Mark of a Good Man (5 page)

“Is it all out?” he asked, his lips cracking on a smile.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on your way back to—” She flared her hand when she realized she didn’t even know where he had come from or where he was supposed to go back to this morning.

“I couldn’t leave you like this, seeing that I’m partly to blame for your current condition.”

Holding the cool cloth in place, Amber stood up and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She did a double take. She looked worse than she’d imagined. Her hair was matted to her scalp on one side, her eyes were bloodshot, and the bags under them were as full as a baby’s morning diaper. Two black streaks of ruined mascara ran down the length of her face. She was totally hideous, she thought realizing also that she’d slept in her beautiful dress, and that it now had two giant Killer Bee stains on the front.

“I’m hideous,” she voiced her thoughts out loud as she pulled the rag from her forehead and used it to wipe the ruined makeup from her face.

“Things that are good for you usually do.” He curved his fingers around her hand and guided the glass to her mouth. “Don’t sip it; just drink in down in one long swallow.”

His warm uneven breath tickled the side of her face, reminding her of the intimate encounter with him last night. Amber opened her mouth and downed the liquid in one long swallow just as he’d recommended, then made a sour face as the vile taste lingered in her mouth.

“Good girl,” Mark said, ignoring her disgusted expression and taking the glass from her. He rinsed it out and placed it on the counter, then took her hand and led her back to the bedroom. “Now,” he said, helping her unto the bed, “lie down for a while, and I promise when you get up, the throbbing in your head and the queasiness in your stomach will be gone. You’ll feel like a new woman.”

“But it’s late already and I—”

“Shh.” He pulled the white cotton sheet up around her shoulders, kissed her forehead, and walked out of the room.

Amber frowned at the drawn shades. She hadn’t closed them, but before she could even piece the last few moments of her life together, she was in a deep sleep.

When she awoke, the sun was on the western side of the house, heading south, and just as Mark had promised, her headache and queasy stomach were gone. She rolled over on her back and stared at the ceiling fan as it spun so slowly she could count the blades each time they came around.

In all her thirty years on this planet, Amber had never met a man as sexy, gentle, kind, and sweet as Mark Castle. He was the kind of man every girl dreamed of taking home to their families and rubbing in the jealous faces of their sisters and girl cousins. Alas, she had no family, no jealous sisters or cousins to show him off to. All she had were her girls, and she was definitely not introducing Mark to them.

Amber looked at the clock. It was two o’clock. She had to call her girls. She reached for her cell phone from the nightstand and checked it. They hadn’t called.

Relax. They’re with their father. If there was trouble, they would have called. Call them later. Take care of you. Live a little.

That voice sounded just like Josie’s, Amber thought as she rolled out of bed. She’d had her sleep. She needed a shower. She couldn’t face Mark or anyone else in her present state. On her way to the bathroom, she stopped short. She had no clean clothes. She turned around in frustration, but then crooned with joy when she saw the travel bag on the chair near the door. Rushing over, she opened it and ran her hands over the pieces of silk and cotton clothing inside. She had clean clothes. God bless Josie. She was going to give her thoughtful friend a big hug when next she saw her.

An hour later, after a video chat with her girls, who were at the moment visiting Disney Land and enjoying their vacation with their father and grandparents, Amber left the bedroom and went in search of other human beings.

The house was empty and quiet, but it smelled as if someone had been cooking. Her stomach rumbled, but as much as she wanted to head to the kitchen and devour whatever was causing the amazing aroma, she headed toward the front door, needing to know who else was around—Mark specifically.

She was surprised at the hollow feeling in her chest at the thought that he’d left after taking care of her this morning. She wanted to see him again, if only to thank him, her mind argued, while her heart told her it would be sad if she never saw him again.

As she opened the front door, Amber’s heart did a jig at the sight of Mark sprawled out on a cushioned bench in one corner of the veranda. His eyes were glued to his iPad. A smile of relief burst across her face. “Hi,” she said, stepping unto the veranda. A cool breeze, coming off the ocean, tickled her skin as she walked over to him.

“Hey you,” he said, sitting up and placing the iPad on a low table near the bench. He stood to his feet and looked her over seductively, a smile of approval curving his lips as he took in her attire—a colorful print dress. “Now, that’s the Amber I met yesterday, all bright-eyed and glowing.”

Amber smiled back as she took in his lean body, dressed in white Bahama shorts and a light green shirt. He looked fresh and yummy, but she was keeping that salacious thought to herself. “What are you reading?” she asked, as she commanded her body not to react to the pull the man had on her.

“Thinking of building one,” he said coming over to stand directly in front of her. “There’s some beach property for sale not too far from here. I meant it when I said I wanted to settle down on Dulcina. I just have to convince the woman I plan to marry that it is the prefect place to live and raise our children.”

The light from the sun hit his eyes and they sparkled like black onyx, reminding Amber of the dangerous nature of this enticing man she’d met lest than twenty-four hours ago, yet who had the power to make her doubt her own set of rules—rules she’d written up for her heart’s protection. It was time for her to go home. Well, at least back to the village for now.

“Where are Josie and Colby?” she asked, noticing that both their cars were still parked in the driveway. She was hoping they’d just gone for a swim or a walk along the beach.

“They flew over to St. Johns this morning,” Mark provided.

“But they’re coming back tonight, right?’ she asked in a panic as her mind traveled back to the last time she and Mark were alone, right here on this very veranda. Josie could not do this to her.

“They’ll be back tomorrow morning. Josie promises to be on time for your flight back to New York.”

Amber took a moment to let the news sink in.
Okay
. She could manage without Josie for one night. She’ll just go on back to the village and stay with her family. It was only for one day, anyway. “Well, I guess I’ll hang out with her parents and Monica until she returns. I’ll drive her car back to the village and—”

“I’m sorry, but they went to St. Jude this morning.”

