Course of Love Part 9/9
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Mac uncovered her eyes and gasped at what she saw. The room was nicely decorated with fresh roses on the dresser, table, and nightstands. Along the dresser and other flat services were burning candles. The bed was covered in a pale pink bedspread with rose petals on it. Mac placed her hand on her mouth in shock. "Harm, it's beautiful."
Harm smiled enjoying his success. "I wanted to do something special for you."
Mac turned around and placed her arms around his neck. "You really know how to make a girl feel special." She kissed him gently.
As the kiss broke, Harm moved from her arms and picked up a silver gift-wrapped box from the table. "I got you something."
"Why?" Mac asked as she held the box in her hands.
"Questioning me again?" Harm mockingly said as he shook a finger at her.
He took her purse and shawl and placed them on the table. When he walked back over to her he motioned for her to sit on the bed. Mac stared at the still wrapped gift, then at Harm. "Open it," Harm said before he quickly kissed her neck.
Mac quickly unwrapped the gift, she slowly opened the lid of the box and pushed the tissue paper away from its contents. "I hope you like it," Harm said as he watched a look of shock and surprise cover Mac's face.
"Harm, it's…it's…beautiful," she said as she pulled out a white satin and lace floor-length nightgown.
"It has a matching robe," Harm pointed out as she pulled the robe out of the box. "And ummm…matching undergarment," he blushed.
"I see," Mac giggled as she saw the matching bra and panties in the box. "Harm, all of this is wonderful but I thought…"
She was stopped by Harm's finger on her lips. "I don't want you to wear this tonight." Mac gave him a confused look so he continued, "I want you to wear this in a few months."
He took the box from her and placed it on the table. As he returned to the bed he held a gift bag. "I want you to wear this tonight."
Mac took a deep breath and pulled the tissue paper out of the bag. Her finger ran over the material and it didn't feel like satin or lace. She shot him a questioning look and pulled out a pair of flannel pajamas that proudly stated 'Go Navy', accented with Tomcats and battleships. She laughed at the pajamas and gave Harm a sweet kiss. "You're the best."
Harm smiled at her and took a breath to calm his nerves. "There is something else still."
"What else could there still be?" Mac asked looking around the room.
Harm moved the pajamas off of her lap, kneeled in front of her and pulled an ring box out of his pocket. "This," he said with fear in his voice.
"Harm," Mac softly gasped as he took one of her hands in his.
He opened the box to reveal a diamond ring and looked into her eyes. "Mac, I love you and I want you to wear that nightgown on our wedding night. Will you marry me?"
Mac tried to answer but couldn't, her voice wasn't working. A tear fell down her cheek and Harm bit his lip. Mac took a breath and finally said, "Yes."
Harm exhaled the breath he was holding, then he very carefully slipped the ring onto her finger. "I love you," Mac said to him after the ring was on her finger. He looked up at her and met her halfway in a passionate kiss.
PRESENT DAY
"Wow," Chloe said again as she gazed at the wedding set on Mac's left hand.
Mac wiped her eyes. "It was pretty great."
"Thank you," Harm said with a smug smile.
"It's a good story, why do you get so embarrassed, Harm?" Chloe asked.
"Male ego, I don't want my buddies to know that a Marine has me wrapped around her little finger," Harm said stretching in his seat.
"I think it has to do with the fact that you went through my underwear drawer," Mac said with a sweet smile and smart-alec look on her face.
"Why did you do that?" Chloe asked placing her fingers under her jaw.
FLASHBACK
Ritz-Carlton
Room 1005
12:12 AM
Harm and Mac were lying in the bed, holding each other. Mac was wearing her new pajamas and Harm was wearing his pajamas bottoms. "Harm?"
"Yes, Mac."
"Can I ask you a question?" she asked, moving in his arms to lean over his chest and look him in the eyes.
"Sure."
"I understand wearing the nightgown on our wedding night. But what about the bra and panties?"
