* * *
Ken turned south on A1A, towards the Camino Real drawbridge. The
familiar sounds of Martina McBride serenaded them as they drove past
the palatial homes, towering condos and ubiquitous palm trees that lined
this lovely stretch of road. Not being much of a country music fan, he had
grudgingly taken a liking to Maddy's favorite singer, in spite of his
preconceived notions.
"Martina?"Maddy inquired playfully, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, she's pretty much the only country star I like, thanks to
you, sweetheart. Besides, this is your night and I want everything to be
special."
"It's our night," she corrected him. He picked up her hand and kissed
it as they approached the inlet; There You Are began to play, reminding
Maddy of yet another prosperity journal entry and visualization.
From the moment she'd first heard this beautiful ballad, she'd
fantasized about it being her wedding song-the first dance shared
between her and her future husband at their elegant evening reception. A
celebration of an honorable, dependable man who loves his woman
unconditionally, it resonated with Maddy in the same way Chicago's
ballad, Song for You, always had. Whenever anyone would ask her about
her ideal mate, she'd invariably tell them to play the famous rock band's
classic song: it not only summed up her sentiments perfectly, it extolled
them with an accompanying beautiful melody.
Ken directed the car west over the drawbridge; but instead of
continuing halfway around the traffic circle and back onto Camino Real to
pick up Federal Highway, he made a right turn, much to Maddy's
astonishment.
"The Boca Resort and Hotel? What are we doing here?"
"You'll find out in a minute, sweetheart." He kissed her hand again,
smiling to himself. He just hoped that the staff had arranged everything
according to his instructions. A second later, he pulled up to the valet
station and a smiling, uniformed young man quickly appeared to open
Maddy's door. As he assisted her, Ken came around and thanked him,
slipping a few bills into his hands.
"Thank you, Sir!" the valet said appreciatively before driving the car
to its designated space.
Giddy, ebullient and somewhat dazed, Madeline stared at her
sparkling, emerald-cut ring with awe and gratitude while she held onto his
arm with her other hand.
"Look at you, checking out that diamond!" He kissed her cheek and
laughed as they proceeded to the lobby.
"I still can't believe this is happening!" she giggled, mostly out sheer
joy, but also because of heightened anticipation of what was at last about
to transpire between them.
Suddenly, she had a panicked thought. "Baby, I don't have anything
with me!"
"Oh, you won't need any clothes!" His tone was lighthearted and
playful.
"Ken! It's not just that-what about my toiletries, my make-up and
everything!"
"Shh, sweetheart, relax, I have it all taken care of." He kissed her
forehead.
The magnificent lobby greeted them with a medley of Spanish-style
arches, Roman columns, marble floors, ornate chandeliers and
strategically placed rows of lush, tropical plants. And though Maddy had
been here many times over the years for various charitable fundraisers,
she'd never actually set foot in the main building of Boca Raton's most
famous landmark. Never in a million years had she expected to walk
through this world renowned space as Ken's fiancée, though this too, had
been a visualization exercise featuring her Mr. Right.
She stood nearby waiting as Ken checked them in. In spite of the late
hour, she rummaged through her evening bag in search of her cell phone,
realizing she hadn't yet shared her incredible news with her family. But
just as she was about to dial, Ken took it out of her hands. Leaning in
close, he whispered firmly in her ear.
"No, no. Tonight is all about us. We have plenty of time to make calls
tomorrow and I can't wait to tell everybody our wonderful news. But for
now, I just want to focus on you and me. Please?"
She nodded her head in agreement, obediently putting the phone
away; arm-in-arm, they headed to the elevator. When the golden doors
opened, Ken guided her inside and hit the PH button. As if supporting
them in their desire to be completely alone, the doors immediately closed
again, initiating a private journey to the top.
Pulling her into his arms, he assured her, "Don't worry about a thing,
baby. I've got it all covered, I promise!"
In between sweet kisses, she had a sudden flashback. "Kenny!
