Just A Soul Whose Intentions Are Good

[Addisonsgirl]

Maddie smiled at the pretty brunette as she pushed her ungainly body in the backseat of the BMW. “Hi. I’m Maddie.”

Terri froze as she moved into a comfortable position. She stared at Maddie and then suddenly blurted out. “Maddie? Maddie Hayes? You’re the Blue Moon Shampoo Girl!” she gushed, “I loved you. I wanted to be you!”

David laughed as he threw his long body behind the steering wheel. “Yeah, you and millions of other women I bet.”

Maddie punched David in the shoulder playfully as she shook her head, “No not millions,” she said modestly.

Terri shook her head then nodded. “Well, I don’t know about millions, but to me you were...“ – Terri smiled at Maddie – “...are just perfect.” She sighed “I wish I had a tad of your perfection...”

Maddie laughed at the other woman’s woeful expression and took a closer look at her: the dark curls bouncing vividly around her smiling face, the almost black eyes with cheeky sparkles in them and long, black eyelashes. “Nonsense! You’re beautiful. You have lovely hair and wonderful eyes…um...” Maddie was unsure if she had been told her name.

Terri cut in extending her hand. “It’s Terri,” the two women shook hands, “Terri Knowles. And I am so grateful that your fiancé offered me a lift home.”

Maddie smiled. “Not a problem,” she assured. “We noticed your car was giving you problems?”

Terri rolled her eyes. “Always!”

David started the car and interrupted the women's conversation: “By the way, Terri – where do you live?”

“2019 East Graham.”

“You’re kidding?” David turned his head to look at Terri, his mouth gaping open in surprise. “That’s my old address. I knew you looked familiar.”

Terri’s deep brown eyes gazed at David intently for a minute as she took a closer look at him. She shook her head as a huge grin covered her face. “Wait!” Terri laughed. “I do recognize you now!” She pointed at him with her index finger. “You’re Romeo!” Terri hadn’t really looked at David until now. Between her worry over her car and the poorly lit parking lot she hadn’t really taken a good look at him, but now she couldn't believe she hadn't recognized the handsome man who had lived across the hall from her.

David looked puzzled as he echoed: “Romeo?”

“Oh, this should be good.” Maddie threw a feigned look of anger at David. “Pray tell Terri, how did my fair David get this moniker?”

Terri regretted opening her mouth; she didn’t know the couple and she surely didn’t want to cause trouble between them, especially after they had offered their help.

“Come on Terri, spill!” Maddie prodded surmising what Terri was going to say.

Terri shrugged. “It’s just a name I gave to him,” she nodded in David’s direction; he had a frown crinkling his forehead. “He lived across the hall from me.”

David stared hard at Terri, then he pointed to him and then her and turned to Maddie: “Um we never…”

Terri erupted into a deep laugh as she shook her head making her brunette curls fly, “No, no, but he did have a bevy of attractive women visiting quite a lot.” Terri looked at Maddie and added hastily: “but this was long ago.” She was trying to keep peace.

“Believe me, I know Addison was no priest before we got together.” Maddie smiled at David. “But now he is all mine. Right, Romeo?” Maddie knew that David had gotten around with the ladies before they had become a couple, but in a way she was glad he had gotten all of those wishbones out of his system. She trusted David and knew deep down in her heart and soul that he was all hers now.

David nodded quickly, relieved that Maddie didn’t seem upset over what Terri had just said; not that she had any right to be mad at him for what had been in the past, but when had that ever kept her from getting mad all the same? This time, however, she seemed to take it easy. “Right as rain, honey.” He winked at Maddie as he pulled into traffic.

Maddie, David and Terri were fast friends by the time they reached her place. Terri was happy that she had made new friends; she had come to L.A. about a half a year ago and she didn’t know many people. She was a music professor at UCLA and spent most of her time at work. She told Maddie and David she had come west months before, but never mentioned the baby’s father, and they didn’t ask. Even David with his motor mouth didn’t inquire about things Terri may not have wanted to discuss with them; after all, they had only just gotten acquainted.

They dropped Terri off at her apartment with a spontaneous promise to meet one day that week for lunch. David asked if she wanted them to drive her to back to the car the next morning but she was quick to assure them that her mechanic would take care of everything.

They both liked the spunky woman and felt sorry for her since she was all alone. “Must be hard.” David said thoughtfully as they watched Terri enter the apartment house. “Being all alone and having a bambino.”

Maddie nodded. She thought that Terri was very brave to go through the pregnancy all alone; she didn’t know if she would be able to do the same, but she quickly brushed that thought aside. “Yes it must be. She is a very brave woman.”

“Wonder what happened to the dad?”

Maddie shrugged. “Who knows?” She turned to David at the red light and suddenly covered his mouth with hers. “I’m happy you’re mine.” She told him honestly; she had never thought she could ever be as happy and content in a relationship as she was now – especially with David Addison. If anyone would have told her 6 months ago that she would be happily engaged to David and pregnant with his baby she would have laughed in their face. Not that she hadn’t known her feelings toward the green eyed devil that drove her crazy since the day they had met, but she never would have believed that David would have been happy to settle down and make a home with her. She never would have believed she would trust him not to hurt her heart. She would have never believed he would be everything she could have wanted in a man – but didn’t know it. David turned out to be exactly the man she was supposed to be with. She smiled against his lips happily.

David was touched by her admission. “I’m glad you’re mine too.” He kissed her back but they were soon interrupted by the impatient cars behind them reminding them the light had turned green by beeping their horns.

“So – how many women did you entertain at your place, Romeo?” Maddie asked nonchalantly as they were on their way again. “A dozen? A hundred?”

David laughed as he ran his fingers though his hair. “Does it matter?” he asked back. “I was just biding my time until I had you.” And David had never been happier in his entire life. He could have never imagined a few short months ago that he would be thrilled to be engaged to be married with a baby on the way. When he realized he was deeply in love with the complicated blonde he worked with he wanted to tell her immediately but due to the ill-timed arrival of the astronaut and his own insecurities and fears he had nearly lost her. And that would have surely killed him. David counted his lucky stars every day when he woke up next to the woman he loved madly, truly and deeply. To think that he could have never known the bliss he felt holding her in his arms was something he never wanted to imagine. He knew that they were two very different people but he also knew that they were perfect for each other in everything that mattered.

“Really?” Maddie knew he was trying to be sweet in his own David way, but somehow his choice of words irked her a little. She raised an eyebrow. “And how were you so sure that you would ever have me?”

“Come on, babe!” He chuckled deep in his throat. “I knew it was only a matter of time. You were under my spell for a long time before I let you catch me.” David winked at her as he turned the car into the driveway. He could never resist teasing her, especially when she practically asked for it; instead of accepting his almost compliment, she had to poke? Well, he was always in for this game.

Maddie was a bit annoyed at David’s smug words. Under his spell? “Get over yourself, Addison,” she threw at him. “You wanted me long before I even noticed you were a man,” she told him haughtily. Although David’s smugness turned her on, it also irritated her. Sometimes he was way too sure of himself.

David looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Ha! Don’t kid a kidder!” He pointed at her, then at himself. “We’ve had this conversation before, and you know you wouldn’t have kept the agency open if I was some fat old man instead of..” he seemed to think for a minute. “well, me.”

“And what in your caveman way are you trying to say?” Maddie knew what he was up to and she was getting annoyed. How dare he insinuate that she wanted to screw him the first time they met! Yes, she had thought he was cute – well more than cute – but her first instinct hadn't been to get into his pants. Yet, she also knew that he was damn right in what he had just said – she wouldn't have kept the agency open if he had been anybody else, and of course she had been under his spell for a long time; and the fact that he was indeed right about that annoyed her even more than everything else.

“What I’m saying, Goldilocks, is that you wanted moi the first time you laid eyes on me, honey.” David’s voice got real low, syrupy now; just the timbre that made her always shiver against her will whenever he used it. “Admit it baby,” he demanded. “It’s true.”

Maddie’s eyes widened. “You are the most egotistical, the most revolting man I’ve ever met.” She looked at him with blazing eyes. She wanted to punch him in the mouth on one hand and on the other she longed to bang that smirk right off of his face. Only David could make her feel so angry. Her outburst was so exaggerated that it made David laugh – which infuriated her even more.

His hand snaked under her dress. “And you love it.” He knew that she was putty in his experienced hands as soon as he purred her name. That thought made him rock hard.

Maddie pushed his hand away, growled and threw open the car door. She stomped up the steps to the front door. David ran ahead of her and stood against the door blocking her way. “Admit it, honey,” he repeated and smiled at her with that half-smile that took her breath away.

“Forget it, David!” she snapped. “You admit that you are the one who wanted me as soon as you saw me walk into your office!” Maddie threw him an icy blue stare. Her pregnancy hormones were in full force making her emotional and edgy – and against her will so damn horny which fueled her annoyance at David’s smugness.

David grinned as he pulled her into his arms. “Oh that is so true, babydoll,” he whispered and almost disarmed her with that admission, but he wouldn't have been David Addison if he had let it be nice, so he couldn't resist adding: “I wanted you on my desk naked begging me to fuck you.” He licked her earlobe and she shivered. “And damn, hasn’t that wish come true over and over again!” His eyes glittered with lust.

