Stone in Love (16 page)

Excited about spending a day with her mother, Lindsay didn’t think much about the familiar name on the envelope the rest of the afternoon. She couldn’t wait to sit her mom down and tell her how truly in love she was; how she had a man who made her feel like a lady—like she was the only woman on earth. Sharing this part of her life with her mom would fill a huge void.

A vision of herself in a lacy, white dress, and her mother adjusting her veil, flashed through her mind. Now
that
would be the ultimate perfect day. And it was a very attainable daydream.

* * *

Lindsay and her mother spent the following Saturday shopping in downtown Charleston. Still in the low eighties, it was typical weather in Charleston for late September.

They found a swing at Waterfront Park and sat there for at least two hours talking. They caught up on the goings–on of their extended family and the daily happenings of each other’s lives. A Carnival cruise ship was docked close by. Dolphins bobbed up and down, and birds chased playfully behind them.

For the first time in a very long time, the conversation wasn’t forced or awkward. It was genuine, and the love flowed freely between mom and daughter. Lindsay would long remember and cherish their bonding.

After lunch, Mrs. Martin dropped Lindsay off at Charlie’s place, where Lindsay was staying for the remainder of the weekend.

“Thank you for today, Mom,” Lindsay said, opening the car door. “It was awesome.”

“I really enjoyed it,” her mother said. “Let’s not wait so long to do it again.”

“Deal.” Lindsay leaned over and gave her mom a hug.

Mrs. Martin glanced over Lindsay’s shoulder. “You better hurry along, dear. There’s a handsome man waiting for you.”

“I better go, then. Bye, Mom.”

Charlie met Lindsay halfway down the steps of the front porch, arms wide open. A huge smile showcased his flawless, pearly whites.

“What are you so happy about?” Lindsay asked.

“The affection between you and your mother that I just saw,” Charlie said. “It brings me abundant joy to see how happy you are.” Charlie draped his arm around her shoulder, and escorted her inside.

“I wish I’d taken your advice, and had that talk with her long ago,” Lindsay said. “It would have saved me so much sadness.”

“Everyone handles things differently, and in their own time. But I’m glad you no longer have that dark cloud hanging over you.”

Sitting on the leather sofa, Lindsay snuggled into Charlie’s arms. “I’ve missed you. I know it’s only been a few days, but it seems longer.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I guess I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about everything. My family … us.”

Charlie grinned from ear to ear. “Tell me more.”

Lindsay straightened and turned to face him. “I’m so in love with you. My cheeks were hurting earlier from smiling so much, when I was telling Mom about you. There’s something I want to do to show my commitment to you.”

“Really?” Charlie asked in a welcoming tone. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“When Mom and I were downtown today, we walked by a tattoo shop on Meeting Street. I didn’t say anything to her, but right then I decided I want to get one. I want your name on my ankle.”

“Are you serious? But your legs are so beautiful. Don’t mess them up by getting my name tattooed.”

“I wouldn’t be messing them up. Having your name anywhere on my body would make it look even better. I want everyone to know that I’m yours.”

“I can’t lie,” Charlie said. “It makes me feel good as hell that you want to do that. We’ll do it together. When do you want to go?”

“Right now.”

“That soon? You don’t want to think this one over for a few days? That’s a big commitment.”

“Are you sure
you
don’t?”

Charlie stood and picked up his keys from the coffee table. “Let’s go.”

That night they’d planned to stay up and watch a Dodgers home game on MLB Network, since Tom Lally was pitching. But seven o’clock start times on the West coast equals ten o’clock on the East coast.

By the third inning, both of their eyes were getting heavy. They went upstairs to watch the remainder of the game from Charlie’s bed.

Charlie settled onto his back, with Lindsay beside him, her arm across his chest. After a few minutes, he fell asleep. Lindsay knew she wouldn’t be far behind, but she couldn’t stop staring at her name across his heart, where Charlie had gotten it tattooed.

She recalled the sweet comment he’d made earlier that evening. He’d told her that’s where she’d been all along. And that’s where she’d always be, tattoo or not.

Lying on her side, Lindsay lifted her leg to cross over Charlie’s. As she brushed her leg against his, a striking pain on the inside of her ankle forced her straight up. She’d almost forgotten about her own tattoo. She smiled and changed her position.

