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Chapter 13

Kelly woke the next morning and she instinctively reached out for Mark, only to find that he wasn't there beside of her. Surprised, she rose from the bed and went in search of him. Exiting her room, she stopped just beyond the threshold, surprised to see him stretched out on her couch, still sound asleep. His feet were draped amusingly over the end of the sofa and she wondered, curiously, why he hadn't stayed in the bed with her. She thought that perhaps he was trying to give her some space while she considered what he had asked from her and she smiled as she decided that he might not be such a bad guy after all.

She tiptoed to the kitchen, trying to be quiet so she wouldn't wake him. Feeling hungry, she decided to fix them some breakfast. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside, grabbing a pack of bacon and the carton of eggs and placing them on the counter. Turning around to retrieve a pan from the cabinet beside the stove, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Mark standing there watching her.

"Shit! Don't do that! You scared the hell out of me!" she fussed, her hand over her heart. "Two minutes ago, you were laying there on the couch sound asleep. How in the hell can somebody your size be that quiet anyway?"

"Sorry darlin' I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doin' anyway?" he asked with a grin. He could tell she was feeling better. She was definitely getting some of her old spark back.

"I was going to make breakfast. But now after you've scared the livin' hell out of me, I might just let you go hungry!" she joked, even as she opened the pack of bacon and turned on the stove.

Mark grinned at her as she placed the bacon in the frying pan. She smiled back as she tried to sneak a peek at him.

"What were you doing on the couch this morning anyway? You could've shared the bed with me. It's not like you haven't done it before." she asked, glancing at him again as he paused.

"Well, before, I didn't give you much of a choice." he replied. "And I told you last night, the decision is yours. The next time I share your bed, it'll be because you want me to."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a quick shower. Sleeping on that damn couch all night just about broke my damn neck!" he added, rubbing it for emphasis as he walked away.

Kelly watched him disappear into her bedroom, momentarily stunned by his answer. What on earth had gotten in to him? She wondered for a moment if maybe aliens had kidnapped him and put another man in his body while she had been unconscious at the hospital.

She pondered his words, the scales beginning to tilt ever so slighty in his favor. Perhaps he'd truly been serious when he told her he wanted another chance with her. It certainly seemed like he was trying awfully hard to get on her good side, but she couldn't help but wonder how long it would last. With both of their quick tempers, she knew they had the potential to drive each other up the wall. She felt it was only a matter of time until things blew up in their faces.

Well, I guess if he's going to try hard to make things work, maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt, she thought. Who knows what might happen?

Staring again at the empty doorway, she shrugged her shoulders before turning her attention back to their breakfast cooking on the stove.

By the time Mark emerged from the bathroom, still clad only in his sweatpants, breakfast was ready. As with their dinner the previous night, they made small talk while they ate, Kelly finding it very hard to keep her gaze from wandering to his bare chest while she spoke to him. When they were done eating, Mark insisted on helping her do the dishes and he was elbow deep in water when the doorbell rang.

They glanced at each other momentarily and Kelly tossed the dishtowel on the counter as she started toward the door.

"It's probably George. He probably stopped by to make sure we haven't killed each other yet." she laughed, as she unhooked the chain and pulled the door open.

Gasping loudly, she froze when she saw her mother standing on the other side.

"Oh my goodness, dear! Are you alright?" she asked, rushing forward and grabbing Kelly in a big hug.

Stunned, Kelly couldn't bring herself to return the gesture.

"Mom, I'm fine." she stated calmly. "What are you doing here?"

Her mother released her and took a step back, smoothing out her clothes as she did so.

"I heard about the fire. I was just worried about you. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine Mom. Really." Kelly repeated, still shocked that her mother had even bothered to visit.

"Well, I heard that the fire was intentionally set." her mother added. "Do you have any idea who could have done such a ..."

Kelly quickly glanced at her mother again when she heard her voice trail off. Following her gaze, she realized that her mother was now staring at Mark, who was standing behind her, still bare-chested, his tattoos in plain sight for her mother to see. She flashed Mark a helpless look before turning her attention back to her mother.

