Mark of a Good Man (7 page)

“That was amazing,” Mark said a long while afterward as they lay in each others arms, face to face, the comforter wrapped about them like a sleeping bag. “It far exceeded my imagination. Thank you for this most beautiful gift, Amber Nolan.” He kissed her forehead, her eyes, the bridge of her nose, her lips.

It was then that Amber allowed herself to think of the enormity of what they’d done. She flattened her palm against Mark’s chest where his heart now beat with a normal rhythm. “I shouldn’t have done this. I feel like I took advantage of you.”

He chuckled, and the sound vibrated through her. “Isn’t that the man’s line after he’s seduced an innocent virgin? Believe me, Amber, darling, I may have been a virgin, but I was not innocent. I think I seduced you.”

She couldn’t argue with that. She would have been quite contended with holding hands, hugging, and kissing, but he’s the one who’d brought out the blanket and the pillow, and dragged her to his beach alcove to have his way with her.

“I didn’t mean to give you any false hope, Mark. I’m not the woman of your dreams. I was already married and I have my children.”

“But you weren’t happy in your marriage. Don’t you think you deserve to be happy?”

“My daughters make me happy?”

He smiled. “I’m sure they do in some aspect, but wouldn’t you like more of what we just shared?” He thrust his hips forward, making her aware of his renewed arousal. “I want more of you, Amber.”

“I don’t think we will work, Mark.”

“How do you know?”

Her heart fluttered on a sigh. She could say because they just met and didn’t know each other. But if she were honest with herself, Amber would have to admit that she knew Mark much better than she knew any other man she’s met. She knew the important things about him that mattered. He was a gentleman, kind, sweet, thoughtful, funny, a great cook, and an exceptional lover.

“I waited thirty-three years for this experience, Amber. I know what I want. What I have, right here, right now, but I’m not going to push you. You’re a mother, and I know your daughters’ needs and happiness come before yours and mine.”

“No, you can’t. Just as the knowing has to be mutual, the desire and willingness to be together must also be mutual. I’m willing to wait, give your mind time to catch up to your heart and soul, and perhaps your body. Tonight we make love until the sun rises.”

“Give me more reasons not to forget you.”

“Put my make on you, all pun intended.” He cradled her in his arms, turned fully on his back, and pulled her on top of him.

“More specifically, inside me, no pun intended,” Amber said as she felt the heat of his full erection pressing against her inner thighs. With a soft moan, she wrapped her legs around his waist as her arms circled his strong broad shoulders. “You’re a mark of a good man, Mark Nolan.” She reached between them and guided him to her moist heat, then lowered her lips to his.

Mark groaned, and thrust upward, entering her at the same time he captured her mouth with his, swallowing her sexy cry of pleasure.

She spent her days taking care of her girls and her business, both of which were flourishing well, but at nights she lay in her big lonely bed thinking about Mark.

It was six months since she’d met him and made love with him on the beach, and she was missing him more and more now that Christmas was upon them. Before they parted ways in Dulcina, he’d promised that he wouldn’t pursue her. He was giving her time to make up her mind about them. They hadn’t even exchanged contact information. He’d told her he’d wait for her then kissed her one last time on the airport before he boarded his flight to Barbados.

She’d kept that secret to herself, even from her best friend who’d moved back to Dulcina for good. Josie and Colby were engaged and had set a wedding date for late February. Amber was to be the Maid of Honor, Paige and Payton Flower Girls, and of course Mark would be Colby’s Best Man.

While they scampered over and pulled out their chairs, Amber flipped the last set of pancakes and got the cartoon of milk from the fridge and two glasses from the cupboard. Her heart swelled with love and affection as she gazed at her beautiful daughters who looked more and more like her everyday.

Josh was a good-looking man, she thought as she poured their milk, but she was happy that except for his pointy chin, the girls didn’t resemble him at all. She couldn’t bear the pain of being reminded of him every time she looked into their faces. They had her brown eyes, instead of his hazel ones, and for that she was grateful.

Since her return from Dulcina, Josh had been coming by more often than usual. It was as if he sensed that she’d been with, and having serious thoughts about another man. He claimed he came by to see the girls because he missed them, but over time, Amber noticed that he spent more time trying to talk with her than he did playing with the girls.

A few weeks ago, he’d tried to kiss her. Amber had stopped him, and warned him never to try that again. He’d claimed that he hadn’t realized how much he needed her until he had lost her. He’d come to realize that love didn’t revolve around sex, but the other way around. There was no satisfaction in his meaningless affairs, anymore. He was ready to grow up and be a full-time dad to his daughters and a faithful husband to her. He’d asked her to forgive him and take him back.

