Chapter Eight
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Marcus replied as he climbed into Annabel’s car. He had a sudden urge to build a sand castle. How good would that be? With his ribs the way they were, he wasn’t sure, and he had no tools. He planned on acting like a big kid and taking Annabel along for the ride.
It had been so long since he had played in the sand. The last time had been with Emily. She would have loved Annabel, and he got the feeling that Annabel had wanted children but for some reason had never had them. For the short time he had been in hospital, Marcus realized that he could no longer live in the past. Life was precious, and he had wasted enough time wishing he could change something that could never be changed. No amount of what-if’s would bring his darling daughter back. She would be forever ingrained in his heart and mind.
He looked over at Anna and saw her filling her pockets with pebbles and shells. He saw it as an excuse to act like a child and get away with it.
“What are you doing, Anna?”
“I’m collecting pebbles and shells. I am going to decorate an old box I found in a charity shop. Upcycling relaxes me.”
He loved the childish smile on her face; this was more like the old Annabel. He was sure she was a Peter Pan-style girl. Why had she hidden her true self away? Come on, Marcus, that is exactly what you have been doing for a year. Then he had an idea, and there was no way Annabel could beat him. “Hey, Anna, how about a sand-castle-building competition before we eat?”
He waited for a response as she mulled over his proposition.
“I can see this costing me something.”
“Oh, you know me too well.” He chuckled. “Whoever loses buys the lattes. Deal?”
“That’s a lot less than what I was expecting.”
Marcus loved that they were getting along so well. A wave of guilt washed over him. He still hadn’t told her about Emily or Josie. Not that Josie mattered. After all, he had only been married a few months before she left him.
“Marcus, are you okay?”
“Er, yeah. I’m good.” Had Anna noticed? Would she question him further? Marcus needed a change of topic. He couldn’t tell her, not yet. He didn’t want to ruin the day he was having by talking about sad things.
“I will just go and buy the buckets and spades.” Marcus wandered over to a stall on the promenade that had all sorts of different-sized buckets, some shaped as castles, while others were plain. Considering his options for a few moments, he decided to get two different-shaped ones. The colors didn’t matter. As soon as they had done, he would give them to some child to use. Once he had beaten his Anna. He debated on telling her he had won a sand-castle-building competition in his youth. That’s a laugh. You and Emily won it. Marcus liked being sneaky, and his underhanded tactics were working.
He handed Annabel the castle-shaped one. “Whoever makes the biggest and best sand castle construction wins.”
“Really? I think I’m about to get hustled.” Her brow knitted together. “How many times have you done this,” Annabel asked.
“I may have made a few in the past.” He hastily added, “Not for years, though.”
Don’t look at my eyes. She might see the glint of mischief he knew would be there.
“Admit it, Marcus. You still like to play on the beach yourself. This isn’t just a bet,” she chided.
Marcus tried to laugh, but it hurt too much to let out a huge belly laugh. “You know me too well. Give me any excuse to be a kid again, and I will take it.”
It was nice to be here with Anna, no worries, no clients vying for his advice. Just the two of them having some old-fashioned fun with no cares in the world, even if he did have an unfair advantage. They walked away from each other and started building their own creations. Marcus wasn’t getting too far. He loved how the light bounced off Anna’s raven-colored hair, bathing her in a golden halo. But as he looked up at the sky, dark ominous clouds blew over.
“You haven’t finished yet?” he shouted over. Sand flew in all directions as he started building. Damp sand was always the best. That was one little secret he was going to keep to himself. Marcus wanted to laugh out loud as he caught Anna struggling with her building.
“Now, now, don’t talk to me. I’m busy!” Her voice rose a little with irritation.
I best leave her alone. Marcus put the final touches to his—a few shells and pebbles as decoration. He watched as Anna tipped the latest sand castle over, it collapsed immediately. Marcus wanted to laugh, to make fun out of her but decided that he better keep quiet. He was having so much fun, but the pain was increasing in his side. It wouldn’t be long before he had to stop and sit down.