“Damn you, David!” Maddie growled, but already she was beginning to soften towards him as his piercing emerald eyes ran over her body. “See, you wanted me the first time you laid those green eyes on me.” Maddie insisted triumphantly and childishly. “Believe me, my first thoughts in regard to you were more about strangling you with your tie and flattening you with my right hook.” Maddie made a fist and playfully hit him on the mouth.

David grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. “Well, you did slap me!” David reproached but she could see the amusement in his eyes.

“You called me a cold bitch.” Maddie accused as she pushed her hips against his body.

“And boy was I wrong, although you sure acted like one that day.” David bent his head until his mouth was right by her ear. “Little did I know what a hot piece you really are.” he purred, his voice along with his breath caressing the side of her throat causing a bolt of heat to push her legs apart. “Sooo hot.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, and Maddie couldn’t help but laugh. “And I was still thinking of you lying naked on my desk begging for my dick even after the slap,” he purred against her mouth.

He sure was a piece of work. Loud, overbearing, smug – but she couldn’t imagine her life without him. She loved him completely – warts and all – and she knew he felt the same for her; they both simply knew that what they were together and what they had was worth the occasional hard work.

“And now I want you on our bed – naked and begging for it.” he whispered as he opened the door and pulled her into the house.

Maddie laughed and ran up the stairs with David hot on her heels. He grabbed her before she got to their bedroom and pulled her into his arms again, covering her mouth with his. He peeled her clothes off, and before she knew it she was lying on the bed begging him to fuck her just as he had predicted. Of course, he happily fulfilled her wish.

***
“No, thanks,” Maddie waved David off the next morning when he handed her a mug of freshly made coffee to have for breakfast along with the toast she was nibbling at. “I think I should reduce my coffee consumption a little... I’m starting to get heartburn from it.”

“Oh...” David took the mug away and poured its contents in the sink in a dramatic gesture. “No more coffee for you it is then,” he declared and added dryly: “Anybody's giving you heartburn, it's gonna be me.”

Maddie rolled her eyes and shook her head but couldn't quite suppress a smile. “You're too generous,” she told him ironically.

David winked at her and pursed his lips. “You're welcome, Blondie.”

She put down the remnants of her toast. “Let's go, we have an appointment with that new client later, and I want to check the background file first Lou LaSalle gave us.”

David smirked as he put her plate and his mug in the dishwasher; this had been an unusually hurried breakfast due to a few obstacles on the way from the bed to the shower. “LaSalle, huh?” he echoed and nodded. “Geez, who would've thunk his clients' list could bring us so many new clients...”

“Alright already,” she grumbled benevolently and punched him lightly on the shoulder. “I admit you've proved you have a few business instincts, Donald Trump.”

“Just wanted to hear it from your own sassy mouth,” David replied smoothly and smacked her behind as he followed her out of the kitchen.

While they were heading toward the entrance door, Maddie suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. “Look,” she said and pointed to the answering machine where the light was flashing, “there's a message. I didn't even notice it yesterday.”

“Yeah, and I happen to know why you didn't, babe.” David smirked and added with a raised eyebrow: “Any more daycare centers I don't know about?”

“Oh, zip it, Addison,” she snapped and pressed the button on the answering machine

“I'd rather unzip it,” David chuckled, but Maddie didn't reply despite her annoyance.

A familiar, deep voice filled the hall. “Yo, guys, I guess you lovebirds are busy with stuff I don't even wanna think about...”

“Definitely your brother,” Maddie commented dryly, “even if I didn't know his voice I could tell that.”

“...I just wanted to let you know that the weekend after next I’m flying into LA LA land. Have some business to take care of. See ya then!”

“Business?!” David blurted out. “What the hell is he talking about, what kind of business?!”

Maddie smiled ironically. “Why don't you just call him and find out?” she suggested.

He ran his hands through his hair and blew out his cheeks in exasperation. “I don't need to find that out. I already know it's fishy!”

“Oh, come on, David!” Maddie handed him the telephone. “Don't be ridiculous!”

“Ridiculous?!” David echoed in disbelief. “Maddie, have you forgotten what happened the last time he came here for business? This can only mean trouble.” David still remembered getting a swirly in the office bathroom from that thug Navarone. He shook it off in disgust.

She waved him off. “You're way over the top. Call him.” Maddie knew that Richie wasn’t the boy next door but then again neither was the green eyed man staring her down. And she had quite a fondness for David’s wild brother. She thought – like David – all he needed was the right woman to straighten him out.

David raised his hands and took a step back. “I don't want to call him! Why should I anyway?!”

“To find out when he'll arrive so that you can pick him up at the airport,” Maddie told him firmly, “and...” – when he opened his mouth to object vehemently, she silenced him with an accusing index finger – “to invite him to stay here.”

“What?!” David’s mouth dropped open. “You gotta be kidding! He’ll make a mess, interfere, make trouble between us!“ David shook his head. “He can stay in a hotel.“

Maddie hated how David sometimes treated his brother, even if she knew that he really loved him. She wished she had a sister or brother. “He’s staying here! No objections,” Maddie snapped, “your brother is family, the end. Call him.”

David was secretly pleased with Maddie's attitude about his family, but he was in no hurry to talk to his annoying brother. He looked pointedly at his watch. “Didn't you say we were in a hurry?”

Maddie slammed down the receiver with an annoyed growl. “Fine. You got your way.”

David smirked. “Don't I always?”

The index finger shot at him again. “For now! You're gonna call him tonight.”

“If it makes you happy...”

***
They spent a busy day with a few new clients, most of them having come to them after a recommendation by Lou LaSalle. Blue Moon was a thriving business now.

In the evening, after they had a light takeout dinner from their favorite Italian restaurant they made themselves comfortable on the couch; Maddie had her feet propped up in David's lap while he was giving her a foot massage. One of the more and more perceptible side effects of her pregnancy was that although she hadn't really put up a lot of weight yet, in the evening her feet couldn’t fit in her pumps any more, and especially on days when they had to do a lot of foot work like today in the evening they were a little achy. Maddie hadn't really been surprised to find out that David's skilled hands seemed to be made for relaxing foot massages – among other things.

“Long day, huh?” David commented when she let her head fall back on the armrest of the couch.

“Very,” she sighed. “Oh, don't stop that, David...”

“That's what you always moan,” he purred smugly, and in the same moment her eyes flew open again, and she threw him a glare.

“I was just remembering,” she replied pointedly and snatched her feet away from his hands – not without feeling a little regret – “that you were going to call your brother tonight. I bet you almost... forgot about it,” she added sarcastically.

David pouted. “You and your thick skull!” He reached for the telephone, knowing that objecting was not an option, and reluctantly dialed Richie's number.

“Yo!” his brother answered after the third ring.

“Hey, Rich. It's me.”

“Dave! What's up?” Richie asked.

With a sigh, David ruffled his hair and asked: “What day and time does your flight arrive?” Maddie watched him amusedly from the other end of the couch, and he added: “I'll pick you up at LAX.”

“Whoa, where does that come from, bro?” Richie chuckled deeply.

“Hey, if you prefer to take a cab I'm fine with it,” David snapped in an annoyed tone and Maddie rolled her eyes. Seriously, those two were too much sometimes – but then she thought that was probably just a sibling thing she didn't really understand. She knew that the brothers loved each other, even if they didn't show it much.

“Nah, I'll gladly let you chauffeur me,” Richie replied. “Flight should land Saturday after next at one thirty pm.”

“Good, I'll be there,” David promised through a tense jaw. “Anyway, what is this business you have to handle here in L.A.? I really hope it has nothing to do with mob money this time.” Again the image of Navarone flew through his mind.

“Nope, all clean and honorable this time.”

David wasn't convinced. “Honorable?” he echoed. “You do know what that word means?” Maddie snorted from the other end of the couch and gave him a kick on the thigh. David threw her an indignant look and mouthed what?! in her direction. She shook her head at him in disapproval. “Rich!” he barked into the phone. “What is it, you there?”

“Yeah, I just looked up honorable in the dictionary, jackass!” Richie snapped back.

“Very funny,” David pressed through gritted teeth. “So, spill – what is this business about?”

After a short pause, Richie said: “Alright, it's not yet decided, but me and a couple of guys are thinking of opening a bar in L.A.”

“A bar?” David echoed in disbelief. “What guys?” Maddie raised a questioning eyebrow.

“You don't know them,” Richie replied, “two friends of mine. Decent guys.”

“As decent as you?” David shot back, and Maddie rolled her eyes again. What was going on between these damned Addison brothers?

“Listen, bro,” Richie cut in, “just stop it.” David was surprised to hear a strange nuance in his brother's voice; he actually sounded serious when he spoke. Richie? Serious? Seriously? “They are decent guys, and I'm not planning to screw this up. I mean real business. You know, like it's time to get my shit together.” Richie cleared his throat and added after a short pause: “Like you did.”

For a moment, David was speechless; had his brother just told him that he was actually seeing him as a role model? Maddie saw that David was at a loss for words, and that alone impressed her, but she had a feeling that the reason for his silence wasn't a bad one. She smiled when he ruffled his hair without even noticing it and almost stuttered: “Yeah... well... whoa, no shit, man?”

