by Rachel Lacey
“Yes, ma’am…Paula.” Mark looked as uncomfortable as Jessica had ever seen him.
“Need any help in the kitchen?” she asked her mother.
“Always,” her mom said with a laugh. “The turkey’s almost finished roasting, but everything else is a work in progress. Nicole and I have got it under control for now. Why don’t you and Mark go on into the living room for a bit? The guys are watching the game.”
“Okay,” Jessica agreed. She’d rather go help her mom and sister in the kitchen, but she needed to make Mark comfortable first. “It smells amazing in here.”
“My favorite meal of the year,” Paula said.
“Mine too,” Jessica agreed, although she doubted she’d be able to eat much of it this year. Her stomach lurched at the thought.
Mark had gone noticeably silent, hanging back as she talked to her mother.
“Mark, there’s beer in the fridge in the garage. Help yourself to whatever you’d like,” Paula told him.
He nodded. “Thank you.”
Jessica smiled as she took him through the kitchen—dropping off her pie and saying hello to Nicole as they passed—to the garage. She went up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “You okay?”
“It’s weird having your mom offer me beer,” he said, and she laughed.
“It’s probably weird for her too, but tonight’s all about introducing them to the adult version of you.”
He grabbed a beer from the fridge, and she led the way into the living room, where her father, Brennan, Patrick, and Dennis sat watching football. “Dad, Bren, you remember Mark. Mark, this is Nicole’s husband, Dennis, and Brennan’s husband, Patrick.”
They raised their hands in greeting. All of the younger men wore wide, friendly smiles. Her father simply tipped his head in acknowledgment of her introduction. Jessica’s stomach tightened. Her dad had never approved of her dating Mark, and he’d been outraged by the way Mark dumped her when he enlisted. Could he find his way past it to accept Mark back into the family?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Mark chewed and swallowed the last bite of Thanksgiving turkey on his plate. He’d never paid so much attention to his manners in his damn life. Never tried so hard to make a good impression. Jess’s family had seen him at his worst back in high school. Tonight they needed to see him at his best.
“Go ahead and have seconds if you’d like,” Jess’s mother told him, a warm twinkle in her eye. She’d spent most of the time before dinner grilling Jess about her health. Mark had tried to stay out of the conversation, but somehow she seemed to have warmed up to him anyway.
“Thank you. Everything is delicious.” He scooped another helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate and then reached for the turkey.
“So unfair,” Nicole said with an unconvincing scowl. “Guys can have seconds and never gain an ounce.”
“Because we weigh more in the first place,” Dennis commented, reaching for another dinner roll.
Mark glanced over at Jess. She’d been quiet during dinner and hadn’t eaten much. He suspected the only reason she’d eaten as much as she had was to keep her mom off her back. Paula loved to fuss over her kids, and Jess hated to be fussed over.
That much hadn’t changed since the last time he’d had dinner with the Flynns. He enjoyed watching their banter, but he never knew what to say to join in the conversation. He’d spent plenty of holidays with his Special Forces team, but sharing a table with a bunch of rowdy soldiers was nothing like this. So he did what he did best, sat back, and watched.
Patrick told them about his newest exhibit—he owned the art gallery in downtown Haven—while they finished up their meals. Afterward, they all carried their dishes into the kitchen, and Jess and Nicole hung around to help their mom clean up while the men headed back into the living room.
“Scotch?” Jack Flynn asked Mark, holding up a bottle.
Mark nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Let’s walk,” Jess’s dad suggested, handing Mark a glass.
Mark followed him onto the back patio. The night was cold and clear, the sky above filled with stars. The Flynns’ house faced into the woods with a small grassy yard currently blanketed in fallen leaves. Mark remembered sneaking into the woods behind their house on more than one occasion to smoke a joint.
Standing here with her father now, he was ashamed of the man he’d been then.
“Jessica tells me you were in the Special Forces.”
“Yes, sir. Eight years.”
“Honorably discharged?” Jack rested his elbows on the railing, staring off into the darkness.
“Yes, sir.”
“Gotta say, Mark, I didn’t expect you to take me at my word that night.” Jack kept his gaze straight ahead. That night had been the last time they’d seen each other, until tonight. Jack had lectured Mark within an inch of his life and then given him a scrap of paper with the address for the local recruiting office written on it, told him to enlist and come home a man.
“You didn’t?” Mark took a drink of scotch, feeling the burn slide all the way to his stomach.
“Nah. Figured you’d toss that piece of paper in the trash and keep right on smoking pot in my backyard and running your future into the ground.”
Mark flinched. “Thank you for what you did. You turned my life around.”
Jack looked at him then, his brows knitted. “You’re thanking me? I kicked your ass that night.”
“It needed kicking, sir.”
“It did.” Jack barked out a laugh. “It sure as hell did. You were headed down a bad path, a path I didn’t want my daughter to get dragged down with you.”
“It’s true,” Mark agreed. Even at eighteen, he’d seen the truth of Jack’s words, and he’d known what he had to do. And he’d never once regretted his decision.
“The thing is, I was trying to help you turn yourself around for Jess’s sake, and then you went and dumped her anyway.” Jack gave him a cutting look.
