He raised a brow.
“Would you mix the cinnamon and sugar together?”
“Yeah. How much?” Mark headed again to where the bowls were.
“Like you are making cinnamon toast.”
“How do you know I know how to make cinnamon toast?”
“Everyone knows how to do that,” she said, as she finished rolling the first half of the dough. “While I roll out the other dough, will you spread butter on this one then put the sugar cinnamon mixture over that?”
“I don’t know. All that might be out of my territory.”
She chuckled. “I think you can handle it.”
Over the next few minutes they each worked at their own projects. Laura Jo was used to making the cakes by herself but found she liked having a partner even in something as simple as a cake. She glanced at Mark. His full attention was on what he was doing. He approached
his assignment much as he did giving medical care, with an effort to do the very best, not miss any detail.
She looked over to where he was meticulously shaking the sugar mixture on the dough from a spoon. “You know you really can’t do that wrong.”
“Uh?”
He must have been so involved in what he was doing he hadn’t heard her. “Enjoy what you’re doing a little. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
Mark straightened. “This comes from the person who only laughs when my dog gets the best of me.”
“I laugh at other times.”
“Really?”
Was she truly that uptight? Maybe she was but she could tell that lately she’d been starting to ease up. Ever since she’d started spending time with Mark.
“Speaking of uptight, what’s your issue with a wheelchair?”
CHAPTER FIVE
D
AMN, SHE
’
D NOTICED
. Mark had thought, hoped, Laura Jo had missed or he’d covered his feelings well enough when he’d seen a wheelchair, but apparently not.
Maybe he could bluff his way out of answering. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Laura Jo was looking at him. His skin tingled. He glanced at her. She had stopped what she was doing.
“Please, don’t insult my intelligence,” she said quietly.
He sighed before answering. “My friend who was in the accident is now in a wheelchair.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me, too.” He put the empty bowl in the sink.
“What happened?”
“He was thrown from the car.”
“Oh, how awful.”
“It was.” He needed to change the subject. “So what do I need to do now?”
“Roll it into a log, like this.” Laura Jo moved close and started working with the dough.
He looked at the honey nape of her neck exposed and waiting for him. Mike went out of his mind and all he could think about was the soft woman so close, the smell of cinnamon and sugar and the need to touch her, kiss her.
The wisps of hair at her neck fluttered as he leaned closer. He touched the tip of his tongue to her warm skin. He felt a tremor run through her and his manhood responded. His lips found the valley and he pressed. Sweet, so sweet.
She shifted away. “Mark, I don’t have time in my life to play games.”
“Who said I was playing a game?”
“I have Allie to think about.”
He spoke from behind her. “So you’re going to put how you feel and your life on hold for Allie? For how long?” He kissed her behind the ear.
Her hands stopped rolling the dough. She stepped to the side so that she could turn to look at him. “What I’m not going to do is get involved with a man I have no intention of marrying.”
Mark put some space between them. “Whoa, we’re not talking about marriage here. More like harmless fun. A few kisses. Some mutually satisfying petting.” He stepped back and
studied her. “Are you always this uptight around a man?”
“I’m not uptight.”
“The best I can tell is the only time you’re not is when I’m kissing you or you’re laughing at my dog.”
“I wasn’t laughing at Gus. I was laughing at you.”
He took a step closer, pinning her against the counter. “No one likes to be laughed at. But what I’m really interested in is you showing me how you’re not uptight. I want to kiss you, Laura Jo. Just kiss you.”
She didn’t resist as his lips came down to meet hers. His mouth was firm but undemanding as if he was waiting to see if she would accept him. When had been the last time she had taken a moment’s pleasure with a man? What would it hurt if she did? Just to have something that was simple and easy between two adults.
Laura Jo wrapped her hands around his neck, weaved her fingers through his hair and pressed herself against his lean, hard body. With a sigh, she returned his kiss.
Mark encircled her waist and lifted her against him. His mouth took further possession, sending wave after wave of heat through her. He ran the tip of his tongue along the seam of her mouth until she opened for him. The parry
and thrust of his tongue had her joining him. He pressed her against the counter, shifted her until his desire stood ridged between them.
Something poked at her bottom just before there was a loud thump on the floor. She broke away. Mark’s hand remained at her waist. Her breath was shallow and rapid. She was no longer a maiden but she sure was acting like one. Her heart was thudding against her rib cage. She couldn’t look at Mark.