“No shit, Dave.” Richie confirmed earnestly. “As I said, it's not set in stone yet, I have to speak to a few people in L.A., look at the place we've set eyes on, stuff like that.” He cleared his throat again. “I probably could use some help... I mean, you've been living in L.A. For a few years now... maybe you could...” he let the sentence hang unfinished in the air.

“Sure,” David replied nonchalantly. “Count on me.” Maddie had no idea what the brothers were talking about, but she definitely liked the vibes she was getting from hearing David's side of the conversation. She smiled at David and started to run her bare right foot up and down his thigh. “Oh, and by the way,” David continued and winked at her, “don't bother looking for a hotel. You can stay here at Chez Hayes/Addison.”

“Wow, really?” Richie gasped. “No shit, bro?”

David chuckled. “No shit, Rich.” He smirked down at Maddie's foot which was creeping from his thigh into his lap, her toes groping at his boner through his sweats. “Listen, bro...” he looked up at Maddie and licked his lips, shooting a bolt of heat right into her loins. “I gotta go now. I'll see you Saturday.” His dick started to twitch underneath her curling toes. Without waiting for Richie's answer, he hung up and turned to Maddie.

“Now that is a foot massage I do appreciate receiving,” he purred.

Her perfect mouth curved into a sassy smile. “Well, I thought I could give one back in return,” she replied in a sultry voice and started to rub her foot rhythmically over the growing bulge in David's sweats, then she added: “Tit for tat…”

“...tat for tit.” He finished as his hands reached for Maddie’s swollen breasts.

Maddie’s right toes grabbed the waistband of David’s sweats and began to slowly pull them down as her left foot took charge over the tent in his pants.

“Oh God,” he groaned and closed his eyes for a moment, but then he pulled himself together and firmly grabbed her ankles and pulled them away from his boner. Getting a foot job was exciting, but he wasn't gonna let her make him come into his pants.

“You don’t like?” Maddie raised her eyebrows as he pulled off his sweats revealing his massive boner.

“Oh I like alright, but I like this better.” David pulled Maddie by her ankles and placed her legs around his shoulders causing her to tumble backwards on to the couch. She was wearing a short silky nightgown which was now wrapped around her waist leaving her lacy damp panties on David’s eye level. “I love this.” He purred as his tongue snaked out and licked the crotch of her already damp panties.

“Oh David...” Maddie moaned breathlessly as her hands reached for his hair; tangling her fingers through it and pulling his head closer to her throbbing core. No man could make her feel like David did with just his tongue. She opened her legs wider and threw her head back in rapture.

“You are so sweet babe, like candy.” David’s voice was muffled, “pure honey, sweetheart.” He slowly peeled off her panties and threw them aside as he began to pleasure her with long, lazy licks of his tongue as his fingers played with her swollen nub. He loved how her legs shook uncontrollably in her excitement. Having Maddie’s long legs wrapped around him was his idea of paradise. He wanted to show her how much he adored her by giving her the most pleasure that he could. He knew he was succeeding by the decibel of her moans and how her hands were tearing at his hair. It hurt but he didn’t care; he knew she was close to her release.

Maddie was so close to her climax; she could feel the spasms building in her loins and she let out a scream as she convulsed into an earth shattering orgasm, screaming David’s name until she was hoarse. She almost collapsed in a heap as the force of the orgasm subsided. She heard David chuckle and with Herculean effort opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her with that panty melting grin that once again shot a bolt of heat between her legs making her ache for him again. Damn that green eyed devil.

“Sounded good, babe.” David kissed her pubic mound then gently lowered her legs and positioned himself between her legs. “But you’re gonna have to lower the decibel level since we’re gonna have a visitor soon.” He teased.

“I’m not that loud.” Maddie protested, still a little short of breath.

David chuckled again. “Yeah, quieter than a NY subway train…” he pretended to think, “maybe.”

Maddie shot him a look but she forgot her indignation when he pushed his dick into her and began rotating his hips against her slowly. She began to moan again and David smirked down at her causing her blood to boil hotter. “Yeah babe, you love this don't you...” He ground into her causing Maddie to groan and rotate her hips to meet his.

“Oh yes, I love it.” Maddie panted and wrapped her hands around David’s neck pulling him closer to her. “I love you.”

“Oh, I love you too baby.” David’s voice was as thick as molasses. “And I love fucking you too and making you come just for me.” He began to lick her lips slowly as he whispered into her mouth. “Tell me how I make you feel, Maddie.”

“Nobody can make me feel like you do.” Maddie told him honestly, “Oh God, David, don’t stop.” Her loins were on fire and she began to come again in wave after wave of passion.

David felt Maddie pulsating around him with her orgasm but he wasn’t done yet; he counted to ten to calm himself down and then began to push into her with deep hard strokes. “Yeah babe, I love how you come so hard.” David moaned as he lost himself in the pleasure of making love to Maddie. He loved how tight she was around him and how slick and warm she felt as he pushed into her. God, he had never felt this way with anyone else. “Oh baby, this feels so good.” He groaned as he kissed her breasts and shoulders, leaving small red love bites in his passion.

Maddie loved how David felt inside of her. He was so big and filled her completely and the way he moved inside of her was ecstasy to her. She had never known that making love could feel so wonderful. She moved her hands over his hard butt; she loved how he felt under her hands. She squirmed under him as she felt her loins throbbing with desire. She couldn’t get enough of this man. Her hands moved over his butt and legs relishing his muscular body. “Oh God, David... I love your body.” She told him as another orgasm approached.

David felt his orgasm barreling down his spine as he thrust deeper into Maddie’s throbbing core. His orgasm raced over his body through his dick until he felt his head was inside out. He screamed Maddie’s name over and over as he came long and hard. Finally, he practically collapsed in her arms. He laid his head on her shoulder and rested until he was able to move.

Maddie had reached her fourth orgasm when David came inside of her. She was almost purring as she cuddled him in her arms. How she loved him. She kissed the side of his neck and smiled against his feverish skin. “Talk about me being loud, Mister.” Maddie whispered and bit his shoulder lightly leaving a small red mark.

David lifted his head and smiled back at her. Little beads of sweat glistened all over his face. “Wow that was…” he hesitated… “awesome.” He turned over pulling Maddie next to him he held her close so she wouldn’t fall off the sofa. “I can’t get enough of you, sweetheart. It just gets better and better.” He covered her mouth with his, “and hotter and hotter. Damn woman! You’ve bewitched me.”

Maddie snuggled happily in his arms. “Same here, fella. Same here.”

***
“David come on, we’re going to be late!” Maddie called to David who was trying to catch the last few innings of the ballgame. He really wasn’t looking forward to this dinner. Sure – he loved Agnes, and Bert had grown on him in a way over time but this was the playoffs – and the Dodgers were playing!

Maddie walked into the living room and was annoyed to find David sitting on the sofa half-dressed staring at the television. “Addison!”

David tore his eyes from the screen to look at Maddie. “Maddie, come on it’s the playoffs. Let me just watch this inning, babe.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The Dodgers got the bases loaded with no outs!” David turned his attention back to the screen.

“It better be fast, David!” Maddie grumbled. “We’re late already.”

David spoke without turning his eyes away from the TV, but his mouth nevertheless curved into his trademark smirk, almost automatically. “Well, if you had kept your greedy hands to yourself we’d be on our way.” Boy, Maddie really had turned into a horny wild cat – and he was loving every single second.

“Come on, David!” Maddie growled but in that instant David jumped off the couch with a strangled groan and a mouth full of expletives.

“Damn! I can’t believe it!” He turned his green stare towards Maddie. “You wished this!”

Maddie had no idea what he was talking about and was taken aback by the tone in David’s voice. “What are you saying?” She flashed her eyes at him. “What did I wish?”

David shook his head as he pulled on his shirt. “A triple play!” He turned off the TV in a huff. “Bases loaded, nobody out, and they hit into a triple play!”

“You really can’t think it’s my fault?” Maddie asked in exasperation. She rolled her eyes at him. “You have to be kidding me, David!”

“You wished it!” David insisted, sounding like a spoiled little boy. “You wanted the inning to end in a hurry, and ba-bing – triple play!” He ran his hands through his hair messing it up and causing a lightning bolt to hit Maddie between her legs despite her annoyance. “You know how rare a triple play is?” He shook his head as he grabbed his keys by the table by the door and opened the entrance door, letting Maddie leave ahead of him in his usual chivalrous manner.

Maddie turned to him as he opened the car door for her. “If you are going to act like a spoiled baby maybe we shouldn’t go at all!” Maddie told him eyes flashing blue fire. She couldn’t believe he was mad about a stupid game and her wishing it was over! Could he be anymore immature? “You can't seriously blame me for something I have no influence on!” she snapped.

“Yeah well, welcome to my world!” he snapped back, but the he suddenly couldn't help but laugh. David realized he was acting as immature as Maddie often did; he knew it wasn’t Maddie’s fault that his team hit into a triple play even if he did believe she wished the inning over. Anyway, he was over his ire; he threw her a sheepish grin. “Sorry,” He told her putting his head down in mock shame, “I’ve been a bad boy.”

