Be Mine (3 page)

Normally I’d ignore such a comment, it’s the sincerity in his voice that catches and holds my attention. I cock my head to the side and look at him carefully, weighing his words, tone of voice, the expressions in both his eyes and face. I give a slight smile and an inclination of my head, “Thank you.”

His gaze searches mine, for something, I’m not sure what. Whatever it is, I’m guessing he finds it when he returns my smile. With a murmur of “welcome,” he turns back to his sister who’s still talking.

“…book. I’m so happy for her. Isn’t it exciting?” Sally demands, making me blink and wonder what is exciting. Until I register she’s just blurted out my news.

“Very, congratulations on your success. We should help you celebrate. How about I ask Jonathan to come out and the four of us can go to a bar?”

“You’d ask Jonathan?” Sally demands, her eyes growing big and round at the mention of his name.

“Yes…”

“Do so, how about nine? Nine suits you, on Saturday night, doesn’t it, Beth?” she demands in a suspiciously breathless voice.

I feel surprise flash across my face, look up, and realize it’s mirrored in Mark’s expression.
Does Sally have a crush on Jonathan?

“Nine is fine, thank you.”

Once more his eyes meet mine, again I feel them heat up. I watch as a devastating smile spreads across his face.

“Good. It’s a date.” He informs me.

Surprise flickers through me and I want to protest his wording. It’s the longing inside me that prevents the protest from escaping. How I wish, I was really going on a date with him.

****

I could kiss my sister for blurting out Beth’s good news, giving me an opportunity to help her celebrate. Mentioning Jonathan coming too brought a reaction from Sally I didn’t expect.
Hmmm, so my sister likes my friend.
Well if anything happens between them, at least I know he’s genuinely one of the good guys.

I can see the protest form in Beth’s eyes at my declaration of it being a date. A protest that stops before it really begins to take place. Staring into her gorgeous blue eyes, I see a longing spark to life. A longing, which ignites, deep inside of me too, echoing hers and answering it.

I’ll have to take things slowly, no matter how much I want to rush forward. Something inside me rears its primal head. I look at Beth and see an eternity of possibilities and happiness. I also sense the knowledge, one wrong move, and she’ll vanish like a ghost.

Chapter 5

I’m delighted Saturday night went exceptionally well. A chuckle of amusement rumbles from me, as I remember the expression that’d flickered across Beth’s face. Pure shocked surprise, when she realized she’d agreed to go on a picnic with me today. Originally, I’d thought to ask her for the following weekend, until the thought of her finding an excuse to cancel, made me decide for today instead.

Whistling a happy off key tune, I dress in faded jeans and a dark blue, V-neck t-shirt, and trainers. Once dressed, I descend the stairs of the terrace house Sally and I own. Heading straight for the kitchen, I find her preparing a picnic she knows Beth will enjoy.

“Sis, you are a guardian angel in disguise. I’m positive of it,” I inform her, wrapping my arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, though maybe if you could…” she trails off, a flush heating her cheeks. Quickly she reaches for the egg-mayo and makes a couple of sandwiches.

“You know,” I casually say, reaching around to grab some containers to store the sandwiches, “Jonathan was asking me about you, last night.”

“About me?” she squeaks before clearing her voice, “Yeah? What was he asking about me? I mean…”

“Oh you know the usual, if you’re seeing anyone. If you weren’t, would I object in him asking you out on…?”

“If you’d object? Why would you object, and what would him asking me out have to do with you?” spinning around so fast, she spatters a little of the egg-mayo from the end of the knife, she’s waving around in aggravation. Thankfully, it’s only a butter knife.

“Wow, wow, wow,” putting my hands up in an “I’m harmless and unarmed” motion I quickly step out of the range of flying egg. “It’s only a curtesy because you’re my sister. Anyway I told him you were single and gave him your phone number,” I hastily add, only to have her turn into a missile of deafening proportions when she launches herself at me, screaming nonsense with a happy tone somewhere in the cacophony.

Offering up a silent prayer of apology to my friend, I have no idea what I’ve let him in for, I can’t help hoping my little sis doesn’t get hurt. I’d hate to have to lose and hurt my best friend. This thought makes me pause.
How does my wanting to date Beth, affect her and Sally’s friendship?