Doesn't this seem very familiar-you and me, riding a golden car all the
way to the highest floor of a resort hotel?"
"Kind of like our first date at the Taj?" He smiled down at her.
"Exactly! It's that full-circle thing again!"
"Except this time, it's gonna be even better," he vowed.
When their ride came to an end, he ushered her into a small foyer,
illuminated by an overhead crystal light fixture and defined by intricately
carved cherrywood walls on either side. Beneath their feet, ceramic Italian
tile created an appealing mosaic of muted floral design. Removing the key
card from his pocket, Ken slipped it in and out of a brass slot located on
the Penthouse's double doors. Turning the handle he peeked into the
room first. Satisfied with what he saw, he then took her by the hand and
led her in.
Madeline gasped at the breathtaking sight before her. The elegant
suite was aglow in candlelight, thanks to a multitude of thoughtfully
arrayed crimson and pink pillars of varying sizes. All around, her favorite
flowers-red roses-decorated the space in sculpted glass vases, while the
romantic melodies of an assortment of music, from popular love songs to
soft rock and jazz, emanated subtly. Directly ahead, panoramic windows
showcased a bright, full moon and a magnificent, tranquil ocean.
Clearly, Ken had spent many loving hours and hard-earned dollars to
put an exquisite finishing touch on the happiest day of her life.
Overwhelmed, Maddy hugged him tightly to her as her eyes filled with
joyful tears.
"Y-you did all of this for me?" She barely choked out the words.
Pressed closely against his body, she luxuriated in the irresistible warmth
and unmistakable strength of his physique; the rhythm of his rapid
heartbeat reverberated in her ear. It felt simultaneously safe, comforting,
sensual and erotic.
"Madeline, you deserve all of this and so much more," he responded,
raining kisses upon her forehead and neck. "I love you so much,
sweetheart!"
Raising herself on her toes to meet his gaze, she told him again how
much she truly loved him, too, that she might have kicked him out of her
mind for a good portion of her life, but never her heart. And as they
melted into another passionate kiss, his hands roamed her body, from her
porcelain shoulders to her deliciously curvy hips. She massaged his back,
neck and finally his chest, before starting to unbutton his shirt. The heat
radiated from his skin while his toned muscles rippled at her touch. At last
in their "safe place" they couldn't seem to get enough of each other as
their lips and tongues continued their joyful exploration.
Bonded together spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, the
pain of the past melted away as she slid the white sleeves off of his
shoulders and down his arms until the shirt fell to the floor. Staring at him
in all of his glorious masculinity, Maddy was relieved to have been so
incredibly disciplined about her functional training. But when Ken
reached for the zipper of her dress, she was suddenly nervous.
Sensing her anxiety, he stopped and, holding her precious face in his
hands, gently asked if she felt ready to consummate their relationship.
"I want to be with you so much, Ken," she whispered. "It's just that
it's been so long since-well, ok I am a little nervous. It's not my first
time, but it's my first time with you."
He chuckled, amused by her admission. "Well, the same is true for me,
sweetheart!" Then he added, "Do you have any idea how beautiful you
are?"
Maddy smiled. He always knew exactly what to say when she most
needed to hear it.
"Come on," he whispered, lifting her into his arms. "I want to show
you something."
Ken carried her into a gorgeous bedroom, where the cream-colored
sheets of the queen-sized bed had been sprinkled with red and pink rose
petals. On one nightstand sat a gift-wrapped box, adorned with hot pink
ribbons and bows. Still holding her in his arms, he adjusted her on his lap
as he sat down on the mattress and reached for the present.
"For you," he told her, with another smooch on the forehead.
"Something else? You are too good to me!" she "protested" happily
as she unwrapped the box, and then lifted the lid to reveal an exquisite
pale-pink satin and lace short nightgown with matching robe and panties.
"Oh my gosh, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed. "Thank you so much!"
She buried her head in his neck as she hugged him.
