Believe Series box set

by L Chapman

  “I’m single, Megan, just like you are.” I feel myself starting to blush a bit, so I look down to the floor. “Yes, I noticed that you are pregnant, but I am still drawn to you. You’re beautiful. I had to come and say hello.” I take a sip of my drink, not looking at him. “Shall we go sit down? I heard once, that standing for a long time is not very good for women who are expecting.” Why would he want to talk to me? I have heard of men hitting on pregnant women, but I never thought it would happen to me.

  I smile as Mark picks up his drink and makes his way towards a table near one of the windows where the seats are front to back. I pick up Jenny’s glass and follow him. Mark waits for me to slide into the seat farthest from the window, and he sits down opposite me.

  “I’d better let Jenny know where we are. I don’t want her to worry.” I laugh softly.

  “Good idea,” Mark agrees.

  I take my mobile out of my bag and message her.

  Jenny, how hot is this guy? I just don’t know what to say to him. We’re sitting near the window. Xx

  “There, done. Why’d you leave your friends to come talk to me?” I am so nervous. I don’t know what to expect, and I wish Jenny had not left me.

  Mark smiles, sipping his drink and setting his glass down without taking his eyes off me. I look at his glass. When I look back up, his gaze is intense.

  “They’re all off to meet their partners soon. They’re work colleagues rather than actual friends, and I wanted to talk to you to find out more about you, Megan.” Mark smiles reassuringly at me.

  “So, Megan, tell me about yourself. I already know you’re beautiful with eyes that sparkle like diamonds and a smile that’s magnetic.” Is this one of his lines? I just giggle.

  I can’t look at him; my face is on fire. My phone vibrates on the table, and I look at it.

  He is totally your type. He’s totally hot and I knew that you’d never talk to him if I stayed with you. Xx

  “I want to know all about you, Megan.” I can’t believe how confident this man is. Who would hit on a pregnant woman? I just don’t get it.

  I struggle to think of what to say and finally settle on. “I have lived in Yorkshire my entire life.”

  Mark looks at me, smiles, and leans forward in his seat. “If you live in Yorkshire, what brings you to London?”

  I take a sip of my Coke using the straw. “I’m down for a few days to help Jenny with her wedding shopping.” I’m getting a little uncomfortable talking about myself, so I attempt to turn the tables. “Tell me about you, Mark.”

  Mark leans a little more towards me across the table, smiles an almost wicked smile, and as he does, he touches my leg with his foot. I can’t believe he has just touched me. I jump, which gets a bit of a chuckle out of him.

  “I’m twenty-five, grew up in London, but now live out in the suburbs. I work here in the city. Anything else you’d like to know, Megan?” Mark takes another sip of his drink, keeping one of his eyes on me.

  When he says my name, it seems softer, almost seductive. I watch his lips form each letter, and I can almost imagine how soft they would feel. “So, I don’t have to worry about Jenny then?”

  Mark’s words enter my train of thought. “Excuse me, worry about Jenny?”

  “I said Jenny’s taken, so I don’t have to worry about her.”

  I smile shyly. “No, you don’t have to worry about Jenny.”

  “Who doesn’t have to worry about Jenny?” Jenny has returned and sits down next to me. “So, what have I missed?” Jenny asks, sounding all excited. She is up to her little trick, trying to set me up. Jenny has been so supportive of me. She has come to every appointment for “Bump” since I found out I was expecting her. She does not want me to go through it all on my own.

  Mark smiles at Jenny and then winks at me. HE WINKS AT ME!

  “I hear you’re getting married, Jenny. When’s the big day?”

  “In six months,” Jenny tells him. “July the twenty-eighth and I can’t wait. I’m so happy. We found the dress today, and I can relax a bit now and enjoy London while we’re here. Oh, Megan, I almost forgot. Rich and I are going to go to that place tomorrow. I’ll come back as soon as we’re done though.” I love how excited Jenny sounds when she is talking about her wedding, her big day. She has dreamt of this for years. I can’t wait for her to finally have her day.

