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“Next, please.”
She placed her lunch on the counter with a fleeting nod to the cashier. Mark stepped up beside her, pulling out his wallet. “Let me get this. And could you add an Asian Vegetable broth, too, please?”
“You don’t have to pay for mine.”
“I want to.”
Alex fiddled with her wallet’s zipper. “Thanks.”
Mark picked up the ladybug box. “That’s not another cheese sarnie, is it? I’m going to start calling you Mouse.”
She giggled and playfully smacked his arm. A silly grin crept across his face as he handed money to the clerk.
Alex chose the cozy banquette against the wall. Mark sat on the white chair across from her.
“It must have felt like a marching band pounding through your head on Saturday morning. You drank us all under the table.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.” Alex popped open the ladybug box. “I’m swearing off booze. My behaviour at the club…I’m surprised you’re still speaking to me.”
“Considering what you went through with your ex, I couldn’t possibly pass judgment. A surprise like that is never easy.” Mark smiled warmly but didn’t make eye contact as he swirled his spoon in the steamy broth.
“But still. I should’ve known better. I was…inappropriate.” She chewed a small bite. If the increasing burn in her cheeks was anything to go by, they must’ve been scarlet red. “I’m sorry, Mark.”
“I’m not.” He looked up with a smirk, and a twinkle in his eye.
Alex exhaled, her cheeks relaxing into a wide smile. Mark enjoyed their kiss! The desire to clear the table of plates and bowls with a single sweep of her forearm and leap across to meet his soft lips, short-circuited her thoughts. Hungry café patrons carting trays stacked with cookies, coffees, and sandwiches, squeezed between tables and behind Mark’s chair, creating an undulating wall between them and the restaurant. So tempting. If only they weren’t at work…
Mark’s eyes lingered, inviting her closer. He rested his hand on hers, its warmth passing through her body like an electric current. “Lex, you know I like you, and I was wondering––”
A tall, thin woman with light brown skin snaked behind Mark, swishing her shiny long black hair away from her face. In a single motion, she crouched down and dropped her slender fingers over his eyes. Mark flinched, his tender clasp of Alex’s hand forsaken.
“Hey, Keegan. Guess who?”
His eyes masked, she twisted around and planted her plump lips on his mouth. When he squirmed, she released him, her fingers trespassing through his hair. With a satisfied smile, she swooped into the neighbouring chair.
Alex’s eyes bugged out of her head. Who the hell was this?
Mark wiped her gooey red lipstick off his mouth with the back of his hand, his wide eyes betraying his embarrassment.
The woman rambled between breaths. “I’m so glad I found you! That part? The indie flick—it’s mine! If you hadn’t worked my shifts, I would’ve missed the auditions. Thanks, babe.”
“Oh…” Mark didn’t know where to look. “I didn’t think I’d see you today. Weren’t you off filming an advert?”
“Nah, the director’s sick. It’s been put off until next week.”
Mark hesitated, then placed his hand—the one that was just holding Alex’s hand—on the smoocher’s back. “Alex Sinclair, meet Naomi Khan. Naomi, this is Alex.”
“Hi, nice to meet you,” said Naomi.
Alex’s eyes darted from the brazen gatecrasher to Mark and back again. This girl was a total stunner, so exotic looking and friendly—so friendly that she placed her hand on Mark’s upper thigh. Alex blinked several times to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks. Nope. Actually, did Naomi’s hand just slide further towards his crotch? Alex’s stomach curdled. This chick wasn’t subtle at all.
“Naomi just got back from a ten-month gig with the touring production of Kinky Boots,” said Mark, shifting in his seat. “Alex’s a playwright from Florida. You visited Florida, right?”
“We did. Performed in Miami. Extremely generous audiences. I loved it there,” said Naomi.
Alex bit her cheek. Great—so why didn’t you stay there?
Naomi faced Mark straight on. Her enviable breasts strained against her tight red top. Come to think of it, this girl would make the perfect Victoria’s Secret Angel; striking, tall with long slim legs…a total nightmare.