“Any excuse, just admit I won.”
“No, you would love that wouldn’t you.” A groan escaped her lips as another sand castle came out all wrong and partially collapsed.
He had finished his creation and sat on the beach clutching his ribs. The toothed monster was back much more ferocious than ever, but he wanted a picnic with her. Marcus didn’t want to leave; not yet when the day had only just begun.
****
Annabel threw her spade and bucket down. “Okay, I give in. You win.” The one thing she hated most was being beaten by anyone. Oh, you will pay, Marcus. Don’t you worry about that. But it had been the most fun she had had in years. “Best go buy you that latte.”
“Yes, you had,” he agreed.
Annabel walked back over to him and held out her hand. Marcus struggled to his feet using her as an anchor. She leaned toward him brushing her lips softly against his. His hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her gently into him. Her whole body responded to him as she hungrily searched entrance to his mouth. Marcus seemed to be playing it cool, frustrating the flames of passion that had ignited. She wanted him, needed him to fulfill her every fantasy, to make her feel wanted and loved. His hesitation scared Annabel. Was there something wrong with her? Did he see this as a game? Annabel didn’t want to think so badly of Marcus, but he was leaving her with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Annabel pulled away. “Let’s go get that latte.”
“Hey, baby, what’s wrong?” Marcus kept a tight hold on her. “You’re not going till you tell me.”
Annabel bit her bottom lip, she couldn’t face him. Instead, she looked at the sand. “This isn’t a game, is it?” she hesitated. “I mean us. I don’t even know what’s happening. A few days ago we were barely talking, and now we’re like this.”
She hadn’t wanted to say any of it but knew he wouldn’t stop the loving bone-crushing hug until she did.
“Oh, baby, I don’t play games like that. Not now. I want to be with you.”
She looked deep into his eyes, losing herself for a moment in the warmth shining there. Had she read into things too much? Had the playboy actually grown up? Something in his demeanor screamed out to her that it was the closest she was going to get to an answer. Marcus still held back.
“Lattes.” It was all she said, but Annabel had to give herself breathing space. She had to think about anything rather than how she really wanted to be in his bed. Anger boiled up inside of her. How could her heart and body betray her? Hadn’t they been there before? Didn’t they remember where that had gotten them?
****
“Sure, come on.” Marcus reluctantly loosened his grip on her. Did Annabel really have such a low opinion of him? “I will even let you buy me a cake.”
“What about the picnic stuff?”
Lifting the bag up, he said, “We could always have it in a while.” He locked fingers with her squeezing tightly.
Marcus wanted to know what Annabel was really thinking, what she was holding back. A vivid picture of Annabel and Emily walking hand in hand along the beach popped into his head. The feeling of being run over by a steamroller hit him square in the chest. The woman next to him had been his future until that fateful night. How could he have let go so easily? Being a bad boy was one thing as long as he hadn’t hurt his frien
ds, but he hadn’t given consideration to anyone else then. He’d once set fire to someone’s beach hut at a barbecue; they had all been too drunk to care—laughing as someone’s possessions went up in flames. He cringed at that now and all the other not-quite-legal stuff he had done.
Breaking the speed limit on his bike was par for the course in those days, to hell with the consequences of anything. He was trying to make it up to her in whatever way he could. Marcus would give anything to make her happy, to make them both happy. Yet, Annabel always seemed to back off. Time would tell how serious things would get if his Anna would allow it. Ever since that day at the car park, he had not thought about anything other than making Anna happy and protecting her at any cost.
“Marcus, you’re not in pain, are you?”
He caught the worry in her voice. “A little. These jeans are hurting me.” The bruising had reached his stomach, making even the smallest movements painful. “Forever the doctor, my Anna.”
“Sorry, bad habit.”
