Daphne extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Daphne Moore.”
He froze, mesmerized by the elfin features of the pretty woman.
Sally poked him hard in the ribs, giving him a not so subtle hint.
“Oh, hi. I’m Mark Cage.”
He hadn’t done this in forever. He was a little rusty. Sally poked him a second time and stared at Daphne’s hand just as she started to lower it, looking unsure of herself.
Mark recovered. Pulled his right hand from his pocket and grabbed hers.
But in his rush, he fumbled. Yanked a little harder than he’d intended to pump it in an exuberant handshake.
She stumbled.
He dropped her hand.
She smiled sweetly and rubbed her wrist and hand gingerly. Her face flushed pink. “Sally tells me you run a microbrewery.”
“Yes.” He nodded, at a loss about what topics to discuss with a kindergarten teacher. The silence stretched out.
Daphne looked between Mark and Sally. Her face flushed a deeper shade of pink. Almost as if she didn’t know what to say, either.
Cute.
She sure was pretty. Mark liked the way her long skirt flowed easily over her slim hips. “You’re a teacher?”
“Yes, I teach kindergarten. Five-year-old kids.”
His daughter hadn’t been five for a lot of years. He could barely remember when she was five. “Learning to read and write,” he finally came up with after a long, painful pause.
“Exactly. Plus social skills. How to interact appropriately with others. How to play nice together. Those kinds of necessary life skills.”
Sally snickered and tapped his toe with her foot. “Maybe you should go back to kindergarten. Do you some good.”
Mark scowled, then turned back to Daphne. “What brings you to St. Augustine?”
“Vacation. A much-needed break.” She picked at the button on her sweater and her gaze skittered away from his. “I’m primary caregiver for my dad. He’s got terminal cancer.”
“I’m sorry. I lost my wife to cancer ten years ago. It’s never easy.” Now Mark really had no idea how to continue the conversation. “Were you waiting for someone?” His words sounded a little sharper than he’d intended.
Daphne hugged herself. “Actually, I am.” She glanced around like she was searching for a lifeline.
“Oh.” Shit. This was not going well.
She lifted a hand and waved at someone behind Mark. Her face split into a sunny smile and her shoulders sagged in relief. “Hello. Over here.”
“There you are.” The voice of the woman at the bar—the one who’d been coming on to Jason—sounded right behind Mark.
He stiffened. What could she want with his sweet Daphne? To corrupt her? Oh, no. Not on his watch.
Sally turned, all smiles. “Athena. When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
Mark frowned fiercely at her. “Yeah, after a drink in the bar with Jason.”
She smirked. “Jealous?”
“Hell, no.” He barked the words. Daphne jumped. “Just thought that Sal should know what you’ve been up to.”
“Sally knows exactly what I’m up to here, don’t you, sweetie?” She smiled at Sally. “Plus, she bought me the drink.” Athena threw her head back and laughed, exposing the strong, tanned column of her neck.
In that instant, Mark had the insane urge to sink his teeth into the spot just below her ear. The tender one. Bite gently and scrape his teeth down along her skin. Make her moan and arch against him.
Fuck. Where had that come from?
Beads of sweat popped onto his forehead.
He glanced at Daphne who appeared as if she might take flight at any second.
He didn’t want Athena. So why the scandalous thoughts? Because Athena was the type of woman to inspire hot, dirty passion-filled thoughts. Not what he wanted or needed. Nope. He wanted Daphne. Sweet, kind Daphne.
Athena winked at Sally. “Jase and I go way back.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of what Athena’s job is here. And I welcome it. I am in no way threatened. I trust her. I trust Jason. She knows exactly what she’s doing.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” They could not be talking about what he thought they were talking about. “She was just coming on to your fiancé at the bar.”
Athena rolled her eyes. “Men.”
Sally slapped a hand over her eyes. “You are a Neanderthal, aren’t you? Do you only think with your small head?”
Pissed, he squinted at Sally. Then he glanced at Daphne. She’d blanched white, almost like she could pass out. Fuck. Working with kindergartners, she wasn’t used to this kind of talk.
Athena moved in and put her arm around Daphne. “Let’s go, girlfriend. We’ve got weekend plans to make for you, darling. You’re going to love what I have in mind.” She herded Daphne around Mark.
“It was nice meeting you,” Daphne said, weakly.
Mark turned to watch them go, only to catch Athena turn her head and stick her tongue out at him.
What the hell?
Sally turned to Mark. “I like her.”
“You would.” Mark grunted. “But you shouldn’t. You can’t trust her.”
“I’d better be able to trust her. I just hired her, for a whopping salary, as the resort’s new relationship coach. She’ll be running dating events over the next couple of months. Hooking people up. It’s a trial run. See if it’s a value-added service our clientele would enjoy. Daphne is her first client here.”
Great, just great.
She was searching for a mate. And now Athena had her claws into the poor, sweet woman. He’d better ask her out soon, or he might just lose his chance. “I thought the meeting with Daphne went well, what do you think?”
Sally stared at him like he had two heads. “You’re crazy, right?”
“No. I like her.”
