Mark scanned the place. A maroon, navy, and green striped blanket covered the bed and two flat pillows. Several dark stains dotted the carpet, some of them bigger than his hand, and the picture on the wall tilted. Her suitcase was on a small stand near the bathroom. He slapped shut the lid and zipped it closed. He’d replace whatever they left behind. “You should be at the Ritz. This was a mistake.” He pounded the side of his fist against the wall. “A huge, stupid mistake. Come on, my car’s outside.”
Allie planted her feet. “I’m not staying with George. I’d be afraid to sleep with him in the room.”
Mark ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “That’s not what I mean. Kate is getting you a reservation of your own. A room all to yourself.”
“But that’s a lot of money, and shouldn’t it go to helping Teens on Target or your Waters without Borders group?”
Warmth filling his chest at her mention of Waters without Borders. Had she looked him up or did she just know that he’d founded the charity? His phone rang and he answered quickly. Perhaps Kate could convince Allie to leave this hole. “Kate? I need some good news.”
“Well, it’s not coming from me. The Ritz is booked. Every hotel in the area is booked. There’s a convention this weekend.”
Mark bit back a curse. He’d just have to take Allie home with him. The arrangement wasn’t ideal, but he had plenty of extra rooms. He tried not to get excited about having someone else—no, havingAllie—in his home. Her cheerfulness would be a welcome addition … for the night. A welcome addition for the night. “Thanks for trying. Night.”
He shoved his phone in his pocket. “Looks like you’re coming home with me.”
Allie’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me? Do I know you?”
Mark gritted his teeth. Dagnammit, she was right. He justfeltlike he knewherbecause there had been that connection, that sense of worlds colliding. But having a single woman spend the night in his home was not a good idea. His one defense when going back to custody court was that his
life was stable—more stable than his ex’s, despite his travel schedule. “What about Anthony’s place? His wife will be there.”
“The woman at the lunch who’s expecting a baby?”
Hope sparked. If she felt comfortable around Leticia, this might just work. “Leticia—yeah.”
She twisted the belt to her robe in her hands. “I guess that would be okay.”
Mark closed most of the distance between them. “I’m so sorry about this.” He waved his hand around, indicating the water marks seeping down the wall and the strange stain on the curtains. Green? What stained green?
Allie lifted her palms. “I’m kind of used to lifenotturning out—I’ve got horrible luck. But thank you so much for worrying about me. This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done.”
Mark chuckled. “Surely not.”
She nodded. “It’s true.”
Mark reached out and touched her hand, warmth and electricity firing away. He liked Allie—furthermore, he respected her for smiling through a bad situation. Jasmine would have thrown a fit and dressed him down like a drill sergeant with a hangover. Actually, she probably would’ve had a horrific hangover and taken it out on him.
He took just a moment to search her eyes, looking for that element of falsity that would betray her optimism as an act. Every actress he’d ever played across from had a part of themlocked away. He did it too. Locking away emotions was the key to taking a passionate moment, like an on screen kiss with a beautiful woman, and manipulate the action into what the director wanted. Allie’s eyes were like plantation doors thrown open—he could see right into her heart.
His chest tightened. She had to learn to close those doors or she was going to get hurt. He couldn’t do much about that now, but he could get her to a safe location and protect her in the process. “Time to go.”
He checked through the curtains to make sure the three men were where he’d left them. They were, so he grabbed her hand and threw open the door. “I’m in my slippers,” Allie protested.
“I’ll buy you new ones.” He dragged her across the parking lot and deposited her in his car.
“But—”
Mark shut the door on her protest. He nodded to the guys watching the exchange with too much interest and climbed behind the wheel. Feeling as though he’d broken the crown jewels out of the safe, he fired up the engine, floored the gas pedal, and raced away.
“I promise I’m going to make this right for you. Anthony’s place is like a castle—I think it actually has a turret—is that what those round things on the corners are called?” He kept his hands gripping the wheel as if he were in a high-speed chase. He glanced over to catch Allie rubbing her lips together.
“They sure are.” She sighed.
“I’m so sorry. Again—had I known you’d end up in that—” Allie placed her petite hand on his arm. “Stop apologizing. It’s fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine here.”
“Then why the sigh?”
She removed her hand and turned towards the window so he couldn’t see her face clearly. He didn’t like the distance she’d placed between them. Didn’t like it at all.
