Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) Read online

  “Why don’t we stay in? It’ll be more…cozy,” she said seductively.

  “I’m there. If you’re sure you’re ready for cozy, that is.”

  She chuckled again. “Oh, I’m ready. Way past ready.”

  He snorted. “I could be home in a few hours if I thought you’d still be awake.”

  Catlin laughed at that. “Saturday will be here before we know it. It’s just that anticipation thing, again.”

  “Don’t I know it?” He sighed, and said, “Okay. You name the time.”

  “Six-thirty?

  “Six-thirty it is. Can I bring anything?”

  “Just your gorgeous self. I’ll take care of everything else.”

  “I bet you will. I’ll see you Saturday.”

  “Goodnight,” Catlin said dreamily into the phone, then hung up. For the eighth night in a row, she fell asleep thinking about Steve.

  Catlin looked around her house on Saturday evening. She had a fire in the fireplace, candles burning on every table, and the house actually looked pretty good. The lasagna was almost done, and she had a bottle of wine breathing. She gave everything a quick once over, then went to change her clothes. She slipped into a pair of black jeans, and a tight black and white striped sweater. Before she got a chance to decide what to do with her hair, her doorbell rang. She looked at the clock, six-ten.

  She answered the door to a hand waving roses in her face.

  “Ooh.” She took them “Is this a forgive-you-’cause-you’re-early bribe?”

  Steve stepped in the door. “Did it work?”

  She smiled at him. “Yes. Come in.”

  He followed her in and shut the door. “I’m sorry to be so early. Dana needed a ride to a friend’s house, and they were leaving at six-fifteen to go to a movie.”

  “No biggie.” Catlin reached for a vase. “I was going to do something with this mop of hair, but I guess you get to take me as I am.”

  Steve came up behind her, brushed the hair away, and kissed the nape of her neck. “Don’t change a hair for me.”

  Catlin squirmed away to put water in the vase. She arranged the dozen roses, and murmured, “Hmm, I wonder what the significance of the number twelve is?”

  He moved behind her again, and reached for her hands, pulling her around to face him. “Twelve signifies a very special evening ahead for us.”

  “I didn’t thank you for the flowers,” she said softly.

  “You also didn’t give me a proper greeting after being gone for five days.” He pulled her close.

  “I’m scared, again,” she whispered.

  “Nothing to be scared of tonight.” He kissed her temple, then her cheek.

  “I’m scared that once I start ‘greeting’ you, I won’t be able to stop!”

  He laughed and she kissed him long and hard. The timer on the oven went off, and they separated. “The proverbial ‘saved by the bell’!” She went to the kitchen to get the lasagna out.

  Steve followed her. “That smells great.”

  “Thanks.” She arranged some things on the table. “It needs to set up for twenty minutes or so. I hope you’re not too hungry.”

  “I am very hungry.” He approached her.

  She backed up. “Have a cracker.” She grabbed a box off the counter and thrust it at him.

  Steve put the crackers back on the counter. “Don’t want a cracker.”

  “How about some wine?” she suggested.

  Steve relented. “Okay, wine I’ll take. You having any?” He reached for the bottle and glasses on the table.

  “Half a glass, maybe. I want to keep my wits about me.”

  He grinned at that, and poured the wine. He handed a glass to her.

  “A toast?” They raised their glasses. “To…possibilities.”

  She nodded, and they sipped the wine.

  “Music?” She walked to the compact disc player, and pushed a button. Billy Joel began singing.

  Steve wrinkled up his face.

  She gave him a look, and pushed the button to the next c.d. “Bruce Springsteen?” she asked, and Steve nodded.

  “Okay, but I’m hitting shuffle on this disc changer. If Billy shows up later you may have to deal with it.”

  “I think I can handle that.” He looked around the room. “It looks different in here. What did you do? It looks good.”

  “Just tidied up a bit. Moved this and that. Trying to make it look bigger.”

  He took a drink. “Good luck with that.”

