“What about heartbreak? If I give it all, the chance is good that my heart will be broken. What if I give everything and she continues to reject me?”
“That is the chance you take. However, you never truly lose when you love fully, even if it is never returned. You change. People you love change. We are always better because of love. We are more. Greater. Not less.”
“And if she won’t acknowledge she’s my soul mate? If she’s been so hurt by the men in her past that she can’t open up and give back fully to me?”
“We cannot control others. We can only offer love, and hope they respond to that love with love. There is never any guarantee, if that is what you want.”
Mark kicked a root of the tree that was protruding from the dirt. “She’s the one for me. I know it.”
“She is. I am never wrong.” The wind hissed through the leaves, sending them into the pleasant jangle. “Stay your course. Do not give up on her yet. Sometimes, love works slow, but it always works on the heart, deep and under the surface. We cannot always see the effect we have on someone. Trust in your power to love and all will be well, I promise.”
Mark studied the tree for a few long moments in silence. Then he nodded, decided on what he’d do next. “I’ll try.”
“Good. God be with you.”
He grunted. “I need more than God. Do you know the whirlwind that woman is?”
Laughter, like wind chimes, followed him out of the courtyard, but Mark left with a renewed sense of hope that everything would balance out with Athena, if he just continued working at it. Maybe he could get around her defenses. He had to keep trying.
And he knew just how to entice her.
Chapter 8
Pretty in Pink
The next day, at five-forty-five on the dot, Mark arrived at Villano Beach with a picnic basket and a blanket under his arm. As he got out of his truck, Athena exited her car, wearing a skimpy black tank top and some kind of filmy skirt that was shorter in the front, revealing her tanned thighs but flowing around her ankles in the back. Even in a pair of flat sandals she was sexy, and oh so fuckable.
He rubbed his mouth with his knuckles and squinted at the horizon.
Not gonna happen, he told his hard-on. He was determined to put her behind him, act professional, just like she’d done the day before. But he wasn’t sure he could. He had no experience with this kind of relationship.
None.
He strode up to her. God, he wanted her.
Still.
No matter that she’d rejected him outright yesterday. She had him walking the edge with just one glance.
Could be the images he’d battled all night long as he tossed and turned, memories of taking her on her desk. The passion etched on her face as she came hard for him.
He couldn’t shake the image or the emotions that bombarded him. The wanting, sudden and intense. And just a little scary, considering he was getting ready for a date with another woman.
“You look nice.” Athena hummed her approval as she examined him up and down.
The warmth in his gut spread. “Is a picnic really a good idea for a first date?”
“Definitely. She’ll love it. She’s a pure romantic.” Athena opened one side of the hamper and peeked in. “Mmmm. Smells good. Did you make it?”
He shoved the blanket at her and smacked her hand away. “Of course. Out, wench.”
She held her ground and scowled at him. “Not a way to win a woman’s heart. Especially a hungry one.”
He paused. “No? Then show me how.”
“I’m trying.” She lifted the hamper lid a second time. “Now, instead of slapping my hand away, divert my attention in a cute or flirtatious way.”
Before he could think of something, she started to root around in the hamper of food. “Jesus, woman. Get out.”
“Nope.” She made a buzzer sound deep in her throat. “Wrong. Try again.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Mmmm hmmm.” Her blond hair shielded her face from him as she edged closer to the basket of food.
He cocked his head, pulling the basket away slightly.
She gripped the handle and tugged.
“How hungry?” he said, the words low and drawn-out.
Her palm flattened against her stomach and she bit her bottom lip. “Ravenous.”
He captured her hand, lifting it out of the wicker hamper, and brought her knuckles to his lips, caressing her skin with a slow, hot kiss while he held her gaze.
She stilled. Her dark sunglasses hid her expressive eyes from him, but her mouth softened and her nostrils flared.
“Better?”
Her spine snapped straight and tall. She cleared her throat. “Mmmm. Yes. Much. You’re a quick study.” She turned on her heel, slipping her hand from his. “Follow me, we’ve got lots of work to do before Daphne gets here.”
Those words gave him the cold sweats. “I’m not ready.”
“Honey, you’re ready enough to start the initial steps. I’ve got to see you in action. See what’s so bad. Other than your surly attitude, which is legion.” She glanced at him as he stalked behind her on the narrow pathway through the dunes to the beach.
He lifted a hand and gave her the bird.
“Nice.” She snickered. “See. Not appropriate for a date.”
“You’re not my date.”
“You’re right, I’m not.” She stiffened. “I don’t scare you enough. I’m not your ideal woman.”
He growled.
“We talked about that response, Paleo-Man.”
“Whatever.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Now, you’re what? Sixteen?”
“Fuck you, Sullivan.”