Maddie couldn’t help but smile herself; his little dig hadn't gone unnoticed. They were indeed quite a pair... he was a bad boy and she loved him. She pulled his head up by his hair and lovingly smoothed it down on his head. “Come on, Romeo,” she had been teasing him all week by calling him by that name after Terri’s little story. She put her mouth near his ear, “I think I may have to punish you later.” She winked as she eased into the passenger seat pulling up her dress to reveal thigh highs and lacy white panties. She opened her legs to show David the goods then closed them quickly when he tried to put his hand between her legs. “Later, bad boy.”

“Damn Blondie.” David sighed as he stood up and fixed his pants, “now I’m going to be hard all night long.”

“And that’s something new?” Maddie laughed as she watched him walk around and get into the car.

The hostess escorted David and Maddie to the table where they found Agnes and Bert waiting for them. When Bert saw them approaching the table he jumped up out of his seat. “Oh, Mr. Addison. Miss Hayes! Thank God you are all right!” Bert spontaneously hugged David who pushed him away, taken aback and a little annoyed with the shorter man.

“Whoa! What’s with you?” David growled, wishing he was home watching the game.

Bert stepped back quickly and sat back down. “I thought maybe you were in an accident or something.” He shook his head. “You are so late, and well…”

Agnes patted Bert’s back. “I told him not to worry.” She smiled indulgently at her scruffy fiancé. “I figured something came up.” Agnes giggled.

Maddie turned red but David burst out with a laugh. “Oh, you can say that.” He nodded as he pulled the chair out for Maddie then took his own seat, suddenly in a good mood again. “Yep.” Maddie elbowed him as he sat beside her, and he winked at her with a devilish smirk.

Maddie rolled her eyes and looked around the restaurant. It was a casual restaurant with a western theme. The tables were covered in a checkered table cloth and the floor was covered with sawdust. She looked at Agnes with a smile. “I like this place,” she told her, a little surprised by herself. She hadn’t been sure where they would wind up when she told Agnes to choose the restaurant. She surely had learned to let her hair down over these last few months.

Agnes smiled back at Maddie. “I’m glad. At first I was going to pick some fancy place, but I thought we’d all be more comfortable here.” Agnes nodded. “They have line dancing later!”

“Oh great.” David said under his breath and groaned when he felt Maddie’s kick under the table.

The couples spoke about work and cases as they waited for their food to arrive. Agnes and Maddie were both interested in hearing about how their men had spent the last couple of weeks gathering information on the never ending Anselmo case. Maddie was a bit jealous that she no longer went out on many stake outs with David, and she hadn’t been out in the field with him in weeks. She sighed inwardly; she knew that it was important to train Bert and the other employees, but she knew she would miss working side by side with David after she gave birth. But then she thought of holding her daughter in her arms and suddenly investigating crimes didn’t seem as important.

David had noticed the myriad of emotions that had just passed over Maddie’s face. She had ended with a smile on her lovely face but he would love to know what crazy thoughts were running through her complicated noggin. He squeezed her hand under the table. “You okay, Blondie?” David whispered as the waitress put the food on the table.

Maddie smiled at David and squeezed his hand back. “Just starving,” she told him as she bit into her burger. David’s grinned widened. He loved to watch her eat. Sometimes it seemed she was eating for an entire football team, and not just for one small baby.

David picked up his burger to take a bite; it was almost as big as his head. “So, did you guys pick a date yet?” He asked the couple; he and Maddie had decided on the first weekend of November. That would give them time to get everything together, but Maddie would still be able to fit into her wedding gown without looking like a beached whale – that was her words. David didn’t care if she wore a potato sack since she was beautiful in anything she put on – or took off, he thought, a secret smile curving his mouth. And just having her as his own forever would make that day the happiest of his life; he didn’t care what they wore, where the wedding was or what they ate, as long as Maddie became his wife. That was all that mattered. The day wasn’t as important as what came after.

“My sugar plum and I picked the day of love to celebrate the start of our life together.” Bert puffed out his chest and smiled at Agnes with love.

“Huh?” David swallowed and picked up a fry. He took a pull on his beer bottle.

“I think Bert means they chose Valentine’s Day as their wedding day.” Maddie told David with an amused little smile.

“You understood that?” David shook his head in disbelief. “Yeah, good date, I suppose.” Really, Bert was like a chick in so many ways, David thought to himself.

Bert and Agnes nodded their heads in unison. “Yes, it was my Bert’s idea.” Agnes hugged him. “My love is so romantic,” she gushed, and Bert grew about three inches. “He thinks of everything.” Agnes began to tell Maddie and David of how Bert was wonderful on thinking of special things for their wedding day.

Maddie looked over at David who was busily eating his burger and trying to look like he was paying attention, but Maddie knew him better. She could see his mind was miles away, maybe thinking about the stupid game but surely not on wedding planning. She started to feel a little annoyed, and her pregnancy hormones didn't help to balance her mood. Sometimes she really wished David was more romantic; she wished he was more interested in their wedding day. She tried to keep the smile on her face as she listened to Agnes boasting about how wonderful Bert was in helping her with the wedding. So far David had seemed less than interested when she even asked his opinion; she would literally faint if she had any ideas of his own. She felt like kicking him.

“You must be so excited about your own wedding; it's such a short time away!” Agnes grinned from ear to ear.

“Oh yes. I’m thrilled.” Maddie tried to sound excited but the idea that David didn’t care about their wedding day bothered her. “Still have a lot of things to do. We still haven’t chosen the flowers or the music.”

“Oh, we have a wonderful wedding band we may hire.” Bert chimed in.

David shook his head and suddenly chimed in: “Yeah, a band who plays Motown!”

Maddie looked at David with a raised eyebrow. “Oh, so you do have an opinion on something to do with the wedding?” She nonchalantly put a french fry in her mouth to hide her annoyance, but David usually didn't fail to notice her mood swings. This time was no exception.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Maddie took a bite of her burger and swallowed slowly, deliberately before answering. She already regretted having said something in front of Bert and Agnes. “Nothing, David.”

David looked at Maddie and knew something was bothering her. “It isn’t nothing. What is it?” he poked. He didn’t care that Bert and Agnes were looking on. They had witnessed enough fights and arguments between them that they were probably immune, and they weren't stupid enough to think that would magically stop just because they had admitted they were madly in love.

“Just that you didn’t seem very interested in our wedding,” Maddie explained a little reluctantly.

“I’m interested,” David sputtered. “I just think that it’s more important to a woman. It’s really your day. The bride’s day.” David took her hand and shot her his irresistible half grin. “I just want you to be happy, babe.”

Maddie was slightly mollified. “Okay, but I want you to have some input. It’s our day, David; not just mine.”

“Oh, she’s right, sir!” Bert eagerly threw in his two cents. He didn’t see or ignored the green lasers telling him to shut up – but then again he never did. “Your wedding day – marrying the woman you love above all else. The one you will spend all your days with; all your nights with. The woman who will be a mother to your children. The woman who will….”

David waved his hand as if to cut off Bert’s word cascade. “I get it, Bert.”

“Oh, Mr. Addison!” Agnes bubbled over. “It is your day too! One you will remember for the rest of your life.”

Suddenly an idea ran through Maddie’s brain. Maybe he wasn’t so interested in this wedding because he had already had one. Sometimes she forgot that David had already been married. Okay, maybe it had been more of a shot gun wedding, but still a wedding; and he had been only eighteen, but he had to remember that day. She wondered if thinking about that day bothered David. She didn’t want to bring it up though. It was something better left to the past. She didn’t want to mar their day with memories of his marriage to Tess. She softened a little.

“Call me David, Agnes!” David smiled at Agnes with a brotherly type affection, and immediately Maddie was irked again by the smooth, nonchalant way he had changed the subject – was this the well-known avoidance pattern he had entertained in the past whenever an inconvenient question or situation had come up?

Agnes, not noticing the newly formed clouds on Maddie's face, blushed with pride and joy and nodded. “Oh Mr. Addison... David...” she blushed even more in her adorably girlish way. “Okay, but not in the office.” She had told Maddie the same when the she had suggested Agnes should call her by her given name.

Bert’s face broke into a grin. “Okay, David,” he blurted out a little pompously.

David looked at Bert and raised his eyebrow. “Did I say you could use my first name?” he asked severely. He was only joking, but when he saw the hurt in Bert’s eyes he quickly backtracked. “I was just kidding, Viola. Just like your bride to be said – not in the office, okay?”

The smile returned to Bert’s eyes as he nodded his head up and down, all flustered and happy. “Oh, of course. Sir, David. Mr. Addison. David.”

David slapped his short sidekick on the back, almost a little embarrassed by that open adoration sometimes he wasn't sure he actually deserved. “Easy, Bert. No need to hyperventilate, okay?”

“And of course you have to call me Maddie.” Maddie offered and was touched to see the happiness in Bert’s eyes.

“Oh yes. Miss Hayes. I mean Maddie.” He swallowed hard.

Everyone laughed and began to talk and laugh about crazy things around Blue Moon. But in the back of Maddie’s head she was still annoyed about David’s disinterest in the wedding.

***
A few hours later, after a nice chat, a few good laughs and even a bit of dancing, the two couples said their goodbyes and promised to repeat this every once in a while. David found that he had had a good time, despite his earlier attitude, and was in a good mood when they were driving home. But of course he noticed that Maddie, on the other hand, seemed to be in a brooding mood; which was never good. Probably she was still a little miffed that he had been reluctant to go in the first place. He decided to cheer her up a little.

