Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

"Who said I wanted to let you go?" Alec leaned down as his lips touched her cheek. She could feel the corners of his mouth go up, his lips seeking hers softly. Maddy dissolved into his kiss with hesitant but pliant lips. The kiss felt secure and warm as he gathered her up in his arms. It felt so right, so familiar, too good to stop.

The faint honking of a horn finally separated them. A pick-up with familiar faces pulled up in front of the house. The hollering and hooting ended the moment, and reluctantly Alec turned towards them "Boy, you guys have lousy timing. What do you want?"

"Hey, Miss Maddy, how are you? Hey, Lawman, we just saw your car and thought we'd drop in and say "hi". Good thing, I think we saved her from a fate worse than death." The laughter began again and Alec planted a quick kiss on her flushed face.

"I'll pick you up at seven," he said, and she ducked behind the screen door waving at his friends.

"Don't forget I like chocolate ice cream." She retorted and shut the door firmly behind her.

Walking out to the street, he leaned on the fence and talked to his friends for a few minutes before they all drove off.

Chapter 7

At 7 p.m. sharp, Alec McKay stepped out of a shiny, red pick up. A crisp red and black plaid cowboy shirt covered his wide shoulders and snug blue jeans seemed molded to his body. Shiny black cowboy boots and black felt cowboy hat finished off the outfit.

"Hi, there." He met her with a low throaty greeting as she opened the door.

"Hi, yourself. I'm kind of worried. I thought the good guys wore white hats not black." She teased and stepped back to let him in.

His sexy smile returned and he chuckled at her joke. "You clean up good, yourself. Different look without the head scarf. But good." He assured her.

It took her a moment to look at him and not see the deputy's uniform and gun, but only a moment. His clothes didn't just look like a sharp outfit on Alec, it was Alec. He looked the way he had in her young girl dreams and now she was seeing it for real.

"Believe it or not, I hear that a lot. But deputies are people too, and I like black for evening wear. Looks like you do, too. I like what you're wearing very much, Maddy."

She gave a little curtsy, holding out the full gathered cotton skirt, black with tiny little flowers and a white peasant blouse that slipped casually off her shoulders. A bright yellow silk flower sat tucked behind her ear, accenting the color of her hair.

"Thank you. Well, I guess we better go out, we're so well-coordinated."

He quickly turned and recovered a paper sack from the plant stand by the door. "Your wish is my command, my dear lady. Chocolate ice cream."

"Good. I'm quite serious about ice cream. I'll stick it in the freezer and then we can go."

As they walked out the door into the fresh night air, he made sure the door was locked and then whispered in her ear, "I'm getting quite serious, too, about you. It's why I don't like you staying here alone."

"I thought we were through with that discussion. Just don't get too sure of yourself, deputy. I've been mugged before. I can take care of myself."

"It's just plain Alec when I'm off duty, Maddy, and I wish you'd reconsider. I'm positive you can take care of yourself but you don't have to prove it. If anyone did break in you could argue them to death." He sighed and raised his eyebrows. "Okay, I won't push it. Let's just have a good time."

They had a wonderful meal at a little steak house in Grand Island. The drive was relaxing and Alec's company was enjoyable to say the least. He was still the flattering, teasing, young boyfriend of years ago, but with a mature side to him that fascinated her.

They lingered over wine and the talk came easily, and later a small band started to play. Maddy reluctantly let him take her in his arms for a dance.

"Remember the last time we danced?" Alec's blue eyes were sexy in the soft light, filled with memories.

"Vaguely."

"Oh, come on, you do, too." He swung her around smoothly.

"Okay, yes, the Homecoming Dance. So?"

"So? You can be so stubborn. If you hadn't moved away we might be married right now instead of just getting to know each other again."

"Well, so can you. I could say the same if you had just written or called me. Never mind, let's not go there. Not to change the subject, but does dancing come in handy for police work?"

"After tonight I'm going to see to it that it's a requirement. You realize if you hadn't gone out with me tonight I was going to have to arrest you for speeding or something." Without missing a beat he rested his chin on her soft hair and breathed the light scent of her perfume.

Leaning back, Maddy stared at him suspiciously, "I just bet you'd try that. For your information, I don't speed."

"Well, you know that," he twirled her around once and brought her up close to his face, "and I know that, but if it's what it would have taken I might have tried it. Besides, why are you shying away from me? It's not like we never met, or you can't trust me. Is that it? You're scared of me," he challenged.

He twirled her once again and wrapped her in his arms as she swung back. Maddy couldn't tell what the look on his face meant. If she didn't watch it she was going to ruin the whole evening, maybe the whole relationship that might be coming.

"I am not scared of you or anyone. For goodness sakes, I don't want to dance anymore if you're going