Marcus laughed. “No, not a bad habit at all. It shows just how much you care for people.” It was a rare trait but one that had shone in Annabel since he had first set eyes on her. She had been so unlike the other girls he knew, who made it quite clear that they were available. Annabel had watched him from a distance. He wasn’t blind to the fact she liked him. Her quiet fascination had soon become his. He wanted her, but Marcus had also wanted to protect her from himself. She wasn’t a girl he ever wanted to hurt. Something niggled inside him. That was precisely what he was doing. Just as Anna protected her patients, he would protect her from himself. He didn’t want to walk away, but he would if it meant he didn’t break her heart.
Shells crunched under their feet as they walked in silence to the café, looking up at the angry black clouds swirling in the sky. “It looks like it’s going to rain,” he said, releasing her hand to grasp the picnic bag in that hand.
“Let’s get a coffee, and then I will get you back. It won’t do you any good.” She hesitated. “To get even more ill.”
By the time they had reached the café, small drops of rain began to fall, tinkling off the metal tables. “We could go inside?” Annabel suggested.
“No, let’s sit out here. I don’t get enough fresh air as it is.” Admit it, man, you spend all your time in the office or your hotel room. You live like a hermit and have no real friends.
Complying with his demands, she still ordered him around. “Sit down. I will go and get the drinks.”
Annabel walked off leaving him to watch the waves as they swirled and crashed against the shore. Disappointment crept in as it looked like their beach picnic would be postponed for another day. The wind was picking up, sending sand everywhere. He wanted to suggest they take the picnic to his room. They could have a carpet picnic like he and Emily used to have. Confusion warred with desire, leaving him at a loss as to what to do. How could he prove that it wasn’t a game, even though he was so unsure of everything himself?
Marcus breathed heavily. This was turning into a very strange day. There was so much he wanted to say, but so much he had to conceal. Annabel had in a very short time broken down the many barriers he had built. The past still haunted them both. His still raw and unyielding, but just seeing Anna smiling and happy would be enough. He wasn’t sure he would ever see either.
Interrupting his thoughts, she came out of the café with two steaming latte mugs.
“Here you go. I’ll just go get the cakes.” Placing the cups on the table, she dashed back inside.
The spots of rain were getting heavier. “Please don’t rain, not yet,” he mumbled, staring up at the sky. They’d parked the car a fair distance away from the café where he would usually park. If it was going to rain, let it be when he was in the car nice and protected.
“Here, Marcus. I got you a big cream cake. Thought you could do with something nice after the hospital food.”
“It wasn’t great. I can think of much nicer things.”
He loved how a blush crept up into Annabel’s face. “I bet you do. Drink your latte.”
Had she really not thought about it? He laced his fingers around his coffee cup and held it near his mouth letting the strong aroma fill his senses. “So do I get to take you out for dinner?” He came across as rather abrupt and checked himself. “You could pick anywhere you want.”
“Not tonight. Besides, I only broke you out of the hospital a few hours ago,” she said, shaking her head. “Give yourself time to heal.”
Marcus caught her eyes narrowing. He put his cup down, running his hands through his hair in frustration. See? There she goes again, backing away. “Look, truth be told, I’m really enjoying being here with you and…”
“And?” she repeated.
“I don’t want the day to end, not yet,” Marcus said. He was enjoying himself too much for the first time in a long time.
“I’m not going anywhere till you’ve shared your picnic with me.” Placing her drink down, she added, “You hustled me over there, didn’t you?”
Marcus tried to put on his most innocent face. “Whatever do you mean?”
“The sand castle thing, you’ve done it before.” She looked so cute when her brows knitted together.
“Er, okay, okay, it’s a fair cop, your honor.” He held up his hands.
“That sounded like such a cliché, Marcus, honestly.” Annabel laughed. “So tell me. Or you can’t have your cake.” With that, she promptly picked up his plate and moved it onto the empty table behind her.