“I never wanted to hurt her, sir. I didn’t see any other way.” He still didn’t.
“There’s always a way, son. To be frank, I half expected you two to try to elope before you shipped out. That’s what Paula and I did.”
Mark was silent. Elope with Jess? The thought had never crossed his mind.
“I was prepared to raise hell about it, mind. But you didn’t even try.” Jack looked out over the backyard. “So, in the end, I figured she was better off without you.”
“You weren’t wrong,” Mark said, polishing off his scotch.
“I wasn’t.” Jack nodded. “Not then. But I can see that the Army turned you into an honorable man, and I can also see that you and my daughter are still crazy about each other. You have my blessing this time around, Mark.”
Mark nodded. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Hurt her again and you’ll wish you never met me. Clear?”
* * *
Jessica reached for her apple cider, wishing it were something alcoholic. This had been an exhausting Thanksgiving, and if she was feeling overwhelmed by it all, she could only imagine how Mark felt. After dinner at her parents’ house, they’d come to Ryan and Emma’s for dessert. Carly and Sam were here too, and while Jessica loved spending time with her friends during the holiday, the dynamic today was completely different.
This was the first time she and Mark had hung out with their friends as a couple. And to be perfectly honest, it was a little weird. This was a huge step forward in their relationship, no two ways about it. She leaned in to whisper in Mark’s ear. “How are you holding up?”
He turned to give her an amused smile. “I’m good.”
“Who’s ready for more?” Emma asked, gesturing to the half-eaten desserts spread on the table in front of them. “Seriously, we have so much food left. Eat up, you guys.”
Ryan reached for the pumpkin pie, cutting himself another slice.
“I’m stuffed,” Jessica said. She’d had a small slice of
apple pie at her parents’ house and a small slice of Emma’s pumpkin cheesecake, and already she felt sick to her stomach.
“You barely ate anything,” Carly protested. “You haven’t even had one of my pecan pie tarts yet, and you’re the one who requested them.” As she spoke, Sam slid two more tarts onto his plate with a sly smile.
Jessica frowned. “I’m sorry. Blame the antibiotics.”
Beside her, Mark was loading up a plate with second helpings of pie, cheesecake, and one of Carly’s tarts too. The man had a serious sweet tooth.
“I still can’t believe it,” Emma said. “Lyme disease?”
“I didn’t think we even had to worry about Lyme disease here in North Carolina,” Carly said.
“I didn’t either,” Jessica said. “It’s less common here than other parts of the U.S., but apparently the rates are going up.”
“That’s scary,” Emma said. “Especially considering how much time we all spend in the woods. And Jess, I’m just so sorry you’re going through this. I had no idea you’d been so sick.”
“I know. I just got tired of hearing myself complain about it.” She leaned her head against Mark’s shoulder. “Poor Mark had to endure all my griping.”
“You never griped,” he said, taking a big bite of pie.
“We hate that you’re sick,” Ryan said, “but I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying watching you and Mark be all snuggly together tonight.”
“Snuggly?” Mark’s expression was stony.
Emma giggled. “You guys are all kinds of sweet together, and we love it.”
“But I wish you had told us you weren’t feeling well before the Adrenaline Rush,” Carly said. “I feel so bad about that.”
“You shouldn’t,” Jessica said. “I had fun, and I’m glad I ran.”
“Well, don’t hesitate to lean on us for anything you need,” Emma said. “Seriously, we’re all here for you.”
A murmur of agreement ran around the table.
Jessica pressed a hand to her chest. “I appreciate it, you guys. Really.”
After everyone had stuffed themselves on dessert, the women drifted into the kitchen to chat while the men took beers with them into the living room to watch football. Some things were the same no matter whose house you visited.
“So”—Emma turned on her as soon as the men were out of earshot—“I know we only have half our girls’ night group here tonight, but Carly and I are dying for an update.”
Carly nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Did you unleash Mark’s wild side?”
Jessica grinned. “As a matter of fact, I did.”
Emma squealed. “Oh my God, we need details.”
Jessica glanced toward the door to the living room, keeping her voice low. “Well, I had to torture the poor man in all kinds of sexy ways before he finally broke, but holy shit, you guys…” Warmth crept into her cheeks at the memory. “Once he cut loose, it was ah-mazing. Mark has set the new gold standard for best sex ever.”
“Whoa.” Carly’s eyes were wide.
Emma was grinning like a fool. “I’m never going to be able to look at him with a straight face again.”
Jessica pointed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare repeat any of this to Ryan.”
“I would never!” Emma exclaimed.
“Oh yeah? Well, you spilled the beans when I first told you Mark and I were sleeping together, and you promised then too.”
Emma hung her head. “Okay, I did slip and tell Ryan you guys were hooking up, but I swear, I would never share details. For that matter, I’m pretty sure Ryan has no desire to know that much about Mark’s sex life.” She dissolved in giggles.
Even Jessica was smiling now. “Let’s hope.”
Carly waved her cell phone. “But I do think we need to tease Gabby and Mandy about what they missed.”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “You ladies are terrible.”
