His Leading Lady (7 page)

“Well, that’s blunt.” Meg pushed to her
feet.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have much time.
Mark, give me your credit card. Meg, we’re going shopping.”

“I’m game, but breakfast first.” Meg tucked
her arm in Penny’s.

The two women turned to look at Mark, who
groaned. “This is going to be a very expensive trip, I think.” He
handed his card to Penny then stuffed his wallet in his back pocket
and closed the door behind them.

By five o’clock, the women had returned to
Mark’s apartment. He was back from practice and opening a beer when
they unlocked the door. They were laughing and giggling like two
schoolgirls. Meg’s long, lustrous locks had been shorn by about two
inches and styled to perfection. They framed her lovely face with
bangs, shorter on the sides tapering to longer in the back. A
slight curl had been added, and the bouncy do flattered her face
perfectly.

“Wait until you see what we bought, Mark.
It’s fabulous. By the way, where are we going tonight?” Meg
asked.

“Bowling.”

“Bowling? You’re kidding, right? Bowling? I’m
supposed to have some romantic date with this Harley guy, and we’re
going bowling?” Meg fell onto the sofa in a fit of laughter.

“I can keep my eye on him if we’re bowling.
Besides, I promised Penny a bowling date, and we never got
there.”

“That’s true. But bowling for Harley and
Meg?”

“Bowling!” He stomped his foot.

Meg raised her hands. “Okay, okay, bowling.
I’ll be the sexiest girl on the alley.”

“He’s coming in an hour. Better get ready.
We’re going in one car.”

“What?” Meg’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“So I can keep my eye on you. I don’t trust
Harley as far as I can throw him. He’s a mover.”

“I’m a grown woman, Mark. And here’s a news
flash for you, I’m not a virgin.”

“Don’t rub it in.”

“You can thank your nose tackle or whatever
you call it, Brett Innis, for that.”

Mark clapped his hands over his ears. Megan
tried to pry them off. The two tussled until the laughter started,
and then they let go.

“Okay, okay, Meg. You can go in Harley’s
car.”

“Thank you. Really.”

Mark studied her hair. “Nice do, Squirt.”

“We’ve got no time. Come on, Meg,” Penny
dragged Mark’s sister into the bedroom, while he parked himself in
front of the television with his beer.

At six o’clock sharp, the buzzer rang. Mark
let Harley in the apartment. He was dressed in a navy sports jacket
and khakis. He even wore a blue tie on his crisp, white shirt. His
brown hair was neatly combed, and his handsome face wore a smile of
anticipation.

“You clean up nice. And you even smell
good—not easy for you,” Mark said, stepping aside so Harley could
enter.

“Where’s Megan?” he asked after nodding a
greeting to Penny.

The bedroom door opened, and Mark almost
dropped his teeth when his sister emerged. She was wearing a dark
pink blouse with a plunging neckline. Short sleeves and a bodice
that hugged her slim shape led down to a black, cotton, full skirt.
She wore a black onyx choker and matching earrings. A push-up bra
provided a view of her abundant cleavage.

Meg pulled on the blouse, trying to raise the
neckline, but to no avail. Harley stared at her as if she was a
giant hot fudge sundae, and he was starving. He licked his
lips.

“This is your sister? Shit,” he muttered.

“Meg, Harley, Harley, Meg.”

“She’s gorgeous,” Harley said, as if she
weren’t standing right there. Megan blushed almost as pink as her
shirt.

Mark glanced at Penny. “She’s almost naked on
top.”

“That’s what they’re wearing now, Mark. Don’t
go archaic. Let’s go.”

Mark took Penny’s hand while Harley offered
his arm to Meg. They followed Mark’s car to the bowling alley. The
foursome ate burgers in the café there then claimed an alley in the
center. From time to time, people drifted over to ask Penny for her
autograph. She smiled sweetly and signed. Mark scowled every time
someone interrupted their game.

“Your turn’ll come. Someday people’ll be all
over you for your autograph, Mark.”

“In your dreams,” he said.

She patted his shoulder, and he turned a
critical eye to his sister.

“When she bends over to roll the ball, the
pins aren’t going to be the only things falling down,” Mark
whispered to Penny.

“Shh. You’ll make her self-conscious. She’s
nicely…built. Harley doesn’t seem to mind.”

