by Claire Angel
After we finished, Mark offered to make some coffee. I decided to shower and get ready for my day as he moved to the kitchen.
I slipped on leggings and my favorite soft sweatshirt for the flight. I padded barefoot to the kitchen and smiled as he handed me a steaming cup of coffee. We sat down at the table by the window and I took in the overcast sky.
“Is everything ready to go?” Mark asked me as I blinked at him.
“All I need to do is get to the airport,” I replied with a small smile.
I tried to think about seeing Hallie again and going back to my familiar job. I tried to remember everything I loved about Chester and the fact I was sad to leave. Now, I’d stay here another day if I could.
“When do you go back to work?” I asked.
“Monday. I am just organizing this week,” Mark told me as I smiled and nodded. “I can keep you posted on upcoming tours if you want. You can do something different next time.”
“That would be great,” I replied, wondering if he was asking for my number.
He didn’t need an excuse to do that. I went outside to look over the trees and beautiful scenery before we got into the car to leave. I was quiet on the way with my hands in my lap.
The drive was long, and I kept taking long looks at him, memorizing his strong jaw and tousled hair. I’d never see a man like this again the way I saw Mark.
The airport stood out in the distance and I scowled.
We drove into the windy road and Mark parked as he looked at me. I stared forward, feeling a rush of emotions as I avoided his gaze.
“I had a great week, Bri.” I nodded, unable to look at him. He shuffled beside me and cleared his throat as I forced myself to look at him. He had a burgundy box in his hand and I raised my brow at him. “I saw this in a store and it made me think of you.” Mark slipped the gift across the center console and I took it with shaking hands.
There was no way this was a ring. I loved a good instalove plot in a book but not in real life.
I opened the lid, seeing a sterling silver moon pendant on a chain. It was a crescent moon with small jewels shimmering on the back of the shape. It was beautiful.
“Mark. This is so pretty.”
“I caught you looking at it and the moon reminded me of you. I’ll never forget how you look in it at night,” He said with a catch in his throat.
I melted as I reached across to hug him tightly.
“I want to see you again, Brianne.”
“You do?” I asked in shock as he stroked my hair.
“Yes. I know it won’t be easy and we’ll have to plan visits. I can visit you and you can to come see me and we can go back to Mom’s. I am not going to move fast with this because my situation is complicated, but I want to see you as often as I can.” His mouth moved to find mine and I moaned against him.
We parted reluctantly and he clipped my necklace on for me before we entered each other’s numbers into our phones. He walked me into the terminal and I checked in before turning to him.
“Let me know when you can get away, or I can figure something out. It’s a quick flight,” I said with a huge smile on my face.
I stood on my toes to kiss him and he pulled me against him.
“I’ll call you tonight. Have a safe flight,” Mark murmured as he stared into my eyes.
I thought about the few pictures he let me take of us, some on the tour and others after that. I knew that I would cherish them now.
“I miss you already,” I whispered before he kissed me one last time, telling me the same thing.
I walked on a cloud to board my flight. This beast of a man wanted to see me again. He could’ve just made it a fling and sent me off with all the sex we’d had. He could be satisfied until he met someone else, but then I remembered that Mark didn’t do that.
I found my seat and settled in, dropping my head back. I was tired but needed a real nap once I was home. I turned my head to look out of the window, playing back every moment with a deep sigh of contentment.
I listened to the normal speech from the flight attendants and then we were in the air. I closed my eyes and dozed off for a couple of hours, dreaming of Mark. I was indeed smitten and wondered what would happen in the future.
I saw Hallie waiting for me at the airport and rushed over to hug her. We got my luggage and went out to her car to load it up and head home.
She asked me instantly about Mark the second we were in the car. I showed her the necklace and a few pictures of him, making Hallie squeal.
We drove to my house as she talked about the happenings in Chester and how she was feeling. When she parked in front of my cottage, I sighed gently and got out to get my bag. Hallie came in with me and I checked around to see that everything looked the same. I didn’t have pets so there was no need for anyone to stop in.