“No, where is the fairness in that?” Marcus grinned.
“I don’t know. You tell me how much you cheated.”
“Fine, can I have my cake then?” He was beginning to get very hungry. “I won a sand-castle-building competition last year with E—with Eric, an employee of mine. Team building, that sort of thing.” He let out a long slow breath. He had just nearly ruined everything. No, Emily could never ruin anything. It was Annabel’s reaction he was afraid of. The longer he kept it from her, the harder it was going to be to tell the whole story. Perhaps he should have said something on the first day.
“So I was hustled and made to buy the coffee. If we go out again, it will be your turn.”
“Will it now?” Marcus kept quiet. His mind raced in several different directions, but one thing was perfectly clear. They were both enjoying each other’s company. “Where’s my bike?” He had forgotten all about it for a while.
“Rachel is going to get it brought to the hotel. It might even be there when you go back, along with your bag.” She took a sip of her latte. “Why motorbikes?”
“Now there’s a question. The freedom, the wind blowing your troubles away, at least for a short while.” He always became animated when he discussed bikes.
“I think they’re dangerous.”
“So you still don’t like them?” he said drinking the last dregs of coffee from his cup.
“I just think they are so dangerous. You don’t know how many bikers come into the hospital to be patched up.”
“Not everyone is a bad rider, and it isn’t always our fault.” He patted her hand.
“I guess not,” she conceded. Why did Marcus have to be right about what he was saying? A lot of the time bikers were injured through the actions of other motorists.
The rain that had threatened to come and spoil their day came down heavily without much warning. The little drops of rain hadn’t been a bother, but now it was sending people rushing in all directions, hunting for cover. There was no way he could run for cover. He hurt too much. The sand castle building had seen to that. Bending over had caused him a great deal of discomfort, and like an idiot, he had left his pills in the hotel.
Even the short walk to the beach had been too much for him, but Marcus didn’t want to admit that to Annabel. He was having too much fun being with her, and he wasn’t going to let a little thing like pain stop him. They walked slowly, by the time they had reached the car, rain was pouring out of their sho
es.
“Great,” Annabel said. “I’ll drop you back at the hotel and head home to dry out.”
A few minutes later, they parked back outside the Grand. “The hotel may just give you a season ticket to their car park. You’ve been here three times today.” He chuckled.
“Here, I’ll help you into the hotel,” Annabel said. “Come on.”
Marcus climbed gingerly out of the car, his movements cautious and unsure. Annabel entered the hotel lobby with him. The staff wandered here, there, and everywhere, their black and purple uniforms immaculately pressed.
“Annabel, do you want to come up? It may take you a while before you get home. I don’t want you to catch cold.” Marcus moved toward her slowly, this time he was going to be with her. For days he had thought of nothing more than making love to her, about making her his.
“I best go, Marcus. You need to rest.”
Marcus spoke so low, it was almost a growl. “Is that what the doctor orders?”
****
“Yes, she does.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. His loving gaze made her legs weak. The caress of his hand down her cheek sent frissons of passion soaring through her body. “I will see you later.”
“How about you just come up for five minutes,” Marcus pleaded. “It’s my turn to need your help with something.”
Annabel looked around quickly to see if anyone was paying attention to their little game. “Oh, do you now?”
“Come on. We can’t stay in the hotel reception all day.” Taking her hand, he kissed it gently, sending shivers up and down her spine. It was such a gentle gesture, Annabel couldn’t think straight. They had spent such a great day together; it was too early to end yet.
Chapter Nine
Marcus walked toward the lift, and Annabel followed slightly behind him as she tried to get her emotions under control. Her heart raced, and the hairs on her arms stood on end. She didn’t want them to just have dinner; it had been nice lying on the bed with him at the hospital. Listening to his gentle snoring had lulled her into slumber. They had fit together so perfectly until that stupid nurse had ruined it.
Second Chance with the Playboy Page 8