She chuckled. He almost missed the softly spoken words that sounded suspiciously like either, you wish or I wish. He couldn’t be sure which. “Again, highly inappropriate,” she said loud enough for him to hear.
“You don’t scare me. You annoy the shit out of me.” Her sass. Her tendency to stand up to him. Her sexy, curvaceous ass hugged by the filmy material within arm’s reach. All bugged the hell out of him. “How’s that for communication?”
“Better. What happened to the man who held my hand? Or the warm, caring man I’ve begun to glimpse on a regular basis the last few days?”
Mark sobered. “He got pissed-off by a woman who pushed him away after a moment of intimacy.”
“Mark, I’m sorry . . .” She touched his jaw.
He pulled away. “So don’t blame me if I’m suddenly surly again today. It’s totally your fault.”
“Telling a woman she annoys you is not usually winsome.” Her mouth quirked up in an ironic smile.
He sidled up to her, close. And understood better why she was so damned irresistible to him. Why she kept drawing him into her orbit. Sure, it was animal magnetism, but it was a helluva lot more, too. Her chest brushed his and her sweet breath fanned his cheek. He moved her sunglasses to the top of her head so he could see her eyes. “Unless it’s you, apparently.”
“Yeah, I’m the one who can really see you. Here.” She placed a hand over his heart.
And she could. See him. Really.
Through his shirt, his skin tingled under her touch. He swore his heart beat faster.
Mark couldn’t help himself. He palmed her neck, drawing her mouth to his. She pulled him in because when he was with her, he was more alive than he’d been in years. Her insight and brassy tenderness stirred something deep inside him. Helped him face truth. Challenged him to be a better man.
He wanted this. He wanted her.
Mark savored the moment, taking it extra slow. They’d both enjoy it.
Every second.
She didn’t resist. Eyes wi
de, desire swirling in their depths, she let him, her lids fluttering shut at the last moment just before his lips touched hers in an electric current that hit him like a lightning bolt, energizing him to deepen the kiss, making him want to claim this woman as his own. Her arms came up around his neck, pulling him in tighter to her body while their mouths molded together in a slow, deep kiss that had him feeling as if he’d touched the very edges of her soul.
He eased back, holding her with an arm around her waist so they were still connected from the hips down. She touched her mouth and trailed her fingers down his chest, seeming a little more than dazed. Her breathing labored in her chest, like she’d just sprinted across the sand.
“We’re not finished with this yet.” His voice was low, gravely. Maybe threatening to some.
But not to her.
“I’m afraid we’re not. And I don’t quite know what to do with you, Mark Cage.”
He laughed. “Well, that’s a start, at least.”
She shook her head back and forth in slow motion, as if to dislodge the fuzziness. He knew the sensation. A hazy cloud of lust also fogged his brain. He didn’t let her go. Not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to.
She took a deep breath and let it out.
Was that regret in her eyes? Faltering determination?
Athena set her jaw. “Daphne will be here any minute and I promised you both a date to remember.”
He grunted.
She lifted a finger in warning.
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
She chuckled. “Stop.” She pushed out of his arms. “Let’s go, Romeo.”
He let her go and followed her onto the beach. When he had room to stroll with her side by side, he asked, “Remind me why this can’t work between us. We’ve got some crazy mad chemistry.”
“We do.” She took a deep breath. “It’s pretty amazing, really.”
“But . . .?”
“Listen, Mark, I can’t compromise my profession. It’s unethical for me to have an ongoing relationship with you while you’re my client.”
“Yet a one-night stand is okay? You fucked me on your desk yesterday.”
“No, it’s not okay. That shouldn’t have happened.” She turned her head. “And you could have my license if you wanted to because of my lapse in judgment.”
“I don’t care about your license. I want you.”
“You don’t know what you want. Just a few days ago you were calling me Jezebel, and you were spouting love sonnets to Daphne.”
“I know exactly what and who I want.” He brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “And I’m pretty sure I didn’t call you that to your face.”
She wrinkled her nose. “No, you didn’t need to. The grapevine around Essence is notorious.”
“Screw the grapevine.”
“I can’t. I need to make this work.”
“What do you mean? You’re a successful relationship coach. You’ve been making this work.”
“And how would you know that? Have you seen my financials?”
“Well, no. But everyone says you’re the best.”
“Everyone being my friends here at Essence.”
“No, I’ve read your blog. You’ve got quite the following.”
“Yes, but a blog following doesn’t always translate into hard cash. Plus, I take on too many bleeding-heart cases.”
“Well, stop that shit.”
“I can’t. I have a big, soft heart. I’m a bit of a sucker for love. And I care about people.”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s why you got into the business you’re in.”
“I did. I can see who will work well in pairs, and I’m good at bringing people together. I just don’t always get compensated for it.”
“How many successful matches do you have?”
“Probably about fifty in two years.”
“Wow. I’d say that’s pretty successful.”