We sat outside and I drank wine while she sipped lemonade, laughing together. I was so happy to see her. I needed to be a part of Hallie’s life, but I knew there was room for Mark as well. I knew that I could open my heart to more.
Mark called me that night, and we talked for a long time. He was still that rough and tumble mountain man but he opened up to me slowly with every conversation that we had. Well, when we weren’t talking dirty to each other, anyway.
We sent messages during the day when we could, and I laughed when he told me that Nancy was already asking me to come back to visit. Penny told him that he was a fool for ever considering the idea of letting me go. We made plans for me to fly to see him in three weeks and we’d make a quick visit to his family. A weekend would never be long enough, but we could make it work.
I touched my necklace several times a day. It made me feel close to Mark and what we had even if it was casual at this point. I even had a running text chat with Penny, who made me laugh with her stories of school and life in general.
She was so vibrant and fun and I appreciated the fact that I had a new friend. She also made sure that Mark was keeping in touch with me on a regular basis.
I felt like I had my life here as well as one waiting for me once I got on that plane.
I had dinner with my parents on Sundays and looked forward to the time when Mark would come here. I could introduce him to everybody. My mom was cautiously happy for me when I told her about meeting Mark upon my return.
She’d been worried when I didn’t return home right away but I explained the situation without a few details. I was close to my mom, but I didn’t need to tell her about my sex life. I missed it too much. My hand did a wonderful job, but it couldn’t replace Mark even when his voice was urging me to my orgasm.
Miles told me that I looked different when I came home, and I laughed. I explained that I loved to travel and planned to make small trips from now on. He encouraged me and told me that I had plenty of vacation time for it.
I felt like the time dragged until I was boarding a plane to see him again
I didn’t want to be that girl that dropped her responsibilities for a man and worked around his schedule. It would cut our time short, but this is what it was to be in something of a long-distance relationship with a man.
I leaned back in my seat and waited for takeoff as I gazed out of the window. I tried to relax during the flight and doze a bit. We were heading right over to Nancy’s from the airport, so things would be busy. I knew that Penny planned to be there and we were going to fill the hours with activities.
I was only hours away from seeing him, not days.
Chapter 16
Mark
I stood inside of the terminal, watching as people walked towards me alone and in groups. I felt like the time passed quickly as we talked on the phone and messaged when we could. I only did things like that for work and with my family, so it was new to me. I was still alone for the most part, but I had her if I needed her.
Trey noted that I seemed chipper these days. I wasn’t growling at anybody at the office nor was I giving in to the attempts by the women there to seduce me.
They were so blatant about it and I couldn’t help but compare them to Brianna. She didn’t throw herself at me and drew me in with her sharp tongue if anything. She called me out when I needed it with class. Most people were too intimidated to do that to me, apart from close friends and family.
Trey also told me that he liked Brianne from what he’d seen. He teased me mercilessly when I left to pick her up for a weekend at Moms. I told him to fuck off. I’d been at Mom’s every time I could, even if it was for a night.
I glanced at the screen to see that her flight should be landing anytime. It was going to be a rushed weekend, but I was ready to make the best of it. I shifted from the spot on the wall and tugged on my hair, pulling it back into a low ponytail. I heard some whispers and glanced over to see two girls gawking at me.
They were probably barely legal and I glanced away as they tried to get my attention. I was used to the attention but didn’t want it. I liked that people said I looked just like him with some touches of Mom.
Dad got the same attention, but he only had eyes for Mom. They were in love until the day he died, and I’d planned on that with Nina as well. The love faded quickly once I could see that she didn’t cherish her family. That was plain to see before she abandoned Lindsay. When she left, I knew that she left for a co-worker with money and a big house.
I knew that was what she wanted all along, but I could never regret having Lindsay. I just wondered if I would ever find love again when a pretty blond flashed through my memory. It wasn’t love yet, and I didn’t know if it would be. There was a lot to consider with that. I ran a rough hand over my beard and stepped forward on restless legs.
Mom sent a text as well as Penny, asking when we’d be there. I told them both I was at the airport right now and would be on the road soon. Penny said that Brianne hadn’t returned her text and assumed that. She got a sarcastic response to that and told me to fuck off immediately. I felt like this thing with Brianne was bringing me closer to my family in some way. It wasn’t the intention of the visit. I just wanted to spend some more time with Brianne.
