Mark (In the Company of Snipers Book 2) (26 page)

“You’ll have two black eyes by the morning.”

“Cool, huh?” He grinned through the bloody tissues.

Judy frowned, both hands on her hips. “Cool?”

“Yeah. My Libby’s just like her Mom” Sick as she was, he was proud that his girl had a mean left hook. “She doesn’t know how to quit. You’ll see.”

Libby squeaked one eye open, waking slowly. The cellophane crackle of congestion in her lungs was gone, along with her strength. Still, she felt better. Breathing was one of those things people took for granted. Not her. Not today. Pulling in a full breath, she eased into a sitting position.

Poor Mark. The room was dark, but there he was, sprawled in the recliner, a curled fist to his forehead and sound asleep.
Aw. How sweet.

Libby pushed her tangled hair out of her eyes, really wanting to brush her teeth. That had to be a sign that she was better, wasn’t it? Several bright bouquets decorated the desk and countertops. An especially elegant crystal vase filled with the prettiest roses she had ever seen occupied her nightstand. Those had to be from Mark. Red roses for love – but no toothpaste anywhere in sight.

Libby reached for her water bottle, shaking with the extremely small effort it took to reach it. Even the room temperature water in her bottle tasted good. She took another breath and planned accordingly. If she took it slow and easy, she could make it to the bathroom and have her teeth brushed in no time, maybe run a comb through her messy hair, too. After all, there was a man in her room. It wouldn’t do for him to see her like this.

At least the bed rail was already lowered, one less obstacle. She eased the covers off and pulled her hospital gown over her knees. Her plans came to a screeching halt. She pulled the blankets and sheet back over her legs, feeling foolish. A student nurse should’ve known better. Sick people have catheters.
Darn. I’m not going anywhere.

“Going somewhere?” Dark eyes smiled from across the room. Mark hadn’t moved an inch, but he was awake and watching, a definite smirk on his handsome face. Had he seen?

“I need a toothbrush and,” she answered hoarsely, “I want to use the bathroom.”
And a shower wouldn’t hurt. I reek.

He arched his back and stretched, both hands over his head. Ah, that body. Yeah. She must be feeling better. The sight of him working the sleep out of his muscles and joints was just plain delicious. Sheesh. Flat abs, tight shirt across his muscular chest, dark mussed hair and sleepy eyes – the man was handsome down to his stocking feet.

Her stomach gurgled.
Oh, and I’m hungry too.

“Step on it, Mark.” she teased with her raspy voice. “I want to get out of here. Today would be nice.”

“You are feeling better.” He placed both hands on his knees as he pushed out of the chair.

Now that she could see him better, she blinked, not sure what she was looking at. “What happened to you?”

He crossed the room in a few quick steps and sat on the edge of her bed, winking through two black eyes and a strip of flesh-colored tape over the bridge of his nose. “I learned a very important lesson last night.”

“Oh, my gosh. Who hit you?” She cupped his cheek in her palm.

“You did.” He took her bandaged hand in his and raised it to his lips for a quick kiss. The smile on his face took her breath.

“I hit you?”

“You didn’t mean to, but yeah. You’ve got a mean left hook.”

“Why? How?” She didn’t know where to start.

“Forget it.” He grinned. “But now I know. When you want fudge, I’d better jump. You said to get a couple dozen roses while I was at it. Guess I was a little slow and—”

“I didn’t do that.” She knew better. He was teasing. If there was one lesson the Clifton girls learned early, it was to keep their hands to themselves. She had never hit anyone in her life. Well, okay, maybe that mean rooster in the hen house, but he had it coming.

“Oh, yes you did.” The smile on this handsome guy’s face drew her in. He leaned in for a kiss and her morning-breath alarm went off. She ducked her head into her shoulders and covered her lips with the edge of the sheet. No way was he getting any closer with her teeth still furry and her mouth full of halitosis.
No way.

Her heart stalled. He was irresistible, and she had punched him, and he did have two black eyes that made him look rakishly good, and—

Oh, my gosh. Okay. Just this once.

She met him halfway. His lips grazed hers, soft and incredibly tender. All her good intentions melted. She wrapped both arms around his neck and a nice, warm tingle invaded her chest, telegraphing sparks all the way to her toes.

He smiled against her lips. “Yep. You’re definitely feeling better.”

“I told you we should’ve knocked.”

Libby pulled back, her arms still latched around Mark’s neck. Kelsey and Alex stood at her open door. They looked as surprised as she was.

“Hi,” she offered weakly, but she didn’t let go of her man, and he didn’t let go of her.

“We’re kind of busy here, Boss,” Mark said. “Could you two come back a little—”

“No.” Libby bit her lip.
Oh, my gosh.
Her face had to be ten shades of red. It felt hot enough. “Come in. We were just—”

“I’ve got eyes. I see what you were doing.” Alex smirked that cheeky smile of his and waved her explanation off.

Mark still hadn’t moved. Instead, he bumped her with his hip, so she made room for him to sit. Wow. He was sitting on her bed; his leg stretched along the length of hers like it was no big deal. Sure, there were plenty of blankets between them, but, wow. He was sitting on her bed, and she was in it—with him. A vague memory flitted through her mind so fast she couldn’t catch hold of it. Had he done this before? Come to think of it, what day was it? How long had she been in the hospital?

“Can you spare a few minutes to talk shop?” Alex asked Mark, one brow arched as he nodded toward the door. “Unless you kids are too busy.”

“Sure.” Mark planted a quick kiss into her hair before he bounced off the bed and followed his boss into the hall.