“Of course you do. She’s sweet and pliable and kind. And absolutely not the woman for you.”
“You said that before. And I disagree. I think she liked me.”
“Of course you do,” she repeated. “She had no idea what to think of you—as you outright accused her coach of hitting on my fiancé. Way to go, maverick.”
“Tell your Athena woman to seek no further.” Mark waved his hand in dismissal, because in his mind it was a settled deal. “I want to date Daphne. No need for that chick to hook her up with anyone else.”
“Uh-huh.” Sally rubbed her hand over her forehead, then peeked back up at him. “You scared the crap out of Daphne, you know that, right?”
Mark shuffled his feet. Yes, he was over six feet tall. He had a big build. Wide shoulders. He could intimidate lots of people. But Daphne hadn’t quailed when she first met him. “She didn’t seem to mind my size.”
“Had nothing to do with your size, doofus. Had everything to do with your mean-boy attitude toward Athena and the comments about Jason. Scandalized the poor teacher. She can’t handle the kind of in-your-face conflict you dish out. I understand you, but I’ve known you forever. I get there’s no bite under that bark. Daphne doesn’t know you yet. If you want a chance at all with her, you need to tone it down, bud.”
Mark stared at the toes of his shoes. Was she right? Had he come across too strong? He’d forgotten how to play this game. How to put his best foot forward. He lifted his chin. “I’ll try. Talk to Athena, okay?”
“Deal. But I can’t promise anything.”
“Just talk to her.” With those words, Mark stalked out of Essence, certain Athena-the-shrew had just ruined his whole future love life. Damned if he’d allow that to happen. Not when he’d just found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Oh, hell, no. Not gonna happen.<
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Chapter 2
Talking Trash
Later that night, Mark sat at Meehan’s Irish Pub drinking with Pace Daniels and Jack Spaulding. Well into his fifth glass of Jameson on the rocks, Mark knew he was hiking it home tonight.
Thank God it was only a few blocks away and a pretty straight shot along the Matanzas River. Both the restaurant and his house overlooked the water. His daughter worked until ten, so the house would be too quiet. Better to hang with friends and drink until then. Most nights he tossed and turned.
At least Jamie’s presence in the house would allow him to sleep. Mark had no clue what he’d do once she went away to college in a few months. Probably go out of his mind.
A worry for another day. One when his two best friends weren’t sitting next to him at a bar.
Pace nudged his shoulder. “Where’d you go?”
“Huh?” Mark snapped to, staring up at him, still seeing only one image of the pro golfer. Women would probably be happy with two. Not Mark. One pushy Daniels brother was enough for him. “I’m right here.”
“No. You got lost in that head of yours again.”
Mark stared him down.
“It’s true, dude. You overthink everything.”
“Makes me the success I am.”
“Maybe. Ain’t going to help you with the ladies, that’s for sure.”
“Who said I need help with the ladies?”
“I do. So does Sally. We both watched your epic failure with the teacher earlier today.”
Mark fidgeted with his glass. “I think it went pretty well.”
“Take my word for it, you need help.”
“It’s been ten years since I’ve even interacted with a woman romantically. I might be a little rusty.”
“You think? Rusty? You’re a lost cause at this point. Nothing gonna help that.”
Mark threw back his whiskey and pushed his glass toward the bartender, waving his finger to indicate he needed another. “I don’t know. I think she kinda liked me.”
The bartender filled the tumbler with ice then poured a healthy dose of whiskey and pushed it back.
He smiled and nodded his thanks. Sipping the fiery liquid, he let the bite roll and marble over his tongue before he swallowed.
“If you call almost running away liking you.” Pace snorted. “Then, sure.”
Jack just watched them silently.
Not many knew the real Jack Spaulding. Mark was lucky. He did. An undercover ICE Homeland Security Investigations agent who patrolled the Matanzas Bay, Jack kept St. Augustine safe from gangs and terrorists alike. His last take-down had included a smuggling ring. He’d yet to find the head honcho, though.
But Mark had no doubt Jack would find the bastard. Given time. He was good at his job. Not in town more than three months, he’d been responsible for busting two criminal organizations and reducing gang activity significantly. Now, he just took it all in. Didn’t say a word as Pace dogged him.
“Fuck you, Daniels.”
“No thanks. Haven does a great job.” Pace snickered. “Think she’s the jealous type. Greedy. Better not share.”
“Like you would.”
“Nah.” Pace winked at him.
He was a good guy. “Have any tournaments coming up?”
“I’m hosting the St. John’s County golf tournament in a few weeks. Proceeds go to the St. John’s Fire and EMS departments. Interested in being a sponsor or playing?”
“Sure. I’ll do both. Text me the date. It’s good advertising for Ancient City Brewery and I’ll play. Give me a chance to beat both your sorry asses.” Pace owned the golf course next to Essence. The spa and resort benefited from the pro course.
Jack guffawed. “You wish.”
“As if.” Pace huffed. “Who’s the pro here?”
“Even pros have an off day.” Mark eyed him cockily.
“Better start kissing your lucky rabbit’s foot, because it’s the only way you’re going to beat me at golf. Or, maybe tying my right arm behind my back.”