Mark sensed heat in his cheeks. “If he lays
one hand on her, I’ll take him out.”

“Mark, back off. Meg’s an adult. You’re the
one who fixed her up.”

“That’s because Harley was begging me. Now,
look at him. He’s all over her.” Mark’s blood pressure rose.

“Calm down. He’s your friend, right?”

“I don’t care. I don’t trust him. He’s
practically drooling.”

“Megan looks like a woman who can take care
of herself,” Penny said, tugging on his arm. “You’ll spoil her
evening. She’s having a good time.”

Mark saw his sister laughing and punching
Harley playfully.
Penny’s right, they look happy.
“Okay,
okay. I’ll back off. But if he puts one finger on her in the wrong
place…” He fisted his hand. “Pow!”

“What’s eating you?” Harley asked when Meg
excused herself to go to the ladies room and dragged Penny with
her.

“Don’t get any ideas about seducing my
sister,” Mark growled.

“Hell, she’s seducing me. She’s great! Why
didn’t you tell me about her before?”

“Because I know what a mover you are.”

“She’s of age, Mark. Back off.” Harley’s
smile slipped off his face.

The bowling got competitive as Mark and
Harley faced off. The women chatted and tried to ignore the rivalry
between the men. Mark and Penny beat Harley and Megan. Miffed,
Harley took his date’s arm and headed for his car. They drove off,
leaving Mark hollering after them.

“I don’t know where she’s going. And with
him!”

“Calm down, Mark. Meg can handle herself.
Harley wouldn’t hurt her. I don’t think you have to worry,” Penny
said. “Let’s go back to your place. Maybe they’re headed
there.”

Mark sat behind the wheel and took a deep
breath. His gaze scanned the scenery. “You don’t know what it’s
like. Being responsible. I’ve been taking care of Meg and my mom
since I was fifteen. It gets heavy sometimes. Meg is all I have. If
something happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do.” His voice was
weary.

“Nothing’s going to happen to her. And I do
know exactly how you feel. I took over keeping house for my dad
when my mother died.”

“On top of modeling and high school?” He
turned to face her. She nodded. “I guess we have more in common
that I thought.” He kissed her,then started the motor and put the
car in gear.

About an hour after they arrived back at
Mark’s place, Megan called to say she wasn’t coming home. Mark
screamed at her, and she hollered back and hung up. He poured a
shot of scotch and downed it. Penny came up behind him and massaged
his shoulders.

“Megan wasn’t a very popular girl in college.
She didn’t date much. Always had her nose in a book.” Mark ran his
hand through his hair.

“Unlike you, right?”

“Yeah. So, she doesn’t know how to handle
casual sex. I don’t want her to get hurt. Harley’s not looking for
anything more than a one-night stand. Meg’s not that kind of
girl.”

“I understand. I know you love her, but you
can’t keep her under glass. Someday, she’ll get hurt, but she’ll
get over it. Didn’t you ever get your heart broken?”

“Not really. I was the captain of the
football team in high school and college. I could date anyone I
wanted.”

“You mean screw anyone you wanted.”

“Almost. Yeah.” He leaned forward.

“What if you’re wrong about Harley?” She
moved closer, digging her fingers hard into his tight muscles.

“You think he’s gonna fall for her?”

“You think she’s pretty special.”

“She is. Smartest person I know. Nicest too,
except for you.”

“Maybe Harley’ll feel the same.”

“Maybe. He’d better not hurt her.”

She bent her head to kiss his neck. “Hey,
handsome, how ’bout me? Am I chopped liver?”

“Hell, no. You’re the finest, tenderest filet
mignon ever,” he said, returning the kiss. Standing, he grabbed
Penny, lifting her up into his arms. “Time for bed.” He carried her
into the bedroom and closed the door.

Megan’s visit seemed to fly by. Harley spent
more time with them than Mark would have liked, but he did seem
genuinely attached to Meg. He even showed up at the airport to kiss
her goodbye, despite Mark’s objection.

In just six weeks, Penny and Mark had become
inseparable. They settled into a routine. When she wasn’t shooting
late, they’d be together. Penny cooked, or Mark took her out.
Sometimes, on nights with favorite television programs, they’d
order in. Most evenings they retired early to make love. The sheets
on his bed rarely cooled. Mark had never been happier.

