“It’s gonna be yummy,” Terrence assured him.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Gretta told Mark when he put Terrence down.
Stewart patted Mark’s back. “Come on into the living room, Mark. Let’s have a beer.”
The irony wasn’t lost on him that had this been ten years ago, Andrea’s parents and her brother wouldn’t have been so welcoming. He was the same person now that he was then, except that he had more money now.
And of course, he’d saved Andrea’s life.
“Mark?” Stewart said.
“Hmm?”
“I asked if you wanted a light beer or regular.”
“Light, please.”
“One light beer coming up,” Melissa said cheerfully.
Mark watched her scramble toward the kitchen. Beyond Melissa, his eyes met Andrea’s. And held. Her lips pulled in the slightest of smiles, a smile that tugged at his heart.
Much later, warm laughter and good cheer filled Andrea’s apartment. It pleased her immensely.
“Mark, how about another piece of pumpkin pie?” Gretta asked as she got up from the sofa.
“Oh, no.” He patted his belly. “I’m stuffed.”
“Another glass of wine, then?”
“No, thank you. In fact, I really must be going.”
“So soon?” Stewart asked.
“Stay, please,” Melissa urged. “We have got to play another round of monopoly.”
“Yeah,” Albert agreed. “And this time, I won’t be such a pushover.”
“Ha.” Mark laughed. “I wish I could, but I can’t. Though I did have a great time.” And he did. His anxiety regarding the Dawsons had dissipated as they’d spent time together. He’d once figured them snobby and uncaring, but they were good people who obviously loved their daughter immensely.
Mark got to his feet, and Andrea immediately followed suit. “You really have to leave already?” she asked.
“Yeah. I have a conference call in the morning. In fact…” His voice trailed off as he looked at Andrea, then her family. “I might have to head back to Chicago by the afternoon.”
“Oh, no.” Andrea frowned.
Mark simply shrugged. “I’ll see. I wouldn’t mind sticking around for another day or two.”
He let his statement hang between them, and Andrea knew what he was getting at. He wanted to spend more time with her. She wanted to spend more time with him, too.
Mark looked around the room. The children had gone to bed an hour before. “Mr. and Mrs. Dawson, Melissa and Albert—good night to you all.”
“Good night,” they said in unison. Gretta gave him a warm hug.
“Well, let me walk you out,” Andrea said.
She walked Mark to the doorway, aware that her family’s eyes were boring holes into her back. They were all wondering what was happening between her and Mark.
So was she.
“Mark,” she began in a low voice, “I’m really glad you came. I had a nice time. We all did.”
“I had a nice time, too.”
Andrea took a moment to search for his coat. Handing it to him, she said, “So, you might be heading back to Chicago?”
Mark nodded. “I have to present an ad campaign to the company I told you about.”
“Oh. Well.”
“But…I do have to head back to Buffalo soon. I made some new contacts and we’ve already been in touch about setting up some meetings.”
Andrea perked up. “Oh. Then that means I can see you again. Soon.”
“Looks that way.”
“I’m proud of you, by the way. You certainly have made a success of yourself.”
Mark slipped into his coat. “I’m blessed.”
But was he dating anyone? He hadn’t specifically told her, so she didn’t think he was, but she wanted to be sure. “Will someone be happy when you return to Chicago?”
Mark shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”
Andrea’s stomach lurched. “Really?”
“Uh-huh. My partners, for one. Those guys can’t seem to run things smoothly with me gone. Do you know how many calls I got with crisis after crisis while I’ve been here?”
“Oh, you!” Andrea’s shoulders drooped with relief as she laughed.
“What—oh, you were trying to find out if I have a girlfriend?” Mark asked innocently.
“The thought crossed my mind. You haven’t said one way or the other.”
“No. There’s no one special.” He paused. “Is that okay?”
“Fine by me.”
“All right, Miss Dawson.” Mark looped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I have to be going.”
The low timbre of his voice made a shiver of delight dance down Andrea’s spine. As he hugged her, she squeezed him as best she could with her good arm.
All too soon, he pulled away from her. “Wait,” Andrea suddenly said.
Mark looked at her with concern. “What?”
Andrea subtly flicked her eyes upward. Mark followed her line of sight. “We are standing under the mistletoe,” Andrea said.
“Ah.” Mark chuckled warmly. “We are. In that case.”
He reached for her face, trailing a finger along her cheek. A jolt of electricity zapped through her body. Andrea gazed up at him with expectation, savoring the feel of his hand clutching her back and her breasts pressing against his chest.
And then his lips came down on hers, soft and feathery and completely exhilarating.
“And now,” Mark whispered in her ear, “I have to go.”
Andrea practically melted like butter. She watched Mark leave her apartment, her heart full of more happiness than she had felt in a long, long time.
Chapter 8
“I am higher than a kite, that’s how amazing I feel,” Andrea said the next day, aware that she was smiling like a fool as she chatted with her friend. Allison, a fellow student in her business class, had brought her class notes, but Andrea was too distracted to go over them. All she wanted to do was talk about Mark, and how the feelings she’d had for him years ago had come rushing back.
