Mark squeezed her side. “I guess we’d better paint.”
“So long as you paint the brick and not me.” Allie rubbed her semi-wet elbow into Mark’s side.
He gave her a stern look. “Don’t start.”
Laughing, she wiggled her brush towards him and then went back to painting the brownstone building. Mark took some time to talk to Olivia and Owen. He asked about school and after-school activities and their family.
Allie was glad for a moment with her thoughts. Mark had indeed turned out to be different than she’d thought, which meant he wasn’t as different from her as she’d first believed. The heady feelings and bouts of giggling
he induced to the side, he had a way of looking at the best in people, herself included. She liked that about him, liked the way he made her feel like she was special.
She’d never been special to someone before. In a way, that was comforting, because if she been a special someone and the relationship didn’t work out, she’d be broken. She just knew that when she gave her heart away, it would have to be to a man who would guard it as closely as she had. Even with Reed, she’d never quite trusted him and kept a part of herself back.
Mark was slowly pulling at her heart, and if she wasn’t careful, he’d have her undone for sure.
CHAPTER TEN
Mark pulled into a spot in front of Allie’s building. There was ado not entersign taped to the glass, but a man shoved the door open from the inside.
“Are you sure you can get back in?”
Allie checked her phone. “It’s after seven and they said we could return by six, so I’m sure it’s fine.”
Mark got out of the car and retrieved her suitcase from the trunk. Allie waited, the bag of fabric hanging over her forearm. He walked with her to the front doors, taking in the street. The neighborhood wasn’t the best, but the streets were clean. The rent was probably cheap and there were kids playing stickball half a block away. The Star Café down the street flashed a neon open sign in the window. That must be the place Allie waitressed.
Allie turned and leaned against the doorframe. “Selina should have the quilt done in a week or so. She’s going to be so excited to work with this fabric.”
“Do I have to wait that long to call you?” asked Mark. He took a step closer, and Allie had to tip her chin up to look in his eyes. She’d hardly made eye contact with him at lunch yesterday and now she held his gaze— he enjoyed the closeness.
“You can call me anytime.”
“How about tomorrow?” he pressed as he set her suitcase down next to the door.
“Um …” She glanced down at her hands.
“Too soon?” He cocked his head, studying her response. He wanted to leave, walk away like some suave guy in a movie. But he couldn’t bring himself to go.
“Not at all. I turn my phone off during church services.”
Mark leaned closer and slid his hand onto her hip. “Is it too soon to do this?”
“You already did that.” Allie swallowed. “When we were painting.” “I did, didn’t I.” She wasn’t running scared and all her talk about how a kiss shouldn’t have happened seemed so far away. He didn’t want to push her, but he didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye like a man who was falling in love with a woman should. “Then what about this?” He searched for some sign that he’d crossed a line as he put both arms behind her back and pulled her body flush with his.
“It’s all good.” She gulped, her eyes dropping to his mouth. Mark leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek. “Too soon for that?”
Allie sighed. “I wouldn’t think so.” Her hands came to his chest, where his heart pounded like a bass drum at a heavy metal concert. “Allie?” Her name came off his lips like a prayer. “I have one more question.”
“Hmm?” Her hands slid up his shoulders and found their way to the back of his head.
“Kiss me?”
“I think that would be okay.”
“Just okay?”
“Really okay.”
“Okay then.” He moved slow, savoring every sensation shooting just under and across his skin. The tantalizing tickle ofher hair against his arm. The warmth of her skin brushing his. The gentile pressure of her fingertips on his neck. And finally, the supple taste of her lips. Her warm, delicious, and welcoming lips. His hand went to her cheek and he tipped her head to deepen the kiss. She moved with him, her body melding into his.