"Madeline," he explained seriously, "Even if you are not ready to
make love tonight, I just wanted you to sleep in something almost as
beautiful as you."
"You are the most thoughtful man I've ever met!"
"Why don't you go put it on," he suggested. Nodding her head,
Maddy reluctantly left his embrace. Entering the spacious marble and tile
bathroom, she was struck to discover all of her favorite skincare and body
products waiting for her. He hadn't been kidding when he said he'd remembered
everything!Stepping out of her flirty, feminine dress, she admired her hard-won,
115-pound body in the full-length mirror. Feeling fit and at-ease, Maddy
took delight in her toned muscles, tiny waist and hourglass shape-
though she was definitely still an A-cup. Oh well! Ken loved her for her, and
besides, there was no way she would ever put anything artificial in her body like so
many women in this town.She pulled the flirty nighty over her petite frame and smiled as it
draped stunningly over her figure; then she carefully stepped into the lacy
briefs and added the robe to complete the ensemble, though she knew it
probably wouldn't stay on for long. She brushed her windswept hair into
soft, shiny waves, removed all traces of smeared mascara and lightly
touched up her face. Once she'd cleaned her teeth, she felt more than
ready to rejoin her love in the next room.
When she emerged, she found him by a bistro table, wearing sexy
burgundy boxer's shorts and pouring two glasses of Asti. At the sight of
her, his breath caught in his throat for a moment, just before he gave her
an approving whistle.
"God, you are so beautiful," he enthused, handing her a flute of
bubbly.
"You're pretty hot yourself, Mr. Lockheart," she replied, grinning.
"To second chances," he toasted, "and the glorious road ahead of us."
"I'll drink to that!" she laughed, yet as she took in the sight of him-
bulging muscles, rippled torso and long, powerful legs-she felt
something more akin to an explosion of fireworks than good-natured
humor.
"Kenny?"
"Yes?"
"I want you to make love to me tonight." His blue eyes sparkled at her.
"Are you absolutely sure, sweetheart?"
"Yes, I-I'm ready. I'm finally ready to be with you in every way. I want
to show you how much I really do love you."
"Oh God, Madeline, I love you more than you'll ever know."
With that, he pulled her close to him, smothering her in kisses as he
began to free her from the nightgown she'd just slipped into. Consumed
by passion, she returned his advances with equal veracity, relishing the
touch of his hands on her body and the subtle moves of his tongue in her
mouth.
But when her silky negligee slid down her body and pooled around
her feet, she suddenly buried her head in his chest and wrapped her arms
tightly around him.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" he whispered huskily, kissing the
top of her head. Her skin felt like satin as he ran his hands up and down
her bare back. Gently gathering her hair, he moved it to one side while his
lips pursued her neck.
"Is this really happening?" Her voice was barely audible, though he
could feel the intense pounding of her heart and the exquisite touch of
her firm breasts against him. "I mean, if I'm dreaming, please don't wake
me up."
He certainly understood her sentiment, though his own obvious
physical reaction to simply kissing and holding her eliminated all doubt as
to the wonderful reality of the situation. In this long-awaited moment, the
only thought occupying Ken's mind was how badly he wanted to show
her what it truly meant to be loved and cherished.
While he looked forward to a lifetime of making love to her, he
recognized the significance of their very first union; my God, hadn't the
tortured path they'd taken just to get to this point been filled with
seemingly endless obstacles, pain and frustration? He wanted this night to
be worthy of every fantasy either one of them had ever envisioned. And
as they stood there, surrounded by glowing candles and red roses, it
appeared that promise was well on its way to fulfillment.
"Hey," he whispered, taking her face in his hands and gently
compelling her to look up at him. Even in the subdued light, she noticed
the moisture in his sparkling azure eyes and the sincerity of his expression.