“I was sad when he called me this morning to say he had to head back to Chicago, but then he told me he hadn’t stopped thinking about me.” Andrea sighed with glee. “Honestly, I can’t remember feeling this…this good about a guy since…”
“Since the first time you were involved with him?”
Andrea drew in a deep breath. “Maybe. Yeah.”
“I’ve certainly never seen you this excited about any guy before. You know I was starting to get concerned.”
“Shut up,” Andrea said, chuckling.
“Hey, I’m happy for you.”
“I know it probably seems sudden, but it’s like the accident knocked me over the head. It made me realize how much I want him in my life.”
“Are you sure this isn’t a savior-worship complex thing?”
Andrea shook her head as she reached for her coffee mug. “If I hadn’t known him before, I might think that. But with Mark, it’s more about me realizing that life is short, and too precious to waste a moment of it not going for what you want.” She paused to sip her coffee. “I want Mark.”
Allison’s lips twisted in a lopsided grin. “And how does he feel about you?”
“The kiss last night—it was the most sweet and gentle and exciting kiss I’ve ever experienced. It was like my whole body came alive.”
“Oooh,” Allison crooned. “So, when do you see him again?”
Andrea sighed wistfully. “Some time this week, I think. He’s back here for business. Or maybe just to see me. He said he was going to miss me every second he was gone.”
“He sounds romantic. You know I love a romantic man.”
“Maybe you’ll get to meet him soon. Christmas is less than three weeks away. I plan to invite him to spend that day with me and Terrence. Something small and intimate.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Allison said. “Really, I am. You deserve it, especially after what you’
ve been through.”
“Thanks,” Andrea replied, already wondering when her phone would ring and she could talk to Mark again.
That night, as Andrea looked over the notes from her business class, the phone rang. She instantly dropped the notes and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
Andrea bit down on her bottom lip to suppress a happy giggle. “Hey, yourself.”
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing much. I put Terrence to bed not too long ago and was doing some studying.”
“Trying to get caught up on your studies. Should I let you go?”
“Not a chance. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
Mark chuckled softly. The sound always made her feel woozy inside.
“I’ve been thinking about you, too,” he said. “How’s your arm?”
“A lot better. I might even go back to work by the end of the week.”
“What?” Mark asked, surprised.
“If I do, I’ll only do hostessing duties. I wish I didn’t have to, but unfortunately, I need the money.”
“Can’t your parents help you out?”
“They’ll be here for the week, helping me with Terrence.”
“I meant financially.”
Andrea paused. “I know we didn’t really talk about it in detail, but things aren’t the same for my family as they used to be. My parents lost their business.”
“Your father mentioned that,” Mark said. “But surely they have some money.
“They do, yeah, but I’m trying make my own way in the world.”
“Which is admirable, but if you need help—”
“My parents would never let me live it down. Well, maybe not in an I-told-you-so way. But in a way that would make me feel like I couldn’t make it on my own. And I would hate that.”
“Are you sure?” Mark asked. “They seemed nothing but warm and accepting of you when I saw them.”
“I don’t know. Maybe things have changed. Guess I’m too proud to ask them for any help, or to accept any if they offered.” She paused. “When I was a child, I had no clue what it took to make money. And then we lost everything.” She had listened while her father talked frankly about this with Mark yesterday, humbled by the change in him. It was sad to say, but without millions in the bank, her father was much more down to earth, much easier to relate to on a real level.
“I know how much it means to earn something for yourself,” Andrea went on. “Like you did. No one can ever take that away from you.”
“You’re right about that.”
“It might be hard, but anything worth having isn’t easy.”
“The way it wasn’t easy for us?” Mark asked.
“I…” Andrea began, stumped by his candid question. “I guess, yeah. What are you saying?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I’m trying to figure out what’s happening between us. If there is something happening.”
“I…I think there is,” Andrea answered softly. “I think we’ve been given a second chance to explore what might have been.”
Mark was silent, and Andrea was wondering what he was thinking, but afraid to ask. Instead she said, “So, when are you coming back to see me?”
“Is two days too soon?”
“Two days!” Andrea practically shouted.
“Is that excitement…or panic?”
“You know the answer to that. I’m thrilled. I just didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“One of my new contacts in Buffalo wanted to set up a meeting right away. So, off I go.”
“Mark, I can’t wait to see you.”
“Just keep the mistletoe out. Because I’d like to pick up where we left off.”
On Wednesday, Andrea practically lived by the phone while her parents were at the mall with Terrence. Her nerves were fried, she was so anxious to hear from Mark.
When it rang, she jumped. Then she snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Andrea, it’s Mark.”
“Mark,” Andrea said, relieved. “How are you? How did your meeting go?”
“I’m fine, and the meeting went really well. Looks like I might have myself a new account.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Mark paused. “Are you busy right now?”
She wasn’t, but she said, “Not particularly, why?”
“I thought…I was wondering if we could get together soon. Maybe get some dinner, see a movie.”
“You have time for that? You don’t have more meetings?”
