Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

"So, where to now?" Mark asked as they walked arm-in-arm to her car. The night air had turned cool as a gentle breeze rustled the palm

trees. It was a welcome relief after four hours in a stuffy bar.

"How about the fishing pier in Deerfield? It's so beautiful out now,

I'd like to walk by the ocean."

"The pier it is, then," he said, drawing her into another intoxicating

kiss. Neither one of them could keep their hands off of each other; it was

as if some magnetic force had taken over once the apology had been

given and accepted. Still, Madeline wondered what he might be

anticipating from the evening, knowing she would not be consenting to

consummating their budding relationship on this particular date. It was

simply way too soon. And charisma and clean-cut good looks

notwithstanding, they barely knew each other.

Coming up for air, Madeline ordered him to drive, and tossed him her

keys. At every stoplight on the way to the pier, Mark leaned over to kiss

her. Each kiss had an intensity that surpassed the previous one, as if years

of pent-up emotion were spilling out in gradual waves. Any lingering

thoughts of Ken were completely eradicated as Madeline lost herself in

Mark's touch. She ran her fingers through his thick hair and pursued his

lips hungrily; it had been so long since she'd been held by a man, she'd

almost forgotten how good it could feel.

Yet there was something she still did not trust. Maybe she was still

reeling inside from Ken's nuptial announcement and of course, Mark's

recent actions. In spite of his sincere apology she wondered where this

was all heading. Mark was a man with needs after all, and she realized she

could only satisfy his burning desire to a certain extent tonight. Would he

accept that? For goodness' sake, it was only their second date!

But here was a man who'd been somebody's husband for fifteen

years, father to two children almost as long, and engaged to another

woman for God knows how long. He never did specify the length of his

engagement, though obviously its demise had been fairly recent.

Regardless, it was a safe bet that his experience in these matters far

exceeded hers. Although she'd been in many intimate situations with Ken

during the time they were together, he always maintained the proper

boundaries, at Madeline's insistence; much to his credit, Ken had shown

admirable restraint, despite their intense passion and chemistry.

But Ken had also been her exact same age-quite literally-and there

was a comfort level knowing he'd never been committed to someone else

in a legal sense. True, he'd been sexually involved with at least two other

women she knew of, and possibly even a few he'd never told her about,

but his heart had definitely been in finding the right girl to settle down

with. One thing she'd known for sure: Kenny was not a player. The jury

was still out on Mark.

Besides, the prospect of being with someone new-someone who'd

not only been around the block, but who could so easily and skillfully

awaken the same simultaneously powerful and terrifying sensations within

her-was unsettling. And the night was still young.