"Uh, Mom, I'd like you to meet Mark Callaway. Mark this is my mother, Blanche Deveraux."

"I think we've met once before." Mark replied, glaring coldly at the woman, making no move forward to shake her hand.

The woman looked him up and down, then, ignoring him completely, she turned her attention back to Kelly.

"I'd like a word with you in private. Now!" she ordered, as she turned and headed toward the bedroom.

Kelly gave Mark an apologetic glance before she followed her mother into her room and closed the door.

"What in God's name is that awful man doing here in your apartment?" she demanded, even before the door had clicked shut.

"He's a friend mom. He's just making sure that I'm alright after everything that happened." Kelly replied.

"Well, did he forget to dress himself this morning? In case you didn't notice, he's almost naked. And those tattoos. Please tell me you haven't lowered yourself to sleeping with that kind of man!"

"And just what do you mean that kind of man! You don't know anything about him!" Kelly shot back. "As a matter of fact, he's the reason I'm still here. He followed me into a burning building and saved my life. But maybe since you don't think he's good enough for me, maybe I should have just refused to let him help me."

"That's not what I meant." her mother replied, surprised by the anger she heard in her daughter's voice.

"That's exactly what you meant. He's not worthy enough to save my life, right? I should have just let him leave me there to die! I should have just told him he wasn't good enough to save me! Then I wouldn't be here having this stupid conversation with you!"

"Kelly, calm down." her mother pleaded. "I'm just looking out for your well-being. I just don't want to see you get hurt…"

Kelly jerked the bedroom door open and stalked back to the front door, with her mother right on her heels. She opened the front door and motioned toward it as her mother continued to speak.

"Kelly please. Just listen to me. We can work this out.."

"I'm through listening to you Mom. I want you to leave. Now!" Kelly stated as she motioned toward the door again.

Her mother shot one last contemptuous glare at Mark, before storming out the door. Slamming the door behind her, Kelly felt the tears coming to her eyes again. What had she ever done to deserve such a horrible family? She jumped when she felt Mark's arms wrap around her waist.

"I'm sorry darlin'" he whispered softly, as he pulled her tightly against him.

Kelly turned into his chest and let the tears fall, unashamed to let Mark see her in this condition. In fact, she was once again grateful for his presence. Somehow, with him there, it made things seem so much better. For the first time since she had known him, she realized she was finally looking forward to having him in her life.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

They spent the rest of the day together, Mark trying his best to lift her spirits. Still upset over her mother's visit and finally coming to terms with the fact that the business she'd worked so hard to save was now gone, she just seemed so disheartened. He tried his best to convince her that she could always rebuild the barn. That if her customers were truly satisfied with her performance, they'd be there waiting on her when she was back up and running again. But for the first time since he'd met her, it seemed as if she'd lost all interest in trying to salvage her dreams. Much to his surprise, she even told him she didn't feel like it was worth it anymore.

He made her lunch and made sure that she ate every bite, before she slipped off to her room to take a nap. He settled her into the bed, then stretched out on the couch and flipped through the channels on the television, trying to find something to watch. He was just starting to doze himself, when a knock on the door jolted him awake.

It better not be that old hag again, he thought, his blood boiling as he strode across the room and jerked open the door, prepared to give Kelly's mother a piece of his mind if it was. Instead, he found a confused George, who'd jumped back a good five feet as the door was so forcefully opened.

George glared at Mark in surprise. He'd only wanted to come by and check on Kelly, just to make sure she was alright but the last thing he expected to find was Mr. Callaway answering her door. And half-naked at that. For a brief moment, his anger turned to shock, when he saw the tattoos that covered Mr. Callaway's arms and stomach. Like Kelly, George would have never envisioned Mr. Callaway as the type to have one tattoo, let alone be covered in them. But once he regained his composure, his shock once again turned to fury. It was obvious that he was making himself right at home in Kelly's apartment and that thought made his blood boil even more.

