“Not everyone has thought that.”
Her tone told him that she wasn’t fishing for a compliment. Had her ex said differently? “Trust me, you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. Come with me and I’ll show you just how much.”
She hesitated.
“You can bring the pillow.”
Taking her hand, he led her to his bedroom. He was glad that he’d pulled the covers off his guest-room bed instead of his own. Something told him that if he gave Laura Jo more than a couple of seconds to think she’d be dressing and asking to go home.
Mark didn’t want that. He made a point not to spend all night with the women he dated because he didn’t want them to get any idea that there would ever be anything permanent between them. But he wanted Laura Jo beside him when he woke in the morning. He wanted her close until he had to let her go. For her own good, he would have to let her go.
He clicked on the lamp that was on the table beside his bed. Pulling the covers back, he climbed in, and turned to look at Laura Jo. “You have to let go of that pillow sometime.”
There was a moment or two of panic that she wouldn’t, before she slowly dropped it.
His breath caught. She’d looked amazing in the moonlight, but in the brighter light she was magnificent. Her husband had really done a number on her to make her believe she wasn’t wanted. Mark sure wanted her more than ever.
“Move over.”
He grinned. Laura Jo had gained some confidence. She found her place beside him. Where she belonged. But his feeling of ultimate pleasure quickly moved to the deepest depths of despair. He couldn’t keep her.
Laura Jo gave him a look of concern that soon turned to one of insecurity. She slid her legs to the side of the bed.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not done with you.” Ever. He rolled her to her back and kissed her.
Over the next minutes he teased, touched and tasted her body until he had her shaking beneath him. When he paused at her entrance she made a noise of disapproval. She wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him closer. He entered her and was lost forever.
* * *
Laura Jo woke up snuggled against Mark’s hard body. She’d once thought he had none of the qualities in the man that she was looking for. She’d been so wrong. He had them all and more.
He was the opposite of Phil. When she had needed Mark to come help her at the shelter, he hadn’t questioned it, just asked directions. He was good with Allie and she loved him. There had never been a question that he supported her cause with the shelter. He’d even been understanding about her relationship with her parents. He had been the support she hadn’t had since she’d left her parents’ home. Mark had become a person she could depend on, trust.
Her experiences with lovemaking had been about the other person doing all the receiving but Mark’s loving had been all about giving, making sure she felt cherished. And she had.
She shifted until she could look at his face. His golden lashes tipped in brown lay unmoving against his skin. She resisted running her finger along the ridge of his nose. His strong, square jaw had a reddish tint of stubble covering it. She’d never seen a more handsome male in her life.
Her breath jerked to a stop. Oh, she couldn’t be. But she was in love with Mark Clayborn!
“You’re staring at me.”
Her gaze jerked to his twinkling eyes. Could he see how she felt? Could she take a chance on trusting another man? She had Allie to consider. Had to act as if nothing had changed between them when everything had. In her best teasing tone she said, “You’re so vain.”
He moved to face her, propping his head on his hand. “That may be so but I did see you looking at me.”
“So what if I was?” she asked in a challenging tone.
“Then…” he leaned into her “…I like it.”
Putting an arm around her waist, he pulled her to him. His intention stood rock-hard ready between them. While he kissed her deeply, he positioned her above him and they became one.
CHAPTER EIGHT
AN HOUR LATER they were in the kitchen, working together to make breakfast. Laura Jo wore one of Mark’s shirts while her dress hung on a deck chair, dripping, with Mark’s jacket on another.
“I can’t go home dressed in my evening gown,” she mused, more to herself than to Mark.
“I’ll find something around here that you can wear. Actually, I kind of like you in my shirt.” He gave her a wolfish grin.
Warmth like the beach on a sunny day went through her. It was nice to be desired. It had been so long.
Wearing Mark’s clothes and turning up in the morning instead of late at night in her evening gown was more than she wanted to explain to any of her neighbors. Allie deserved a mother who set a good example. More than that, she owed it to her not to become too involved with a man who wasn’t planning to stay for the long haul. Mark had once said that marriage wasn’t part of their relationship. Had that changed after last night? He’d said he wanted nothing serious. She had major responsibilities, which always meant some level of permanency. Either way, she had other issues to handle in the next few days. She would face that later.
“Butter on your toast?” Mark asked, as he pulled two slices out of the toaster.
“Yes, please.” Waking up with Mark, and spending the morning doing something as domestic as making a meal, felt comfortable, right. Did he sense it, too? She liked it that he didn’t expect her to prepare their breakfast. Instead, it was a partnership.
A few minutes later they sat across from each other at the table, eating. Mark wore a pair of sport shorts and nothing else. He hadn’t shaved yet and the stubble covering his jaw was so sexy she was having trouble concentrating on her food.
“Do you have to work today?” Mark asked.
“No. I work tomorrow morning. But I have to go to the shelter, see Mr. Washington.” She couldn’t keep from grinning. “And pick up Allie and Jeremy from school.”
“I have to work from noon to eight. Could we maybe have a late dinner?”
“Eight is Allie’s bedtime. And it’s a school night.”