Kelsey came to her side. “My goodness. That new antibiotic did wonders. You look a hundred percent better.”

“I feel good.” Libby ran a hand through her tangled locks. “How long have I been in here?”

“A couple days.” Kelsey sat beside her. “You had a relapse. Scared the daylights out of us, especially Mark.”

“And I hit him?” Libby still couldn’t believe she had really done that.

“I think you bumped his nose by accident. He was trying to calm you in the middle of a nightmare. That’s all.”

Libby blew out a big breath. Her memory had turned into Swiss cheese with lots of holes.

“Would you mind if I brushed your hair?”

“Oh, please. Yes.” Libby glanced at the bathroom door. “Do you think there’s a toothbrush and toothpaste around here?”

“I’ll check. I brought some clothes for you when you’re ready to leave, too.”

“I’m ready now.” Libby breathed out a big sigh.
I’m so ready. My Mom needs me. I want to go home.

By the time the men returned, her breath was minty fresh, and her hair was tamed within the braid piled high on her head. She was on her way to a full recovery. The minute a nurse showed up, that catheter thingee was a goner, and Libby would be halfway out the door and on her way home.

Mark stood at the end of her bed with his boss, their eyes twinkling like they shared a secret. Kelsey sat in the chair next to her, and Libby had to admit, she was getting tired. The simple things she’d just done had worn her out. Her hopes were fading. Even without the catheter, her doctor would probably not let her leave yet. Her emotions were getting the best of her.
I want my Mom.

“I don’t know.” Alex studied her intently. “It may be too soon.”

“No.” Mark beamed. “She can do it. Trust me.”

Libby sighed. These guys were teasing, and she wasn’t up to it. All her previous energy had fled. She bit her lip. “What’s going on?”

“Alex wants to take you home today,” Kelsey said quietly.

“He does?” Okay, that worked wonders. Libby straightened. “Great. I’m ready.”

“No, you’re not.” Mark came to her side. “You’re still sick, so there are conditions.”

Libby looked to Alex.

“You will have a full-time nurse,” he said evenly.

She nodded. “Okay. What else?”

“You’ll have to do what she tells you to do.” A smile tugged at his lips.

“I can do that,” she agreed quickly, anything to get out of this place.

There was that smirk again. The man could be so annoying. Something else was still unsaid, and she was too tired to play along. At last Alex spoke again. “Mark will stay with you.”

Best plan ever!

“Mom. I’m home.”

Mark angled Libby through the completely restored front door of her parent’s home. Like the stubborn woman he was learning she could be, she had wanted to walk instead of him carrying her. He might not be the brightest bulb in the box, like Harley would say, but he was no dummy. A man didn’t pass up the chance to carry a pretty woman.

Rosemary had her daughter in her arms in short order. He turned to view the restoration work, so they wouldn’t see his face and know that he was as emotional as they were.

True to his word, Alex had stepped in and completely restored the Clifton home before Rosemary had a second to think twice. The porch was rebuilt with new wicker furniture exactly like Mark remembered. Another hundred-year old oak door barricaded the entrance, and somehow, Alex had managed to replace the brass doorknob with the exact same fixture that had been lost in the fire. Several rooms still needed painting, but for now, Jerry and Marie rested comfortably in their own beds. Two private nurses ensured Rosemary had plenty of help, and another followed to provide care to Libby.

Libby’s father shuffled out of the kitchen, and before he knew it, Mark was shaking his hand. Jerry’s hand seemed thinner, his grasp firm, but not as strong as before. If Mark thought Rosemary and Libby were emotional, now he faced the man who’d thought he had lost two daughters.

Jerry gripped Mark’s shoulder with his other hand and shook his head, breathing hard from his short walk.

“Morning, Mr. Clifton.” Mark hoped that would be enough, but Jerry kept shaking his head. A single tear trickled down his cheek. Mark gritted his teeth. He’d done enough crying.

“Son,” Jerry ground the word out.

The battle was lost. Mark couldn’t hold back his feelings. Tears filled his eyes, too.

Libby Clifton was home, safe and sound.

Mark sprawled across the huge four-poster bed alongside Libby, the same as he’d done every day since she had come home from the hospital. Rosemary had set him up in his own room down the hall, but he was never far away. If Libby needed her curtains opened to let in the sun, he was the man for the job. He helped her walk down the hall to the bathroom, and made sure she was steady on her feet before he closed the door to give her privacy. Happy to help and willing to do anything she needed, he catered to her like she was queen and fairytale princess all rolled into one.

Because—she was.

They had just returned from a short walk around the yard. She’d wanted to see how everything looked since the painters had finished. By now, her parent’s home looked more like it belonged in the
Better Homes and Gardens
magazine instead of the rural town of Spencer, Wisconsin. Alex insisted it was the least they could do, and Mark was proud of his boss.

As Mark lounged next to her with the latest copy of
Field and Stream
under his nose, Libby pushed her hip against him. She was getting stronger every day. Instead of needing a nap, the walk they had taken energized her. Her color was good, her breathing back to normal, and keeping his hands to himself was getting more and more difficult. Judging by the second hip-bump he just received, she had the same problem.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” He looked up from his reading, trying and failing to look stern.

She shot him that dazzling smile and promptly pushed him flat to his back. Hopeful anticipation lit her eyes. Before he knew what hit him, her lips covered his. This wasn’t their usual little kiss that he had settled for while she was recuperating though. No. She kissed him slowly and thoroughly, letting her tongue explore his lips before she pressed him for more. And then a little more. With each tender thrust of her body, she made her intentions perfectly clear.

“Come here, you,” he whispered huskily.