“Yes, in the way of relationships. But not necessarily to my bank account.”
“You just need a couple of high-profile, high-dollar matches. That’s all.”
“Easier said than done.” She shrugged half-heartedly. “Hence, why everything rides on my success here at Essence . . . and my keeping it above board with you.”
“That barn door cannot be closed now.”
She stared out to sea. “No, it can’t. But I can keep anything else from happening.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Her chin firmed and a determined light came into her eyes. “You will.”
“Dammit.”
“It’s not meant to be, Mark.”
“What if you’re wrong and it is?”
“I’m never wrong.”
“Never?” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re being stubborn about this. Why can’t you see what’s right in front of your eyes? We’d be great together.”
“Why is it the man who is courting another woman is trying so hard to convince me that he’s right for me? There is definitely something wrong with this scenario.”
He clamped down on the curse that wanted to erupt. Yes, it was screwed up, for sure. “It’s complicated. No matter how I feel, I guess I can’t just drop Daphne without explaining. I don’t want her to experience rejection. It sucks.” He blew out a frustrated breath, unable to explain it at all. “Let’s get this over with. Where do we start?”
“I assume you’re talking about your date with Daphne?”
He nodded in silent assent.
“We’re going to set up your blanket and picnic right over here.” She indicated a spot. “Then, I’m going to sit with the two of you for a few minutes to make sure you’re comfortable.”
“You are? Why would you do that?”
“Honestly, because Daphne asked me to stay to facilitate.”
“Like I can’t hold my own.” He ground his teeth together. “Or I’ll eat her.”
Athena’s expression turned pained and she looked away briefly. She busied herself with spreading the blanket. When she turned back to him, she gave him her normal brilliant smile.
What was up with that? He wished he understood this woman better. Damn. He needed a flipping manual in order to read her. “What?”
“Eat her? Really, Mark.” She snort-chuckled.
He glared at her and it dawned on him what she meant. Eat. Her. God.
Athena glanced away and with a visible shrug seemed to shake off the last bit of conversation as if it never happened. “Now don’t look so fierce, hero. It’ll be fun, you’ll see. I’ll help you both get off to the right start.”
“Oh, so she doesn’t call me an alcoholic? And I don’t call her a mouse to her face?”
Athena rolled her eyes. “You two are doomed. I told you from the beginning she wasn’t the woman for you. I wish you’d listened to me.”
“Now I agree with you. I know exactly who is the right woman for me. But she won’t consider me. So I make do with second best for the moment because my daughter is expecting results.”
“Mark, that’s not fair. Do not try to manipulate me.”
“Is it working?” He gave her a hopeful grin.
“Not a chance.”
“Oh.” He waggled his brows. “I had to try.”
“Pull the items you want to start with out of your hamper.”
“I guess the vibrator is out of the question?”
Athena stilled. “You brought a vibrator?” Her mouth softened and her nostrils flared.
The woman was aroused. Damn. That took no work at all. And Mark loved he had that kind of control over this sensual creature. “Guess you’ll never know.”
She grabbed for the hamper to lift the lid and he tugged it out of
her reach. “Uh-uh-uh. This is for my date.”
“Mark, if you brought a vibrator, you’d better keep it hidden from Daphne unless you want her running for the hills. She’s very modest and conservative.”
He covered his eyes with a groan.
“Hey, you picked her as your ideal woman, not me,” she pointed out.
“Okay, okay.” He kept the hamper close to him, and pulled out a chilled bottle of wine still in its cozy, along with plastic stemless wineglasses. Next came a bouquet of dusky pink roses. The pink exactly matched the flush in Athena’s cheeks and the color of her lips, not to mention the tips of her breasts. He knew, because he’d had them in mind when he picked the flowers.
“Look at you. Very nice. Someone is trying.”
“I’m teachable.”
“Apparently.” She brushed a kiss on his cheek. Her eyes twinkled. “Don’t worry, you’ll be great. She’s going to love you. Who wouldn’t?”
Their gazes held a moment longer than they should have and the electricity that slammed into him almost took his breath away. Things had changed since the other day. And he wanted to tell her.
“I’ll go get Daphne from the parking lot. She should be here by now.”
The spell was broken.
Too late.
He blew out another big breath. “All right. It’s go time.”
“You’ll do fine, big guy. Just remember what I told you. Be honest. Communicate. Do not grunt. Be considerate. Kind. Let her see what a great guy you are, what a good father. You’ll win her heart immediately.”
He nodded once. But, damned if he didn’t want the heart of an entirely different woman, a woman he’d thought was all wrong for him from the start. The heart of a passionate woman who stood up to him and told him like it was.
Athena.
It seemed he had no chance of swaying her. No real chance of winning her heart.
Make Me a Match (The Soul Mate Tree Book 5) Page 10