“Sally, you don’t mind me dating, or trying to date Beth, do you?” for once I feel unsure of myself, and can hear the uncertainty echoing in my voice.

She loosens her octopus like grip from me, and I feel a blob of something lumpy and cold, drip down my neck.

“No I don’t mind, thank you for asking. Just…take things slow okay. That’s my advice, be honest and go slow.”

I give a nod of my head and wipe the back of my neck. With a grimace, I feel a wet mess, bringing my hand around, I stare in disgust at the mayo on my fingers.

“Whoops, my bad. Go and change I’ll finish off here.”

Removing my t-shirt, wiping my neck as I go. Hearing the doorbell ring, I go to answer it on my way upstairs.

****

I can’t believe I agreed to go on a date with Mark.
What was I thinking?
Heading over to Sally’s, I’m determined to ask for his number so I can cancel. Ringing her doorbell, something jogs in my brain.
Didn’t Sally and Mark buy this house together, because he was never around or something?

A second later, a half-naked muscular Mark opens the door. One arm raised as he wipes something along the back of his neck. His biceps flex and bulge with the simple movement, in a most distracting and fascinating way.

Taking a gulp I can’t help stare at the gloriously tanned masterpiece before me. His body is chiseled, firm, and muscular. His skin looks like golden silk incasing iron. My eyes travel down and spot his Adonis V; a sigh of appreciation escapes me before I can stop it.

“Would you like to come in?” his voice rumbles over me, reverberating through me to my very core.

“Mmm, yes.” I watch in a mixture of fascination and horror as my right hand lifts of its own accord and my fingers touch him, before trailing down his chest. The heat coming off him in waves is extraordinary.

Suddenly his large hand encases my wandering one, preventing it from going any lower. Gently he tugs my hand, pulling me into the house, as he steps backwards. Slowly and insistently, leading me further, until he’s brought me into the kitchen.

“Who was…what are you doing?” the confused voice of my best friend and his sister, snaps me out of my daze.

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” he informs my confused brain, releasing my fingers, after he’s brought them to his mouth and kissed my knuckles.

“Are you okay, Beth?” Sally asks me in concern.

“Yes, I’m. Oh, oh God,” my eyes grow large and round in shock, as the knowledge of my fingers tracing his torso, joyously bounces around my head. I can visualize a little person in my head doing a mad dance, celebrating.

“I touched your brother. I couldn’t help it.”

“You touched my brother?”

“He answered the door and all that golden skin and muscle…” I can feel my eyes glaze over in remembrance, as a dopey smile flickers across my mouth.

“Umm, hello!”

My friend’s hands waving in front of my face brings me back to the present.

“I couldn’t help it. I just reached out as if my hand had a mind of its own, and touched his body. God he has a gorgeous body.” I exclaim, with a good deal of awe in my voice.

It’s the giggle escaping Sally, that finally snaps me out of my…I’m not sure what to call it. Shaking my head, I let a little laugh escape. “Well, I feel I should be embarrassed.”

“Are you?”

Thinking about it for a second, I finally shake my head in the negative, “No. No I’m not, which is really weird.”

“Sounds liberating.”

A half snort half laugh escapes me. I’m about to say something when I hear the tread of footsteps coming down the stairs. Instead, I give Sally a quick hug. Suddenly I’m looking forward to having this date.

Chapter 6

The picnic is fun. We find a quite spot to eat under the shade of a large oak tree, yet still in a sunny spot. I watch Mark spread out a large picnic blanket and quickly place the basket in one corner before the breeze can lift it. Gesturing with one hand, he indicates for me to sit before he disappears into the trees. A moment later, he returns with four small rocks, he places each in a corner of the blanket.

“Clever,” I quietly murmur over his efficiency.

He looks up at my words, bestowing on me a smile that melts my insides. “Thank you.” He turns to the picnic basket, bringing it toward me he puts it down before sitting. “Okay, I hope you’re hungry,” he’s already diving into the basket dragging out containers. Opening a corner of each, he informs me what it is before placing it down, until he has emptied the basket. Moving it to one side, he asks what I’d like first, before selecting the container and passing it to me.

