Love Match, page 19
the net. Parker gauged it and stood waiting for the right moment.
"Point, Miss King." Parker had sent it over the net almost directly
at Lee Darnell. If the kid was going to win it would be playing tennis, not by
way of playing to Parker's injuries.
For fifteen minutes the audience in attendance and at home got the kind of
tennis they had come for as both women battled for dominance. The trophy and
title was just a shot away.
"Advantage, Miss King, match point." Parker had waited a lifetime to
hear that one line. The crowd was just as pumped, standing and starting their
chant of 'Kong.' Before them was a true champion who had clawed her way back
into the game. There was blood on her shirt, she was covered in sweat and up in
the stands Emily provided the tears.
"Quiet please."
Parker set and let one fly over the net sending Lee scrambling to try and get
it. Her one salvation was the line sensor went off and the ball was called out.
All Lee had to do now was jump all over the second more traditionally slower
serve and bring the game back to deuce.
"Out," yelled the line judge followed by, "second serve,"
from the chair.
The only thought in Parker's mind before she served again was that it was time
to go home. She could hear the waves hitting the pilings under her court at
home and longed for an afternoon game that didn't have so much riding on the
outcome.
"Quiet please."
There was no one more shocked than Lee Darnell when the second serve flew
passed her faster than the first one did. She almost wanted to say she wasn't
ready and wanted to play the point again, but it was too late, it was Parker's
year to deliver the slam.
"Game, set and match, Miss King."
The center court stadium came alive with camera flashes as Parker lifted the
trophy over her head and walked the complete circuit around. She stopped when
she got to Emily and her family so they could share in the victory. Parker knew
she hadn't accomplished this alone, and the people smiling down at her deserved
a great deal of credit and their own time in the spotlight.
*************************************************************
***********
"Long month, huh?" asked Gary as they sat in the airport waiting for
their plane.
"Turned out ok, so it was worth the hassles." Parker scratched around
the first cut that was for the most part healed. The emotions of who had done
it and why would take longer, but time would resolve that as well.
Daniel King had been placed in a state hospital until he was competent to stand
trial for both assaults on Parker. Over Gary and her sisters'
objections,
Parker had given Gail's attorney a statement for her part in the melodrama the
tournament had turned into. Parker just hoped Gail would crawl out of the
bottle long enough to get the help she needed.
"Miss King, if you'd like you and your friends can board early." The
Virgin employee smiled at the only two people sitting in their VIP lounge and
offered to take their bags. Nick had gone to buy some magazines for the flight
to Miami and was just as anxious to get back to Press Cove.
"Congratulations on your win this afternoon."
"Thank you." Parker followed the small brunette through the door
thinking that Emily must have called ahead to assure the special treatment. The
pilot was meeting her in Florida in a few days so they could decide their
future.
A sense of déjà vu came over Parker as they turned the corner and the crew was
standing there waiting to greet them. "Welcome aboard, Miss King, I hope
you enjoy your flight, and congratulations on your win." It was the same
line Emily had ever told her the day they met.
"Yeah, yeah, but if you really loved me," started Parker.
Emily narrowed her eyes and tried to look mad. "I'd do what?"
"This." Parker dropped her bag and moved toward the pilot.
The crew
and Gary looked on as they kissed and held each other, neither willing to let
go first. When air became an issue Parker did pull back and looked down at her
favorite face. "Though a chicken salad sandwich and some hot chocolate
might just hit the spot."
"Go sit down, smart ass, I'm taking us home.
*************************************************************
***********
Epilogue
Almost a year later, Emily's apartment had been furnished and kept for the
occasions they were in the city, but the pilot had chosen to move and live with
Parker in Florida. Living with the tennis player was the easiest decision she had
ever made, never looking back at the life she was leaving in New York. Virgin
had made the transition easy by allowing her to change her departure hub to
Miami.
Parker liked to cook, read and take walks on the beach with her. If she were
any more perfect, Emily would swear Parker was like a living personal ad. She
watched from the kitchen window as Gary and Natasha put her lover through her
workout in preparation for Wimbledon.
Emily turned the oven off and took out the roast she'd been basting before heading
out the door. "If you go back in there and go anywhere near that pan, I'll
drive you to the pound myself, mister, and come back with a cat," she
threatened Abby.
The dog put his paw over his eyes and whined giving her his best innocent
routine. "Don't give me that 'who me' act, Abby King. You're just like
your mom in that respect so I'm not buying it."