“Hey, thanks for pushing me,” he told her and put his hand on her knee. “I actually had a good time with Curly and Moe.”

“Told you so,” was Maddie's absentminded answer.

David frowned. “Are you okay, Blondie?” he inquired.

“I'm fine.”

Fine? Oh, that was great. David groaned. “Okay, what's wrong?"

Maddie shook her head and continued to stare out on the dark street before them. "Nothing."

"Come on,” David urged, “can we for once just skip the waltzing?"

Her head snapped around. "The what?" she asked in a menacing tone, knowing perfectly well what he meant.

David sighed. "Maddie, I ask you what's wrong, you say nothing, and we both know that in about 30 minutes if not sooner you're gonna spill it anyway, and we'll both be pissed off by then, we'll discuss, we'll fight, and we'll make up.” while he spoke, he was vividly talking with his hands. “So, if you tell me right away what's bothering you without making me ask three times first, we could clear the air and go right to the making up part – which, if I may add, is the one I personally like best." He hadn't been able to resist adding that with a little suggestive smirk and a thorough lip lick.

Maddie was furious that he acted like she was playing a game and that he didn't seem to take her serious. "Oh, Addison, you're such a smartass, aren't you?” she snapped. “I just wished you were that communicative when it comes to talking about our wedding!"

He raised a suspicious eyebrow. "And now what exactly are you saying?" he wanted to know.

"I'm saying that you are not interested in our wedding," she told him again what she had already said a few hours before and what he had thought had been cleared up. She couldn't be serious?

"What?!" he blurted out in disbelief.

She drew a deep breath and replied haughtily: "You heard me." She thrust her chin up in the air and turned toward the passenger window so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. Damn her hormones making her waterworks run so easily.

Okay, now he was really upset. Obviously, that flowers and candles stuff was important to her – which was why he left it up to her to decide about everything; to him this was something he really didn’t need to compromise about – it was all about what she wanted. He just wanted her to be entirely happy with every detail of their celebration, and anything was fine with him. And now she was holding exactly that against him? Sometimes he had the feeling that he never could win with her. "May I remind you that I was the one who proposed to you, babe,” he shot at her angrily, “which is basically the reason that there is a wedding in the first place, so don't you tell me I'm not interested in our wedding!"

She snapped her head around to stare at him with blue bullets. “Oh, damn you, David!” she shot back. “You know what I mean! I mean our wedding day, the planning of it! You're leaving all the planning up to me! You're not interested in it!”

“Again??” he growled. “Maddie, I told you already – it's not that I'm not interested, it's just... not that important to me. I'm fine with everything that makes you happy.” There, she had to see that!

“See? You don't care!” She folded her arms and stared stubbornly out of the window.

David ruffled his hair. “Don't put words in my mouth!” he snapped. “I didn't say...”

“You didn't say a thing!” she interrupted hotly, in an almost shrill voice, and repeated like a death verdict: “You're – not – interested!”

“Damn right I ain't!” he exploded. “You're right, I don't care about the stupid planning!”

She threw him a menacing sideways glance and pressed through clenched teeth: “The what?!”

“You heard me!” he barked. “I don't care about how we do it! All I want is to hear you say I do and me to say the same to you, and I don't give a damn about the fucking flowers, the table decorations or the menu!” He drew a deep breath and, his anger suddenly evaporated, added: “Well, as long as it doesn't contain seafood.”

Maddie snorted. “Now that's terrific! Why do you always have to do that?!” Her tone was still accusing.

“Do what?” he asked in exasperation. He'd be damned if he ever had met a more confusing woman.

“That!” she repeated in a softer tone. “What you just did!” She sighed. “I'm angry at you, and then you go and say... such things!”

“Things?” he echoed. “What things?”

“Nice things!” Her anger had subsided when she finally understood that David's disinterest didn't mean he didn't care about their wedding but only that he cared more about their marriage; she reveled in the warm and fuzzy feeling his words had given her, and she smiled a little.

David noticed her mood change and couldn't quite suppress a grin. Mood swings, sensitivity, jumping to conclusions... and all that multiplied by pregnancy hormones. She was a hard piece of work, and he loved her more than his life. “I'm sorry?” he offered in fake remorse.

Maddie hit his arm. “I hate you,” she told him a voice that clearly said the opposite.

“I hate you too,” he replied in a husky voice. “Look, Maddie... I know, all that stuff has to be taken care of, and I know it's important to you as a woman. That's why you should be the one to decide about it.” He paused for a moment and threw her a sideways glance, then went on quickly: “If you need my help, just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it. But don't expect me to mutate into an interior decorator or florist... I'm not good at that. But that doesn't mean our wedding day won't be the most important day in my life.”

“Really, David?”

They had finally reached their driveway, and David turned off the engine. “Really, Maddie.” He turned to her and took her face in his hands. “The most important day in my life,” he repeated, emphasizing every word, and she felt tears prick her eyes. “Because it will be the first day of the rest of my life which I intend to spend with you.” He looked at her intently. “Okay?”

Maddie nodded, barely able to speak. “Okay,” she almost croaked and put her hands over his.

He smiled at her lovingly. “We good, Blondie?”

She smiled through happy tears. “Yes, David, we good.”She leaned forward and kissed him slowly, then she whispered: “I don't hate you at all.”

David chuckled. “I know.” He ran his left index finger along her lower lip, and she felt the warm and fuzzy feeling spread everywhere. “See?” he purred. “I told you, if we skip the waltzing we can directly get to the good stuff...”

“The dirty stuff, you mean,” she replied and nudged him playfully and quickly slipped out of the car.

David got out of the car too, locked it and frowned in feigned confusion. “Isn't that the same?”

Maddie laughed and grabbed his hand. “Come on in, you insufferable man. You're due for a punishment, remember?”

“That's my girl,” he chuckled and eagerly followed her into the house.

***
The weekend flew by. Maddie was happy that David seemed a little more interested in the wedding planning. Saturday they booked the caterer and the band – they had compromised on a wedding band that played Motown but also played other music as well. And David was happy with Maddie’s suggestion for the caterer when he tasted the samples offered by the owner of the business. Jacque’s was one of the premiere caterers in Los Angeles and after tasting their food David knew why. That night they went to hear the wedding band that David’s friend had used for his wedding a few years before. Maddie enjoyed the music and they hired the band to play at their wedding before anyone else booked them. Things were shaping up. Now all that was left were the flowers and invitations Maddie wasn’t going to push her luck; she knew David would have zero interest in those so she would ask Agnes to help her. She was also lending a hand with Agnes’ wedding. These were happy times.

Sunday David and Maddie went out for a leisurely brunch then spent the rest of the day cuddled on the couch while David watched the playoffs. The remainder of the day was spent making love and discussing wedding plans.

***
Bert and Agnes were lying in bed together in their pajamas watching a new show on television. The show had to do with a famous movie star and her divorce from her husband of ten years. The woman told her interviewer that she was happy she had been thinking with her head and not only heart before she had gotten married and had had a prenuptial agreement drawn up. It was this agreement that was now protecting her from her greedy soon to be ex-husband and his new much younger girlfriend. Agnes turned to Bert and kissed him on his unshaven cheek as she smiled and cuddled against him. “Good thing that we have no money and don’t have to worry about such things.” Agnes nodded against his arm.

Suddenly Bert had a thought, and it hit him like a lightning bolt. Agnes had told him that she would be watching over the office tomorrow since he and Mr. Addison would be out doing legwork on the Anselmo case and that Miss Hayes had an appointment with her lawyer to draw up some papers. Bert sat up quickly almost causing Agnes to fall out of bed. He grabbed hold of her arm to prevent her fall. “Sorry, my love bunny.” Bert’s eyes were wide with alarm. “But I a thought just crossed my mind.”

Agnes sat up next to Bert. “About what?” Bert thought too much sometimes, and often that led to much confusion...

“This show just gave me something to think about. I hope Mr. Addison – um, David – won’t be too hurt.” He always worried about his idol.

“David? Hurt?” Agnes was confused. “What’s on your mind, Bert?”

Bert pointed to the television where the news show was just ending. “I think Miss Hayes is going to get a prenup like that movie star!” He blurted out; he had forgotten to call her Maddie in his misery.

Agnes shook her head. “Nonsense, Bert. Why would you think that?”

Bert looked at Agnes. “You did say that she had an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow, didn’t you?”

Agnes nodded, still clueless. “Yes, but…”

“And that she didn’t want Mr. Addison – David – to know about it…”

“Okay, but…”

“AND that she was having papers drawn up!” Bert shook his scruffy head and hit his fist on his knee. “Why would she do that to poor Mr. Addison – David?” His voice was almost a wail of despair. “After all the torment and lengths he went through until he finally had her, all those quarrels and obstacles...”

“Herbert Quinton Viola!” Agnes interrupted his cascade in a severe tone. “Stop it! You know no such thing! Maddie Hayes would never to that to him!”

“But my love muffin…”

“Bert, listen to me – she may have a bit more money than him, but now they are equal partners in Blue Moon, and she was the one to make him her partner because she wanted him to be her equal – why would she need a prenup?” Agnes knew she was right.