“I’m free.”
“Well, it just so happens that I’m free, too. My parents have taken Terrence to the mall.”
“Can you be ready in half an hour?”
She had been ready all day. “Sure, half an hour is fine.”
Andrea was waiting in the lobby of her building when her parents and Terrence suddenly started up the walkway. Seeing her immediately, Terrence tore his hand from his grandmother’s and raced toward the building’s glass doors.
Andrea swung open the door and bent to accept her son. “Ooh,” she said as his body collided with her left arm. “Terrence, sweetheart.”
“Mummy!”
Andrea glanced in her parents’ direction. They were carrying several bags, which meant they had probably splurged on Terrence.
“Did you have a good time, sweetheart?” Andrea asked him.
“Uh-huh,” he replied, nodding vigorously. “Mummy, where are you going?”
“Oh. Well, I’m going out for dinner with Mark.”
“Can I come?”
The door opened and Gretta and Stewart stepped into the lobby. “Hello, Andrea,” Gretta said. “Were you heading out?”
“I was just telling Terrence that I’m going out for dinner with Mark.”
“I want to go,” Terrence proclaimed.
“I won’t be gone long, Terrence,” Andrea assured him.
“Why won’t you take me, Mummy?”
Andrea looked into Terrence’s eyes, not sure what to say. “It’s not that I don’t want to take you, it’s just that… Don’t you remember that Mrs. Shields is taking you swimming tonight? You and Bobby.”
“That’s tonight?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Oh.” Terrence pouted a little.
“By the time you get back from swimming, I’ll be here, ready to tuck you in. Okay?”
“But what if sumthin’ happens to you again?”
Andrea hugged her son. “Oh, sweetheart. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
Worry tugged at Terrence’s lips. “You promise?”
“Cross my heart, I promise.” She made the sign of a cross over her heart.
Her answer seemed to satisfy Terrence, because he gave her a big smile. “Okay.”
“Come, Terrence,” Gretta said. “Time for us to go upstairs.”
“Buh bye, Mummy.” Terrence waved a little hand at her.
“Bye, sweetheart. I love you.”
A horn beeped, and Andrea whipped her head around. A red Pontiac Grand Am was parked at the curb.
Mark.
“We’ll see you later,” Gretta said.
“Yes, later,” Andrea replied, looking at her mother. Gretta was giving her a pointed look, though a grin played on her lips. “Call me if you need me.”
Andrea gave her family one final wave, then was out the door.
Before she made it to the car, the driver’s side door opened and Mark stepped out. Once again, the sight of him took her breath away. His long leather coat was open, revealing a black turtleneck. It fit his body to perfection.
“Hello, Andrea.” Mark walked toward her and wrapped her in an embrace.
“Hello, Mark.” Andrea wished she could stay in his arms all day.
“I checked out movie options. Do you want to see funny, or scary or—”
“Actually,” Andrea said as she pulled away from Mark, “I think it will just have to be dinner tonight. I promised Terr
ence I would tuck him in. I’ll have to take a rain check, okay?”
A rain check would be easier if he lived in Buffalo, but Mark didn’t say that. “I bet the little guy’s worried about you, right?”
“He gets scared every time I leave. I hope that passes soon. I keep assuring him that nothing’s gonna happen to me.”
“You’re a good mother. It’s obvious Terrence adores you.”
A soft smile touched Andrea’s lips. “Thank you. I adore him, too.”
“Let’s get out of this cold,” Mark suggested. He walked to the car and opened the door for Andrea. When she was securely in the car, he closed it.
“So, where are we going?” Andrea asked.
“I was thinking we could head to Mama’s Place.”
Andrea threw a sideways glance at him. “You’re kidding, right?”
Mark chuckled. “No, we’re not going to Mama’s Place. I called around, and there’s a restaurant downtown I’d like to check out.”
“Sure.” Andrea paused. “Not that the food at Mama’s Place isn’t good, mind you. I just don’t—”
“You don’t have to explain yourself,” Mark told her as he started to drive. “I understand. In fact, I’d think it was strange if you did want to eat there.”
“Oh.” Andrea’s laugh said she was relieved. “I forgot all about your sense of humor.”
“I forgive you.”
Andrea laughed again.
Mark drove to the intersection, then turned right onto the main road.
“Did you have a nice time at the dinner?” Andrea asked him. “Because you seemed a bit quiet. I wasn’t sure.”
“I had a great time. It was nice, especially since I didn’t do anything for Thanksgiving.”
“I didn’t ask, and you didn’t say, but how are your parents?”
A pang stabbed Mark in his heart. “They’ve passed, Andrea.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”
“Two years ago, within six months of each other. My father had a heart attack, and my mother was killed in a car accident.”
Andrea reached for Mark’s hand. “Oh, Mark. How awful for you.”
“Yeah.” Mark drew in a deep breath. “But they’re with me. All the time.” He tapped on his chest with a finger. “In my heart.”
Andrea’s eyes filled with tears. She remembered Mark’s parents well. They had loved her just as much as she had loved them.
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