He followed Emily out to the court; tail wagging at the prospect of chasing
tennis balls. Parker shot one over the fence in their direction sending Abby
into doggie heaven.
"Go home, people, the boss has arrived for a tennis lesson,"
said
Parker to Gary and Natasha.
"Can we tell her good bye first?" asked Gary.
"Make it quick. She's cuter than you and I missed her being out here all
day with the two of you."
Emily laughed and waved to their two departing friends.
Knowing they would be
there to take care of Parker until she could get to England was a comfort. The
discomfort was thinking about the nights she would have to sleep alone when
Parker left.
"You aren't' too tired?"
"Nah, I'm never too tired for you, Em. How about an incentive game as our
lesson for today?"
"An incentive game of tennis?"
"Yeah, you lose a piece of clothing for every point you lose."
Parker
wiggled her eyebrows along with her suggestion.
"You want me to play strip tennis with the number one player in the
world?"
"Um, yeah. Come on it'll be fun and I'll give you first serve."
"Oh, I'm sure that'll do it for me." Emily took the racket Parker was
holding out and walked to the baseline. When Parker was ready Emily tried to
remember everything she'd learned about serving. Abby barked from behind Emily
making the ball fly off at an odd angle when she did try to hit it.
"Enough from the peanut gallery. It's not like I'm holding any cards
here."
Emily tried again and Parker, true to her word, slowed her game down a lot.
Even with that Parker won the first point. With exaggerated slowness Emily
stripped her shirt off and threw it behind her. It barely had hit the ground
when Abby took off with it. The pilot bounced the next ball longer than normal
when Parker's eyes stayed glued to the dark green silk bra she was wearing.
On the next shot Parker forgot herself and hit the ball back so hard Emily
didn't even try to hit it and just took off her shorts. "Could you come
over here please?" asked Parker standing at the net. The matching panties
had proved to be too much for her to even think about concentrating on the
game.
"Do you give up?"
"I surrender, baby." Parker lifted Emily over the net and kissed her.
Emily wrapped her legs around the slim waist as Parker walked them off he court
and to the water's edge. She put Emily down long enough to get all their
clothes off before heading out into the surf. The water was still on the cold
side but being pressed together made Emily feel just fine.
"I love you," said Emily. The words were so easy to say to Parker.
"I love you too. You like it here?"
"I love it here. I get to be with you, and I get my clothes buried on a
regular basis by our dog. What's not to love?"
"He buries your stuff to keep it safe, it means he likes you,"
said
Parker before kissing Emily's neck.
"How about you, do you like me?"
"I more than like you, baby. How about I take you inside and show you just
how much?"
Emily's feet never touched the sand as Parker walked to the backdoor. Parker
had checked the closest house to make sure it was still tenant free that
morning not wanting Emily upset by peeping neighbors.
The house décor had changed a little over the months Emily spent making it a
home for both of them. Mixed in with the tournament pictures were shots of
Emily's family her mother had given them on one of her numerous visits. Lucia
Parish and Parker shared a great relationship much to Emily's relief. Her mom
had confessed the night she met Parker, she'd never cared for the way Emily and
Gail had acted around each other. With Parker, the world could see how she felt
about Emily.
It was the look Emily was getting now as she was set on the bed by the gentle
soul that had carried her inside. Parker touched her with such want that Emily
never felt it was done out of obligation, only love, and the more Parker
touched the more she wanted.
"You're so beautiful," said Parker. She lay next to Emily and ran her
hand from Emily's hip to cup a breast. The nipple instantly puckered under her
palm and Parker loved the moan that accompanied the motion. Parker replaced her
hand with her lips and sucked on the light pink bud.
"I love when you do that." Emily's hands kept Parker's head in place
in case she didn't know what she was talking about. The suction increased as
Parker's hands went back down her body. "Let me feel you, baby,"
requested Emily.
Parker moved so she was covering Emily holding most of her weight up by leaning
on her elbows. She loved this position since it allowed every inch of skin to
touch. Emily just lay still for a moment and enjoyed the same thing before
moving her hands to Parker's hair to drag her down for a kiss.
"Make love to me," said Emily as she moved her legs further apart to
mold the larger body more closely to her. Parker could feel Emily's hands along
her back as her own hand made its way to Emily's center.
She had to lift her
hips up a little to reach the spot Emily wanted her, and by doing so, opened
enough space for Emily to touch her in return.