  “More open, I mean. I know it’s not a mansion, but it’s not really that terrible, is it?”

  “It’s fine! It’s not terrible at all. Anyway, who needs a mansion?” Steve shrugged.

  She laughed. “Evidently you do. I hear your place is palatial.”

  “Who told you that? They are full of crap.”

  She shook her head. “Never mind who told me. But I don’t think Jetta would like being told she’s full of crap.”

  He laughed. “Uh huh, why am I not surprised. Say, what does her husband do? Is he as nosy as she is?”

  “Pretty much.” Catlin nodded “He’s a cop.”

  Steve choked and took a drink quickly. “No kidding?”

  Catlin was smiling as she shook her head. “No kidding. He’s a good one, too. Everybody just loves Jimmy.”

  “Wow.” Steve shook his head in amazement. “Now that is really something. I have a lot of respect for people like him. What he faces every day on his job, well, I’m lucky. I only have to feel that kind of terror when I come over here.”

  Catlin laughed out loud, and threw her arms around his neck. “That’s crazy talk! You are one crazy guy. Let’s eat!” She pulled him by the hand back into the kitchen.

  They ate, and she talked more about Jetta and Jim. “They’ve been married four years, right out of college. I’ve never seen two happier people.”

  “She has a bit of a twang in her voice. Where’s she from?”

  “Georgia. She’s worked pretty hard to get rid of that twang.”

  He chuckled. “How’d she end up here?”

  “Her father was in the military,” Catlin said. “The base near here was his last assignment. Jetta liked it, and stayed here for college. Then she met Jim.”

  “And the rest is history.”

  “Yep. And now they’ve decided to start a family. But it isn’t happening as fast as they hoped.” She sipped her wine. “But don’t say anything. It’s a touchy subject.”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry for them. Having kids is wonderful.”

  She chuckled “When you’re ready for them, that’s true.”

  “If you’re hinting about birth control, don’t worry. I brought something.”

  Her eyes got wide as she purposely tried to embarrass him. “Oh you brought ‘something’? I hope it hasn’t been tucked away in your wallet for twenty-one years!”

  He pushed his plate back on the table. “You are asking for trouble.”

  Catlin stood up and dropped her napkin on the table. “Oh yeah? Who’s going to give it to me?” She backed out of the kitchen into the front room.

  Steve followed her. “Me. I’m going to give it to you, but good.”

  “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” She dropped onto a fuzzy rug in front of the fireplace, and Steve came down on top of her. He pinned her arms to the floor.

  “Do you know what you’re getting yourself into?” he challenged her.

  “Yeah,” she spouted back at him.

  “And are you sure?” he asked, a little more softly.

  “Yeah,” she answered in almost a whisper.

  He pressed his mouth on hers and released her arms. Catlin ran her hands up Steve’s back and pulled at his shirt. When it came untucked, she slid her hands on to his bare back and clutched at him.

  He kissed her cheek, then her earlobe, then her neck. When he got to the neckline of her sweater, he pulled back a little bit and said, “Hmm. Pullover.”

  She smiled. “
I can do something about that. Would you like to stay here, or go in the other room?”

  He grinned at her. “The kitchen table is full.”

  She was unbuttoning the front of his shirt. “The bedroom being the operative ‘other room’ I was referring to.”

  “I’d like to see the bedroom. Do you think you could lose that sweater between here and there?”

  “You got it.”

  He stood and pulled her up with him. With a flick of her wrist, Catlin had removed her sweater and tossed it across the room. She unbuttoned her jeans, and with a quick kick they, too, went flying. Steve went into the bedroom and turned around. Catlin was standing in the doorway in a sheer black lace teddy that was cut very low on the top and very high on the bottom.

  He sat down on the bed. “Now that looks like something I can fight my way through.”

  She moved up against him so that his face was only inches away from her well-exposed cleavage. “You’ll get no fight from me.”

  They lay wrapped up in each other after they made love. Catlin buried her face in the soft hair on Steve’s chest, and nuzzled him.