Bert shook his head stubbornly. “She has her house and who knows what money she is hiding from David.” He sounded sure.

Agnes rolled her eyes and lay down, turning her back on Bert. She knew when he was adamant about something there was nothing she could do to dissuade him. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But sleep was elusive for Bert that night. He was worried about his boss. He figured David would be devastated to think the love of his life didn’t trust him.

***
David was cranky that Monday morning. He knew he would be out in the field with Bert most of the day. They had a few possible leads on the whereabouts of the elusive Anselmo and he knew they’d be running around the city all day. He was glum as he drove to work.

Maddie put her hand on his thigh. “Guess you’re not looking forward to doing legwork with Bert today?” She asked in an amused tone, knowing that David was dreading it.

David put his hand on Maddie’s leg stroking it from thigh to knee and back up again. “I use to love doing legwork when I could stare at your legs all day.” David told her grumpily. “Now I look at Bert.”

“Yeah but now you know these legs,” Maddie flirted and motioned to her long limbs, “are yours and will be waiting for you later.” She leaned over and kissed his ear.

David stopped at a red light. He glanced at her with green heat. “And don’t you forget it.” He stroked her leg. “All mine.” He winked. “And they’ll be wrapped around me later.”

“Maybe.” She teased as she nipped his neck. “Let’s see if you’re a good boy.”

David chuckled. “You like my bad boy better.” he purred as he snaked his hand under her dress. She playfully smacked it away as they pulled into the underground garage in Blue Moon’s building.

“Later.” She promised as she opened the door to leave the car. David didn’t know it, but Maddie had an appointment with her lawyer that morning to take care of some business. She didn’t want David to know anything about it until the papers were signed and sealed.

***
David and Bert had followed one dead lead after the other and had stopped for lunch and a chance to regroup. David took a sip of his drink and forked up some lo mein; he was barely listening to Bert’s near monologue. Instead, he was wondering what Maddie was doing. He’d call her before they left the restaurant he decided. He just wanted to hear the sound of her voice. Inwardly, he had to laugh at himself. It wasn't like they had been separated for days, but still he missed her. That woman had really gotten under his skin.

Bert was determined to clue his idol in on the duplicity of his lady love, but wasn't exactly sure how to do it. Even though he knew Agnes would be angry at his interference he wanted to give David a head’s up on what Miss Hayes was planning to present him with. He took a bite of his eggroll and chewed thoughtfully for a minute. He figured he would just have to tell him. “Um... Agnes told me that she was going to be busy this morning,” he started.

“Oh yeah?” David replied vaguely. He ate some rice.

Bert nodded as he sipped his soda. “Oh yes. She told me she was going to have to keep an eye on the staff today.” He hoped his beloved boss would get the hint.

David looked up at Bert with a frown. “Maddie is there.”

Bert shook his curly head. “No sir... David. Maddie – Miss Hayes had an appointment today.”

David was puzzled. She never had mentioned an appointment to him. Bert must be mistaken. “An appointment?” he echoed.

Bert nodded quickly. “Yes, with her lawyer.”

David just stared at Bert. Why would Maddie be seeing her lawyer? A funny feeling started in the pit of his stomach. “Oh yeah, she did mention it,” he lied. He didn’t want Bert to think Maddie was going behind his back – but was she? And if so, about what? David didn’t like that idea one bit. There had to be a simple reason why she didn’t tell him she was seeing her lawyer that morning.

“Oh, I am so happy to hear that you know, sir!” Bert’s grin split his chubby face. “I mean... David.” He emphasized the name. Bert loved that he was now able to call his boss by his first name. It made it seem as if they were truly friends now. Bert’s chest puffed out as that thought went across his ever working brain.

“Hear?” David raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Oh yes. I thought you might be upset and hurt.”

“Upset and hurt?” The funny feeling spread through the rest of David’s body, and it didn't feel good.

“Yes, I would be upset if my love donut was having a prenup drawn up by her lawyer, but of course, sir, I mean David, you understand these things better than I do!” Bert finished off his eggroll and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He looked up again, saw the look on David’s face and suddenly realized that David hadn’t known about what Miss Hayes was up to at all.

“A what?” David asked sharply, way too upset to hide his feelings. “What are you saying?”

Bert shook his head. “Agnes told me that Miss Hayes – Maddie – was meeting with her lawyer to have the papers drawn up and not to mention it to you,” Bert explained. He made it sound as if he knew definitely that Maddie was having her lawyer draw up prenup papers. But of course he knew nothing of the sort.

A prenup?? David was hurt and angry. How could she even consider something like that? And as usual, without even discussing it with him? Didn’t she think they were going to last? Really, what other reason could she have? Didn’t she trust him enough? Did she think he would want anything from her if their marriage fell apart? What was she thinking? Probably overthinking, he fumed inwardly. Damn her! No, he hadn't seen that coming. Would she ever trust him – trust in them – completely? He had really thought, hoped they had left that behind them forever; obviously, he had been wrong. Would their relationship be destroyed by her overthinking and negativity before it really began? The thoughts in his head were whirling in a sickening way, and he felt like the rug under his feet had been pulled away. David wanted to run to Blue Moon and shake her, but instead he sat there in that ill lit Chinese restaurant and downed his soda in one gulp. He couldn’t let Bert know how devastated he really was. He pinned his trademark grin on his face. “No problem, Bertie boy. It’s all good. And she did mention it. Don’t know why Agnes told you that.”

Bert knew he was lying to save face but he went along with it. After all, what else could he do?

***
Bert asked David if he wanted a lift home but David didn’t want to see Maddie yet; he was too hurt and too angry. They had spent the weekend together planning and discussing the wedding and not once had she mentioned what she was planning to do! How could she be so sneaky? And how on earth could she ever think of anything like that – a prenuptial! Just the thought made him nauseous. David was filled with wrath at her duplicity. When he thought how they giggled and snuggled as they spoke about their future together late night he wanted to hit something – hard. He couldn’t go home now, couldn't face her yet, so he asked Bert to drop him off at Blue Moon but David knew he was headed to the bar around the corner, he just didn’t want Bert to know. He needed a drink to take the edge off or he felt like he would explode with fury. Again the thought pressed on his mind – if she wasn’t sure they were going to make it why even bother to tie the knot? He had really thought she had accepted the fact that in love and life there was no such thing as a guarantee for happiness, a safety net... and yet, here she was again, like a ghost from the past, from confusing and hurtful times: Maddie Hayes, over-thinker, skeptic – control freak. He felt like being sucked into a deep, dark gorge. He felt numb.

***
Maddie was worried. It was almost 9 o’clock, and there was no sign of David. She had called Agnes over an hour ago and had been told that Bert just had walked in the door. He had told Agnes that he had dropped David off at Blue Moon – but Maddie had been calling over there all this time with no answer. Where could he be? Maddie was just going to grab her keys and head over to the agency when she heard the sound of the key in the front door. She was happy he was fine but at that very second wanted to wring his neck because he caused her so much worry.

“Where were you, David?” Maddie met him at the door with worry and anger etched on her face. She wanted to kiss him and smack him all at the same time, throw herself in his arms and kick him.

David nonchalantly tossed his keys on the table in the hallway and walked passed Maddie without even bothering to answer. She was shocked by his attitude and also by the smell of liquor on his breath.

“Do I smell liquor on you?” she asked, and she hated how her voice sounded shaky to her own ears. What was this? Why would he go out drinking when she was waiting home for him? Not even phoning her, when he knew she would be worrying? Hadn't they had this debate already at the very beginning of their relationship? She didn’t like this one bit.

“I don’t know, do you?” were his first words; David was snide. He couldn’t help it. He wanted her to feel the confusion and hurt he felt inside his heart and mind.

Maddie was taken aback by David’s tone and the look on his face which both matched his snide and cold attitude. “What the hell is going on here?” she wanted to know.

“Going on?” David stared at her with green ice. “I don't know what's going on, babe. You tell me!”

Maddie stomped her foot in frustration. “Stop answering my questions with another question!!” She shrieked. “You know I hate it when you do that!”

“Do you?” David mocked as he bounced up the stairs, leaving a completely shocked and infuriated Maddie; he took a quick shower and then came back downstairs to watch some television. He wasn’t really surprised to find Maddie waiting for him by the foot of the stairs.

Maddie couldn’t believe David’s attitude, and the coldness in his eyes scared her. She couldn’t imagine what had brought this on, but she knew she had to find out what was wrong, and she had to do it now. “I asked you before – where were you? I think I have a right to know?”

David ran his hands through his hair as he flopped on the couch and turned on the TV; he ran through the channels, deliberately making her wait, until he found a ballgame. He lay back as he answered Maddie. “Just felt like having a drink. Didn’t realize I was a prisoner.”

“No one said you’re a prisoner, David!” she snapped. “We've had this debate before! I was worried! I called Agnes to see if she had heard from Bert and was shocked to hear he was already home.”

David looked at her with a frown. “Great, so now you have to let everyone know our business.” He shook his head. He was happy for every chance to pick at her; he wanted to make her go out of her mind, provoke her to attack him, so that he could throw all his anger, hurt, frustration and her fucking prenuptial right into her pretty, lying face.

