“I can’t be with an emotionally distant guy. I’ve had enough of that in my life and I can’t deal with it. It won’t work for me. If he wants to be with me, then he’s got to be with me and he can’t send his friends to smooth things over when he screws up.”

  “He would murder me if he knew that I talked to you about this. He was moaning on the phone about it earlier and I could tell that he felt bad about it and wasn’t sure how to make it up to you.”

  “I don’t know how he can either.”

  “I hope that he’s able to convince you he’s sorry. I haven’t seen him like this with anyone since I’ve known him, and I really think you’re good for him.” Keira came from behind her canvas and walked closer to Jen’s.

  “I hope he is, too. I have a feeling that he’s under my skin deeper than even I know,” she said absently as she pulled back to look at her canvas. Keira peered over her shoulder and chuckled.

  “I’d say so.” She peered at Jen’s painting and laughed. “You’ve got it bad.”

  “Tell me about it,” she grumbled. The painting she’d been working on for last hour and a half was of none other than the man in question. The entire portrait was in black and white, save for his bright blue eyes. They called to her through the portrait. It was like he peered through the canvas right into her.

  “I have a feeling you two will be okay,” Keira said as she walked back to her canvas.

  She sure hoped so. She hoped that he would be able to get over whatever crap he was dealing with and meet her at least halfway. If he couldn’t do that, then what was the point in waiting?

  20

  Standing outside of Jen’s office building, Mark felt like a stalker. He’d known that her office was close, so a little online searching pointed him in the right direction. He figured she had to come out at some point, so he’d picked up some flowers that reminded him of her. They didn’t smell nearly as good, but it was a close approximation.

  He’d been up all night, trying to sort out what happened with him and Jen. He was a mess. This whole Cheryl thing was slowly driving him crazy, not to mention the fear that he might lose his bar. He didn’t want to drag her down with him, but walking away from her was too hard to think about. Maybe he was selfish for not cutting things off with her until he figured out his life, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted her.

  “Mark?” He whipped around and saw Jen walking toward him from a town car that pulled away from the curb.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I thought you’d still be in the office. I didn’t want to show up inside, so I thought I would wait out here.”

  “Why are you waiting outside?”

  “I came to apologize. I am so sorry about the way I reacted yesterday, and you had every right to tell me what an asshole I was being. I was being an asshole. I didn’t react the way I should have when I saw that guy touching you, but I’ll tell you now it ripped my guts out to see that.”

  She opened her mouth to respond and he held out his hand. “Wait, stop. I know you weren’t doing anything. I know it didn’t mean anything. I know that, but it was my knee-jerk reaction—an instinct developed over years of being in shitty relationships—and it will take me time to get over that. But I would like to, with you. I want that for our relationship.”

  “Did you just say we were in a relationship?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “As in, we’re dating and I’m your girlfriend.”

  He nodded. “If you’ll have me. I know that there’s a lot of shit going on in my life right now, and I know I’ve not been showing you that I can be a good guy in a relationship, but yes. I would like to be in one with you.”

  “And are those for me?” He glanced down at the flowers.

  “Yes, of course. Sorry.” He thrust them at her, and she took them and sniffed them. “Are you heading back in?”

  “Actually … no, I’m going to head home. It’s been a long day and I need a break.”

  “You want to go to the Bramble?”

  “I want to go to home.”

  “Of course. I understand. I’ll catch up with you later.” It was like the rain clouds were back. A total gut-punch that he would nurse back at the bar. She wasn’t going to forgive him. He had already turned to walk away when she relented and placed a gentle hand on his arm.

  “Do you want to come with me?” She smiled at him and suddenly it was all better again.

  “Absolutely! I drove. Do you want me to drive?”

  “Perfect!”

  He led her to the car parked around the corner and they headed to her apartment.

  She’d been completely stunned when she’d seen Mark standing outside of her office. She’d resigned herself to her cat lady status, ready to throw in the towel, and then he’d shown up and been so sweet and so vulnerable that she couldn’t turn him away. Maybe taking him back to her place wasn’t the best long-term plan, but screw that—she wanted him and he wanted her. She wasn’t going to second-guess this right now. Right now, it felt right.

  “What do you want to do? Watch a movie?” She threw her bag and keys on the table beside the door.

  “No, I want you,” he said, spinning her around and threading his fingers through her hair before pressing his lips to hers in a demanding kiss. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who wanted a repeat of their first time together. He pulled her close and tight—so tight she had to push him back a little so she could breathe. Gazing into his eyes, the raw, feral hunger made her want him even more. She grabbed his shirt and pulled them back together, attacking his mouth. His soft lips ran over hers and he tasted like all her favorite things. Deep dark chocolate and his natural musk.

  He pressed her back against the apartment door and hiked her skirt up to her thighs and grabbed her ass to pull her closer to his bulging zipper. He fumbled to unbuckle his pants as he pushed her skirt even further up to her waist. Lifting her leg up to his hip, he grabbed his cock and rubbed it against her panty-covered pussy.

