The Doctor's Redemption (12 page)

Why was Mark the one man who made her feel that way? His background said he wasn’t the man for her. She wanted someone who was more interested in her than what her last name had been. But hadn’t he proved her background didn’t matter? He’d shown his interest well before she had told him her maiden name was Herron.

She might have questioned whether or not he had become a doctor for the money and prestige but the Clayborns already had that. After she’d viewed him seeing to a patient she’d seen his concern was sincere. He was a man interested in caring for people. He had offered to help with the shelter and had proved it with his donation and medical care. How different could he be from Phil, who was the most self-centered man she’d ever known?

She slipped her hand out of his. “I’ll bake the cakes. You should stay here. It’s a beautiful night.”

“I’ll help you.”

“It won’t take me long.”

“Do you promise to come back? Not disappear out the front door?”

Laura Jo smiled. “Yes, I’ll come back.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

She liked the sound of that. People didn’t wait for her, they left her. Mark was starting to mean too much to her. Laura Jo put the cakes in the ovens. Thankfully, Mark had double ovens and she could bake them at the same time.

Still wearing his jacket, she went back outside to join him. If he hadn’t stated his fear that she might leave she might have considered going home without telling him. Her attraction to him was growing beyond her control. She didn’t trust herself around him.

As she passed him on the way to her lounge he sat up and snagged her wrist. “Come and sit with me.” He pulled her toward him.

She put a hand down next to his thigh to stop herself from falling.

“Mark…” she cautioned.

“I’m not going to jump you. I’d just like to have you close.”

“Why?”

The light from inside the house let her see well enough his incredulous look. “Why? Because I’m a man and you’re a woman. I like you and I think you like me more than you want to admit. You’re as aware of the attraction as I am. You just won’t admit it.

She looked down at him for a moment.

“All I want is to sit here with a beautiful
woman and watch the stars. Nothing more. But if you don’t want to, I’ll live with that.”

He made it sound like she was acting childishly. “Scoot over.”

“If you’re going to get bossy then maybe I need to reconsider my invitation.”

She snickered and lay on her side next to him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and her head naturally went to his chest.

“Now, is this so bad?”

“No. I’m much warmer.”

“Good. I’m glad I can be of service.” Mark’s breath brushed her temple.

“I can’t get too comfortable. I don’t want to burn the cakes.”

“How much longer do they need to cook?” His hand moved up and down her arm.

“Another forty minutes.”

He checked his watch. “Then I’ll help you remember.”

It took her a few minutes to relax and settle into her warm and cozy spot alongside Mark. The lights of Mobile glowed in the distance and the horn of an occasional seagoing freighter sounded. It was a lonesome noise, one that up until this minute she could identify with. Somehow she no longer felt lonely. As they sat in silence her eyelids drooped and closed.

The next thing she knew Mark was shaking her awake.

“We need to get the cakes out.”

She jerked to a sitting position. “I’m sorry. I went to sleep on you.”

“I’m not. It would be my guess you needed to rest after the week you’ve had.”

Laura Jo couldn’t argue with that. She struggled to get up.

“Let me climb out first then I’ll pull you up,” Mark suggested.

As he moved, his big body towered over her. She was tempted to touch him. Before she could stop herself she placed a hand on his chest.

“I’m squishing you?”

“No. I just wanted to touch you,” she murmured.

He gave her a predatory glare. “Great. You decide to touch me when the king cakes might be burning. You need to work on your timing.”

She nudged him back. “Let me up.”

He hesitated a second before he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go.”

In the kitchen Mark peeked into an oven. He inhaled dramatically. “Smells wonderful.”

“If you’ll get your nose out of it, I can take it out.” Laura Jo handed him a hot pad. “I’ll get this one and you can get the other.” Laura Jo pulled the golden-brown mound out of the oven
and set it on the counter. Mark did the same and placed his beside hers.

Again he leaned over and inhaled deeply. “Perfect.”