  Mark slides his hand over the table and takes my phone. I look at him questioningly as he picks up my phone, looks at the screen, and then frowns.

  “Can you unlock your phone, please?” Mark asks smiling at me.

  “Why?” I question. I have not known him long enough for him to read or use my phone.

  “I just wanted to add my number,” Mark states while Jenny nudges me and smiles. I unlock my phone, place him onto add contact and pass him my phone. At least if he is adding it to mine, then I am in control. I have nothing to hide, so I sit there watching him as he types something out before handing the phone back to me.

  Mark smiles at me, and I look down at the screen. He’s added his home, mobile and work numbers. I look up at him, saying nothing but giving him a gentle smile of my own.

  It reads “Mark Reed” next to his number.

  I hold the phone, looking between my newest number and the gorgeous man who has given it to me. Jenny excuses herself, leaving me alone with Mark once more.

  “What are you going to do tomorrow, Megan?” He looks at me as if there is a right answer and a wrong answer, but I just reply honestly.

  “I’m not sure yet. I have plenty of things to do, and I never find it difficult to keep busy.” We are quiet again, and I take a deep, cleansing breath and sit straight in my chair, “Mark, I’ve had a lovely time, and it was so nice meeting you, but it’s been a long day. I think it’s time for me to say goodnight.”

  I stand up and grab my bag. Mark gets up and stands in front of me. We are so close I can smell his aftershave, and he smells so wonderful. If it is possible for a man to be beautiful, Mark is, and once again, I feel my heart race.

  “After you,” Mark says as he points his hand in the direction that Jenny has gone.

  I walk towards the exit, just a step or two in front of Mark. In the background, a love song by a male singer I love begins playing.

  I close my eyes, “Oh, I love this song,” I say softly, little more than a whisper.

  “Dance with me, Megan.” Mark takes my hand in his, pulling me to a stop.

  “Here?” I look around the room, noticing no one else dancing yet. Mark turns towards me, and our eyes once again meet. His eyes make me stop. I love his eyes.

  “Yes, Megan, here and now.” His hand is bigger than mine.

  I feel as if the rest of the bar and its patrons have melted away. The only ones left are the two of us. We walk towards the dance floor, holding each other’s hand.

  “Wonderful song to choose,” I softly say into Mark’s ear as he lifts my hand with our fingers clasped together, holding them to his chest. His other arm wrapped around my waist, my belly-bump close to him. I don’t know what to do. I want to run, but I am enjoying it. I feel so nervous.

  We begin to dance. It’s a hard song to dance to with someone you have only just met, but I want to stay close to him. I want him to hold me; I want to feel his body tight against mine. I don’t know how I can be thinking like this about someone I have just met. I have not even known him for an hour.

  I find myself humming along to the song as we move.

  As the song ends, Mark places his other hand around me. We stand toe-to-toe in an embrace, and I look into Mark’s eyes. I feel his body press closer yet when he leans in and places a small butterfly kiss on my head.

  “So, you like him?” I ask.

  “Yes, but I’d deny it if asked by my friends. It would be no good for my street credit.” We both laugh.

  He knocks me out with the smile I am now privy to behold. He releases his hold on me, and my body feels the immediate emptiness of just the smallest di
stance.

  We walk back towards the exit with Mark keeping my hand in his. I feel almost sadness at the thought of our parting. However, I will say my goodbyes and return to my hotel.

  “It was very nice to meet you, Mark.”

  Mark smiles, revealing a hint of sadness.

  “It was wonderful meeting you too, Megan.” Mark squeezes my hand a little bit, but this is not goodbye for us. I feel myself start to blush, and he smiles at me. “I intend on seeing you again very soon.”

  I begin to feel anxiety well up in my stomach. I hope I see him again, and I know that the probability is not good. He’s probably just a player, a very hot and sexy player.

  “Goodnight, Mark.” I start to walk away from him and once again he brings his lips to me. This time he kisses my hand. I turn to walk along the path down to where Jenny is standing waiting for me with a huge smile spread across her face.