He hesitated, stopping his fork halfway to his mouth. Was he thinking about all that was involved in seeing her? She and Allie were a package and she wanted to remind him of that.
“What’s your schedule for Thursday night?”
“Work morning then I have to see Mr. Washington’s friend then Mr. McClure about their donations.”
“That’s right. You’re supposed to get the house on Friday. We’ll make it a celebration. Take Allie to someplace fun.”
“That sounds doable. By the way, I don’t think I said thank you for all your help with the shelter. We couldn’t have done it without you. You’re a good man, Mark Clayborn.”
A flicker of denial came to his eyes before it changed to something she couldn’t name. He smiled. “Thank you for that, Laura Jo Akins. I think you believe it.”
“And I think you should, too.”
* * *
Mark had picked up his phone to call Laura Jo at least ten times over the course of the day. After returning her home, wearing a beach dress his sister-in-law had left there and one of his sweatshirts that had swallowed her whole, he had headed to work. He couldn’t remember a more enjoyable morning. Laura Jo had just looked right in his kitchen. She was right for his life. The simple task of getting ready to leave for work, which turned out to include a very long shared shower, had been nicer when done with Laura Jo. He had it bad for her.
He picked up his phone. This time he texted her: How did it go with Mr. Washington?
Seconds later she returned, Good. Leaving now.
How like Laura Jo to say no more than necessary.
Unable to help himself, he typed, Looking forward to tomorrow evening.
She sent back a smiley face. He grinned. They had come a long way from the snarl that she had given him when they’d first met.
The next day, when he came out of one of the clinic examination r
ooms, he was told by the receptionist that there was a call for him. Was it Laura Jo? Was something wrong? His heart sank. Had she changed her mind about tonight? Mercy, he was starting to act lovesick.
“This is Dr. Clayborn.”
“Hi, this is Marsha Gilstrap. Laura Jo’s friend.”
“Yes, I know who you are. Jeremy’s mother.”
“I’m calling because Laura Jo and I are getting ready to meet with the city about the shelter house. They have notified us at the last minute that they expect us to bring in the names of our board members. It has been only Laura Jo and I. Long story short, would you be willing to serve on our board? It would be for two years, with bi-monthly meetings. Would you be willing to serve?” Once again Marsha was talking like a whirlwind.
“Sure. Just let me know when and where I need to be.” The shelter was a good cause and he would help Laura Jo in any way he could.
“Thanks, Dr. Clayborn.”
“I thought we agreed to Mark.”
“Thanks, Mark.” With that she hung up.
That evening Mark drove straight from work to Laura Jo’s apartment. He was looking forward to the evening far more than he should have been. Getting in too deep with Laura Jo could be disastrous. He wouldn’t stay around forever and Laura Jo would expect that. But he couldn’t help himself. He was drawn to her like no other woman he’d ever met.
Allie opened the door after he knocked.
“Hi, there.” He went in and closed the door behind him. “Now that Mardi Gras is over, what do we need to look forward to next?”
“The Easter bunny bringing a large chocolate egg.”
Mark nodded in thought. “Well, that does sound like something worth waiting for. Will you share yours with me?”
“Sure.”
Laura Jo came up the hall. She wore nothing but a simple collared shirt that buttoned down the front and slacks but he still couldn’t take his eyes off her. “Hello.”
“Hi,” she said, shyly for her.
He had gotten to her. She must be feeling unsure about them after the amount of time that had passed since they’d been together.
“Allie, would you do me a favor?”
She nodded.
“I’m thirsty. Would you get me a glass of water?”
As soon as she was out of sight Mark pulled Laura Jo to him. “What I’m really thirsty for is you.” His mouth found hers.
* * *
Laura Jo had to admit that Mark had done well in choosing a place that would suit for a celebration and one Allie would enjoy. The pizza place was perfect. He’d even provided Allie with a handful of tokens so she could play games. Laura Jo was reasonably sure that this wasn’t his usual choice of restaurant for a date.
“Thanks for bringing us here. Allie is having a blast.” Laura Jo tried to speak loud enough to be heard over the cling and clang of the games being played and the overhead music.
“I love pizza, too,” Mark said, as he brought a large slice of pepperoni to his mouth.
She liked his mouth, especially when it was on hers. His kiss at her door had her thinking of calling Marsha to see if Allie could spend the night then pulling Mark into her bedroom.
“So tell me what happened today about the shelter,” Mark said, after chewing and swallowing his bite.
“I collected all the donor money.” She grinned. “They didn’t remember but when I showed them each the promissory note with their signature on it, both men called their accounting departments and told them to cut a check.”
Mark chuckled. “Mr. Washington knows his buddies well.”
“The only glitch is that the bank keeps throwing these roadblocks in our way. Today’s was that we had to show we have a full board. It couldn’t just be Marsha and I.”
“Did you know she called me?”
“She told me afterward that she had. I would have told her not to if she had asked.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to put you on the spot.” After the other night she didn’t want him to feel obligated because of their one night of passion.
“It’s not a problem. Besides being extremely attracted to one of the board members, I do think the shelter is a worthy cause. I’m more than happy to serve on the board.”