  “Yes, more, please, Mark,” she moaned.

  Unable to wait any longer, she wrapped both her legs around his waist and he pulled her panties to the side, sinking into her in one thrust. They both moaned and he nipped her neck.

  “You feel so good. So wet and tight,” he said, pumping into her. Her neighbors might complain about the noise, but she didn’t care. She arched against the door, moving her own hips to get him deeper into her. She needed him deeper.

  He grabbed her ass and used his grip to push into her harder, driving her arousal higher and higher. Her orgasm was within reach, so close. His new angle hit that spot that set her body on fire. Unable to hold back any longer, she bucked against him as he pounded into her and then she saw stars as she shouted his name.

  “Mark, yes!”

  He quickly followed behind her, panting and breathing deeply as he rested his head against the door before sliding out of her and lowering her feet to the floor. On shaky legs, she pulled down her skirt and pulled him along with her to the couch, where they both collapsed.

  “Wow.”

  “Wow, indeed. That was another layer to my previous apology.”

  “Apology definitely accepted,” she chuckled.

  She rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her, gathering her close. His hand absently ran up and down her leg, trailing across her skin. Goosebumps broke out all over her body as she came down from her orgasmic high. He’d tucked himself back into his pants, but she could see as her breathing normalized that he was hard again.

  She stared up at him in shock and he smirked down at her.

  “Again? Already?”

  “Only with you,” he said, staring deeply into her eyes.

  She smiled as she hiked her skirt up again and threw her leg over his hips. Looking down at him, she took his face in her hands and kissed her way from his mouth down to his neck, alternating between kisses and nips.

  This was going to be an exciting and exhausting night.

  Watching Jen get ready for work had to be one of his new favorite past times. When she’d put the lotion on her legs after her shower, she’d had to send him out of the room for fear he would drag her back into bed.

  “I have a meeting with the partners this morning and I can’t be late. Behave!” She laughed as she swatted his hands away and went back to smoothing lotion over her legs. She peeked up at him and slowed her hands, rubbing the lotion in slowly up and down her legs. When she grinned, and resumed her no-nonsense routine, he knew she was playing with him.

  “Tease!”

  “Just giving you something to look forward to later.” She winked and went to her closet to pick out a suit. Watching the silky-smooth camisole slide down over her body was almost too much to bear. He let out a groan and she chuckled as she slid on her blazer.

  “Someone is horny this morning.” She peeked back at him through the reflection in the mirror and smiled. She applied only a little makeup in front of the mirror and was almost ready to go.

  “I told you—only with you.” He propped his head up on his arms to get a better look. She slid on a pair of heels and did a twirl for him. He wolf-whistled and she gave a small curtsey.

  “Hang out as long as you like,” she said, jumping onto the bed and kissing him on the lips before grabbing her briefcase and heading out the door.

  He lay in Jen’s bed staring up at the ceiling. When he was with her, all the crap in his life seemed to drift away. He popped up and remembered what Keira had said about her artwork. She’d mentioned a fellowship and thought that Jen was good enough to get it, but would have to submit samples. He decided then and there to take things into his own hands.

  Throwing on his pants, he headed into the living room to peruse her work. Keira said that they would only need a few pieces in order to evaluate them. Flipping through canvas after canvas, he picked out ten and set them aside. Even after pulling those ten out, there were still mountains of pieces there. She wouldn’t notice a few missing, and the opportunity that Keira offered was something he didn’t think she should pass up. A full time mentor from one of the major art galleries and museums in NYC, fully funded living expenses and studio space, and a gallery show at the culmination of the two years that every prominent art player in the world attended.

  He’d hesitated when he heard that the fellowship was in New York, but it could mean something real for her art. He knew that she wasn’t happy being a lawyer and he wanted to give her a chance at the life she’d dreamed of, even if he couldn’t be a part of it. Long distance could work. He’d wait for her if she’d have him. He was a mess anyway. When he was jobless and homeless after the shit storm passed, she’d be thanking her lucky stars she was across the country from him. He was getting ahead of himself, though. He knew that she was an amazing artist, but there was a chance she wouldn’t get the fellowship. It was a risk he was willing to take. At least one of them should have the chance to live their dream.

  His phone rang on the kitchen counter. This time it was Rox.

  “Hey, Rox, what’s up?”

  “Mark, you need to get down to the bar right away. There’s been a gas leak.”

  “They called me about this before, some joker screwing with us.”

  “No, not this time. I’m on my way to the hospital. They want to get me checked out. Thankfully, I was the only one inside when it happened. It looks like someone cut one of the lines leading inside. I was lucky I had the kitchen door propped open or who knows what could have happened.”

  “Crap, Rox. I’m on my way. Which hospital?” He slid his shoes on, grabbed her canvases, and stormed out of the apartment, determined to figure out what the hell happened at his bar. He’d check the security cameras he’d installed just as soon as he made sure Rox was okay.