  “God, I feel great.” He stretched, and rubbed his hands over her bare back.

  “Yes, you do.” She continued kissing his chest.

  “You can’t imagine how long it’s been since I’ve felt this great.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Let’s not go there tonight, shall we?”

  “What? I’m just complimenting you, is all.”

  She laughed “It takes two to tango, buddy. And you are one fine dancer.”

  He laughed with her. “I’ve been meaning to ask you if you noticed anything different about me tonight.”

  She gave him the once over and replied, “Well, you’re naked. That’s different from the past few times I’ve seen you.”

  He laughed again and rolled her over on her back. He kissed her passionately, then pulled back a little, and held his left hand up in front of her.

  She looked for a second, and it dawned on her. “No wedding ring. Thank you. That was nice of you. But I have to admit, I felt kind of naughty being with a married man. It was a pretty big turn-on.”

  He laughed so hard, he had to roll back over and lie down. When he composed himself, he said, “There is one other thing I wanted to tell you. I know the timing sucks. I really don’t want to be talking about this with you right now. But I didn’t want to tell you earlier, in case you thought I was just telling you to get you into bed—”

  “Steve.” She rolled up on her side. “Spit it out, man! You’re rambling!”

  “I filed for a divorce.”

  She looked at him, not quite believing what he said. “Oh my God.” She climbed on top of him. “Oh my God!” she squealed, and started kissing all over his face and neck.

  “I guess that meets with your approval?” He tried to lean up, but she shoved him back on the bed.

  “Stay there.” She kissed his chest. “I’m working my way down to your toes.”

  Steve chuckled and closed his eyes.

  It was midnight when they wandered back out into the kitchen. “Oh my God,” Catlin said in a completely different tone, when she saw the dinner dishes just as they left them.

  Steve laughed as he picked up two plates and carried them over to the sink. “You certainly are doing a lot of praying tonight.”

  She shook her head, smiling. “Just leave them. I’ll clean up.”

  “Nah.” He wandered over to the c.d. player and turned the music up. Billy Joel was singing again. Steve went back to the table and picked up a few more dishes. “You, me and Billy can whip this room into shape in no time.”

  She glanced at him questioningly as she reached for the dishtowel. “So now Billy’s okay with you?”

  Steve looked up. “Billy and I shared some intensely personal experiences about an hour ago. Suddenly, I have a new fondness for his music.”

  Catlin laughed. She washed and Steve dried. Billy sang.

  “You are a wonderful dish drier,” she told Steve, as he finished the last plate. “Among other things.”

  He pulled her into his arms and held her close. “You are just simply wonderful. I can’t tell you enough times what a great evening this has been.”

  She grinned. “Yes, it has. Well, don’t they say in the newspaper business, ‘let’s do it all again tomorrow, folks!’?”

  He laughed. “Tomorrow...Sunday...” He looked at his watch. “I guess it already is Sunday. I really have to go.”

  “Can I see you tomorrow?” she asked softly.

  He hugged her to him. “Most definitely. How about I call you after church? Maybe you can take me for a ride in your sports car.”

  She walked him to the door. “I miss you already.”

  He gave her one last kiss goodnight.

  “Oh, here.” She reached for his sweater off her coat rack.

  He winked at her. “No hurry.”

  She pulled it back.

  “Sleep tight.” He shut the door.

  Catlin leaned up against it. She’d been trying to give a name to the feeling that had formed in the pit of her stomach, and spread through her veins like warm oil. Now she could put her finger on it. It was love.

  Chapter Four

  Catlin was awakened by the phone early the next morning. “Hello,” she mumbled.

  “Did I wake you?” Steve’s voice was music to her ears.

  “Yes. But it’s okay. Talking to you makes it easier to pretend you’re still here.”

  “If I was still there, what would I be doing?”

  “Well,” she thought about it. “Seeing as your side of the bed is cold, you must be out making me breakfast.”

  He laughed. “I’m so thoughtful, that way.”