“Strike!” the umpire said on the television. Followed by the announcer saying, “Tom Lally has struck out ten tonight. That tops his season high.”

There was a time not very long ago when Lindsay had wondered how life could get any better. Now she had her answer. This was the perfect ending to the most perfect day ever.

Chapter Eighteen

“Good morning, love,” Charlie said to Lindsay, as she descended down the stairs. “I was about to come up and check on you. You know it’s after ten a.m.”

Lindsay ran her fingers through her bed–head. “It’s okay. I had the best night of sleep.” She slipped a hair–tie off her wrist and secured her hair into a messy bun. “Nothing but sweet dreams. How long have you been up?”

“Couple of hours. Come on, I have a fresh pot of coffee ready in the kitchen.”

Lindsay sat down on the padded bench of the old–fashioned kitchen nook. “Yum,” she said after sipping her coffee. “The first taste is always the best.” She peered out the window at the cloudless, clear blue sky. “Wanna go to the beach today?”

Charlie sat in a pull–out chair across the table with his own cup of coffee. “I’ll do anything you want to do.”

“Okay. And afterwards we can go to that restaurant on Middle Street. You know, the one with the large outdoor porch that’s always crowded? The food must be wonderful there.”

“Sounds great. Did you bring your swimsuit?” Charlie asked, looking over his coffee cup.

Lindsay cocked her head to the side. “Come on. I’ve got one of everything here by now.”

“Really? That’s a good start. Why don’t you go ahead and bring the rest of your belongings on over?”

“Don’t tempt me, Charlie Mundy,” Lindsay said, wiggling her index finger back and forth. As good a mood as I’m in, I might be crazy enough to consider that.”

“Then do it. Live with me. Aren’t you tired of saying goodbye night after night?”

“You know I am. I never want to tell you goodbye, but I don’t want to jinx us by moving too fast.”

Charlie shook his head. “I know I said I’d be patient, but what’s it going to take for you to believe this is real?”

“Time. That too–good–to–be–true feeling will go away with time.”

“Know this,” Charlie said, leaning forward, elbows on the table. “I’m going to make you my wife. Maybe when you’re walking down the aisle, you’ll believe it’s real.”

Lindsay sat quietly, grinning. She wanted to marry him; there was no doubt about it. A little more time was all it would take to convince her this was more than a dream.

After several hours at the beach, they collected their things and drove down to Joe’s Tavern. After thirty–minutes, they were seated at a table on the porch.

“The scenery is beautiful here,” Lindsay said. “No wonder this place is always packed. You’ve got the beach right in front of you, and there’s plenty of people–watching to do. Look,” she said, pointing to a couple driving by in a golf–cart. “That looks like fun. You should get one of those, and we can drive it down here for lunch. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about finding a parking place.”

“Done,” Charlie said, holding up his beer to Lindsay’s glass of ice water. “Cheers to carting around.”

“Cheers,” Lindsay said.

“Maybe I’ll get some custom graphics on it: Charlie and Lindsay forever,” Charlie said, only half joking.

“Uh huh,” Lindsay agreed. “And maybe you can put a Dodgers logo on it.”

“Whatever you want. But we may look funny driving around in a golf cart with a Dodgers sticker. Most people around here are Carolina or Clemson fans. Or at least, Atlanta Braves fans, if we’re talking Major League baseball.”

Lindsay gave him a knowing glance. “Or we could get a Cubs bumper sticker. You’re a closet Chicago fan. I saw the hat in your bedroom.” Lindsay held out her hands. “Don’t explain. I wouldn’t admit to that, either.”

“Guilty,” Charlie said. “Damn, it’s hard to be a Cubs fan, though. It’s a roller–coaster ride of close–but–not–close–enough championships. Can we please not talk about it?”

“Fine by me. Anyway, I don’t have a problem being a Dodgers fan. I don’t worry about what other people think, because I’m not like most people.”

“No,” Charlie said. He looked deeply into her eyes, then his gaze fell to her lips. “You certainly are not.”

Lindsay felt a warm flush on her cheeks. She’d seen that look before and knew exactly what was on his mind: The same thing that was on hers.

“Now, I didn’t wait thirty minutes for this table just to get up and leave. At least let me enjoy one of their famous hamburgers.”