"Madeline, I love you so much. I've always loved you. This is as real as
it gets, sweetheart. I can't erase the past, but I'm here now, and I'm not
going anywhere. Besides, you accepted my proposal, so that means you're
stuck with me forever. And that's all I've ever wanted. Don't you know
that by now?"
Maddy smiled at him as she took in these reassurances. She'd always
loved him, too, from that fun evening way back when at the Point Diner
when he drove her crazy with his need to be in constant touch, whether
by hand-holding, sitting closely together in the same booth or smooching
her on the cheek.
All of the subsequent pressures they'd dealt with-nagging
insecurities, parental disputes and competing desires to wait until marriage
versus giving in to intense physical attraction-had been so formidable.
Looking back now as two seasoned adults, they'd both realized that things
had indeed played out as intended. It had all been part of some grander, if
oftentimes challenging, plan.
And as they stood there holding each other in this present moment,
Maddy was infused with so many emotions. She wished she could
somehow freeze time as she rested her hands on his broad chest and
admired the sparkling diamond ring that now adorned her left finger.
Every hardship she'd overcome, from panic disorder and female health
issues to financial instability and job dissatisfaction-while seemingly
unfair and insurmountable at the time-had all lead her to this incredibly
beautiful place.
There was absolutely nothing she would change about a past that had
prepared her so magnificently to be his devoted wife, lover, friend and
companion. Maddy had battled her demons and won; God's timing could
not have been more perfect. She realized now, that if they had gotten
married back then, their union might very well have ended in divorce-or
worse, transformed into a cauldron of simmering resentment with each of
them feeling shortchanged by the other's unwillingness to support a
dream.
Would she have cheerfully relocated with him to Florida at age 25?
The odds were highly unlikely. And yet, without him, she never would
have embarked upon a path of spiritual growth that would eventually yield
a satisfying career, excellent health, an amazing network of friends and a
comprehensive soul-healing. Whether he'd known what he was doing or
not, Ken had acted as her ideal catalyst, forcing her to confront the
darkest places inside and conquer her most menacing fears.
He'd been so sweet, so tender and supportive over the many
conversations they'd shared in the days and weeks following their recent
reconnection. Maddy had taken Ann's advice to heart-that she must be
completely honest with Ken about everything. The psychic saw him as an
affectionate, nurturing powerhouse, a man who was a driving force in
public, yet sensitive and humble in his private relationships. The only
thing he would not abide was a lie. And as someone who placed a high
value on candor, Madeline had honored that.
"Kenny, I love you, too. I've loved you ever since that night we
couldn't get waited on at the Point Diner, and the morning in Ocean City,
when I invited you over for breakfast and you were embarrassed about
my family seeing you in your bathing suit." They both laughed at the
memory again. "You were unlike anyone I'd ever met."
She spoke softly as she caressed his strong arms and looked up at his
handsome face. "And now-now that we're finally here, just the two of us,
committed to a new life together, I-" She choked up before she could
get the words out. Ken held her close to him and she reveled in the feel of
his hands stroking her hair.
"Shh, it's ok, sweetheart," he consoled her.
"I'm just so thankful to have a second chance," she managed to say a
few moments later.
"Me too, Madeline," he confessed. Maddy turned to face him, raising
herself up on her toes. He leaned down to meet her lips, igniting both of
their passions. Their kiss began gently and slowly at first, before taking on
a heated rhythm as his tongue hungrily sought out hers. She responded
with matching fervor, feeling the familiar sensations flood her body.
His hands traveled down her back to her waist and back up through
her long, satiny hair. Then they moved around to her sculpted torso,
inching ever closer to breasts that ached to be touched, yet still caused her
slight embarrassment. And though her reaction was subtle, he felt her
tense up in his arms. That's when he moved away slightly to look at her-
all of her, in the soft glow of candlelight. Maddy turned her gaze
downward.
"Hey!" He spoke in a comforting, yet firm tone. When she still didn't
look up, he cupped her chin in his hands and brought them face to face
again. "Madeline, you are the most beautiful woman in the entire world to
me. Everything about you is exquisite. Don't you see that? Don't you see
what you do to me?"
