The Swear Jar (25 page)

“What about the meeting on Friday?”

“How important is being the
chairperson?”

“I do like the idea of being
chairperson.  It’s not as important as you are to me.  I did promise to have
the meeting.  If I back out at this late date, it’ll reflect badly on you and
me.  I don’t want that.  Mike said no one was coming here after us?”

“Yes, I’m supposed to call him when
we’re done and he’ll come to close the house up for winter.”

“It sounds like I should give up
the meeting and stay with you.”

He shook his head.  “It would be
asking too much of you.”

“What if I gave you until
Thursday?  We could leave Thursday and be back for Friday.”

“That would work.  We could leave
after the meeting and come back for the weekend.”

“Duncan, you’re spoiling me
rotten.  I’ll never want to go back to work.  We could stay here until
Thursday, go home, attend the meeting Friday morning and be off again for the
weekend.  Sounds like a win-win to me.”

He hugged her.  “We’ll stay?  Are
you sure?”

She beamed.  “Yes.  If you get sick
of me, it’s your own fault.”

“Not a chance.  Now are we going to
the beach or not?”

“Yes.  I can have the cooler packed
in no time.  You get the chairs and umbrella.”

“Yes, dear,” he said as he got up
from the chaise lounge.

She swatted at him, but he jumped
out of the way.  “Better get used to it, buddy.”

“I’m looking forward to it!”  He
hurried off.

He ducked into the cottage.  He was
planning his surprise for that afternoon.  He was overjoyed she wanted to
stay.  He wanted to keep her at the Shore house.  He chuckled to himself.  It
sounded as if he wanted to kidnap her.  As he looked over the surprise he had
for her that afternoon, it wasn’t such a far-fetched idea.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Duncan and Meara walked the two
blocks to the ocean.  They had everything they would need for a whole day at
the beach.  They plodded into the sand and chose a spot to set up their little
oasis.  He wedged the umbrella into the sand while she opened the blanket.  He
set up two sand chairs under the umbrella.  He placed the cooler on the blanket
so it was in the shade.  She opened her beach bag, got out her sunglasses and
handed him his sunglasses.  She had also packed hats for them and a large tube
of sunscreen.  She was not taking any chances with sunburn.

“Sweetheart, now’s your chance to
put your hands all over me in public and there’s nothing I can say about it,”
she teased.

She handed the tube of sunscreen to
him.  He raised his eyebrows.  She couldn’t see behind his sunglasses, but she
was sure his eyes were twinkling.

He rubbed his hands in delight. 
“Let’s do it then!”

She took off her t-shirt to reveal
her swimsuit.  He started with her exposed back.  Then he ran cream up and down
her arms.  She worked on the front of her legs and feet.  He rubbed cream on
her chest and neck.  He made sure to get the back of her neck.  He carefully
rubbed cream onto her face and ears.

“You should lie down on the
blanket, so I can get the back of your legs,” he said quietly.

He was having fun and hoped no one
noticed he was a little aroused.  Flopping onto her stomach, she held still
while he smeared cream on her legs.  He worked his way up, dangerously close to
her buttocks.  She giggled.

“It’s your turn,” she said, rolling
onto her side and reaching out for the sunscreen.

Her eyes were inadvertently drawn
to the front of his swimsuit.  She inhaled.  Uncomfortable, he sat down on the
blanket and crossed his legs.  She knelt behind him.  She squeezed some cream
into his hand.

“Do the front of your legs and feet. 
I’ll take care of the rest.”  She purred into his ear.

He rolled his eyes.  “You’re
killing me.”

“At least you’ll die happy.”  She
breathed as she massaged the cream onto his neck and shoulders.

“Is this supposed to be relaxing
me?”  He was cranky.

“Yes.  Think calming thoughts. 
Listen to the waves, the seagulls, and the happy people.  Relax.”

She rubbed cream onto his back. 
She found a few tense spots and worked them out.  She came around to his chest.

“Are you going to be all right if I
do this?  If I miss a spot, you’ll burn red like a lobster.”  She smirked.

“No, go ahead.  I’m fine now.”

She rubbed cream over his chest and
arms.  He watched her, but she was careful not to make eye contact.  She
blushed and he pulled her close, kissing her dimple.

“I knew that dimple was going to be
trouble the first time I saw you.”

She sat back.  “The first time?”

“Yes, I saw the mischief in your
eyes.  That dimple showed me you smiled and laughed a great deal.  I wanted to
make you smile and laugh.”

“You’ve managed more than that. 
You’ve made me happy.”  She reached out and touched his cheek.  “I love you.”

