Ch 12

The next day Stacy and Mark arrived back at the house in the early evening. Mark was planning to start packing right away but Stacy insisted he relax and have dinner then tomorrow they would pack up his things together. He was sitting on the back deck playing catch with the dogs when he heard a crashing sound.

"Stacy!" he ran into the house screaming her name as his heart beat frantically in worry.

"I'm in here," she called out from a guest room off the kitchen. He hurried into the room finding her holding a box up while two others lay at her feet. He took a deep breathe in relief seeing she was unharmed.

"What are you doing?" he asked pushing the box up on the shelf looking at her.

"Adam uses this room to store things. He knows I rarely come in here so I thought I might find something," she looked around at the mess she had made going through numerous boxes. "I'm driving myself nuts," she huffed slamming the lid on a box.

"If there is any kind of documents that prove what he is up to, I would bet any amount that he has them with him. He is not going to risk leaving stuff like that behind," Mark said putting boxes back on the shelves.

"I know you're right but I can't stop myself from searching every nook of this house."

"You need a distraction," Mark looked at her.

"I don't think anything can distract my mind right now," she frowned picking up papers and putting them back.

"Hmmm sounds like a challenge," Mark rubbed his chin thinking for a moment.

"Mark, what are you thinking?" she stopped what she was doing searching his green eyes.

"Just I'm in the mood for a good challenge. Let's finish up here then we'll see if I can come up with something," he said seeing her start to open her mouth to protest. He crossed the distance between them placing his finger gently against her lips. "No trying to convince me not to, okay?" He saw the conflict in her eyes feeling her lips tremble under his touch. She nodded okay making him smile. "Thanks Stacy," he slowly removed his finger giving her a big handsome smile and kiss on the cheek before returning to putting things away. Stacy turned away touching her cheek feeling a mix of emotions from the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach knowing it wasn't right to be feeling them but deep inside she couldn't deny she liked the feeling Mark gave her.

After everything was put back in its place, Mark took Stacy's hand leading her into the living room motioning for her to sit down.

"I need you to stay put till I call you," he paused seeing her tense. "Hey remember no protesting. I'll be right back just relax," he handed her the newspaper to read on his way into the kitchen. She watched him go fighting the urges to follow. She tried to scan the paper and ignore all the interesting sounda. She heard his footsteps coming through the dining room. "I'm just passing through. You can keep on reading. I'm sure there has to be an interesting story or two to distract from all what is he doing thoughts and questions," he smirked hearing her let out a low frustrated sigh. He looked over just in time to see her smile happily as she spread the paper on the coffee table.

It felt like hours passed instead of minutes as she waited to hear him call for her. Her curiosity was out of control at every noise she heard him make. She tossed the paper to the side leaning back against the fluffy soft sofa looking around the room. Her eyes drifted to the photo of her and Adam on their honeymoon in Hawaii. She wrapped her arms around herself feeling sadness consuming her soul again as she looked at their smiling faces. A tear ran down her cheek as she wondered if they would ever be able to be happy again.

"Stacy, are you okay?" Mark's soothing voice broke her thoughts as she looked up into his mesmerizing eyes. He reached down brushing her tear away.

"I'll be fine," she stood up turning the photo of her and Adam over.

"Hopefully my surprise will help," he grinned taking her hand pulling her towards the kitchen. He stopped as they neared the sliding door with its curtain pulled shut leading to the deck. "I need you to just forget about everything and enjoy tonight. Can you do that for me?"

"I will try my best," she said excited to see what he had come up with.

"Hmm not sure if that is good enough maybe I shouldn't open this curtain," he rubbed his chin giving her a teasing smile.

"Come on," she stomped her foot smiling. "What will it take to get you to open it?" She asked never taking her eyes from his. He stared into her eyes for a few moments not able to stop smiling seeing the twinkle of delight in her eyes.

"Simple just close your eyes," he said squeezing her hand lightly. She nodded ok closing her eyes tightly. She slightly jumped when she felt his warm hand go over her eyes and his strong powerful arm around her waist. "I want to make sure you don't peek," his low voice gave her unexpected goose bumps. He noticed her reaction feeling a wave of emotions realizing she might feel about him like he did about her. He pushed the thoughts away opening the curtain and door gently guiding her out on the deck. His eyes did one more approving look before he removed his hand from her eyes. "Ok Stacy you can look." Stacy slowly opened her eyes feeling her breath catch in her throat as she saw what he had done. "I thought a movie under the stars would be an excellent distraction," he leaned down whispering near her ear again. Stacy was still taking in all he had done to distract her. He had set up his 60 inch LCD TV with the mattresses from his two futons in front of it covered in mountains of pillows. He had bowls of popcorns, pretzels, candies, and soda sitting on the table close by.

"Oh my, this is amazing," she looked around again then up into his eyes feeling her heart race rapidly. "I love your surprise. I can't believe you did this all for me. Thank you so much," she hugged him tightly kissing his cheek.

"Anytime Stacy, I just want you to relax even if it's only for a few hours. You have helped me so much with this divorce mess," he squeezed her gently smiling.

"That's what friends are for to help one another through rough times," she softly said looking up into his eyes. He held her gaze for a few moments till she slowly stepped away sitting down on the pillows.

"I hope you like the movie. If you don't we can change it," he said turning off the outside lights and grabbing the remote. She just gave him a smile adjusting all the pillows before leaning back on them. He hit the play button sitting down next to her.

"You made the right choice. I love this movie. I've always planned to watch all three ocean's movies at once but never get around to it," she said as Ocean's Eleven started.

"Well there is no time like the present. We can watch all of them tonight unless you don't want to stay up too late," Mark laid down on his side resting his head on his hand looking at her.

"All I have planned tomorrow is helping a certain big fellow move so I guess I can stay up late unless he wants to start moving early in the morning," she grinned.

"Hmm let me think about this getting up at the crack of dawn to move or staying up half the night watching movies with a pretty lady eating junk food till we both end up on sugar highs," he rubbed his chin making her laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Just picturing you on a sugar high, you're always so calm it would be fun to see you acting like a big kid."

"Well maybe you'll get to see that tonight after we watch all the movies," he chuckled as the movie started.

They watched the first two movies mainly in silence every once and awhile chatting about what was happening in the movie. Mark put on the third movie noticing Stacy was looking tired as she leaned her head against the pillows.

"Someone is getting sleepy," he said grabbing a blanket and putting it over her.

"Maybe," she softly responded.

"No maybe about it. I bet you'll be asleep before the movie is over," he laid back down next to her on his side facing her.

"What do you want to bet?"

"If you fall asleep you make me breakfast tomorrow if I'm wrong I'll cook."

"Sounds fair Mark, you have a bet," she stretched out her legs brushing them against his.

"Are you still cold?" he asked.

"A little bit," she pulled the blanket closer around her. Mark looked at her for a moment wanting to say something but he was afraid too. "What's the matter Mark?"

"Umm you can move closer to me if you want," he suggested trying to hide his nervousness from her. He didn't want to do anything that was out of line. Stacy looked into him for a few minutes while her mind said not too and another feeling urged her too. She gave into the urge turning on her side pressing her back against him feeling the warmth of his body as he covered them both with the blanket then laid his arm over her waist. They didn't say another word as feelings they both knew they shouldn't be feeling crawled through their hearts from being so close.