Full Circle (20 page)

“Okay, we can wait. I just thought I’d
suggest it.” She glanced out the window at the palatial estates
nestled within thick, protective coves of trees.

West Clover was a beautiful area. Magnificent
homes on massive plots tended by professional landscaping crews.
Everybody who was anybody in central Indiana lived in West Clover.
Players from professional sports teams, government officials,
coaches, millionaires. It was a Who’s Who of the rich and
famous.

Mark would fit right in.

Her? Not so much.

But she’d better get used to it, because
there was a high probability that within the next hour, they’d be
making an offer on a house big enough to hold the enter United
States Winter Olympics team and still have room to walk around.
Okay, so maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but the place was
huge. Bigger than any house Karma had ever imagined living in.

As they pulled into the driveway, Karma
cringed inwardly at their realtor’s car already parked in front of
the four-car garage. Natalie was a shameless flirt. Maybe Karma’s
jealousy was unfounded where Kit was concerned, but it was more
than justified in Natalie’s case.

The first time Natalie met Karma, she had
seemed taken aback that Mark was already in a relationship. That
had been a chilly first meeting, and Natalie still showed her
disappointment with every icy, red-lipped smile she gave her.

“Welcome back.” Natalie tippy-toed across the
ice-patched driveway in her three-inch, peep-toe heels.

Looked like Natalie had gotten the memo about
Mark’s foot fetish, too.

Karma mentally chastised herself. She really
needed to get over this jealousy routine. It wasn’t becoming. She
hated when other women displayed their ugly, green-eyed monsters.
It was a sign of insecurity, and she had no reason to be insecure,
other than her silly past that had practically bred that nasty
personality trait into her genetic makeup for almost two decades.
But she was over that now—or, rather, she should have been, thanks
to Mark.

So, yeah, the jealous girlfriend act needed
to take a hike.

Mark took her hand, and they met Natalie
halfway across the driveway.

“Are you two ready to take another look at
your first home?” Natalie’s smile seemed more genuine this time
around. Maybe she’d moved on to another potential suitor. Or maybe
she saw all the places on the left side of the decimal point her
commission would include if she closed this sale tonight.

“Lead the way.” Mark gestured for Natalie to
go ahead then pulled Karma’s forearm around his, linking them more
intimately.

Just as she’d done the first time they viewed
the house, Karma sucked in her breath as they crossed the threshold
into the entryway. She loved the relatively open floorplan. Oak
hardwood spread toward an angular staircase hugging the left wall.
An extra-wide hall opened into an enormous kitchen with high,
A-line ceilings and a row of windows overlooking the deck and
wooded backyard. The kitchen, living, and dining rooms all shared
the same space to create one giant, inviting area.

Mark inspected the kitchen cabinets as she
stood aside and let him drool. The kitchen in his temporary
apartment was barely an eighth of the size of this one. For a man
who loved to cook, such a tiny kitchen had to be frustrating. Just
imagine the culinary damage he could do in this eighth wonder of
the world.

“I have a feeling this will be your room,”
she said, running her hand over the polished, dark-grey-and-white
granite countertop as she eased up beside him.

He grinned and glanced at her out of the
corner of his eye. “Oh, I don’t know. I think I might allow you in
here once in a while.”

“Only once in a while?” She followed him
around the counter into the dining area, with its cozy stone
fireplace, and then through the side hall leading back to the front
of the house, past the side door, the laundry room, and a spare
bathroom, before entering what Karma had termed her library. It was
a smaller, round room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on one side
and a small custom window on the other to let in natural light.
There was enough room for a modest table so she could use it as a
meeting or research room.

An arched doorway led them into what Karma
had decided would become her office.

Natalie had the good sense to hover several
feet behind them. She seemed to understand that a good realtor let
the client sell the house to themselves.

“And this is your room,” Mark said, crossing
toward the large picture window overlooking the front yard.