Slowly we eat, catching up on the years since we last saw each other. At one stage he’s regaling a story of a mission that has me laughing so hard, I can’t breathe let alone eat.

“That can’t be true,” I finally gasp.

“Oh it is,” he chuckles in amusement, “If you don’t believe me, ask Jonathan.”

“You were in the army with Jonathan?”

“Yep, we met signing up, went through training together, and everything. That has to have been one of my luckiest breaks, meeting him.”

“In what way?”

“Finding a friend from the beginning, we had each other’s backs through the whole experience.”

“I thought you army guys are all, brothers in arms, kind of thing.”

“Most of us are.” A look passes over his face, whatever he’s thinking about isn’t a happy memory.

Changing the subject, I give a lame ass apology of my behavior earlier. A snort of a laugh escapes him.

“Sweetheart, don’t ever apologize for touching me.”

“Okay, I won’t,” I reply giving him a slight smile, before glancing away.

Before long it’s time to pack up, once everything is gathered, he collects the rocks and returns them to the woods. He picks up the basket and offers me his spare hand. My hand slips into his as if it belongs. I feel a slight pressure, as his fingers wrap around mine, giving them the barest of squeezes. Side by side, talking of nothing and everything, we return to his car.

“I was wondering if you fancied doing something soon.”

“Sure,” I reply, smiling up at him, “What do you have in mind?”

“I was thinking of dinner, and a film, unless there’s something in particular you’d prefer?”

“Sounds good, Friday night suit you?”

“Friday’s good, sooner would be better.”

I can’t help laughing at his reply. “Good to know. Friday is the earliest I can make it though.”

Before long we’re back at his house. I climb out and thank him for the lovely day.

“You want to come in, or go somewhere and do something?”

“I can’t. I would if I could,” I admit, surprised at the truth of my words, and the regret I feel.

He escorts me to my car; taking my hand, he kisses my knuckles, “Until Friday.”

How such simple words can make my knees feel so week I have no idea. Yet those words, with the intensity in his eyes, as his lips brush across my knuckles, almost undo me. Unlocking my car, I slide inside. I take a moment to collect myself before driving away. A feeling of warmth spreads through me, partly pleasure from today, also excitement, at the thought of seeing him on Friday.

Heading home, I sing along to the radio, thinking of the things I have to do once I get there. Mainly washing and cleaning, also writing my next story. Things suddenly are looking so much brighter and positive. I can’t help smiling.

Chapter 7

Wednesday evening, when I arrive for self-defense class, I’m surprised at the blazing lights, lighting up the whole car park. Exiting my car, I spot Mark’s, a couple of parking spaces away. Hurrying into the building, I can’t wait to see him. When I do, I come to a screeching stop, tripping over my own feet; I stumble forwards only to be caught in his strong arms.

“You okay?” He asks steadying me.

“I’m fine, thanks to you,” I reply, looking him up and down, I ask the question slamming around my brain, “So why are you dressed in only shorts?”

A laugh escapes him, as he traces my jaw line. “I was training,” he explains. A second later, the door opens to the gym area; Jonathan appears also dressed in loose shorts, similar to Mark’s.

“Hey Beth, are you early or am I running late?” he inquires while wiping the sweat from his muscular torso.

“Both,” I reply, for lack of anything better to say.

“Okay, I’ll be back in a second,” he replies, walking past us and into the men’s changing rooms.

“I best get ready too,” Mark informs me, releasing me slowly, before heading into the changing rooms. I can’t help turning around and watching his fantastic back disappear. Just before the door closes, he pops his head out, and with a wicked grin on his face asks, “Did you enjoy the view?”

“Oh yes,” the words fly from my mouth before I can think about stopping them. Heat enters his eyes burning brightly into mine, before he retreats behind the closing door.

“Damn.” I mutter, before finally moving into the ladies room to get ready for class.

****

Ten minutes later, I have Beth where I want her. On her back, beneath me.

“Ugh, I swear you’re having fun,” she mutters, trying to roll me off her.

“I am thanks,” I’m about to give her instruction on how to change position, when she finally manages to maneuver us, so she lands on top. “Excellent.” I inform her staring up at her, “Now are you enjoying yourself?”