Page 19 of Be My Valentine

“It’s three o’clock in the morning, put your pride aside and accept.” Hissed Arrow.

What on earth was he doing here at three in the morning?

“Pride?” she retorted bitterly. “I feel like it is non-existentsince your friends…”

“They’re not my friends, you know that.”

He was angry, Kate noted: being lumped in with guys like that was hardly uplifting, however, he had spent the evening with them, with them and with “Boob Job” Carson!

Why can’t I bear to see them together?

“You have a choice, Kate, it’s me or him,” Campbell said without leaving her any other option, “I don’t even like it when you go home at one in the morning, let alone at this hour.”

“All right.” she agreed resignedly “I’ll go with Attorney Arrow.”

“Text me as soon as you get back. And if I hear he’s said half a word too much to you…” He leaned in menacingly, leaving the sentence unsaid.

“She’s safe with me,” Arrow retorted dryly, “You don’t have to worry.”

Campbell hugged Kate.

“Good night, Leannan.”

Kate followed Mark Arrow with her head down to the car and was surprised when he opened the door for her-an unnecessary gallant gesture. She got in and waited for the engine to start before taking the cell phone out of her pocket to show him the route to follow.

“Put that away, I know where you live.”

Kate remained silent and slid the phone back inside her jacket. She looked up at the dashboard and saw the already programmed navigation system. She couldn’t say he lacked organization. The warmth of the car enveloped her, and she noticed that even the seats were heated. She sighed, regretting feeling so comfortable, warm, and… safe. She was sure that no matter how much he barely tolerated her, Mark Arrow would never hurt her, there would be no lecture, and he would never reach out and touch her; at that moment she didn’t care why he was acting the way he did: maybe because he didn’t care about her, maybe because he found her as annoying as a pesky insect. It didn’t matter. Her feet throbbed in her shoes after the miles she’d logged in the diner, her arms ached from the weight of the trays and the overly vigorous scrubbing she’d done on the tables; now she was comfortable, seated, warm, safe. And she fell asleep.

Chapter 10 / Mark

Come, lay your head upon my breast,

and I will appease you with kisses and kisses.

(George Gordon Byron)

Mark was not surprised to see her collapse from sleep. He had been watching her all evening and even from the window of the car parked out front. Kate had been busily wiping tables, so it was only logical that she wouldn’t last long. He smiled, thinking that the coup de grace had been for her to find the heated seat. He drove slowly, enjoying knowing she was next to him. Despite the moderate pace, as the car went around a curve, Kate slid into him. He turned to look at the drawn line of her cheek, her long eyelashes, her dishevelled hair. A warmth of pure tenderness rose slowly from him, then turned to far less innocent desire. He returned his eyes to the road, feeling like a child caught being naughty. Kate moved, as if looking for a more comfortable sleeping position, Mark put on a background of classical music and watched her calm down. His mind continued to wander. What would have happened if he hadn’t given her a ride? Would she have fallen asleep with her head against the glass of the subway? It was an image he didn’t like at all. He would have to come up with a solution, without consulting her, of course, because she would surely refuse any help coming from him. Kate’s stubbornness went hand in hand with the grumpiness Mark showed her at every opportunity. It was hard to get out of a situation he had consciously created. The question he had to ask himself was simple: did he really want things to change, or would he rather keep her away, gritting his teeth for six months?

He stopped the car in front of a small family house in a residential neighborhood in Queens. Seeing where she lived seemed almost… intimate. He could now imagine her leaving the house, walking up the stairs or chatting with the neighbors. He sighed, realizing that the battle between logic and instinct had already ended: he wanted to try to get closer, in small steps. He wanted to get to know her. He looked at her: she hadn’t moved. The desire to wake her up with a kiss hit him like a running train. He calmed himself and tried to get her to open her eyes.

“Miss Donovan.” No response.

He uttered the name that had been nagging at him for too long….

Chapter 11 / Kate

I loved you before I knew it

And maybe that’s the only way to love

(P. C. Freitas)

“Kate…”

She lifted her eyelids faintly upon hearing her name. She found two blue eyes a breath away from her own. Were they watching her with… sweetness? The man was so attractive, he was… for crying out loud! She jerked backwards as if she had been burned. It was Lawyer Arrow and she had collapsed on him the whole way.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!”