“Mark… they’ll know. Even if they don’t notice, you and I will.”
“It’s a good thing you live next door. Go home. Change, and I’ll start cooking. Coffee will be ready by the time you return.”
His offer sounds enticing.
As I mull over my schedule for the day, I admit, “I guess I don’t have any pressing meetings until this afternoon.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Even though I think you may be overthinking this, go home and change if it’ll make you feel better. I’m just not ready for our time together to end.”
“Mark, we’re neighbors. It’s not like I’m going that far.”
“Not the point, sweetheart.”
When his eyes lock onto mine, I know with every fiber of my being that he feels whatever this is going on between us as strongly as I do.
If I’m being honest, I’m not ready for my time with him today to end yet, either.
“All right.” I sigh heavily. “Let me go home, shower, and change. Then, I’ll be back for breakfast.”
By the time I return, Mark and the boys are bustling around the kitchen. He’s put them to work, and they’re cutting up bananas with butter knives, peeling mandarin oranges, and sneaking handfuls of blueberries when they think their papa’s not looking. The smart man that he is bought two packages of blueberries as if he knew they’d be a hot commodity this morning.
“Look, Faye,” Jason calls for my attention. “This blueberry is huge. You want it?”
“Oh, buddy.” My heart squeezes at his thoughtfulness. When he shoves it in my direction, I have no other option but to say, “Thank you,” and take it.
“Can you go swimmin’ with us today?” Josh asks, handing me a slice of orange. “Here, eat this.”
“Papa’s taking us to our lesson,” Jason chimes in. “We’re going down the big slide today.”
“Wow, that’s really exciting! Are you doing them at the Astoria Aquatic Center?”
“Yeah, they’re swimming at three,” Mark states as he flips another pancake over, then bends to check on the bacon in the oven.
As Jason’s long lashes bat in my direction, guilt crashes through me. “Unfortunately, I can’t. I have meetings this afternoon.”
Jason looks from me to Mark and back, then shakes his head and sighs heavily. “Papa’s tired now. That’s why he goes to our lessons.”
Tired? What’s he talking about?
Before I can fully clock what he’s saying, Mark jumps in, “Yeah, Jay, I’m retired. That means I no longer work for the Air Force.”
That sweet boy cocks his head to the side and narrows his brows. “But Momma said you worked last time.”
“Yeah, that’s why you didn’t see us swim in the deep end,” Josh chimes in.
“Well…” Mark plates the pancakes and turns off the griddle. “That’s right. I was working. But now that I’m retired, I get to pick and choose when I work, so I can make time for our family.”
So, that’s why he mysteriously disappeared for three days.
I’d bet my last dollar it isn’t just a random job either—no, this man is way too tight-lipped to have retired completely. Working in private security or other government agencies would be right up his alley.
Don’t think I don’t notice you avoiding eye contact with me, either, Mark Lancaster.
When he finally glances my way, then back to his grandsons, I make the split-second decision to let it go—for now.
The next time we’re alone, all bets are off.
Pulling the bacon that had been warming in the oven, Mark brings the food to us. “Who’s ready for breakfast?”