“All right. I suppose that’s reasonable,” Charlie said. “But when we’re done, I plan on taking you home and devouring you for dessert.”

“Who am I to say no?” Lindsay said, beneath her batting eyelashes. “Though, I don’t know what makes me so special. Take a look around. There’re more half–naked women on this deck than in a dirty magazine.”

“They don’t hold a candle to you. Your skin is glowing from being in the sun today. Your wind–blown hair hanging down over your collarbones gives you a wild–woman look. It reminds me of how you looked when you did your little pole–dance. I wouldn’t mind an encore performance some time.”

Lindsay looked over her bare arms and legs, exposed by her strapless coverup. It had been a couple of months since she’d spent any time in the sun, and today had renewed her golden tan.

She felt butterflies, wondering if a repeat performance was even in her. She didn’t feel like the same person who did that sexy dance. At that time, the concept of love didn’t mean anything to her. She knew all about lust, for sure, so conveying that came easy.

Now she’d experienced love. Now she was a professional. A career woman accustomed to being catered to by a love–struck, career man.

Her cell phone rang. Lindsay looked at the caller ID. “I don’t recognize this number.”

“Then let it go to voice mail,” Charlie said. “Enjoy your lunch and check it when we get home.”

Lindsay slipped her phone back into her neon–colored beach bag. Lunch was served shortly thereafter, then they made their way back to Charlie’s car.

“The food was wonderful!” Lindsay said. She yawned. “I’m tired from lying out on the beach all day. How about a nap?”

Charlie pulled into the parking spot beneath his house and shut off the engine. “Want to take a shower first?”

“I guess I do need to get the sand off my feet.”

“I’ll see you there,” Charlie said, following Lindsay inside the house. He went upstairs while she went to the laundry room to take off her cover–up and bikini.

She didn’t have to think twice which shower to meet him in. There was either the small, single–person style shower in his bedroom, or the large, two–person–friendly one at the other end of the catwalk. The second one had a shower–head at each end and a bench seat that extended the whole length of the shower.

“How’d I know I’d find you in here?” Lindsay asked, opening the glass shower door.

Rinsing the shampoo from his hair, Charlie’s eyes were closed tight. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing … except the shower in your bedroom is more conveniently located.”

“I know, but this one is more,” he stopped massaging his scalp while he thought for a moment, “relatively proportioned.”

Lindsay laughed. “Well said.”

Under the recessed lighting, every ripple in Charlie’s abdomen was well–displayed. Lindsay indulged herself in a long stare, while Charlie took longer than what she thought necessary on his thick, dark locks.

As her gaze lowered, her eyes widened at the sight of his manhood. It wasn’t a completely new revelation—she knew it was large—but she’d never had a chance to ogle over it until now, when he was completely unaware of it. If there was such a thing as a perfect one, he owned it … literally and figuratively.

Damn … she was one lucky woman.

After an hour–long romp in the captain’s quarters (her new pet name for Charlie’s bed), Lindsay dug her cell phone from underneath the tangled mess of sheets. So
that’s
what was poking her in the back the whole time. She had no idea how it ended up in the bed.

“How did it get to be a quarter to ten?” she said, looking at the time on the phone.

“I don’t know. Time flies when you’re having fun,” Charlie said with a grin.

“I have a new voice mail,” Lindsay said. “I didn’t hear the phone ring. I bet it’s from the call I missed at lunch earlier today. I never checked it.” She dialed her voice mail.

“It was North Charleston Emergency Care. They expect to reopen in another week or two, and want to know if I’m still interested.”

“How about that? You have all kinds of options now. And you thought you’d never get the job you wanted.”

“It’s a little too late. I’ll call them Monday and let them know I got a job somewhere else. One that I absolutely love, by the way. The hours are perfect for me and everyone minds their own business. At the other office, there’s no telling what my schedule would have been like, since they stay open late and on the weekends. Things seemed to have worked out exactly as they were supposed to.”

While they were on the subject, now was as good a time as ever to ask Charlie about Dr. Mundy. Lindsay hadn’t thought much about it, because she didn’t suspect there was any relation, but naturally she had to ask. She grabbed her robe off the bedpost. “Let’s go out on the deck.”