Amber crossed her arms and clenched her teeth. “I can’t believe this. Josie set me up. She set us up.”

Mark frowned. “I don’t think so, Amber. Colby’s brother called last night after you went to bed. His wife had just given birth to their first child. Colby’s parents and siblings went with them to St. Johns, and I think the Hamiltons already had plans to go to St. Jude today. Josie tried to wake you this morning, but—”

“I was wasted.”

“Something like that. She had Monica pack you a bag and her father dropped it off.”

She glanced warily at Mark, feeling like an idiot for voicing her thoughts that they had been set up. As if Mark needed to be set up. “You were supposed to leave this morning, too. Why didn’t you?”

“I offered to stay and take care of you.”

I wish you hadn’t. You’re complicating my life.
“That was very nice of you.” She offered him a grudging smile. “That concoction you made me drink was nasty, but it did the trick. What was it?”

“It’s a family secret. I knew you’d need it after you took that carafe of Killer Bee. So I made it last night. But if you ever need it again, just give me a call.”

“Believe, me, I’m not ever doing that again. No more Killer Bee for me. Ever.”

“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself. I came on a little too strongly. I scared you, and I’m sorry. So to make up for my shortcoming, I made us dinner reservations at Euolie Beach. A local band is playing there tonight. We can watch the sunset as we eat and talk.”

“I don’t think I can wait that long to eat,” Amber said, rubbing her hand across her rumbling stomach. “I’m starving.”

“As I expect you would be.” Mark walked over to the table and picked up a cover from a dish. “I made you a shrimp and bean salad, and I picked up some fresh raisin rolls from that bakery in Craddock Road. I heard your love them.” He gestured for her to come over to the table and held her chair as she sat down.

“That’s what smells so good,” Amber said grabbing her fork and immediately digging into the salad. “You made this?” she asked talking around a mouthful.

“Yes. It’s one of my specialties. You like it?” He poured her a glass of chilled water, then sat down across from her and uncovered his own dish.

“It’s delicious.” Amber took another bite then sipped from the water glass. “You can make shrimp and bean salads for me any day.” She picked up a raisin roll and took a big bite, not caring that she may look like a pig shoveling down the food. The man had seen her with her face buried in a toilet bowl, and he was still around.

Mark grinned at her enthusiasm as he picked up his fork. “Too bad you’re going back to New York tomorrow. But just say the word, and I’ll be in your kitchen in a New York minute, shrimp and bean salad in hand.”

Amber’s composure once again became a fragile shell around her. If she weren’t careful, this man was going to steal her heart right out of her chest.

* * *

After their late, but light lunch, they drove into Charlestown and visited some local shops and boutiques where Amber bought souvenirs for her employees, and added to her collection for her girls.

After shopping, they visited the Alexander Hamilton House Museum, where Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasurer of the United States was born. That was a bit of Dulcinan history Amber learned when she arrived on the island. They drove into the country and took a walk through the spectacular Botanical Gardens, and then visited Montpelier Estate where the British Lord, Horatio Nelson married a Dulcinan, Fannie Nisbet back in the eighteen hundreds. They also visited the Lord Horatio Nelson Museum where the largest collection of his memorabilia in the New World is reportedly stored, and the Fig Tree Anglican Church where the Nelson’s marriage was recorded, and where the certificate was still on display.

Dulcina was steeped in history that was closely tied to the United States and Great Britain, and Mark eagerly filled in the blanks for Amber. It was all very fascinating, and Amber was happy to have him as a historical, and charming guide.

Amber also learned more about Mark’s childhood in Barbados, about his older brothers and their families. He had four nephews and two nieces whom he seemed to adore. Amber gave him a glimpse of her childhood growing up in New York with a single mother from whom she’d inherited BiBi’s Flowers four years ago when her mother died from bacterial meningitis. And like any proud mother, she talked about her girls, about whom Mark asked a litany of questions.

Not once did he ask about her failed marriage, and she reciprocated by not mentioning his virginity, even though the thought of their passionate kiss last night and the possibility of making love with him tonight surfaced in her mind several times.

Later that evening, they enjoyed a delicious dinner of curried chicken, ginger-glazed grilled Mahi Mahi, rice, and an assortment of local vegetables at Euolie Beach. By the time the waiter came to clear away their dessert dishes, the sun was dipping behind the horizon, casting the sky into a golden orange globe.

“It’s my favorite time of the day,” Amber said, leaning back in her chair, and taking a sip of her Ting, spiced with a dash of Angostura Bitters.

Mark planted his elbows on the table and leaned closer to her. “Do you want to watch it here or back at the house?” His dreamy eyes danced with promises of more delightful moments in his arms.

Amber knew she’d probably live to regret it. In fact, her mind told her there was a ninety-nine percent chance that she would. But after the way Mark had taken care of her this morning—specifically how he’d pulled her hair back from her face in the bathroom, pressed a cool rag to her forehead, then helped her back to bed, her body was saying she should let him close again. He’d seen her at her possibly worse, and he’d called her beautiful.

What a man!

Besides, it wasn’t like he would be inclined to make love to her anyway. The man was saving himself for marriage, and she had no intentions of marrying him. In the meantime, a little bit of smooching, touching, and handholding wasn’t going to hurt either one of them. She loved the way he made her feel. It was something she could take back to New York with her. In fact, her heart was overflowing with wonderful memories to take back home. She didn’t known it was possibly to build so many memorably moments in a single day. Already, she felt as if she’d lived a lifetime with this man she’d met, just a little over twenty-four hours ago.