“I need to mix the icing and then we can put the colors on.” Laura Jo found a bowl and added powdered sugar then water. She stirred them into a creamy white mixture. Using a spoon, she drizzled the icing back and forth over the top of the cakes.

Mark dipped a finger through the bowl and put it in his mouth. “Mmm.”

She tapped the top of his hand when he started after the cake.

“Ouch.”

“I believe you have a sweet tooth.”

“I think you are sweet.”

“I think you might flatter the cook in order to get your way. It’s time for the colored sugar.” Laura Jo picked up the food coloring she’d left on the other end of the counter. “We’ll need three bowls.”

Mark went to a cabinet and brought those to her. Laura Jo put granulated sugar in each of the bowls and added yellow coloring to one, purple to another and green to the last one. She mixed until each granule had turned the color. She sprinkled one color over a third of one cake. In
the middle section another and on the last third another.

“Do you know what the colors stand for?” Mark asked.

“No self-respecting citizen of Mobile wouldn’t know. Purple is for justice, green is for faith and gold for power.”

“You are correct. Can we have a slice now?” Mark asked, sounding much like a child begging at his mother’s side.

“You want to eat it while it’s hot?”

“Why not?”

“I’ve just never had it that way. I’ve always waited until it’s cooled.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” Mark pulled a knife out of a drawer and sliced a hunk off the end of one cake. Picking it up, he bit into it. “This is delicious. Allie is right, you do make the best cakes. I’ve never had one better from a bakery.”

His praise made her feel warm inside. She cut a small section and placed it in her mouth. It was good.

“Hey, look what I found.” He held up a baby.

“You knew where that was.”

“I did not,” he said in an indignant tone. “Just good luck.”

Laura smiled and placed the items she had brought into bags. She needed to leave before
she was tempted to stay longer. Being with Mark had been far more enjoyable than she’d found comfortable. What if he tried to kiss her again? Could she handle that?

“What’re you doing?” Mark asked.

“I’m packing up.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“Yes, I do. Do you have something I can wrap one of these cakes in? Allie will be expecting to eat some tomorrow.”

Mark opened a drawer and handed her a box of plastic wrap.

She pulled out a length of wrap and started covering the cake. “Do you mind if I take your baking pan? I’ll return it.”

“I don’t mind,” he said in an aggravated tone, as if he knew she was dodging the issue.

“Are you running out on me, Laura Jo?”

She refused to look at him. “No, I’ve been here for hours and I was more worried about wearing out my welcome.”

Mark took the wrap from her and put it on the counter. “I don’t think that’s possible. I believe you’re running scared.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why don’t you go to the dance with me on Tuesday night?”

“I’ve already said I can’t.” She reached for a
bag and put the rest of the items she’d brought in it.

“I think it’s ‘I won’t.’”

“Please, Mark, just leave it alone. I’m not going to change my mind. It’s not because of you but for other reasons.”

“Care to tell me what those are.”

“I’d rather not. I need to be going.” She pulled the bags to her.

“I’m a good listener.”

“That’s not the problem. I just don’t want to talk about it. Now, I need to go.”

Mark took them from her. “I’ll get these. You can get the cake. I’ll walk you to your car.”

Laura Jo was a little disappointed that he hadn’t put up more of an argument to her leaving. Had her refusal to open up about why she didn’t want to go to the krewe dance put him off? Wasn’t that what she wanted?

“I need to wrap your cake up before I go and clean up this mess.”

“Don’t worry about doing that. I’ll take care of it. Theresa will be in tomorrow.”

“Theresa?”

“My housekeeper.”

Just another shining example of the fact they lived in two different worlds. “Well, I’m not going to leave anyone, including a housekeeper, this mess.”

“I’m not surprised. It’s in your nature to see to other people, make it better for them. Who makes things better for you?”

She hadn’t ever thought of herself in that context but he might be right. She wouldn’t let him know it, though. “I don’t need anyone taking care of me.”

“We might be perfect for each other because I’m no good at doing so,” he said in a dry tone.

What had made him say that? He was always taking care of people.

She went to the sink, picked up the cleaning cloth and started wiping off the counter.