  “Goodnight, Megan,” he calls after me, and I turn briefly to wave as he watches me walk away.

  Chapter 3

  The short walk to the hotel was nice, and it gave me time to think about what had just happened. The sky was full of stars, the almost-full moon was so bright, and it was like looking at the bright end of a torch. The London night sky had surely never been so beautiful.

  Jenny was talking about possible honeymoon destinations, but I wasn’t really paying attention. If the last four years were any indication, then she’d choose Egypt, as she goes there every year. As we got to the hotel, I felt my phone vibrate and retrieved it from my bag.

  Hi Megan, I just wanted to check on you and bump and make sure you got back to the hotel okay. X

  Oh my, it’s from Mark. How did he get my number? I never gave it to him. He must have been sneaky and took it. I decide not to reply yet. I will wait until I am on my own.

  We head up in the lift to Jenny’s room, number 280, which is very sentimental to Jenny. This is the room where Rich proposed to her. We are on saying our goodnights as Rich appears. Rich is six feet tall. He makes me feel so short when I stand near him. He must be the same height as Mark. Rich is very slim with an athletic body and dark green eyes that pierce through you. He has the kindest heart ever. He is wearing a black tracksuit and walks straight over to Jenny.

  “Hey, Rich, been for a run?” I ask, trying to be polite.

  Rich turns and faces me with sweat running down his face. “Yeah, five miles. It’s the perfect evening for it.”

  “No Luke?” I question.

  “No, he had to get some sleep. He has to be at work early, some kind of photo shoot. I made the most of the weather and went for the run. ”

  “Busy Luke as always,” I reply.

  “Oh, I know we have booked paintballing for my bachelor party, so I am happy.” Rich smiles, and we can tell he is happy.

  “I’m shattered, so I’m off to bed. Have a good time tomorrow, you two.” I wish them both a goodnight and head off down the corridor to my own room. I slip my key into Room 289 and enter. Apart from a different view out the window, the room is identical to Jenny’s. This is another of the rooms Jenny has stayed in before. Rich does quite a lot of work down here.

  I get my phone back out and answer Mark’s message.

  Hi Mark, Yes we all got back to the hotel okay. Thank you for asking.

  I use the en-suite bathroom to get ready for bed, and after brushing my teeth, I stagger back towards the bedroom. My feet are killing me. We travelled down yesterday and have been shopping all day today, and we found the perfect dress. Now that I have changed into my pink pajamas, I feel a lot more comfortable and I can feel sleep crowding in on me.

  The bed is king-sized with a canopy; the clean white linen is so pretty. As I climb into the soft, crisp sheets, I feel like a princess out of some fairy tale. The bed really is something special, and I plump some pillows behind me. Once again, I pick up my mobile. Mark has replied. He must have done it while I was in the bathroom.

  What is your favourite colour? Sorry, if you think that’s a weird question. I like to know little random facts. X

  I smile at the innocent sweetness of his question. I glance over at the clock. It’s past midnight, but I answer Mark’s message anyway.

  Sorry for the delay in replying. I was busy getting ready for bed. Well, I like pink and purple. What’s your favourite? I don’t mind you asking questions. I have another one for you. How did you get my number?

  I press Send and lie there checking my emails. As usual, most are junk, but a few need answering, which I will do tomorrow. Just as I place my phone down, it goes off again, and once more, I find myself smiling.

  Don’t apologize, Megan. I thought you might have fallen asleep as it is so late. Sorry, I took it from your phone. I couldn’t leave it like that, and I needed to be able to see you again, talk to you. Mine’s blue, the colour of your beautiful eyes. Can I see you tomorrow, well today? X

  Without thinking, I reply.

  I can’t see you tomorrow, sorry. I have work to do, and it’s been such a long day that I need my sleep now. Goodnight Mark, sleep tight.

  I send the message and get comfortable beneath the sheets. Yawning, I place my mobile onto the small bedside table and I think about how his eyes looked earlier that evening, and I smile at the memory.

