him, okay?”

“I won’t. And maybe we’re both just looking for a no-strings-attached relationship with lots of hot sex.”

China tilted her head, then shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “I doubt that. Well, I guess I’d better get back to hunting for porch chairs and potted plants. And don’t worry about me, okay. There’re lots of men out here for me to drool over who will drool over me.”

Jade knew that was true. China headed down the street, and every man she passed turned to watch her.

“Who was that?” Ann appeared in the shop door.

“China Davis. One of the people I met on yesterday’s flight.”

Jade heard Ann say something else, but didn’t catch the words. She was too busy trying to figure out if this island had a Star Trek-type transporter beam so she could go to Rick’s bedside right now. She wanted to see him, and talk to him and…and take care of him with a desperation she could taste.

“Jade.”

Suddenly, Ann’s voice brought her mind back to the front porch of the shop.

“What did she want?”

Jade drew in a long breath. “She just wanted to see how we survived the storm.” The last thing Jade wanted was to share the news about Rick with Ann. Knowing her friend, she’d beat her to the airport, or the phone. Shifting off the porch pole, she headed into the shop. “I need to make a call.”

The week had flown by with the rush to get the shop ready to open. But in between unpacking, cleaning, and setting up, Jade couldn’t stop thinking about Rick. After finding out that he’d been released when she’d phoned the hospital, she’d waited for a call or visit from him. Neither came. Two mornings later, China had told her that the doctors had grounded him for a month, but otherwise, he was okay. That news had cheered her, but it would’ve been nice to hear it from him and not through a third party. She’d whipped off a note to Rick and had John take it up to the airport that afternoon to give it to Tom Lawson, but now, after a week of silence, she was sure her moment in time with the handsome pilot had come and gone. It was as she’d feared. She’d let herself fall for someone who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, return her affections.

Jade shifted in one of the comfortable, faded, green velour armchairs at the front of the tiny shop and scanned the room. A vast array of treasures lined the shelves and sat on antique dressers and cabinets just waiting for the first customers to come in the morning. With this final triumph, Ann had declared her night was over and had gone up to her apartment to soak in a hot tub. Jade had showered, then slipped into a long black tank top and gray leggings. But instead of going right to bed, she decided to return downstairs, listen to her favorite soft piano music, and spend some time alone.

The front door to the shop was open as it had been most of the week, which allowed the cooling, daffodil-tinged breezes to float inside. Now and then the wind chimes near the door pinged, blending with the music. Jade pushed her damp hair away from her face and stood up. Slowly, she walked to the antique hutch where the remaining three medallions were hanging from cup hooks. Drawing her finger through them, she watched them sway and sparkle in the dim light. Tomorrow, this place would be filled with customers. The Curiosity Cove would be a success, and she could go back home with her head held high. It would also be nice to go home with a handsome pilot by her side, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen.

She sighed and moved the medallions again. She prayed that maybe someday, some woman would manage to touch Rick Montgomery’s heart in the same way his wife had, and he’d learn to love again. He deserved it…

…And she’d be one lucky woman.

“Hey, beautiful.”

Rick’s voice drifted over the music and tinkling wind chimes behind her. Jade froze in place, trying to decide if she’d just imagined it.

“The place sure looks better than the last time I was here.”

Slowly, she turned and saw him standing just inside the door, wearing a button-down denim shirt and blue jeans. His right arm was cradled in a sling, and there were four bandages on his face.

“Sorry I took so long to get back here.” He raised the sling an inch. “But something came up.”

“I heard. Are you all right?”

“I will be.” He reached into the front left pocket of his jeans and pulled out the medallion. “Thanks to this.”

“You still have that thing?”

“I never leave home without it.”

“But it didn’t work.”

Rick folded his fingers over it. “Who says? Something kept me from meeting my maker that night. Since then, I’ve been out of it on pain killers, sleeping for twenty-two hours a day or hallucinating about giant pink grizzly bears driving SUVs. This was the first night I felt good enough to get out of bed, and the only thing I wanted to do was hop a ride with Lawson to come see you.”

His words died in the air, and he stared at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Jade wrapped her arms around herself.

“I said I’d be back.”

“I know.” She let her voice fade as she glanced at the floor for a second.

Slipping the medallion back into his pocket, he stepped up to her. “Does my reputation precede me?”

“Not your reputation, Rick. Your convictions on relationships.”

“That I’m not looking for one?”

She nodded.

His hand slid under her chin, and he raised her eyes to him. “And you are?”

“Yes.” She rethought her answer. “No.” She thought on it again, sighed, and gave him a weak laugh. “Maybe.”

“Does that mean you want more than a hot and heavy five-times-a-week sexcapade?”

The tightness Jade had been feeling in her chest began to loosen, and the invisible wall she’d been trying to build between them began to crumble. “You mean like seven days a week?”

Rick laughed. “Of course. What warm-blooded male wouldn’t with a woman like you?” He moved his hand from her chin to her cheek. “But what I want, right now, is a beautiful woman, who likes to pretend she’s a pink and blue whirly-gig, to share this warm, May night with, while the lights of the Mackinac Bridge are twinkling in the darkness, the breeze is bringing the heady scents of the flowers and water to your nose, and the stars are thick in the sky.”