“I love you, Meara.  You’ve made me
happier than I’ve ever been.”  He took her hand and kissed it.

“Good.  Now lie down on your belly
so I can get those last spots on the back of your legs.  I’m not going to let
you fry.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  He flopped onto his
belly.  “What do we do after we’re covered in sunscreen?”

“The sky’s the limit!  We can sit,
go down to the water, go in the water, build a sandcastle, or nap.  You’re only
limited by your imagination.”

“Let’s go down to the water and take
a walk.”  He took her hand.

They walked along the shore,
playing in the surf and splashing each other.  They watched kids running in and
out of the waves.  He managed to get her into the water despite her protests. 
She didn’t like the waves, so he held her tight and told her when to duck. 
Soon they were beyond the waves and bobbing in the water.  She relaxed and
treaded water around him.

“How is it you swim, but you don’t
like the ocean?” he asked.

“As a kid, I was battered by waves
so I avoided it.  I don’t like being tossed around and choking on seawater.”

“I can understand.  I’ll try not to
let the waves hit you when we go back.”

“I’m not going back.  I’m staying
right here.  No way am I going to get hit by a wave.  You can go back in if you
want, I’ll be right here.”  She was nervously teasing him.

He swam to her.  She wrapped her
legs around his waist.  They treaded water together.  He kissed her, pulling
her buttocks closer to him.

“If we aren’t going in soon, I’m
going to take advantage of being so close to you.”  Using his hips, he bobbed
her up and down until her face turned red.

“Duncan!  Not fair,” she laughed
breathlessly.  “Now we can’t go in unless you want everyone to see that you
have an…you know…”

He moved her around so her back was
to the beach.  No one could see him as he buried his face in her cleavage.

“DUNCAN!”  She giggled
hysterically.

“Are you over your fear of waves
yet?”

“No.  But I trust you to get me in
safely.”

“Good enough.  Let’s take a nap on
the blanket.”

They enjoyed a short nap on their
blanket despite all the people around them.  They were in their own little
world.  They faced each other on the blanket, but they kept a distance between
them.  They held hands.  She opened her eyes, smiled and sat up.  It was a
little after noon and many of the families around them were having lunch.  He
stirred and touched her side.

“What time is it?” he asked.

“Lunch time!” she said.  “Are you
hungry?”

He sat up and stretched.  He
wiggled his toes in the sand.  “I could go for a snack, but I don’t think our
fellow beachgoers would appreciate me nibbling on you.”

“You’re so funny,” she laughed. 
“How about helping me serve lunch?”

“That cooler was heavy.  I’m afraid
to ask what’s inside.”

“I packed as much as I could.  I
don’t want your stomach to rumble anymore.”

“Good point.  How can I help?”

They were soon feasting on turkey
sandwiches, potato and noodle salad, and some of the goodies from the sweet
shop.  She had made lemonade and he had two glasses.  He made a mental note to
keep track of the chocolate-covered cherries for his surprise this afternoon.

“Is there a kitchen sink in that
cooler?”

“Very funny.  It should be lighter
for the trip home later.  Want to make a sandcastle?”

“Yes!  Let me throw out our trash
and I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared and returned about
ten minutes later carrying two buckets.  He had stopped at the gift shop and
bought them for the sandcastle building.

“You’re just a big kid, aren’t
you?” she asked.

“Yes.  You have to have the right
tools for the job, don’t you?  Do you want the red or blue bucket?  Let me
guess, blue?”

“Correct, sir!”

They held hands and walked to the
water.  They chose a spot where the waves couldn’t reach.  They decided how
they wanted to build the sandcastle.  Two young boys stood watching them.  The
boys held their own buckets and shovels.  She had noticed the boys earlier. 
The younger boy was about three and the older boy was about seven.  They
watched Duncan create the outer wall.

“Do you guys need help?” asked the
older boy.

The younger boy nodded and smiled
at her.  Duncan and Meara looked at each other.  Duncan shrugged and tilted his
head to her.  She turned to the boys.

“Is it okay with your parents?” she
asked.

The mother was watching Meara.  The
mother waved and pointed to the boys.  Meara nodded her head, smiled and waved
to say the boys were welcome.  The mother nodded.

“Well, gentlemen, this is how we
see our castle,” Duncan explained.  “What do you think?”

“I think we’re going to need some
water and some wet sand,” the older boy said.

“I’ll take my bucket and go get
some.  I saw some sand pebbles we could use for decorations later,” said Meara.

Duncan and the two boys watched as
Meara went to the waterline.  She was trying to time the waves so she could
pick up some of the sand pebbles.  Duncan and the boys worked on the outer
wall.

