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“Oh, no, you won’t. I want to eat some as soon as you get them done. Besides, I want to do the topping.”
“You’re acting like Allie.”
“Did you think I was kidding when I told you that I liked king cake as much as she did? I haven’t had any in a long time and I’m not letting you out of the house without a piece today. While we’re waiting, why don’t we go out on the deck and have a cup of coffee and watch the sunset?”
She wasn’t sure if watching the sunset with Mark was a good idea but she didn’t know how to get out of it gracefully. Those darned cakes were taking too long to rise for her comfort. “Make that another glass of tea and I’ll agree.”
“Done. Why don’t you go on out and take your pick of chairs and I’ll bring the drinks.”
Laura Jo walked through the living area and out one of the glass doors. Gus got up from his bed and ambled out with her. She took one of the lounges, making sure it wasn’t near any others. Having Mark so close all the time was making her think of touching him, worse, kissing him again. She needed to put whatever distance she could between them.
Gus lay at the end of the lounge.
“Here you go,” Mark said, placing her glass and his mug on the wire mesh table beside her. He then pulled one of the other lounges up on the opposite side of the table. He stretched his long body out and settled in.
“You mind handing me my mug?”
With shaking hands, Laura Jo passed him his drink.
“This is the best part of the day. I miss this when I have to work late.”
She had to agree. It was nice to just slow down and be for a few minutes. “Is working here a lot different from your clinic in California?”
“The patients’ backgrounds are different but sick people are sick people.”
“Do you regret leaving California?”
“I have to admit I like the slower pace here.” Mark crossed his ankles and settled more comfortably into the lounge.
“I couldn’t leave Mobile and move all the way across the country.”
“Sometimes you do things because you don’t think you have a choice.”
She watched a bird dipping into the water after its evening meal. “I know about not having choices.” Maybe in some ways they weren’t so different after all.
They both lapsed into silence as the sun slowly sank in the sky.
Laura Jo took a sip of her tea at the same time a breeze came in off the water. She shivered.
Mark put his mug down on the decking and stood. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
He returned with a jacket in his hand and handed it to her. “Here, you can put this on.”
She slipped her arm into one sleeve and Mark held the jacket for her to put the other in. He sat beside her again. She trembled again and pulled the jacket closer around her.
As the wind blew, a scent of spice and musk that could only be Mark tickled her nostrils. She inhaled. For some reason it was a smell she wanted to remember.
Again they lapsed into a relaxed silence.
As the daylight was taken over by the night, Mark reached over and took her hand, weaving his fingers between hers. It was strong, secure and soothing. Laura Jo didn’t pull away. Didn’t want to.
When the stars came out Mark said, “We need to go and put those cakes in.”
Laura Jo started. She’d been so content she’d forgotten about having anything to do. Her hand being surrounded by Mark’s added to that feeling. For some reason it made her feel protected, as if she weren’t facing the world alone. She hadn’t had that in her life for so long it had taken her time to recognize it.
Mark not only made her feel protected but she had seen his security in tangible terms. He was great with Allie. More than once he’d seen to it that she was safe and cared for and that made her happy. She’d also seen him showing that protection to others. He’d been there when she’d called for help with Anna and Marcy. There hadn’t been a moment’s hesitation on his part about coming. Not once had he acted like her having a daughter was an issue. In fact, he embraced Allie, included her.
Why was Mark the one man who made her feel that way? His background said he wasn’t the man for her. She wanted someone who was more interested in her than what her last name had been. But hadn’t he proved her background didn’t matter? He’d shown his interest well before she had told him her maiden name was Herron.
She might have questioned whether or not he had become a doctor for the money and prestige but the Clayborns already had that. After she’d viewed him seeing to a patient she’d seen his concern was sincere. He was a man interested in caring for people. He had offered to help with the shelter and had proved it with his donation and medical care. How different could he be from Phil, who was the most self-centered man she’d ever known?
She slipped her hand out of his. “I’ll bake the cakes. You should stay here. It’s a beautiful night.”
“I’ll help you.”
“It won’t take me long.”
“Do you promise to come back? Not disappear out the front door?”
Laura Jo smiled. “Yes, I’ll come back.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She liked the sound of that. People didn’t wait for her, they left her. Mark was starting to mean too much to her. Laura Jo put the cakes in the ovens. Thankfully, Mark had double ovens and she could bake them at the same time.
Still wearing his jacket, she went back outside to join him. If he hadn’t stated his fear that she might leave she might have considered going home without telling him. Her attraction to him was growing beyond her control. She didn’t trust herself around him.
As she passed him on the way to her lounge he sat up and snagged her wrist. “Come and sit with me.” He pulled her toward him.
She put a hand down next to his thigh to stop herself from falling.
“Mark…” she cautioned.
“I’m not going to jump you. I’d just like to have you close.”
“Why?”
The light from inside the house let her see well enough his incredulous look. “Why? Because I’m a man and you’re a woman. I like you and I think you like me more than you want to admit. You’re as aware of the attraction as I am. You just won’t admit it.
She looked down at him for a moment.
“All I want is to sit here with a beautiful woman and watch the stars. Nothing more. But if you don’t want to, I’ll live with that.”
He made it sound like she was acting childishly. “Scoot over.”
“If you’re going to get bossy then maybe I need to reconsider my invitation.”
She snickered and lay on her side next to him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and her head naturally went to his chest.
“Now, is this so bad?”
“No. I’m much warmer.”
“Good. I’m glad I can be of service.” Mark’s breath brushed her temple.
“I can’t get too comfortable. I don’t want to burn the cakes.”
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“How much longer do they need to cook?” His hand moved up and down her arm.
“Another forty minutes.”
He checked his watch. “Then I’ll help you remember.”
It took her a few minutes to relax and settle into her warm and cozy spot alongside Mark. The lights of Mobile glowed in the distance and the horn of an occasional seagoing freighter sounded. It was a lonesome noise, one that up until this minute she could identify with. Somehow she no longer felt lonely. As they sat in silence her eyelids drooped and closed.
The next thing she knew Mark was shaking her awake.
“We need to get the cakes out.”
She jerked to a sitting position. “I’m sorry. I went to sleep on you.”
“I’m not. It would be my guess you needed to rest after the week you’ve had.”
Laura Jo couldn’t argue with that. She struggled to get up.
“Let me climb out first then I’ll pull you up,” Mark suggested.
As he moved, his big body towered over her. She was tempted to touch him. Before she could stop herself she placed a hand on his chest.
“I’m squishing you?”
“No. I just wanted to touch you,” she murmured.
He gave her a predatory glare. “Great. You decide to touch me when the king cakes might be burning. You need to work on your timing.”
She nudged him back. “Let me up.”
He hesitated a second before he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
In the kitchen Mark peeked into an oven. He inhaled dramatically. “Smells wonderful.”
“If you’ll get your nose out of it, I can take it out.” Laura Jo handed him a hot pad. “I’ll get this one and you can get the other.” Laura Jo pulled the golden-brown mound out of the oven and set it on the counter. Mark did the same and placed his beside hers.
Again he leaned over and inhaled deeply. “Perfect.”
“I need to mix the icing and then we can put the colors on.” Laura Jo found a bowl and added powdered sugar then water. She stirred them into a creamy white mixture. Using a spoon, she drizzled the icing back and forth over the top of the cakes.
Mark dipped a finger through the bowl and put it in his mouth. “Mmm.”