  “Mmm...” Catlin stretched. “The pillow smells like you. It makes me wish you were back here.”

  “You and me both. I don’t suppose you could hold that position until noon?”

  “Sorry. I’m afraid you’re going to have to woo me all over again.”

  “It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.”

  Catlin chuckled. “Speaking of wooing me, which by the way is a euphemism for what you did so nicely last night—“

  “Really?” his voice was teasing. “I had no idea that’s what you were referring to.”

  She laughed. “Would you let me get through this, please? I should have said something last night, but I got a bit caught up with everything. Anyway, I’m on the pill, so we probably don’t need the extra protection.”

  “No biohazard suit? Excellent! That thing was inconvenient and I could see it cramping my style in the future.”

  “Pretty sure of yourself, there, buddy?”

  “I wasn’t until last night. Now I’m feeling rather confident, and randy. One night with you was not enough. I need more, and I need it soon. You said something about a ride in your car?”

  Her heart soared. “Oh yeah. That, and much, much more. So tell me again where to pick you up?”

  “You mean Jetta didn’t tell you?” he teased.

  “Not the address, no. Care to share?”

  “I would share anything with you. 2700 Jefferson. Know where that is?”

  “Hoo boy, do I ever. Got to wash the car just to drive down that street!”

  “You’re goofy. I’d better go. See you around noon?”

  “Most definitely.” She hung up the phone. She lay there for a while, but knew she couldn’t get back to sleep. She decided that since she was up, maybe she would go to church.

  Catlin showered, and fixed her hair and make-up. Then she stood at the closet and pulled out one dress after another. She finally settled on a conservative navy blue number, and put it on.

  She hummed as she drove to church, wondering how long the intensely good mood she was in could last.

  Standing in the back of church, Catlin spied Jetta and Jim, sitting directly behind Steve, Dana and David. She started up the aisle. She stopped to smi
le at the Crafts, and then stood next to the pew Steve’s family sat in.

  He glanced at her and his face lit up. “Scoot over.” He nudged Dana.

  Dana grinned at Catlin, and nudged David. “Scoot over,” she whispered. David looked over at Catlin, shook his head and smirked. Grudgingly, he moved down.

  Catlin sat next to Steve. “Hi,” she whispered.

  “I’m so happy to see you!” He kissed her cheek.

  Jetta leaned forward. “Hey now. None of that.”

  Catlin smiled back at her. “Shh!” she muttered, and beamed at Steve.

  He reached for her hand, and held it in his lap. Steve whispered, “Come to confess your sins?”

  Catlin chuckled. “I have no sins to confess. I came to express my thankfulness.”

  “Ditto. I’m so thankful, there’s probably white smoke coming out of my ears.”

  She laughed, and covered her mouth, remembering where she was.

  Jetta leaned forward again. “Like I tell my students, ‘I’m going to have to split you up if you can’t be quiet’,” she teased.

  Steve turned to her and clutched Catlin’s hand to his chest. “I’d like to see you try.” He winked at Jetta.

  She chuckled, and settled back into her seat.

  Steve held Catlin’s hand through most of the mass, and when it came time to offer the handshake of peace, he kissed her chastely on the mouth. Catlin was supremely happy.

  When the service ended, they sat in the pew for a few minutes, to let the crowd thin out. Then they walked out with Jim and Jetta.

  Standing out front on the sidewalk, Jetta said, “So, last night must have gone well.”

  Steve and Catlin made eyes at each other. David brushed past them mumbling, “I’ll be in the car.”

  They watched him walk off, and Jetta spoke again. “He’s a ray of sunshine this morning.”

  Steve shrugged. “Teenagers. Go figure.”

  Jim motioned to Steve, who still had Catlin’s hand in his. “She’s going to need that hand back sooner or later.”

  “Later,” Steve replied. “Much later.” He winked at Catlin, who batted her lashes at him. Steve turned back to Jim. “I hear you are in an interesting line of work. I think we should have dinner sometime soon, so I can hear more about it.”