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“The Easter bunny bringing a large chocolate egg.”
Mark nodded in thought. “Well, that does sound like something worth waiting for. Will you share yours with me?”
“Sure.”
Laura Jo came up the hall. She wore nothing but a simple collared shirt that buttoned down the front and slacks but he still couldn’t take his eyes off her. “Hello.”
“Hi,” she said, shyly for her.
He had gotten to her. She must be feeling unsure about them after the amount of time that had passed since they’d been together.
“Allie, would you do me a favor?”
She nodded.
“I’m thirsty. Would you get me a glass of water?”
As soon as she was out of sight Mark pulled Laura Jo to him. “What I’m really thirsty for is you.” His mouth found hers.
* * *
Laura Jo had to admit that Mark had done well in choosing a place that would suit for a celebration and one Allie would enjoy. The pizza place was perfect. He’d even provided Allie with a handful of tokens so she could play games. Laura Jo was reasonably sure that this wasn’t his usual choice of restaurant for a date.
“Thanks for bringing us here. Allie is having a blast.” Laura Jo tried to speak loud enough to be heard over the cling and clang of the games being played and the overhead music.
“I love pizza, too,” Mark said, as he brought a large slice of pepperoni to his mouth.
She liked his mouth, especially when it was on hers. His kiss at her door had her thinking of calling Marsha to see if Allie could spend the night then pulling Mark into her bedroom.
“So tell me what happened today about the shelter,” Mark said, after chewing and swallowing his bite.
“I collected all the donor money.” She grinned. “They didn’t remember but when I showed them each the promissory note with their signature on it, both men called their accounting departments and told them to cut a check.”
Mark chuckled. “Mr. Washington knows his buddies well.”
“The only glitch is that the bank keeps throwing these roadblocks in our way. Today’s was that we had to show we have a full board. It couldn’t just be Marsha and I.”
“Did you know she called me?”
“She told me afterward that she had. I would have told her not to if she had asked.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to put you on the spot.” After the other night she didn’t want him to feel obligated because of their one night of passion.
“It’s not a problem. Besides being extremely attracted to one of the board members, I do think the shelter is a worthy cause. I’m more than happy to serve on the board.”
Allie came running up. “I need one more token to play a game.”
Mark handed her a token. “After you play your game, I want you to play one with me.”
“Okay,” Allie said, all smiles.
“Stay where you can see me,” Laura Jo reminded her, before Allie ran back to a nearby game.
Mark leaned in close so that he was speaking right into Laura Jo’s ear. “Is there any chance for you and me to have some alone time?”
“You’ll have to wait and see,” Laura Jo said with a smile. “There’s one more thing about the shelter I wanted to tell you. Just before you picked us up, Marsha called. The city has decided to take bids for the house. They know of no one else who’s interested but they want everything to look aboveboard so they have to offer it out for bids.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
“Yeah, but what if someone comes in and outbids us?”
He looked at her and said in a serious tone, “Then you’ll just have to raise the money or find somewhere else. You now have new board members you can depend on to help you make a decision. You and Marsha won’t be all on your own anymore.”
She smiled at him just as Allie returned. “I’m ready to play.”
“Are you ready to lose because I’m the best whack-a-moler you’ve ever seen,” Mark announced as he puffed out his chest.
Laura Jo and Allie laughed.
He really was fun to be around. “Famous last words, the saying goes, I think,” Laura Jo remarked. It had just been Allie and herself for so long. Was she ready to share their life with Mark? She smiled. Maybe she was.
“Come on, young lady,” Mark said, taking Allie’s hand. “Let me show you.”
* * *
They arrived back at Laura Jo’s apartment, laughing at something Mark had done while trying to best Allie at the arcade game. When they had gotten into the car to leave the pizza place, he’d looked back at Allie and then turned to her. Laura Jo had placed her hand on the seat belt and said, “Thank you for seeing to our safety.”
He gave her a wry smile before he started the car but he seemed less anxious.
“It’s bath-and bedtime,” Laura Jo told Allie as they entered her apartment. “Why don’t you get your PJs and the water started? I’m going to fix some coffee for Mark and I’ll be right in.”
Allie left in the direction of her room and she and Mark went to the kitchen. She took the pot out of the coffee-maker and went to the sink.
Mark came up behind her and took the pot from her, setting it on the counter. “I’ll fix the coffee while you see to Allie. Right now, I want a kiss.” He turned her round and gathered her close, giving her a gentle but passionate kiss.
Laura Jo’s knees went weak. Her arms went around him and she pulled him tight.
“Mama, I’m ready,” Allie called.
Slowly Mark broke their connection. He brushed his hips against hers and grinned. “I am, too.”
Laura Jo snickered and gave him a playful push. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Behave yourself while I’m gone.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, Mark walked down the hall in the direction of Laura Jo’s voice. He stopped and stood in the doorway of the room where the sound was coming from. The lights were off except for one small lamp with a fairy of some sort perched on top. Allie lay in bed and Laura Jo sat on the side, reading a book out loud. He leaned against the wall facing them and continued to listen. Allie’s eyes were closed when Laura Jo shut the book and kissed her daughter on the forehead.
His heart constricted. What would it feel like to be a part of their inner circle?
Laura Jo looked at him and gave him a soft smile. She raised her hand and beckoned him to join her.
&nb
sp; His heart beat faster. This was his invitation to find out. But if he took that step he’d be lost forever. He couldn’t take on the responsibility of protecting them. What if he failed them, like he had Mike? No, as much as it would kill him to do so, he couldn’t tangle their lives up in his. He’d let them down. Hurt them, disappoint them at best. They’d both had enough of that in their lives.
Laura Jo’s smile faded. He backed out of the door, walked to the kitchen and sat at the small table.
* * *
What had just happened? Didn’t Mark recognize that she’d just offered her life and heart to him? He’d turned it down. Flat.
Laura Jo could no longer pretend this was a casual thing between them. She couldn’t afford to invest any of her life or Allie’s in someone who was afraid of their ability to share a relationship. She needed a confident man during the good as well as the tough times. Mark didn’t believe he was capable of being that man.
Even if she believed in him and convinced him they could make it, Mark had to believe in himself. She couldn’t take the chance of Allie experiencing that loss and devastation, the almost physical pain of believing no one wanted her, if Mark decided he couldn’t do it. Allie wouldn’t be made to feel as if she were a piece of trash being tossed out the window of a car. No, she wouldn’t let it happen. Wouldn’t go through that again.
She had to break it off before they became any more involved. Her heartache she would deal with, but her daughter’s heart she would protect. Maybe with time, and many tears during the night, she would get over Mark.
Laura Jo found him a few minutes later, looking at his coffee cup as he ran a finger around the edge. She poured herself a cup of coffee she had no intention of drinking and took the chair across the table from him.
“This isn’t going to work, Mark.”
“Why?”
“Because I need someone who’ll be committed to the long haul. I deserve your wholehearted love and loyalty. I won’t risk my heart or Allie’s for anything less. That is the very least I will agree to.”
“You know I won’t take the chance. What if I can’t do it? I won’t hurt you. I’m no better than your ex-husband. When things get too tough to face, I’ll be gone. Just like him. I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again.”