He lowered his head, and was a mere breath away from her lips when he stopped. “And I also want to know if that spinning top would let me kiss her?”

“I think so.”

“Good, because that’s all I’ve wanted since I walked away from you last week.”

He brought his mouth down to hers and let his thumb once again caress the full curve of her cheek. Jade’s hands slid around his neck, inviting him to deepen the kiss, which he did by teasing her lips open with the tip of his tongue. She closed her eyes and bit back a quiet moan as he explored her mouth. His hot, calloused hand trailed down her cheek, across her shoulder and moved underneath the straps of her top. She shivered as his fingers traced delicate patterns on her back and shoulders. Lowering her own hands from around his neck, she began to softly massage the small of his back, and gently press forward with her hips.

After a long time, she lifted her lips from his and opened her eyes. The smile that had grabbed her heart so tightly that first time in the airport hangar and many times since was there to greet her. Staring into his eyes, she realized it wasn’t just a corny line from a romance novel, she really could see forever in them.

“What’s going on down here?”

Still held tight in Rick’s left arm, Jade saw Ann coming through the stairway door, wearing nothing but a short white satin chemise. “Hey, Ann,” she grinned, this time feeling safe as her friend approach Rick. “Look who’s back.”

Ann’s reply was cut off as her eyes suddenly shot to the doorway.

“Weren’t you going to take a walk, Montgomery?” Tom Lawson asked as he leaned against the door jam, his eyes fixed on Ann, a pleasant grin on his face.

“Right.” Rick unwrapped his arm from around Jade’s waist and took her hand. “Ann Spencer, Tom Lawson. Tom Lawson, Ann Spencer.” He then pulled Jade to the door. “See ya.”

“Well, what did I tell you?” Rick asked, leaning back against the boardwalk railing that overlooked the rocky shoreline of the now melted lakes and the Mackinaw Bridge in the distance.

“About what?” Jade asked, turning away from watching the lights of the bridge twinkle in the distance. She tried to tame her hair, which was loose and flowing, fluttering around her face in the soft breeze off the water.

“About the bridge, the breeze, the scent and the stars.”

“And about the island being magical after most of the tourists leave for the night?”

“That too.”

She stepped closer to him. “You were right.”

He stared at her for a long moment before reaching out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “Then am I also right to think that maybe you and I are rethinking our convictions of being alone and independent?”

“Yes.”

His left hand snaked its way to the back of her head and followed the line of her hair all the way down to the middle of her back. Once there, and with great gentleness, he brought her against his side and held her tight. “So where do we go from here, Jade Reynolds?”

Jade wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. “Forward, Rick Montgomery.”

He kissed the top of her head. “That’s sure a change in direction from where we were going a week ago.”

“I know.” She moved her eyes up to meet his. Her hand rose to caress his cheek for a moment before bringing his face down to meet hers. “I know.”

About the Author

Nancy Trausch lives in the proverbial, quiet Midwestern small-town USA of Bryan, Ohio. Fourteen years ago, she was lucky to find and marry her soul mate, best friend, support system, and the person she affectionately calls her “Handsome Hero Husband”. Together Nancy and Mike brought in the next generation of Trausch’s with Jacob, 10 and Jessica, 5. Their family is rounded out with four cats, Charlie, Cujo, Bud and Peace.

Author Comments

I am a plus-size gal in a five foot three inch body and have been for most of my life. Through the years I have learned to love and take care of myself in whatever body I have at the moment. Oh sure, I’d love to know what it would be like to be a size 8 or even a 12, but if it doesn’t happen in my lifetime, so be it.

Being a part of this anthology is a way for me to celebrate the women of size, since we are always being put down in other branches of the media. We are human, like our thin sisters. We love, bleed, cry and laugh like they do. And we deserve to find love and friendship, too.

I think I was born with a story in my head. And since then, I’ve thought up and written down hundreds of others. But this is the first time I’ve gathered up enough guts to have one published. I hope you enjoyed it.

A
N
U
NFORGETTABLE
K
ISS

Eileen Wilson

Dedication

This story is dedicated to all the lovely Rubenesque women in the world and to all the men who appreciate these curvaceous, bodacious gals; to Bryan C, whose summer camp crush inspired this story; and last but not least, to the hottest, sweetest man I’ve ever kissed—my husband.

“
I
T’S ANOTHER GLOOMY,
cold, rainy day out there, but I’ve got a topic that’s bound to warm you up and put a smile on your face as you make your way home at the start of the weekend.”

Fallon O’Shea brushed her hair out of her face and wrinkled her brow as she listened to the deejay’s cheerful tone. It was disgusting for anyone to be this perky when the weather was so depressing.

Cassie LeBeau, the drive-time air personality for KWAS, had Castleton’s most popular radio show, known especially for its afternoon topics. “And just what do you propose to warm us up with, Cassie?” Fallon asked, laughing when Cassie said, “In keeping with the time-warp theme, let’s take a step back in time and talk about first kisses. I’m sure many of you smooched for the first time during the eighties. Perhaps it was a schoolyard peck given on a dare. Or maybe during a clandestine game of spin the bottle on your sixteenth birthday.”