And she loved them so much.
* * *
The sound of women’s laughter drifted into the living room. Ryan’s eyebrows rose. “Ten bucks says they’re talking about us right now.”
“No doubt about it,” Sam agreed.
Mark said nothing. Did women share that much with each other? He remembered how news of his relationship with Jess had gotten back to Ethan and Ryan through Gabby and Emma, and for some ridiculous reason, it got his hackles up all over again.
“Welcome to the club, man,” Ryan said, tipping his beer in Mark’s direction. “Now you too can wonder how many details have been shared about your sex life.”
Mark choked on his beer.
“I think you’re scaring him,” Sam commented.
“Don’t stress, bro,” Ryan said. “Unless you have problems, you know, in the sack…”
Mark sent him a murderous look that had Ryan doubled over with laughter.
“Who would’ve thought though?” Ryan sobered. “If you’d told me last year this time that I’d be hosting Thanksgiving dinner today with my wife, I’d have laughed in your face. And here I am all domesticated. All of us are pretty damn domesticated these days.”
“It’s true,” Sam agreed. “I never thought I’d settle down and get married, certainly never meant to end up living part-time out here in the Smoky Mountains.”
“Never thought I’d have friggin’ Sam Weiss in my living room,” Ryan said with a wide smile.
“It’s been good for me though,” Sam said. “It balances out the insanity of Hollywood quite nicely. In fact, lately I’ve been spending more time here and less time there.”
A prickling sensation crawled across Mark’s skin. He wasn’t domesticated, far from it. This thing between him and Jess…it was intense and overwhelming. Half the time, it scared the shit out of him. Maybe it was the combination of Thanksgiving dinner with her family and dessert here with their friends, but right now he felt like he was suffocating.
He needed to be alone, needed space, needed fresh air.
Jess came through the doorway from the kitchen, and her eyes locked on his. She smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. His chest loosened, and he drew a deep breath.
“You ready to get going?” she asked.
He nodded, standing.
They said their good-byes and headed out into the night. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked to his SUV. He could have asked her to come upstairs with him to his condo, but he didn’t. He needed to take her home. Tonight, he needed to be alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The last week of November passed in a fog. Jessica kept her head down, immersed in work at the spa, too tired and too sick to think of much else. Despite her better judgment, she’d gone ahead with the expansion, and construction was in full swing in the woods behind the spa.
December brought with it a new chill in the air and Christmas music on the breeze. Fall had always been her favorite season, but she couldn’t help a sense of excitement over the upcoming holidays too. She had only days left on her antibiotic treatment, and maybe she was just being optimistic but she could swear she was feeling a little bit better.
She already had a girls’ night out planned for next week once she could drink again. In the meantime, she finished up with her last client and headed home for a shower and a hot cup of tea. Today was Mark’s birthday, and since he’d confessed a few days ago that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d celebrated, she felt compelled to change that for him this year, especially with this being a milestone birthday for him. She wanted to give him the kind of perfect birthday he hadn’t had in way too long, if ever.
Rather than throw him an elaborate surprise party—which she knew he’d hate—instead she’d rallied the group for dinner at Rowdy’s. And afterward, she would have Mark all to herself for a little private celebration. Simple, but meaningful.
The hot shower and tea revitalized her. She swallowed her next antibiotic pill and went into the bedroom to get ready. Mark was going to have to wait to open his present
until they were alone because he’d have to undress her to get to it. She’d bought a skimpy red lingerie set, and she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he discovered it.
She slipped into a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans, a slinky red top, and black leather boots. And just for fun, she even jazzed up her makeup for tonight, accenting her eyes with a smoky eye shadow that shimmered and going for the red lipstick that she seldom wore. She’d just finished when she heard Mark knocking at the door. She gave herself a quick spritz of perfume and hurried to let him in.
“Happy birthday,” she said as she pulled open the door.
Mark’s gaze went from wide-eyed to smoldery as it traveled the length of her body. “Thanks,” he said finally. “You look…” He crushed her against him, finishing the thought with a kiss that heated her up until she’d melted in his arms.
“Is that a good thing?” she asked, breathless and teasing.
“Change of plans.” He kicked the door shut behind them. “We’re staying in tonight.”
“No way.” She smiled against his lips. “Not after how long I spent getting ready, and besides, all our friends are waiting at Rowdy’s to celebrate with you.”
“Don’t care.” He hauled her up against him, letting her feel how hard he already was for her.
“I’ll make it up to you later,” she whispered. “Repeatedly.”
“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you,” he said, his voice all low and gruff.
Her heart thumped painfully against her ribs. “Just be yourself, Mark. That’s more than enough.” She wanted so badly to tell him she loved him, but she didn’t want to say the words too soon and freak him out. He’d been on his own for a long, long time, and while he seemed to be settling comfortably into their relationship, she still caught him sometimes pulling back. He still spent entire days on his own, prowling around in the woods and shutting out the rest of the world.
She didn’t mind. She didn’t want to change a single thing about him, but she couldn’t help thinking that, if she rushed their relationship too quickly, he might take off like a startled deer and run for the hills, never looking back.