Allie came running up. “I need one more token to play a game.”
Mark handed her a token. “After you play your game, I want you to play one with me.”
“Okay,” Allie said, all smiles.
“Stay where you can see me,” Laura Jo reminded her, before Allie ran back to a nearby game.
Mark leaned in close so that he was speaking right into Laura Jo’s ear. “Is there any chance for you and me to have some alone time?”
“You’ll have to wait and see,” Laura Jo said with a smile. “There’s one more thing about the shelter I wanted to tell you. Just before you picked us up, Marsha called. The city has decided to take bids for the house. They know of no one else who’s interested but they want everything to look aboveboard so they have to offer it out for bids.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
“Yeah, but what if someone comes in and outbids us?”
He looked at her and said in a serious tone, “Then you’ll just have to raise the money or find somewhere else. You now have new board members you can depend on to help you make a decision. You and Marsha won’t be all on your own anymore.”
She smiled at him just as Allie returned. “I’m ready to play.”
“Are you ready to lose because I’m the best whack-a-moler you’ve ever seen,” Mark announced as he puffed out his chest.
Laura Jo and Allie laughed.
He really was fun to be around. “Famous last words, the saying goes, I think,” Laura Jo remarked. It had just been Allie and herself for so long. Was she ready to share their life with Mark? She smiled. Maybe she was.
“Come on, young lady,” Mark said, taking Allie’s hand. “Let me show you.”
* * *
They arrived back at Laura Jo’s apartment, laughing at something Mark had done while trying to best Allie at the arcade game. When they had gotten into the car to leave the pizza place, he’d looked back at Allie and then turned to her. Laura Jo had placed her hand on the seat belt and said, “Thank you for seeing to our safety.”
He gave her a wry smile before he started the car but he seemed less anxious.
“It’s bath-and bedtime,” Laura Jo told Allie as they entered her apartment. “Why don’t you get your PJs and the water started? I’m going to fix some coffee for Mark and I’ll be right in.”
Allie left in the direction of her room and she and Mark went to the kitchen. She took the pot out of the coffee-maker and went to the sink.
Mark came up behind her and took the pot from her, setting it on the counter. “I’ll fix the coffee while you see to Allie. Right now, I want a kiss.” He turned her round and gathered her close, giving her a gentle but passionate kiss.
Laura Jo’s knees went weak. Her arms went around him and she pulled him tight.
“Mama, I’m ready,” Allie called.
Slowly Mark broke their connection. He brushed his hips against hers and grinned. “I am, too.”
Laura Jo snickered and gave him a playful push. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Behave yourself while I’m gone.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, Mark walked down the hall in the direction of Laura Jo’s voice. He stopped and stood in the doorway of the room where the sound was coming from. The lights were off except for one small lamp with a fairy of some sort perched on top. Allie lay in bed and Laura Jo sat on the side, reading a book out loud. He leaned against the wall facing them and continued to listen. Allie’s eyes were closed when Laura Jo shut the book and kissed her daughter on the forehead.
His heart constricted. What would it feel like to be a part of their inner circle?
Laura Jo looked at him and gave him a soft smile. She raised her hand and beckoned him to join her.
&nb
sp; His heart beat faster. This was his invitation to find out. But if he took that step he’d be lost forever. He couldn’t take on the responsibility of protecting them. What if he failed them, like he had Mike? No, as much as it would kill him to do so, he couldn’t tangle their lives up in his. He’d let them down. Hurt them, disappoint them at best. They’d both had enough of that in their lives.
Laura Jo’s smile faded. He backed out of the door, walked to the kitchen and sat at the small table.
* * *
What had just happened? Didn’t Mark recognize that she’d just offered her life and heart to him? He’d turned it down. Flat.
Laura Jo could no longer pretend this was a casual thing between them. She couldn’t afford to invest any of her life or Allie’s in someone who was afraid of their ability to share a relationship. She needed a confident man during the good as well as the tough times. Mark didn’t believe he was capable of being that man.
Even if she believed in him and convinced him they could make it, Mark had to believe in himself. She couldn’t take the chance of Allie experiencing that loss and devastation, the almost physical pain of believing no one wanted her, if Mark decided he couldn’t do it. Allie wouldn’t be made to feel as if she were a piece of trash being tossed out the window of a car. No, she wouldn’t let it happen. Wouldn’t go through that again.
She had to break it off before they became any more involved. Her heartache she would deal with, but her daughter’s heart she would protect. Maybe with time, and many tears during the night, she would get over Mark.
Laura Jo found him a few minutes later, looking at his coffee cup as he ran a finger around the edge. She poured herself a cup of coffee she had no intention of drinking and took the chair across the table from him.
“This isn’t going to work, Mark.”
“Why?”
“Because I need someone who’ll be committed to the long haul. I deserve your wholehearted love and loyalty. I won’t risk my heart or Allie’s for anything less. That is the very least I will agree to.”
“You know I won’t take the chance. What if I can’t do it? I won’t hurt you. I’m no better than your ex-husband. When things get too tough to face, I’ll be gone. Just like him. I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again.”
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