“We’ll see, old man.” Mark took another long drink of his whiskey, hoping Pace had moved on from the topic of Daphne.
“So . . . You really think this girl’s the one? This Daphne, the schoolteacher chick?”
Mark paused with his glass raised and shrugged, going with the abrupt subject change back to the topic of dating. “Yes. I’d like to think so.”
“Why?”
“She’s everything I want in a woman. Sweet. Kind. Pretty. Nice body. Loves kids.”
“You could be describing Sister Mary Theresa at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.”
Mark scowled at him. “You better not be noticing Sister Mary Theresa’s body, bro. There’s a place in hell reserved for those chumps.”
Pace’s bark of laughter made Mark’s mouth twitch, until he heard his friend’s next words.
“Seriously, you don’t want a saint. You need someone who will sin with you.”
Mark stared into his whiskey. “Nah, I need a companion. Not someone who will shake things up. I don’t need hot. I need practical.”
Pace sighed. “You got it all wrong. You do not need safe, believe me. You want a companion, get a dog. You need rockin’ sex. Someone who brings you to life. Challenges you. A woman who loves you fiercely and vice versa.”
Fuck it. He’d had love and devotion with his first wife. And where did it get him? Devastated. And all alone when she died.
Not gonna happen. Never again.
“Nope. I’m good. Kindergarten teacher works for me.”
Pace blew out a frustrated sigh. “Dude, telling you. She’s not into you.”
“Wait and see. I bet she’s into me before she leaves. She’ll fall in love with me. I’m willing to bet on it.”
“Shit.” Jack spoke just before taking a swig from his beer bottle. “Not what you want to do, buddy. It’s got trouble written all over it. Tepid and safe never works in relationships. I should know. I tried. The only woman I ever loved was my ex-wife. I tried safe after things went south with her. Wasn’t until I found her the second time around I realized how much I’d been missing all these years.”
“Glad it worked out for you. Can’t all be you.” Mark was a little pissed now. “Well, I can’t be either of you. I had a love to end all loves. My wife. She died, remember?”
“We didn’t forget.” Pace spoke in a quiet, soft voice. “But Mark, she’d want you to find love.”
Mark’s chin touched his chest and he rubbed his forehead. “It’s not that simple. I’ve had the love of my life. I won’t find it a second time.”
“Yeah, not if you go with Miss Safe. Listen, nothing worth having is easy.” Pace sipped his drink.
“What if Sarah was the only one for me? What if I never find love again? Lightning doesn’t strike twice in one spot.”
“Total myth.” Jack spoke up. “It does. It can. Plus, I don’t believe there’s just one woman in life for each of us. Total bullshit. Second chances are real.”
Pace chimed in. “Says the man who re-hooked up with his ex-wife, the only woman he’s ever loved.”
“Shut it, Daniels,” Jack said. “Not my point. I’m just sayin’, you get second chances at love—sometimes with the same woman, sometimes with a different one.”
“Lightning can strike twice in one spot?” Mark’s skepticism spiked as he stared at his usually silent friend. “Really? That’s what you’ve got?”
“Hey, you made the analogy first. It absolutely does. Just want correct information out there.”
“Smartass.”
“I try. Seriously, you deserve to be happy.”
“You try a bit too hard, I think.” Mark pushed his drink away and dug money out of his pocket, throwing
it on the bar top. “I’m outta here, guys. Catch you tomorrow.”
Jack halted him with a hand on his arm.
Mark paused, then shrugged off his hand. “Daphne would make me happy.”
“If you say so.” Jack stepped back to let him pass.
“Think about what I said,” Pace called after him as Mark turned toward the door. “You need fire, not lukewarm.”
Mark lifted a hand in farewell and stepped outside. There was no point in continuing to argue with those two. They were both in love. A relatively recent development. Neither had experienced losing the love of their life, forever. This alone was Mark’s cross to bear. And he knew he’d never have true love again, because he didn’t want it. Didn’t want someone to matter so much that when she left she took part of him with her. Never. Again.
He headed up San Marcos Street, along the Matanzas. A breeze blew over the water, making the night air pleasant. A few sailboats bobbed, their moorings creaking, where they were anchored in the harbor. Lights twinkled invitingly and laughter floated across the water. A man and woman embraced on the deck of a boat, silhouetted against the backlit cabin, locked in a passionate kiss.
Something tugged deep inside Mark. Would he ever experience soul-searing passion again? The burning need to consume someone. Be inside them. Be part of them. He shoved his hands in his pockets and continued on.
No. He doubted it existed for him. Not a second time.
“Mark,” a woman called from across the street.
Sarah’s voice. His head snapped around as he searched for the source.
He hated that he did this. Always hunted for a glimpse of his wife. In every woman. In every voice. Still. After ten long years.
Only this time, the woman resembled Sarah. She waved and smiled, long, dark hair lifted by the breeze. She'd never seemed more beautiful to him. His heart thundered and hurt in his chest.
He rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think. How many drinks had he downed at Meehan’s?
Make Me a Match (The Soul Mate Tree Book 5) Page 2