“Is she your mommy?” asked the
younger boy.

“No, she’s not my mommy,” Duncan
chuckled.

“You don’t mean mommy, you mean
wife,” said the older boy, rolling his eyes.

“Mommy and Daddy are wife and
husband.  I know that.  Is she your wife?” asked the younger boy.

“No, she’s not my wife.  She’s my
girlfriend.  I have a grandson about your age.  He likes building things too.”

The three of them stopped to watch
Meara darting in and out of the waves.  She didn’t want to get hit, but she was
determined to get sand pebbles for the castle.  She was laughing.

“You have a grandson?” asked the
younger boy.  “So if you married her, she would be your grandma?”

“You are so stupid sometimes.  No,
she would be his wife, not his mommy or his grandma,” said the older boy.

“I’m not stupid.  I like her,” the
younger boy grinned.  “I would want her to be my grandma, if I could pick.  I
think you should marry her.  She would make a good mommy or grandma.  I’m not
sure what a good wife is supposed to be, but I’m sure she would be good at that
too.”

Meara had a handful of pebbles and
a bucketful of water and sand.  Duncan watched her approach.  The two boys
looked from Duncan to Meara and back again.

Duncan turned to the younger boy. 
“You know what?  You’re right.  I should marry her.”

The younger boy grinned.  “Your
grandson will be happy.  She smiles a lot.  If you don’t marry her, I’ll ask
her to be my grandma.”

“I promise to ask her, but not
right now.  Let’s keep it a surprise?  Sometimes grownups have to plan things a
little.  But I will ask her.  If she says no, I’ll send her to you.  Okay?”

“Okay.”

Meara came back to the sandcastle
and put down her bucket and pebbles.  “What are you three smiling about?  Did I
look crazy down by the water?”

“No.  Not at all.  The boys and I
decided you look like you’re having a lot of fun.”

“I am.  Let’s see what we can do
with this castle.  Will there be a dragon?”

“Of course, Lady Meara.  Every good
castle has a dragon!”

“I hope you’ll protect me from the
dragon, Sir Duncan.”

Duncan bowed to her.  “Of course,
my dear lady.  I’ll slay the dragon with my mighty sword.”

Duncan waved his shovel in the
air.  Meara giggled.  The two boys rolled their eyes.

“She’s fun, but he’s a little
crazy,” said the older boy to the younger boy.

Duncan and Meara spent a wonderful
afternoon with the boys building the sandcastle.  Before long, the boys’
parents came over to admire their work and take the boys home.  They all shook
hands.  The younger boy hugged Meara and winked at Duncan.  He winked back.  Meara
sat down on the sand next to the castle.  He sat next to her.

“You do realize you’ll get sand in
your suit?” he asked.

“I already do.  It’s a hazard of
the job.  I’ll live,” she said.

“Are you ready to call it a day
too?”

“Let me get a few pictures of our
castle.  It won’t be here tomorrow.”

“Speaking of tomorrow, we’ll need
to call everyone and let them know our plans.”

They packed up their beach gear and
walked the two blocks back to the house.  As soon as they got home, he acted
strangely.

“Can you handle the cooler?  I
should put away the chairs and umbrella.  I don’t want to leave them out.  I’ll
be right back.”  He swiped the chocolate-covered cherries and the buckets when
her back was turned.

He darted out the back door.  She
wondered what mischief he was planning.  She noticed the cherries and buckets
were gone.  After she unpacked the cooler, she called Diana.  Meara closed her
eyes and explained the change of plans.  Diana thought it was fine.  Meara hung
up and looked around for Duncan.  With no sign of him, she decided to change
out of her swimsuit.  He was right.  She had sand in places that were very
uncomfortable.  She headed upstairs to their bedroom.  She heard him in the
kitchen.

“Meara?”  He called up the stairs.

“I’m up here,” she answered.  “I’m
going to change out of my suit.”

“NO!” he yelled.  “I mean, no, not
yet.  Can you come down here?”

She came downstairs, laughing. 
“Okay, sweetie, what are you planning?  You’ve been acting squirrelly.  Tell me
right now.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes.  You don’t hide surprises
very well.  Spill.”

Wrapping his arms around her waist,
he kissed her neck.  “I found the key to the cottage.  I’ve set up a little
romantic hideaway.”

She put her arms around his neck. 
“I have to leave my sand-filled suit on for it?”

“Temporarily,” he whispered.  “Do
you want to go with me?”

“I love looking into your eyes. 
Yes, I want to go with you.  Lead the way, Sir Duncan.”