Chapter 19

"Yes, but there was never any grand passion between us. We've always been the best of friends and would have had a congenial married life. But if there had ever been any real love between us, we would have been married long ago. Please try and be happy for me, Harm. I would be for you if the situation was reversed!" Mac pleaded with him.

"So is that what you and Chegwidden have together? A Grand Passion? It's funny, but I have a hard time seeing our uptight Admiral that way!"

Just at that moment AJ entered the dining room with two plates of steaming food. There was a tea-towel slung over his shoulder and he was beaming a smile at her. Mac found herself thinking, 'You wouldn't say that if you could have seen us last night, or even right now!' But all she said to Harm was, "Thank you for agreeing, Harm, and we both hope to see the two of you there on Saturday."

Mac hung up the phone and joined AJ near the dining table. He smiled tenderly at her and opened his arms, offering a hug she gladly stepped into. "It sounded like Harm was giving you a rough time. Do we need to make our own plans?"

"No, he was just fussing. In the end he agreed, and I even think he and Mattie will be there. The only question on my mind right now is, do I need to put on a few more clothes before enjoying this wonderful breakfast you made, or am I okay as is?"

"You are more that just 'okay' in anything you wear or don't wear in my book, Sarah Mackenzie…soon to be Chegwidden…well, that is if you want to take my name. Either way is fine with me Sarah, which ever you want."

"Of course I want to take your name! I've always dreamed of being Sarah Chegwidden, I just never really thought it would ever happen."

"Well then I hope that Saturday won't be to long of a wait to make your dream come true. I hope that I'll be able to make all of your dreams come true."

"The only dream I have other than being your wife is to be a mother…"

"I promise you Sarah that I'll find a way to make that happen for us too."

At that moment her stomach decided to speak up. With a rueful grin she suggested, "Shall we eat now?"

He held out a chair for her and sat down next to her saying, "I have something in mind for us when we finish eating…"

"Oh? And just what would that be?" she asked between bites.

"I thought we might try out my shower…together…"

"Hmmmmm, that does sound wonderful! You're on, Sailor! How fast can you finish eating?"

With shared grins, they both dug in saying nothing else until their plates were empty.

As soon as she put her fork down Mac jumped to her feet and declared, "Last one to the shower doesn't stand under the spray!"

She was half way across the living room lifting his shirt over her head when he laughingly said, "I suppose you're expecting me to argue that you have less on and this contest is hardly fair," as he got up from the table and started to follow her.

"I can't help it if you felt the need to do up all those buttons on those jeans!" she gaily called out already heading into his bedroom completely naked.

AJ had the offending buttons undone and was stepping out of the jeans as he crossed the bedroom behind her.

"You wouldn't really be mean enough to put me out in the cold while you stand under the hot water, now would you?" Mac asked as she entered the bathroom.

A sly grin crossed his face as he assured her, "Of course not, my love!"

"I saw that look! No tricks now!" she demanded. Mac had reached the huge glassed in shower stall that was big enough for four adults. It had two seats in it and there were multiple showerheads on each of three walls. She stood there gaping in amazement. This was a dream shower! One you only saw in opulent movies or those ritzy shops that catered to the ultra-wealthy. "AJ! This is incredible!

To be continued….