And like a loving mother wanting the best for her daughters, Amber had believed him. Even though her heart and soul cried out for Mark, she wanted the best for her girls. They loved their father and she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for them.

That was until last night when she let herself into Josh’s apartment with the key he’d given her to show her that he could be trusted, and she’d found him with yet another woman. He’d explained that it was a goodbye fling before settling down with her for good. Amber had just thrown the key at him and walked out the door. She didn’t cry. She didn’t laugh. She didn’t sigh. She’d felt nothing but relief. She was free.

Just what she was going to do with that freedom? She had no idea. But she’d called to share her good news with her best friend who’d shouted with joy. And then she’d finally confessed to Josie that she and Mark had made love in Dulcina. Josie quite smugly told her that she’d suspected it all along, but was adhering to her orders of staying out of her business.

“So you mean to tell me inviting me to Dulcina and introducing me to Mark wasn’t a set up all along?” she’d asked Josie.

“Well,” Josie had drawled after an awkward silence. “It was. The minute I met Mark, I knew he would be perfect for you, but I had to make your meeting seem as natural as possible. So, I lied. I lied, and lied. Sue me.”

Amber had just chuckled and said, “I guess girlfriend knows best.”

“Got that right. And don’t you ever forget.”

How could she? Mark was a part of her now, and she had Josie to thank for that. Amber had also told Josie that Mark had said a lot of the right words to her that night, but he’d never said he loved her.

“Mommy.”

The sound of one of her daughter’s voice brought Amber back to reality. She placed the pancakes in two plates, poured syrup over them, and took them over to her daughters. “Eat up,” she said, “then we’ll—”

There was a knock on her door. Amber looked at the clock on the microwave. It was barely seven-thirty. Only one person would dare come knocking on her door this early. Didn’t he get the message when she threw the key at him last night? Well, now was as good a time as any to take back her building key.

“Stay right here,” she said to her girls. “And be quiet. Not a peep out of you.”

They looked at her with wide brown eyes and dug into their pancakes.

Amber pulled her robe tighter around her waist as she marched into the living room. She yanked open the door. “What is it about
NO
that you don’t understand, Jo—”

One of Amber’s hands flew to her mouth and the other to her chest where her heart pounded out of control.

“Hello Amber.”

Mark was the last person she expected to see. Yet there he was, standing at her front door, looking all hot and sexy and full of virility and strength.

His words carried much weight, but his smile made Amber weak as the memories of their night of lovemaking surfaced in her mind. They had surfaced every day for the past six months, but today they were a lot more profound, real, with him standing in front of her.

“May I come in?” he asked.

Amber stepped back from the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to see you. You…you caught me off guard.” She combed her fingers through her hair, wishing she’d washed her face and brushed her teeth already.

“I’ve seen you in a worse state,” he reminded her as he stepped inside and closed the door. He glanced around the living room. “Are you alone?”

Amber glanced warily toward the entrance to the kitchen. Mark was here. Her girls were here. They were going to meet, whether or not she wished it to be.

Mark’s gaze followed hers. “Perhaps I should have called first.”

His dark eyes bore into hers and her fears melted from their tenderness, their sincerity. She had no suspicions about him. It had been six months since she last saw him, and had taken his virginity, and she did not have one shred of doubt that he’d remained faithful to her. Her heart just knew.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him.

“I came to tell you that I love you. I thought I did that night we made love in Dulcina, but apparently I didn’t. I’ve never said these words to any other woman but my mother. I love you Amber Nolan with every fiber of my being. You’re the only woman for me. You’re my first, and you will be my last. You are my Amber Sunset, the last face I want to see when I draw my final breath on this earth.”

For once Amber wanted to kiss Josie instead of slapping her for meddling in her affairs. “Josie called you,” she said to Mark, still afraid to accept the declaration of love he’d just poured out, even though her heart was bursting with euphoria.

He took a step toward her. “Yes. She told me what happened between you and your ex, last night, and I caught the first flight out of Newark.” His eyes searched her face. “My plan was to wait until I saw you in two months at the wedding, but I can’t stay away from you any longer, especially now that I know your heart is free to move on.” He paused and shook his head. “Were you honestly thinking about getting back together with him?”

Amber hung her head. “I was doing it for my daughters.”

“And I admire you for that. It proves your dedication as a mother. But your children will be happy only if you are happy. You make me happy, Amber. Just the thought of you brings a big smile to my face. Can you be happy with me?” He hooked his forefinger under her chin and raised her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Do you love me, Amber?”

“Yes. I love you, Mark Castle. I love you. You make me happy.” The tears were streaming down Amber’s face and she made no attempt to hide them. She’d cried over a lot of things in her life, but she’d never cried over love. It was s different kind of cry.