  I am jolted awake by the sound of my mobile. I don’t even remember falling asleep. I pick up my mobile and see that it’s 5:15 in the morning. I wonder who could be texting me at this time. Sitting up in the bed, I check my messages; there are five of them, all from Mark. Noting the times that he sent them to me, I had slept through each one.

  12.10: Goodnight Megan, sleep well, I hope bump lets you sleep. X

  02.10: I can’t sleep. I want to see you again, to find out more about you. I don’t know why but you have captured me Megan x

  02.15: Sorry that last message made me sound like a stalker, sorry, I promise I’m not. I’m just confused by these feelings. X

  03.20: Looking out my window at the night sky, everything is so peaceful. X

  05.14: I’m amazed, I got a little bit of sleep, think I will go and get these meetings over with and have a lazy day. X

  Okay, he is crazy and does not sleep. A lazy day is not such a bad idea. “Bump” would enjoy a lazy day. It would do me some good, but I am spending today catching up with some work on the laptop. I fire off a quick text.

  Good Morning Mark (even though I plan on going back to sleep). Bump behaved herself and let me sleep. A lazy day sounds like a good idea. I think you need to get some sleep.

  I climb out of bed and go to the bathroom. I hear my phone go off as I am in there. I climb back into bed before picking it up. I smile when I see it's Mark.

  Good morning sunshine, I’m glad bump’s been good - it’s a girl? I’ve had about an hour’s sleep but I’ll be okay. You get some more sleep Megan and I’ll text when you wake up. X

  I can’t believe how sweet he is.

  Yes bump is a little girl and I can’t wait to meet her, less than three months now. You need more sleep than an hour. I’ll text you when I get up. Hope your meeting is a quick and easy one.

  I set my alarm for ten o’clock, then roll onto my side, and quickly fall back asleep.

  ******

  I wake up before the alarm goes off, which I’ve been doing since I hit about twenty weeks. It’s just one of the many “joys” of being pregnant. I sit up, leaning back on the soft pillows. I reach to the side table for my mobile. I smile broadly; once again, there is a message from Mark.

  Sorry if I woke you. I’m glad bump’s been behaving. Not long until the little lady will be here. I shouldn’t be long in this meeting. I can’t wait to see you again, hopefully soon. X

  I respond to him right away.

  You didn’t wake me. I tend to be up before the alarm these days. Lazy days are meant to be lazy, means you can relax and catch up on sleep.

  I place the phone down and sit up once again. I stretch my hands high above my head to wash the slee
p from my system. I decide to shower and quickly vacate the warmth of the bed.

  Chapter 4

  After my shower, I slip on the bathrobe provided by the hotel. Back in the main suite, I open the ornate wardrobe and choose a T-shirt that I like and a pair of comfortable jeans. I disrobe and step into fresh underwear and then my clothes. As I am pulling down the T-shirt over my stomach, I hear a rapping at the door. Opening the door, expecting it to be Jenny or Rich, I am surprised to see the concierge at my door. He offers up a professional smile.

  “There is a delivery for you, Miss Megan.”

  I smile, taking the large, grey box from his hands. He wishes me a good morning, and I return the sentiment before shutting the door. I place the box onto the coffee table, following the warning printed on the box to keep it upright. Carefully I open the box and the scent of fresh flowers reaches my nose. I reach in and pull out a cut-glass vase with a dozen long-stemmed pink roses. Placing it onto the coffee table, I notice a small, white envelope nestled among the leaves, written in perfect script is my name. I open the flap and remove a small white card.

  Megan,

  I hope you like roses, will see you again very soon.

  Mark.

  How did he know where I was staying? I place the box over by the waste-bin, leaving the card and the vase of flowers on the coffee table. I then heard my phone trilling out an incoming message. I walk to the bed, pick it up and smile. It is another from Mark.

  My meeting has finished early, I’m going to go and get some breakfast and head home. What are your plans? X

  I reply immediately:

  I’m up, relaxing with a cuppa. Thank you so much for the flowers. They are beautiful.