There was enough space for two comfortable
club chairs and an end table between them. A wall of bookshelves
took up the wall opposite the window, behind where Karma envisioned
her desk.

“And you’ll be welcome in it any time you
like,” she said sweetly. Maybe a little extra sweetly because of
Natalie poised in the background.

“Why, thank you.” He winked and took her
hand.

After touring the full basement, with its
bar, half kitchen, theater, spare bedroom, and exercise room, they
ended their tour upstairs in the master bedroom.

“Natalie, could you give us a moment,
please?” Mark said from the French doors that opened onto a private
balcony.

“Of course.” Natalie backed out of the room
and gave Karma an awkward smile. “I’ll wait for you in the
kitchen.”

After she was gone, Mark wrapped his arms
around Karma’s waist and pulled her against him. “What do you
think? Is this home?”

In his arms was home.

She couldn’t contain her smile, pressing her
palms against his chest. “I love it.”

“So do I.” He stepped back and took her hand,
leading her away from the doors. “I see our bed there.” He pointed
toward the right then gestured to the left. “And I want to get a
Tantra chair that would go nicely right there.”

“A Tantra chair? What’s that?”

His wicked grin bespoke that whatever a
Tantra chair was, it was not a normal piece of furniture. “It’s
sort of like a chaise lounge but made to help couples find lots of
fun and interesting positions for sex. Think of it as an ergonomic
sex chair.” He led her toward the door. “I’ll show you pictures
later. But you’ll love it. Especially since you’re so limber from
all that yoga.” His eyebrows popped mischievously.

Where did he find these things? “Have you
used a Tantra chair before?”

The shadow that occasionally appeared and
made her think he still hadn’t told her everything about his past
crossed his face. “Yes, I’ve used one.”

“When?” Was it with Carol? Nina? One of his
other temporary flings?

He kept his eyes on the floor as they headed
toward the stairs. “Nina had one.”

Nina again. She’d taken up a lot of time in
Mark’s post-Carol personal development.

“And you liked it?”

“Yes, it’s one of the things Nina introduced
me to that I
did
end up liking.”

They began descending to the main floor.

“What else did she introduce you to that you
liked?”

His eyebrows ticked inward. With every step,
his body grew more tense. “Maybe now isn’t the best time to discuss
this.”

“So, there’s more about
this
we need
to discuss?”

A guilty shroud fell over him.

She’d been right. There was more. The fact
that Mark hadn’t told her when they were on vacation irritated her,
because that had been the whole point of the discussion they’d had
the night they made their lists.

“Please, let’s not talk about this now. Let’s
wait until we get home.” His brow was pinched in the middle, his
expression grim.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s still
something you haven’t told me?” she said quietly as they reached
the foot of the stairs and stopped. “Something important.”

His shoulders wilted as he faced her. A
chagrined smile tilted his mouth. “Because, apparently, you’re
getting to know me well enough to know when I’m hiding
something.”

“Hiding something?” She frowned and took a
step back, crossing her arms. “What are you hiding from me? I
thought you told me everything in Saint Lucia.”

He scrunched his eyes closed, holding up his
hand. “Not exactly
hiding
. That was a poor choice of
words.”

“Then give me some better ones.” If he still
felt the need to hide things from her, then they hadn’t made as
much progress as she thought.

He glanced toward the kitchen, where Natalie
was waiting for them. Then he spoke in hushed tones. “It’s not that
big of a deal. Compared to what I’ve already told you, this is
nothing. I promise.”

“Then why are you so upset? If it’s not a big
deal, then why haven’t you told me?”

He closed the short distance between them,
his gaze boring hard into hers. “Because,
Karma . . . it’s personal. It’s
deeply
personal. And it’s damn hard to find the words to tell you what
needs to be said. Do you understand? I want you to know, but I’m
afraid of the way you’ll look at me after you do.”