Harm shifted nervously in the bed for a second or two. "To wear under your wedding dress, if the style of the dress allows it. But the sales clerk said the straps on the bra are convertible. You can move them around so the bra has six different styles or something like that."
Mac laughed. "I am so glad you bought me those."
"Why?"
Mac looked at him with a relieved look. "You have no idea how worried I was when I caught you going though my underwear drawer."
"Actually, I never planned on buying you those," Harm stated as he moved his hands down Mac's back.
Mac took a second to stare at him. "Then why were you going through my underwear drawer?"
Harm took one hand and placed it on her hip and with the other hand he picked up her left hand. He looked her in the eyes. "Did you know that your ring size is the same size as your underwear?" Mac looked at him and started laughing. Harm laughed with her. "It's true."
Mac regained her composure. "No, I didn't know that."
"It's true."
"Who told you?"
"Sturgis. It's how he knew what ring size to buy for Bobbie."
Mac ran a hand down his cheek. "Why didn't you ask me what my ring size was?"
"Then you would have known what I was going to do. I wanted to go with the surprise angle," Harm told her.
"I liked that angle." Mac kissed his lips.
Harm responded to her kiss. "What other angles do you like?" He rolled over her in the bed and the room was filled with the sounds of their love and laughter.
PRESENT DAY
"You two are pretty amazing," Chloe said with a far-away look in her eyes.
Mac kissed Harm and rested against his shoulder as he held her. "We've been through a lot."
"Our marriage has had its tough parts, but it's from our friendship that we've been able to last," Mac said as Harm stroked her arm.
Chloe looked at the two of them. "Will Matt ever talk to me again?"
"Give him time, Chloe. Sometimes it takes time or the thought of losing the woman you love," Harm told the young woman across from him.
Chloe was about to say something when the phone rang. "I'll get it." Chloe stood up from the table and picked up the phone. "Hello…Oh, hi…Yeah, I know…I feel like a complete jerk for the way I was acting…coffee?"
Chloe looked over at Harm and Mac for support but found Mac whispering something into Harm's ear while he just held her closer. Chloe smiled, "Coffee sounds great. I'll meet you at Central Coffee in fifteen minutes…Yeah, I'm sorry too…Okay, bye."
Chloe hung up the phone as Harm and Mac turned around and looked at her, "Matt?" Harm asked.
"Yeah, we're going to get coffee and talk."
"Good." Mac smiled.
Chloe walked over to them and gave both of them a hug. "Thanks for listening."
"We told you stories," Harm said, slightly surprised with Chloe's comment.
"Yeah, but hearing what you two went through to get here makes me think Matt and I might be able to handle this dating thing." Chloe straightened up and walked to the doorway of the kitchen. "Wish me luck."
"Luck," Harm and Mac said as Chloe walked out of the house.
Harm turned to Mac who was smiling at the thought of Chloe in love. "When do the kids come home?"
Mac looked at her husband and rolled her eyes. "The girls and David are at Bud's. We pick them and the Roberts' girls up at five. Andrew's cub scout troop comes home tomorrow."
Harm looked at his watch. "It's only twelve twenty."
"Yeah." Mac gave Harm her 'well-duh' look while wondering what he was thinking.
"We could go upstairs and not think about the kids," Harm suggested as he eyed his wife.
"And do what?" Mac asked, knowing what Harm wanted to do.
Harm pulled her out of her chair and moved her toward the doorway of the kitchen. "Wear the nightgown and I'll show you."
"The last time I wore it, nine months later we had Kelsey," Mac said as Harm started to kiss her neck as they moved up the stair case.
Harm grinned wickedly at her. "You won't be wearing it that long."
Mac kissed him passionately as they stood in their bedroom doorway, and jokingly asked, "Then why wear it?"
Harm quickly picked her up, carried her into the room and softly placed her on the bed. "Because."
Mac laughed and gently slapped him on the chest. "It's in the top drawer."
The End