Both centers were wet and both women were ready so it didn't take much. Emily
felt the crescendo coming fueled by the grunting Parker was doing in her ear.
It never failed to amaze Emily that with Parker, making love was as exciting
for her as the first time. Even on days like this when the end snuck up on them
sooner than they'd like, Emily felt cherished as Parker went rigid over her
before turning into a giant marshmallow.
"If this is how you learned to play tennis, don't tell me ok?"
"You don't care for my teaching techniques?"
"I didn't say that, honey, I just don't want to know where you learned
your technique, Romeo. Especially from whom you learned them, got me?"
"Gotcha."
"Are you hungry?"
"You cooked so I'll get it and bring it back here, how's that sound?"
asked Parker.
"Like you'll be in there eating roast directly from the pan while I'm back
here starving."
Emily kissed Parker's forehead before rolling out of bed and holding a hand out
to help the lump up.
Emily was still laughing at Parker's antics when they walked into the kitchen
to eat when she noticed two things. Abby sitting there looking like if he could
whistle he'd be doing it, and half the roast was gone. He opened his eyes wider
and shook his head when Emily shot a glare his way.
"What happened to my dinner?" demanded Emily. It was hard to keep a
straight face when Abby lifted a paw and pointed at Parker.
"No way, buddy, she's done a detailed search of my mouth."
Having
learned from his master's mistakes when it came to upsetting Emily, Abby put
his paw down and backed toward the door slowly. He made a break for it when was
sure she couldn't catch him before he cleared the doggie door.
"I swear you two were separated at birth. What am I going to do with
you?" Emily turned around and put her arms around Parker's waist. She'd
let Abby know later their dinner was still in the oven. The extra roast on the
stove was for him all along.
"You could keep us."
"Oh, I'm keeping you and Abby all right, don't worry about that. I want to
sit by a fire, eat roast and listen to you read me a poem."
The smile was hard to tame as Parker pulled Emily closer.
"You sure are
easy to please." Parker carried Emily into the library and sat her on one
of the comfortable couches while she prepared a tray to take in.
The fire was burning nicely by the time Parker made it back and found Emily
staring into it so profoundly that she hated to disturb her.
"We have
fire, wine and a nice spread," said Parker.
"All I need is you."
"That you have, sweetheart."
"Read me something." Emily watched Parker roll the ladder to a
section at the end and climb so she could reach the top shelf. Parker pulled
down an old leather bound edition with faded gold lettering on the cover and
when she opened it, the pages looked almost translucent.
"Shall
I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed; Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest, Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest; So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."
Parker's voice faded away to nothing on the word thee, and Emily sat with food
forgotten listening to what she had selected. For some reason the sonnet
brought tears to her eyes and Parker wiped them away.
"If it's going to make you cry, I won't read you any other love
sonnets."
"I'm crying because you love me enough to kneel here and
do it for
me." Emily wiped away the tears that had escaped from her eyes.
"Actually I'm kneeling for another reason," said Parker.
"Why's that?"
"Abby wanted to come and apologize about the roast, and I thought I'd
butter you up for him."
Emily leaned forward and ran her finger along Parker's top lip. "It'll take
a lot more reading out of this book to accomplish that, Shakespeare."
With a snap of Parker's fingers Abby came running through the door coming to a
stop next to his master. He had a basket in his mouth and he put a paw up for
Emily to shake.
"Emily, Abby and I love you, and we wanted to give you something that'd
show you how much you mean to us. If I were a poet this would be much more
eloquent, but I'll try my best. Will you give me the chance to make you happy
for the rest of your life? I promise that if you say yes there'll never be
another moment in your life that'll pass where you don't feel like the center
of my universe. I love you and I will do so until there's no breath left in my
body." The dog put his basket down on Emily's lap, put his paw next to it
so she would look inside and let out a soft woof for his part of the proposal.
Emily cried again when she saw the ring box lying on the straw inside.
"Yes."
"Is that yes to me, or the dog?"
"To both of you, goofy, I happen to know you come as a pair." Emily
leaned forward for a kiss to seal the deal before Parker thought of changing
her mind. She felt like she was home for the first time since being out on her
own and Parker gave her the freedom to hope for the future.
"Shall we have a toast?" offered Parker. Emily laughed when Parker
picked up two mugs from the tray she'd brought in. Hot chocolate was the one
memory Parker had chosen to keep of her father.
They didn't need any other words as they tipped the mugs against each other and