His calm frame of mind showed on the field,
too. Since Penny had come into his life, his confidence solidified.
He knew who he was, and he drove himself harder and harder toward
perfection, believing in his gut he could make first string. The
harder he worked, the more rattled his competitor became. Convinced
he was starter material, Mark let Darvin Sweetwater’s nasty
comments roll off his back.

Mark got up happy every morning, whistled a
cheerful tune on the field, and went home to a gorgeous woman
almost every night, overjoyed to be with her. He was comfortable
with Penny—they played board games, did jigsaw puzzles, and shopped
at the grocery store together. He planned to make their
relationship permanent as soon as he got a break. He needed to be
making a first string salary before he made a commitment.
Everything was going so right until, all of a sudden, life went all
wrong.

The day everything came crashing down on him
was October 8
^th
, a date he’d never forget. Mark walked
toward the locker room as usual on a Tuesday morning. A couple of
guys were coming out, and when he got closer, he noticed them
glance at him furtively then quickly look away. He wondered what
was going on.
Can’t have anything to do with me. My life is
perfect.

The closer he got to his destination, the
stronger his sense of dread, uneasiness running down his spine. A
couple of guys paled when they saw him and turned away. He whipped
his T-shirt over his head and headed for his locker until he
noticed a bunch of his teammates crowded around something on the
far wall.

He heard someone mention his name. When they
saw him, they scattered like roaches in bright daylight, running
for their lives. He approached the wall and stopped about two feet
away, stunned.

There, taped up for all to see, were photos
of Penny, nude. Half a dozen pictures of her naked breasts and her
bare rear end were on display. He bent over to peer more carefully.
It can’t be her. She’d never do that. Sure looks like her. Damn,
it’s Penny.

Humiliation morphed into rage with the speed
of a bolt of lightning. It filled Mark’s gut. He roared like a
lion, ripping the photos down in two swipes. “Who put these up?
Who’s responsible?” he yelled, crushing the pictures in his hand.
His question brought silence and embarrassed faces, gazes that
shifted away from his.

“Who?” he repeated, louder.
Only one
asshole would do this. Sweetwater.

Darvin strutted out of the shower room,
wrapping a towel around his waist. “You called, Davis?”

Mark didn’t stop to think. He didn’t stop to
talk. He simply plowed into the big quarterback, slamming him
against the wall. His fists pounded Darvin, who pushed back. Mark
was beyond reason. He didn’t see. He didn’t hear. Fury propelled
him. He was ready to kill.

Sweetwater defended. Fists flew. Noses were
bloodied. All the men gathered around. Harley and a few others
tried to break it up. One ran for the coach.

It took three trainers to break the two
battling men apart. Sweat mixed with blood poured off them. The
heat of their anger made the room unbearably hot. Blood gushed from
Sweetwater’s nose and Mark’s mouth. Gashes on their chests and
backs bled, and bruises were forming.

“What the hell is the matter with you two?
Are you crazy? Did you break your throwing hand? If you did, your
career is over and you’re outta here!”

The only response was the deep breathing of
the two fighters. Both flexed their fingers.

“What the hell? Is somebody gonna tell me
what this was all about?” One man pointed to the ripped up pictures
scattered on the ground, some with fresh blood on them. The coach
bent to pick them up. Mark was wiping his mouth with his hand.
Coach held up a few picture scraps, trying to piece them together.
Mark ripped them out of the coach’s grasp. “Ah. So, she belongs to
you, eh? What does this have to do with Sweetwater?”

“He put them up, Coach,” Harley
volunteered.

“Why you stupid son-of-a-bitch! What the fuck
do you think you’re doing? Starting a fight is grounds for
suspension.” The coach stared at Darvin then at Mark. “There will
be fines, fines all around, boys. Five grand. And if I ever, and I
mean
ever
, see a fight like this again, both parties will be
suspended, and then dropped from the team. Do you hear me?”

Mark and Darvin nodded. Both men stared at
the floor.

“Do you assholes realize you could have ended
your careers over this? Stupid, fucking, sons of bitches.” The
coach shook his head. “Get yourselves cleaned up. And clean up this
mess, too. You made it. You clean it up.” The coach pointed to the
blood splattered on the floor and walls. He kept mumbling curses as
he walked away.