"What in the hell are you doin' here?" George snapped, as he pushed his way past him to get inside.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Mark closed the door and turned to face the other man. The last thing Kelly needed right now was for him to get into another shouting match with George.

"I'm here to take care of Kelly. She's still weak from her ordeal and I just want to make sure that nothing happens to her."

"I'm sure you do." George replied sarcastically. "You just couldn't wait to move in here and take advantage of her when she's so vulnerable, could you?"

"I'm only trying to look out for her well-being. That's it. I have no intentions of doing anything to hurt her." Mark answered.

"Don't stand there and lie to me, Mr. Callaway. I may be nothin' but an old washed up farmhand, but I'm not stupid. I can see exactly what you're doin'. You were the one that set that fire and almost killed her, and now you get to move in here and play hero so she thinks you're nothin' but a good ol' prince charmin'"

"Well, I'm not fallin' for it!" George continued. "I can see right through your plans Mr. Callaway. I know you were the one who set that fire, and I'm gonna prove it if it's the last thing I do!"

Mark closed his eyes, trying his best to maintain his composure. He'd heard just about enough of these crazy accusations. But before he could defend himself, a third voice pulled them from their intense conversation.

"Mark? What is he talking about?" Kelly asked softly, her gaze traveling back and forth between the two men. "Why is he saying you started the fire?"

Mark turned to find her standing behind him, once again dressed in her lounge pants and oversized sweatshirt. She had apparently showered recently, her hair still damp, a few loose strands of curls falling along her checks. At that precise moment, she looked so incredibly sexy to him that he was almost grateful for George's presence, fearful of what he might do if he were alone with her again.

As he gazed down at her, he could see the doubt begin to cloud her face. It was then that he felt the panic begin set in. There was no way he could let George's accusations ruin everything he had tried so hard to repair between them. Not when he was finally starting to make some progress with her. She'd finally let down some of her walls and given him a glimpse of the person she really was. But he knew if he lost her now, he would never have another opportunity with her. She might have been willing to give him a second chance, but he knew there was no way in hell she would ever give him a third.

"George here has got it in his head that I was somehow responsible for the fire. He thinks that I set it on purpose, just so I could save you and then take advantage of your weak state." Mark replied.

Kelly studied him, then glanced at George in confusion.

"George? Why on earth would you think Mark would have anything to do with the fire? Do you have some sort of proof that he was involved?"

Mark? Did she just call him Mark?, George thought to himself, as he looked from one to the other.

"No ma'am. I don't have any proof yet. But I find it more than just a coincidence that he just happened to show up at the barn that night when he did. And he sure didn't waste anytime movin' in here on you to help you out, now did he?" he replied.

Kelly looked back at Mark. She honestly hadn't considered the thought. What if George was right? What if Mark really did have something to do with the fire?

Now that George mentioned it, it did seem kind of funny that Mark just happened to show up at the barn on that particular night. But if he had planned it, how did he know for sure that she would run into a burning barn and that he would get the opportunity to save her? He couldn't have known for sure that she would do that. But if he had planned it, that would explain why he was suddenly being so nice and helpful towards her. Maybe he had set the fire and used it as a way to get on her good side, just like George had said. Maybe her fears about trusting him had been well founded after all.

Kelly frowned as her gaze traveled back and forth between the two men. This was getting more complicated by the minute. She trusted George more than anyone she had ever known. She knew he was a good man and that he would never do anything to harm her. She had always considered him to be a good friend and she trusted and valued his opinion above all others. So to hear him accuse Mark of setting the fire, it made Kelly wonder what George saw that she didn't. Maybe his accusations were well-grounded. Maybe they weren't. But without proof, neither of them could be absolutely certain.

On the other hand, Mark had been so kind and thoughtful towards her over the past couple of days and to be honest, she was starting to get used to the idea of having him around. She felt a sudden ache in her heart, when she thought about Mark possibly being involved with this whole thing. After everything that had happened between them, she found it hard to accept.

She sighed as she glanced at George and then Mark, who she noticed, was staring at her expectantly.

Friend?

Or lover?

Which one was she supposed to believe?