How that turned into my waiting at the same airport I’d dropped her off at still confused me at times.
I saw a fresh group of people approaching and stood up tall, searching for a blonde. The group seemed to part and I saw Bri walking towards me. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she smiled beautifully at me. I stepped towards her and Bri moved faster on her converse, throwing herself into my arms. I breathed in as she kissed me, missing the warmth of that mouth.
We grabbed her luggage and headed to my car. I pulled out to the main road to head to Mom’s reaching out to touch her as we drove. I found a side street and pulled off, stopping at a meadow that overlooked a lake and parked under a tree.
Brianne giggled and hopped out of the car as I chased her to the tree. I was feeling frisky today as I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her neck.
It seemed like minutes later that she was flying away again, the taste of her kiss still on my mouth. I turned and thought about the next time she was supposed to come back. I was busy with work and Lindsay until then, spending precious moments in my cabin and my woods.
EPILOGUE
Two months later…
Brianne
I stood near the window, watching the snow fall. It was chilly out there and I pulled my sweater tighter around me. I smiled at the image of the Christmas tree in my apartment and looked at the flights to make sure that they were all on time.
It was two days after the holiday, but this is what worked for us. We both spent the actual day with family and friends. Hallie was starting to show now and everyone was making bets on if the baby was a boy or a girl. I personally hoped for a girl since Colton would absolutely melt over that. Maybe I wanted a different version of Mark and Lindsay. I wasn’t sure.
People started flooding towards me and I looked over the faces. I didn’t see Mark yet and dropped back against the wall.
We were going to have dinner with my parents. He was going to meet Hallie and Colton and stay in my cottage with me. I knew this was a step towards the future and smiled as more people walked towards me.
I couldn’t miss Mark since he towered over everyone and stepped forward to greet him. My face broke into a bigger smile when I saw Lindsay in his arms, waving as she saw me.
He brought her!!
I hurried forward and caught her as she slipped into my arms, hugging her tightly. We didn’t tell her anything about us apart from the fact we were friends. We kept the affection light in front of her and I knew I couldn’t kiss him right now.
We had three days together here and we were going to make the best of it. I didn’t have a lot of room in my cottage but Lindsay could sleep on the futon in the tiny office or maybe the couch. She’d probably like a sleeping bag on the floor like I did when I was a kid.
Mark grabbed their bags, and I walked us to my car as Mark raised a brow.
“That is what you drive in this weather?” He asked as I rolled my eyes.
“It’s not snowing that hard. I’ve managed my whole life here in normal cars,” I assured him as he got Lindsay into her seat in the back.
“I’m driving.” I held up my hands waving the metaphorical white flag and slipped into the passenger seat with a smile.
My rugged mountain man moved my seat back as far as he could before starting the engine and backing out slowly. I’d seen how caring he was in quiet moments and how protective he was in others.
We headed to Chester as I directed him over the light snow, answering Lindsay’s questions as she spoke in the back seat. We decided to go to my cottage first to get them settled in and then maybe grab some dinner.
The days passed with visits to friends and family where everyone fell in love with Lindsay. We saved our touches for when Lindsay was asleep on my futon after she fell asleep during a movie. Mark lamented that he was killing her chance of ever having a normal schedule as we’d shuffle to my bedroom.
My bedroom saw more action than it had in quite some time with Mark. I laughed more with him than I did anyone else.
Colton and Mark were like best friends from the start and Hallie couldn’t get enough of Lindsay.
I didn’t know what our future held yet. I just knew that we were living visit to visit and I cherished those times. I knew that bringing Lindsay was a bigger step than I anticipated but I loved her. I welcomed her.
I hugged them both at the airport and told them I would see them soon. We had another visit planned for me to fly there in two weeks. I thought about that as I watched them walk away, waving as Mark gave me one last, long look.
Life was calm for Brianne as she watched the other people around her creating new lives.
Marriage.
Children.
THE END
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