Before she could answer, he placed her hand on his heart, which was
beating rapidly. Slowly, he guided her down his body, all the while
maintaining eye contact.
Maddy felt the excitement build within her as his tangible muscle tone
and hypnotic warmth were revealed beneath her touch. He stopped once
he'd lead her to the essence of his manhood-hard and throbbing now
with pure desire. She sensually stroked him through the soft fabric of his
boxer's shorts as he continued to caress her back.
"Madeline, that feels so good," he began to moan softly. "I want you
so much."
"I want you too, Kenny. Please make love to me."
With that, he lifted her up in his arms vertically and carried her to the
plush queen-sized bed covered in rose petals. He'd done everything in his
power to ensure that this night was absolutely perfect for Madeline, a
woman for whom his enduring love was matched only by his
immeasurable pride.
While he'd known all along she was a cut above, listening to her
recount the events of the last thirteen years had left an indelible
impression. No one he'd ever met could match her unbreakable spirit,
gutsy determination and intrinsic sweetness. In spite of truly frightening
and immensely challenging experiences, Maddy still retained her youthful
exuberance and inherent belief in the goodness of other people. It could
have been so easy for her to degenerate into justifiable bitterness and
resentment. Instead, her challenges had only strengthened and expanded
the qualities he'd loved most about her.
Ken gently placed her back on her feet while he continued to taste the
sweetness of her mouth and the softness of her skin. His hands roamed
over the pale pink lace of her lingerie panties, delighting in every curve of
her body. Consumed by desire, he slowly inched closer and closer to her,
until all she could do was lay back on the bed.
Staring at this vision of Madeline-auburn hair fanned out against the
opulent Egyptian sheets, warm brown eyes that seemed to penetrate his
own and enticing hourglass figure displaying firm, beautiful breasts and
alluring, shapely legs-it took every bit of self control to slowly savor
every facet of their long-awaited conjugal union.
He eased himself carefully on top of her as she welcomed him into
her arms, immersing herself in the seductive scent of his spicy aftershave.
And though there was no moonbeam shining down on them from an
overhead skylight, through the floor-to-ceiling windows just beyond the
foot of the bed, the stars twinkled brightly over the ocean and the
Intracoastal Waterway.
"Hi beautiful," he whispered, smiling at her in his inimitable fashion.
After all these years, it still sent shivers down her spine. "I can't believe
we're actually here." He traced her cheek with his fingers as he spoke.
"Me, either," she softly sighed. "Oh my gosh, if anyone had told me
during all of those hard, lonely times that you and I would find our way to
each other again-that you would ask me to be your wife someday, I
never would have believed it."
She conveniently neglected to mention all of the predictions Ann had
accurately made; such conversations fell strictly into the realm of "girl
talk." Although Ken had been fascinated by her recounting of the
psychic's role in freeing her from panic and anxiety disorder, Maddy had
decided to leave well enough alone.
"But I did," he smiled again. "And thank God, you accepted!"
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. After all this time, I didn't want to take
anything for granted. All I know is that I prayed hard for you to say 'yes.'
And lucky for me-and my children, you did."
"Kenny, we're going to do it right this go-around, I promise. And I
promise I will love Bonnie and Brian as if they were my own-but I won't
step on any toes." Thoughts of Erin briefly clouded her mind.
"Hey," he gently chided her. "Tonight is about you and me. I think
we deserve an evening to ourselves to properly celebrate our reunion. In
every way," he added sexily, nibbling her neck, while his hands sensually
roamed her body. Maddy felt the fireworks erupt again within; still, she
spared a moment for humor.
"You know, Kenny, I'm pretty sure this is the longest run to home
plate in history."
He laughed softly, bringing his face close to hers again. "You really
are something else, you know that Madeline Rose?"
"Yeah, well, don't you forget it," she teased, before passion took over
again.