  21

  Mark rushed through the hospital reception. He’d called ahead and found out which room Rox was in. “I’m not staying in the damned place for one more minute!” Able to locate her room from the shouts alone, he hustled around the corner to find her standing toe-to-toe with a rather large nurse who held a clear plastic bag that had some clothes in it.

  “We would like to run a few more tests,” the woman said with her hands out, trying to calm Rox.

  “I’ve got to get back to my kitchen and check things out there. I don’t have time to be here. I feel fine.” Rox caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye and whipped her head around to him. “And my ride is here. I’ll be fine.” She plopped down on the side of the bed and started to pull on her jeans.

  The nurse let out a huff. “Fine, I’ll go get your discharge papers.”

  Rox pulled on her jeans and buttoned them under her gown, then reached for her top.

  “Glad you’re here,” she said. “You can help me blow this popsicle stand.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise? Maybe you should let them run a few more tests and make sure that you’re one hundred percent before you leave.” He entered the room and stood beside her on the bed. She shot him a withering glare.

  “I know I’m fine, Mark. And I hate hospitals. Being in these places makes my skin crawl, so I need to get out ASAP and get back to the kitchen. I need to check things out and make sure everything is okay there.”

  “Rox, we don’t need to deal with that today. We can shut it all down until you’re better and only do bar service the next few days. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Mark, I know how important the food revenue is to The Bramble. I’m not going to leave you in a lurch.”

  “If I have to choose between some revenue and your health, which one do you really think I’m going to choose?”

  “Don’t start getting all gooey on me, Mark.” Rox stood and walked to the window, looking out over the city. I can’t stay in this place while they poke and prod me, and I need to be in my kitchen. Back in my kitchen and reclaim it. I need to make sure that everything is okay in there and get things up and running. My routine is shot to shit with all this. Her gown gaped open at the back and he saw the crisscrossed scars from her previous life all down her back. Mark knew that her routine and the places she felt safe were important to her.

  Being sure to keep himself in her line of vision, he came up to her side and handed her the shirt that she’d left lying on the bed.

  “If that’s what you need, Rox, then that’s what you’ll get. I called up already to check on the leak and everything is clear. The kitchen is safe to use.”

  She turned around, dropped her gown, and threw her shirt on over her head. Turning back, she hugged him.

  “Thanks, Mark. I need to be in my kitchen right now.”

  “Whatever you need, Rox.”

  The nurse arrived with her discharge papers and a wheelchair for Rox. That was a whole new fight with Rox firmly in the “I don’t need a wheelchair” camp. After five minutes of arguments back and forth, he put his foot down.

  “Sit your ass in this chair, Roxanne.” She opened her mouth to argue with him and he cut her off. “Do you want to leave or do you want to fight with this nice nurse who is only doing her job? If you don’t get your ass in that wheelchair, I’m barring you from the kitchen for a week. Do you hear me?”

  She glared when she realized that he was not backing down. Grumbling as she went, Rox lowered herself into the wheelchair and put her feet up on the foot rests.

  “There, now isn’t that better.”

  She flipped him the bird to let him know how happy she was with his threat. Stopping off at Rox’s place, he sat in the car while she ran into change. Pulling out his phone, he saw at least twenty missed calls and texts.

  Jen: Call me as soon as you get this. I saw on the news about the gas leak. Is everyone okay? Let me know if you need anything.

  Keira: Mark! What the hell?! First your car and now this. What the hell is going on over there? Do you need me to do anything? How is everyone? How is Rox?

  Liam: I saw about The Bramble on the news. Are you okay? What do you need? You know I’m here for you whatever it is.

  Rox arrived as he finished up replying to the flurry of responses he’d gotten. He reassured everyone that things were fine, no one was hurt, and that he would give them all a call back once he got Rox settled back at the bar.

  The drive to the bar was quiet, with Rox staring out the window the whole time.

  “You sure you’re okay? You don’t have to do this today.” That perked her up. She turned to him and sat straighter in her seat.

  “I’m good, Mark. I just want to get back in the kitchen. Prep’s not going to do itself.”

  “I had everyone else come in and do prep.”

  “You what?” she screeched.

  “I figured it would give you time to get back into things more slowly. It should all be finished by the time you get there.”

  “I can’t believe you would do that. I’m going to kill you.” Ah, old Rox was back for sure.

  “What can I say? I’m the boss.”

  There might have been some grumbling under her breath about him meeting an untimely death, and then they were pulling up behind the bar. Rox rushed in and got settled in the kitchen, and he went upstairs to check on the security cameras. When he opened the door, Jen sat on the couch going through her phone. She glanced up and stood when she saw him.

  “Hey, how’s Rox?”

  “She’s fine. She’s downstairs.”

  “Seriously? She’s back to work already?”

  “Trust me, I tried to reason with her, but she threatened me with knives.” He rounded the desk and sat at his computer. He needed to check and see what recorded. Glad that he’d had them installed after what happened with his car, he started to go through the video again from the time they’d closed last night to when he’d gotten the call.

 

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