When she did glance at him through lowered lashes, to her great satisfaction he looked rattled, too. He leaned toward her again and she broke the embrace before stepping away. “I need to get these cakes ready to put in the oven.” She was relieved that her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
Mark looked for a second as if he might disagree but he didn’t move any closer.
“I think I like the sugar you just gave me better than what is on a king cake.”
She had to regain her equilibrium. The only way she knew how to do that was to go on the defensive. She placed her hands on her hips. “You haven’t tasted one of my cakes.”
“No, but I have tasted you,” he said in a soft and sultry voice.
Pleasure filled her. Mark had a way of making her feel special.
“Why don’t you spread the cream cheese on this cake while I finish braiding the other one?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Minutes later Mark dropped the spatula he had been using in the sink. Laura Jo placed the cake she was working with on a baking pan. She had been aware of every movement he’d made as he’d spread the creamy cheese across the thin pastry.
“While you finish up on this one I’m going to get us each a bowl of gumbo.” Mark went to a cabinet and pulled down two bowls.
Laura Jo was both relieved and disappointed when he moved to the other side of the center counter. If Mark was close he made her feel nervous and if he wasn’t she missed his nearness.
“We forgot to put the babies in.” Laura Jo reached into a bag and brought out a snack-size bag with tiny hard plastic babies in it. Their hands and feet were up in the air as if they were lying in a crib, laughing.
“I’ll put those in. I promised Allie I would. I keep my promises.”
Mark joined her again and she handed the babies to him. They looked extra-small in his large palm.
“Turn around. And don’t peek.”
Laura Jo did as he instructed.
“Okay. Done.”
Laura Jo started cleaning up the area. “You know, it doesn’t have to be such a secret. Mardi Gras will be over in four days and we won’t be having another cake until next year.”
He met her gaze. “Well, maybe I’ll ask for something besides cake if I find the baby inside my piece.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“Then we could just change the rules between us.”
Laura Jo wasn’t sure she wanted to play that game.
“Are you ready for gumbo?”
“I can eat while these rise.” She looked over at the cakes.
“I had no idea this much work went into making a king cake.”
“They are labor intensive but I enjoy it. Especially when I can make them in a kitchen like this one.”
Mark filled the two bowls he’d gotten out earlier. “Do you mind carrying your own bowl to the table?”
“Of course not. I don’t expect you to wait on me.”
They sat across from each other in the small breakfast nook adjoining the kitchen. From there they had a view of the bay.
“This is delicious.” Laura Jo lifted a
spoonful of gumbo. “I’m impressed with your culinary skills.”
“I think culinary skills is a little strong. It’s not hard really.”
“Either way, it tastes good.” She was glad that they were back to their old banter. She’d been afraid that after their hot kiss, which had her nerves on high alert, they wouldn’t be able to have an easy conversation. She rather enjoyed their discussions, even if they didn’t always agree.
“How’s Marcy doing?”
She looked at him. “Very well, thanks to you. She’ll be coming home tomorrow.”
“I didn’t do anything but provide encouragement. I meant to go by to see them again but I had to work late on the days I wasn’t patrolling parades.”
“Ann really appreciated the one day you did check in on them. That was nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
He really was. She’d done him a disservice when she’d first met him. He’d proven more than once that he was a good person.
“So have you found the funding for the shelter yet?” Mark asked as he pushed his empty bowl away.
“We qualified for the grant I was hoping for but it requires we find matching funds.”
“Well, at least you do have some good news.” He stood, gathering his bowl. “Do you want any more gumbo while I’m getting some?”
“No, I’m still working on this.” Laura Jo watched him walk away. He wore a lightweight long-sleeved sweater and worn jeans. He really had a fine-looking butt.
For a second she’d been afraid he’d ask her about going to the dance. A hint of disappointment touched her when he didn’t. He probably had a date with someone else by now. She didn’t like that thought any better.
They finished their dinner with small talk about the weather, parades and the coming weekend. Together they carried their bowls to the dishwasher. Mark placed them in it while Laura Jo checked on the rising cake.
“How much longer on those?” Mark asked.
“They need to rise to double their size. Then I’ll bake them and be on my way. I can finish the topping when I get home.”
“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.