Maddie drew a deep breath, her fury obviously increasing by the minute. “How dare you be angry at me,” she pressed through gritted teeth, “when you’re the one who wasn’t where you were supposed to be!” Maddie stood at the other end of the couch and glared down at him. “I was worried!” she repeated angrily.

“Sorry,” David told her nonchalantly, almost ironically, the tone of his voice clearly saying tell it to somebody who gives a fuck!

She didn't believe her ears. “Is that all you can say – sorry?” Maddie asked in fury.

David shrugged. “Well you don’t trust me anyway,” he threw out.

“What?” Maddie was flabbergasted. “Where is this coming from?” What was going through that man’s mind? And people thought she was the complicated one!

“Forget it,” David told her through gritted teeth, suddenly not really wanting to talk about the prenup anymore; he just wanted to avoid the confrontation for as long as he could. It wouldn’t be any help anyway, he knew that damn well, and he knew that if they talked about it, if he said it out loud, suddenly it would become real, and hearing her confirm that would just kill him.

“I’m not going to forget about it, David.” Maddie insisted, her voice bewildered, hurt and angry.

He looked away from her. “Try.”

Maddie moved closer until she loomed over him. “Why are you saying I don’t trust you?” she inquired in an almost pleading voice. “What the hell is going on?”

David jumped off the couch and stood in front of her. They were so close they could almost taste each other’s breath. David laughed sarcastically. “How dare you make me go through the mockery of helping you with our wedding plans when you don’t even think we’re gonna last??” He ran his hands through his hair again – it was sticking up all over his head in angry spikes, mimicking his mood. Maddie felt like she had just been punched in the stomach as David raged on: “And to think of how you snuggled against me as we talked about our future!” He almost spat out the word; he laughed but it was an evil sound. “What future do we have anyway?” He looked at her like she was a bug he wanted to step on. “How long, Maddie? Ten years – five – one?”

Maddie was stunned. Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

“You heard me!” David pointed his finger at her like it was a loaded gun. Then he pushed her aside and stomped up the stairs in hurt and fury.

Maddie felt like somebody had grasped her heart inside her chest and was now squeezing it. She ran after him immediately. “What are you saying?” she cried. “What’s wrong with you?”

David was standing In the middle of the bedroom; he whirled around on his heels and faced her when she walked in the room behind him. Maddie was aghast at the expression on his handsome face. “Why don’t we just fucking call the whole damn thing off now!?” David shot at her. He nodded his head. “Yeah let’s!”

Maddie’s eyes grew wide. This was spiraling out of control. This was going terribly wrong, and she didn't have the slightest clue why. “So that’s it?” she almost stuttered. “You want out?” She felt the tears prick her eyes but tried to hold them back.

No, he didn't want out. He wanted to turn back time, he wished he had never talked to Bert today, never heard of that goddamn prenup. Maddie was the love of his life. He was the love of her life, or so he had thought. Was she just another woman planning to screw him over, like both the other important women in his life had done? Had everything between them – their love, their dreams of a perfectly imperfect life, a family until death do us part just been a fucking lie? David was out of his mind so he attacked like a wounded beast. “And while we’re at it, why don’t we fucking draw up a damn custody agreement!”

Now Maddie lost it, too. She flung herself at him, slapping him on his face and head. She was hysterical and in tears as she pummeled him with her hands and fists. “You goddamn bastard! Get out!” She sobbed. “I hate you!”

David grabbed her arms and held them over her head. “Stop, Maddie!”

Maddie struggled to get free of David’s hold on her arms. She began kicking him with her feet in her rage. David pushed her back onto the bed; he looked down at her with damp eyes. “Stop!” he ordered, his voice almost broken.

Maddie looked up at David and was shocked to see the desolation in his eyes. Her fury began to ebb. “Why are you saying all this, David? Why are you saying that I don’t trust you and I don’t believe we’re going to last?” She still held back her tears but her voice was filled with confusion and pain. “And that we should call it off now?” Her voice shook. She had to know. “Did you mean it?”

David was silent; he was staring at her with green flames.

“So are we ending it? Why do you keep saying I don’t trust you and that we’re not going to last?” Maddie pleaded for him to tell her. “I don't know what's going on!”

“You don’t know?” He mussed his hair with his hand.” Really?” he snorted. “Tell me, honey, why the hell do you need a fucking prenup?” he spat out. There, it was out. But it didn’t make him feel any better.

Maddie sat up, completely flabbergasted. “A what?”

“You heard me!” he barked.

“Yes, I heard you!” she yelled back, her confusion displaced by fresh anger. She still didn't know where all this came from, but at least she had a clue now why he had lashed out that cruelly at her. She threw her hands in the air. “I still don't understand what you're talking about. Why would I need a prenup?!

“Well, you tell me, honey!” he motioned his hands towards her in quick, angry gestures. “You were the one who went to see her lawyer today! You went there to draw up papers for a damn prenuptial agreement!” All at once, David’s anger left him and he felt empty. He melted into the chair across the room. “Don’t you trust me? Trust us?” His voice was plaintive and filled with sadness.

Maddie got off the bed and approached David slowly. She furrowed her brow. “Yes, I went to see my lawyer today,” she confirmed. “So? What makes you think I went there for a friggin' prenup?” She started to hate the sound of that word. “I still don’t understand what you’re going on about.”

He looked up at her, and the pain and fear in his gorgeous eyes almost broke her heart. “David?” she asked softly, pleadingly. “Talk to me!”

He was more confused than ever before. Her voice sounded so genuine, her cluelessness, her outrage seemed so honest, as if she really didn't know what he was talking about. As if the thought of a prenup had really never crossed her mind. Oh God, he so wanted to believe her. In a croaky voice he said: “Well, Bert told me…”

Maddie was aghast. “Bert?!” she echoed in disbelief. “You gotta be kidding me! Since when do you listen to anything Bert Viola says?”

David raised his hands as in defense. “Look...”

“No, you look, David!” she interrupted angrily. “And you listen. And, if it's not asking too much, just try to use your brain for one minute – the one between your ears, not the one between your legs.”

He looked at her with raised eyebrows, but his instincts told him to shut up. And he wanted to hear what she had to say. He desperately hoped there was an explanation for all this. Maddie put her hands on her hips and drew a deep breath. “Okay. Now, I don't know why Bert would tell you such a thing, but how could he possibly know why I went to see my lawyer? Not even Agnes knew that.”

David shook his head and ran his hands over his face. “I don’t know... he sounded so certain.”

Maddie stood over David so close their knees were touching. “Certain about what?”

“That you were having a prenuptial agreement drawn up.” David looked up at her with questioning eyes. “Did you?”

Maddie threw her hands up in the air. “Again, I don't have the slightest idea where he gets these ideas, but I'm asking you – does that even begin to make the slightest sense to you?”

David sighed and looked down at his hands. When Bert had mentioned it today, it had sounded totally logical to him, and after all, Bert had sounded like he was absolutely positive about this – like he really knew. Could he just have assumed? David ruffled his hair. “It seemed like it made sense... but it doesn't sound so reasonable now.” He looked at her, at the woman he loved more than his life, and suddenly he knew that she never could have done anything like that to him, and he felt terribly ashamed that he had even considered it possible.

Maddie laughed in relief but she was also annoyed with him. Didn’t he trust her at all? Hadn't they said they weren’t going to jump to conclusions? “No, you dummy, it doesn't alright!” Maddie pushed her hair behind her ears which made David’s heart beat faster when he saw that girlish gesture. “Didn’t we promise we were going to discuss things before we thought the worst?” Maddie reminded him. They had to try to start doing this; it would save them lot of arguments and misunderstandings. In the past, she had mostly been the one to always think the worst of things, of situations, of him. But this time, David had been the guilty one – no matter what Bert had told him, he should have come to her and simply asked her. This, however, would happen if they were living in a perfect world; from her own experience Maddie knew that some things were so painful and caused so many doubts and fears that you simply couldn't put them into words just like that, so you kept them to yourself, and they worked their dirty magic like a poison in your system.

“Yes,” David simply answered.

A fresh wave of fury washed over her, and she kicked his shin, making him shriek in pain. “How could you ever think I would even consider such a thing?” she raged. “I mean – a prenup, seriously?” She punched him roughly on his upper arm. “How pathetic is that?!”

David rubbed his arm where she had hit him without complaining. “Pretty much,” he mumbled guiltily.

“Look, David, I know I tend to have a more pessimistic view on things than you usually do, and it's true that in the beginning I often had my doubts that we would last, but...” she paused for a moment and drew a deep breath. “I do believe in us now, with all my heart.” She swallowed, and her voice trembled a little. “I wouldn't be with you if I didn't.”

David looked up at her and saw the tears in her eyes, and his heart was heavy with guilt that he had inflicted that pain on her; but at the same time it was leaping with joy and relief. He pulled her on his lap and was happy to see that she didn't fight him off. He nuzzled his face in her sweet smelling hair. “So why the lawyer visit?” he asked. “I hope the agency isn't in trouble?”

Without a word, Maddie pushed off his lap and went to retrieve some papers from her briefcase. She came back into the room and handed David the papers. He frowned at first, then sat up straighter as he read them. There was a long silence until he looked up at her sheepishly.