“Leave it.” Mark said, taking the cloth and placing it in the sink. “I’ll take care of it.”

Laura Jo then picked up the cake and headed for the front door. Mark wasn’t far behind. When they reached the car, he opened the front passenger-side door and placed the bags on the floor. He then took the cake from her and did the same.

She went to the driver’s door and he joined her there. “Thanks for helping me with the cakes.”

“Not a problem.” Mark reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

Laura Jo could just make out with the help of the light from the porch that he was rotating the baby between his index and thumb.

“We had a deal.”

Laura Jo had an uneasy feeling. Where was he going with this? “We did.”

“I would like to collect now.”

Every nerve in her hummed. Something told her that she might not like his request. “Just what do you want?”

Mark’s lips lifted, giving him a wolfish appearance. He took a step closer, coming into her personal space.

Heat washed over her. She looked at him. In the dim light she couldn’t see his eyes clearly but she felt their intensity.

“I want you to kiss me.”

“What?”

“I want you put your hands on my shoulders, lean up and place your lips on mine.”

He said the words in a form of a challenge, as if she would refuse. She’d show him. Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly slid them up and over his shoulders.

His hands went to her waist, tightening around her.

“Remember this is my kiss,” she admonished him.

He eased his hold but didn’t release her.

Going up on her toes, she took her time, bringing her lips to his. The tension across his
shoulders told her Mark was working to restrain himself.

Taking his lower lip between her teeth, she gently tugged.

He groaned.

She let go and smoothed it over with the tip of her tongue. Slowly she moved her lips over his until she almost ended the contact.

At Mark’s sound of resistance she grinned and moved her mouth back to press it firmly against his. She didn’t have to ask for entrance, he was already offering it. Her tongue met his and danced but he soon took the lead. She’d been caught at her own game. It felt wonderful to have a man touch her. It had been so long. For Mark to be the one made it even more amazing. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave herself over to the moment. She wanted more, so much more.

* * *

Mark gripped Laura Jo’s waist and pulled her closer. He pressed her back against the car. His hand slid under the hem of her shirt and grazed her smooth skin until his fingers rested near the prize. Wanting to touch, taste, tease, he had to remove the barrier. Using the tip of his index finger, he followed the line of her bra around to the clasp. When he hesitated Laura Jo squirmed against him. She wanted this as much as he did.
Flicking the clasp open, he moved his hand to the side curve of her breast.

He released her lips and gave a small sound of complaint. Placing small kisses along her neck to reassure her, he skimmed his hand upward to cup her breast. His sigh of pleasure mingled with hers. He tested the weight. Perfect. Using a finger, he circled her nipple then tugged.

Her hips shifted and came into more intimate contact with his ridged manhood. He’d been aware of his desire for Laura Jo for a number of days but it had never been this overwhelming.

He pushed her bra up and off her other breast. Her nipple stood tall, waiting for his attention. That knowledge only fueled his desire.

Laura Jo cupped his face and brought his lips back to hers. She gave him the hottest kiss he’d ever received. Heaven help him, if she could turn him on with just kisses, what could she do to him in bed?

She ran her hands under his shirt and across his back.

When her mouth left his to kiss his cheek, he pushed up her shirt, exposing her breasts. He backed away just far enough to look at her. “Beautiful.”

He didn’t give her time to speak before his lips found hers again and his fingers caressed her breast. Thankful for her small car, he leaned
her back over the hood. Her fingers flexed and released against the muscles of his back as she met him kiss for kiss. Standing between her legs, the heat of her center pressed against his. He pulled his mouth from hers. It went to the top of her right breast, where he placed his lips. Laura Jo shivered.

“Cold?”

“No.”

His chest swelled with desire. What he was doing to her had caused the reaction, not the metal of the car. He lowered his mouth to her nipple and took it. Using his tongue, he spun and tugged. Laura Jo bucked beneath him.

Her hand went to the line of his pants and glided just beneath. She ran her hand one way and then the other before it returned to stroking his back.