On one hand, he felt like a complete
stranger. How could he say whatever he was hiding was no big thing
but express how much he feared revealing it? On the other hand, she
wanted to pull him into her arms and tell him not to be afraid.
Never to be scared of telling her his secrets, no matter how
personal he thought they were or how he feared she would react.
They were a team. One. Together in thick and thin, good and bad.
The fact that he was still keeping secrets unnerved her.

“You’re scaring me,” she said quietly.

His frowned deepened as he dropped his gaze
to the floor. “I’m sorry.”

She forced a tight smile and took one of his
hands in both of hers. “What could be so bad that you’d get this
upset about it? I don’t know what to think, and I’m imagining the
worst.”

Did he have a terrible disease he hadn’t told
her about? Did he have a kid with one of the women he’d gotten
involved with? More than one kid?

Oh God, what if he did?

He sighed, his posture broken. “It’s really
nothing bad, Karma. Honest, it isn’t. But . . .”

“But what?”

“You might not like it.”

She regarded him impatiently. “Will you stop
trying to think for me and let me decide for myself?”

“I’m sorry. It’s a habit.”

“Well, let’s see if we can work on breaking
it. Because I’m a lot more understanding than you’re giving me
credit for.”

He sighed and closed his eyes for a count of
two then opened them again. “I know you are, and I’m trying.”

“And that’s all I’m asking. For you to try.”
She searched his face. “So, are you going to tell me what you’ve
been hiding?”

“Yes, but not right now. Later. At home where
we can talk openly.” He paused then added. “This time, let me do
this the way I’m most comfortable.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And what way is
that?”

He took a deep breath then tugged her hand to
follow him as he started for the kitchen. “With a plan.”

With a plan.
That was so Mark. But she
would cut him some slack. This time.

They entered the kitchen hand-in-hand, if not
a bit more tense than they had been thirty minutes ago.

Natalie sat at the island, scrolling on her
smartphone. She immediately tucked it into her purse and stood.
“So, what’s your decision?” She looked from Mark to her and back to
Mark.

“We want it.”

Natalie’s smile creased the spackled makeup
around her eyes. “I’ll start the paperwork tonight.”

“Good. And inform the sellers we are highly
motivated and want to move in as soon as possible. Whatever it
takes.” He squeezed her hand as if to impress upon her how he felt
about living together. That no matter what came of their discussion
later, he wanted
this
. Them. Together. Under one roof. And
he wanted it sooner rather than later. No matter the expense.

“Noted.” Natalie ushered them toward the
front door. “I think you two will be very happy here. It’s a
fabulous home. Competitively priced. And it’s in a great
neighborhood. Perfect for kids.”

It was like she was putting her own personal
stamp of approval on the sale.

They exited, and Natalie locked up then
joined them in the driveway.

“I’ll be in touch tomorrow to let you know
what the sellers said,” Natalie said to Mark. “But I have no reason
to think this house won’t be yours by the end of the week.”

“Thank you, Natalie.” Mark shook her
hand.

Karma did likewise, and then she and Mark
departed for Solar so she could get her car and meet him back at
her apartment.

Silence engulfed them. But it wasn’t an
awkward silence. More like the silence associated with someone who
was deep in thought.

Mark was apparently working on his plan.

She stared out the passenger window, letting
him toil as her own mind wandered.

She had the ring. And now it looked like she
had the house. All she needed was the wedding date.

And to know what else Mark hadn’t told
her.

Chapter 12

Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult
tasks.

-Isaac Watts

She should have been happy. Should have been
excited. Right now, she and Mark should have been wrapped around
each other in bed, turning dreams into plans for their new home.
Instead, she was quietly poking the uneaten portion of her salmon.
Waiting. Just . .  waiting.

“Are you finished?” Mark reached for her
plate.

She set down her fork. “Yes.”

He took their dishes to the kitchen, spent a
few minutes tidying up and putting away leftovers, then shut off
the light and returned to the table, hand outstretched.

“Come on,” he said.

“Where?”

“Your bedroom.”

If he was going to use sex to sidetrack her,
she’d end that idea right now. He needed to start talking. “Mark,
I—”