“Are you sure, Maddie?” he asked in a funny voice. David was happy beyond belief that Maddie wanted his name on the house, but he wanted to be certain she was sure. He knew how hard she had worked for this house and how she had clawed to keep it. “I mean, I know how much you love this house.” David placed the papers on the side table and reached out for her again to pull her back on his lap.

“I love you more.” Maddie simply told him with a smile on her face and love shining from her eyes. “And I’m not giving it away. Just sharing.”

David nodded. “Okay.” His voice was husky and deep. He was deeply touched by her gesture. “Please forgive me I ever doubted you, baby,” he told her earnestly and with an intense expression in his eyes. “I should have talked to you. I was an ass.”

She nodded slowly. “Yes, you were.”

“I love you so much, Maddie. And I'm very, very sorry.”

“You should be, Addison!” Maddie’s eyes flashed at him. “Going out drinking, making me worry, being nasty and cold and saying such mean things!”

“I know.” David’s eyes glittered with remorse, deep love – and something else. “How can I make it up to you, sweetheart?” His voice was melted caramel, and she felt the familiar shiver running down her spine.

“I may come up with a thing or two.” She began to run her hands over his shoulders.

“Talking about coming up...” David thrust his now rock hard dick against her butt.

Maddie roughly grabbed the front of his t-shirt and puller him near. “You scared the hell out of me,” she whispered tonelessly, and David could hear in her voice how shaken she still was, “don't you ever do that again.”

He knew this wasn't the time for words; he just put his hand at the back of her head and pulled her near, kissing her with a fervor that was fueled by the adrenaline still running through his veins, due to the shock and the fear of losing her. He had understood with his head and felt in his heart that it had all been a stupid misunderstanding and that she was all his and loved him unconditionally, just like before; but he had to actually physically feel her to make sure it was true. He ravished her mouth in a kiss so intense it left them both breathless and made their heads spin.

Maddie hugged him so close, it seemed she had similar feelings – it was like she felt the need to crawl under his skin to confirm it was real. He could feel her heart beating like a drum, and he knew it wasn't only due to her excitement, although that of course was a big part of it. A fresh pang of guilt shot through him for having upset her so much, and while she was carrying his bambina under her heart.

David got up to his feet and pulled her with him, and for a moment they just stood there in the middle of the room, facing each other, looking for and finding in each other's eyes unconditional love, passion and the promise to keep on working on making it last.

Slowly, David raised his hands to her waist and loosened the silken band that tied her robe. It fell open, and she shrugged it off so that it fell from her shoulders to the floor where it lay at her feet in a shimmering heap. Maddie tugged at the hem of his t-shirt, and when he raised his arms, she pulled it over his head and threw it to the floor. Then she scrutinized him for a moment, drank in the sight of him, before she put her hands on his chest and ran them over his collarbones to his shoulders and down his arms until she took his big hands in hers.

“Hold me,” she whispered.

David pulled her in a tight embrace and felt her shiver in his arms; he buried his face in her hair and kissed her neck and told her how sorry he was and how much he loved her, and finally she seemed to be able to shake off the shock and relaxed a little. Gently, he turned her around in his arms and pulled her back close to his front, pushing his hardness against her behind, making her sigh delightfully. His hands started to wander, roam freely over her body front, slowly gliding up and down on the cool silk of her nightie.

Maddie looked down at his hands, almost hypnotized by the sight. She had always loved not only the feeling of David's hands on her but also the sight of them. She had always thought he had beautiful hands and had caught herself watching them when he was gesturing, even when they hadn't been together yet. More than once she had been ashamed because she had tried to imagine how they would feel on her skin... when they finally had gotten together, she had found out that in reality, the feeling was so much better than anything she had ever dreamed of. Now, she put her own hands on his and followed them on their travel over her body, feeling the sensuality of his touch not only through her skin where he caressed her but also through her own palms.

She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, resting it on his shoulder, and reveled in the sensation for a bit. David's hands came to a rest on her breasts, her own hands still on his, slowly and gently massaging them and teasing her nipples with his thumbs; in the meantime she felt his massive boner press against her backside, and her knees went weak just from the thought of feeling him buried inside her soon. Almost automatically, she pushed back into his hardness and heard him make a muffled, guttural sound deep in his throat; it made her head spin. She pulled his right hand away from her breast and, without thinking, took his long, slightly crooked index finder in her mouth. She sucked it in slowly, deeply and caressed it with her tongue, all the same rhythmically rubbing her behind against his rock hard dick. She heard his sharp intake of breath and felt her own juices flow abundantly.

David was surprised at first when she pulled his hand away from her breast, but then he felt what she was doing to his finger, and it was an utterly sensual feeling that made his head spin. He was used to her doing things like that to his dick, but getting a blowjob on his finger like that was more exciting than he had imagined. Maddie began to rotate her butt against his dick, and suddenly she took away her left hand from his that was still massaging her breast and pulled up the hem of her short silky nightie. Then she pulled his finger slowly, very slowly out of her mouth and guided his hand downward, inside her panty, and he understood immediately what she wanted from him. She opened her legs to give him better access, and his wet finger searched for her core. When he had found her nub and slowly, sensually started to massage it in a maddening circular motion, the wetness from her own mouth met the dampness from her loins. Her head fell back on his shoulder again, and she moaned his name in ecstasy. David pleasured her aching center and her breast in an increasing pace and thrusted his sweatpant-covered boner at her butt in the same rhythm. He kissed the side of her neck, and it didn't take long until she came in a shuddering climax.

They stood still like that for a few moments; Maddie swayed a little and waited for her breathing and heartbeat to become normal again. She leaned into David and felt his dick twitch inside his pants. She took a step forward, away from him, and turned around. She knew he was aching for his own release too, but all she could see on his face, in his smile was utter love and total adoration. Maddie reached out and pulled down his pants and his boxers, and automatically he pushed his hips a little forward.

“Touch yourself,” she demanded hoarsely and unexpectedly, “let me see those wonderful hands on that perfect dick.”

Hypnotized by her voice and her intense stare that was fixed on his massive boner, he obeyed and began to stroke himself leisurely, slowly, up and down. Maddie watched him and enjoyed the glorious sight, licking her lips, until she couldn't take it anymore.

“All mine,” she gasped, then she dropped to her knees, put her hands over his again and took him in her mouth, licking, sucking and caressing him like she had done before with his finger. David gasped and let his head fall back.

“Oh God, Maddie,” he groaned as she increased her rhythm, her head wildly bobbing up and down, and he saw stars behind his closed eyes when he started to come in a rush of pleasure.

“Oh God,” he gasped again as his body and brain rebooted after his amazing climax. He opened his eyes slowly when he felt Maddie pulling him towards the bed; her hands entwined with his. She pushed him on the bed then backed up to allow David to see her body.

“We’re not done here yet, fella, are we?” Maddie asked as she pushed down the straps of her nightgown letting in fall to the floor not far from her fallen robe. Then she began to run her hands sensuously over her fevered body. She allowed her legs to fall open as her hand traveled to her throbbing loins.

David’s dick lengthened again as he watched Maddie touch herself. That was something he knew he would never tire of – his icy blonde playing with her hotbox. Damn. How hot was she? His dick bobbed in her direction as he reached out and pulled her in his lap. “Your little hotbox is greedy, babe...” David purred in her ear. “It wants my big cock, doesn’t it?”

Maddie nodded as she turned to face David and wrapped her legs around his back. She was straddling him; moving her wet loins over his dick. David chuckled as he pushed up thrusting his dick into her. “Yeah, fuck my cock baby.” His voice was syrupy sweet as his tongue moved over her neck to that spot that was connected to her loins. “Oh yeah, Maddie. Tell me you love my cock in you.”

Maddie began to move up and down on David’s cock until it was buried to the hilt inside of her. “Oh God, David... your dick is soooo big. I love it.” She moaned; using his shoulders for leverage she began to move up until he had almost fallen out of her then back down again until he filled her completely. “Oh, I love this.” She gasped as she began to come in wave after wave of pleasure. She felt her climax all over her body as she moved against him in ecstasy.

David waited for her orgasm to subside then he pushed her over until she was under him. He took her legs and wrapped them around his hips as he began to fuck her with short hard thrusts. “Yeah, babe. You love this... I do too. Oh God, it feels so gooood.” The wet tightness was his nirvana. He pressed her hard against the mattress causing the headboard to bang against the wall again and again which neither noticed; they were so lost in each other.

Maddie was clawing at his back and using the heels of her feet to push him deeper inside of her. She was writhing under him like a wild beast as she approached yet another release. David felt Maddie pulsating around him and he finally allowed himself to fall over the edge into his own mini heaven. They both were screaming each other’s names so loud their cries echoed over the walls of their bedroom.

Both giggled as they lay in each other’s arms once they caught their breath. “Um I think we need to sound proof these walls...” David teased but he was partially serious. Forget Richie hearing them - it was the idea of the Bean ever hearing their screams which led him to suggest it.

Maddie snuggled closer in his arms. “Good idea, Romeo.” She covered his jaw and mouth with soft kisses.

A few minutes later as they were just falling asleep in each other’s arms the phone began to ring. David reached out to answer it and was immediately wide awake when he heard the terror in the caller’s voice. “Okay Terri, calm down! We’ll be over in a NY minute.”

David replaced the receiver then jumped out of bed. “Terri is having pains. She’s scared and wants us to take her to the emergency room.”