Elizabeth pulled her mind away from her thoughts as she heard Mark's heavy footsteps approaching her and she turned to face him. "Ready?" He asked. Elizabeth nodded and followed Mark out of the apartment building and out into the cold January air. It was strange for Texas to be this cold during its winter months, but this winter had seemed to be especially forceful and brutal. Mark hit his keyring and the trucks lights flashed as the doors unlocked. He opened the door for Elizabeth and once she was inside the cab, he made his way around to the other side and climbed in.
A very light snow had begun to fall as they drove along the quiet streets back to Mark's house. "I haven't seen snow down here in Texas in years." Mark said, not taking his eyes off the road. "I know." Elizabeth agreed. "It is very rare to see any snow this far south." The trucks headlights flashed across the front of the big, brick house as they pulled into the drive. Mark pushed the garage door opener that hung from the visor on the driver side and waited as the garage door opened. He then pulled the truck into the garage and and once again hit the opener to close the door behind them.
They were both quiet as they made their way into the house. Once inside, Mark shook off his jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. "I have some business I have to attend to, so if you would like to take your things upstairs and freshen up a little, feel free to." He instructed as he pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. "There aren't many groceries in the house, so I figured we would go out for dinner and then tomorrow you can go shopping for whatever groceries you wanted." "Alright." Elizabeth said. "I suppose I will see you in a bit then."
Later...
Elizabeth had showered and changed and was now laying on her bed, propped up on pillows reading a book. Being back in this house had a calming effect on her, but still being around Mark made her nerves hit the roof. There was no doubt in her mind that she had never been attracted to someone before as she was Mark. She knew deep down that she really did want what her and Mark had shared that night. She wanted to be the woman he came home to. She wanted to be the woman he loved. She wanted to be his everything.
Elizabeth shook the thoughts from her head and tossed the book on the bed. She had to stop thinking so foolishly. The situation was what it was. She was pregnant with another mans child and there was no way that someone like Mark was going to want to get involved in the big mess that was her life. Hell, she didn't blame him for not wanting to get involved either. Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to push the unsettling thoughts from her mind as she drifted off for a nap.
Mark took a drink of the beer he was holding and stared into the fire that was roaring in the fireplace. What in the hell was he going to do? He sure had a mess on his hands. This woman obviously had no one in the world. No one at all to help her. No one except him. Mark sighed and drained the last of his beer. Everything would be so much simpler if he hadn't have slept with her. He may have been drunk and not have remembered that night very well, but what he did remember he couldn't get out of his head.
After Melanie and her betrayal he had sworn off women except for the occasional piece of ass. Liz was so different than Melanie though. She seemed so naive and wholesome. Mark shook his head and sat the empty beer bottle down on the bar. That was the problem with women though. They were so good at fooling you. Melanie had played him for everything he was worth and he hadn't even seen it coming. He had been a complete fool.
Mark checked his watch and then headed for the den door. They had better get a move on if they were going to go out for dinner. He headed up the stairs towards Elizabeth's room. He had to keep his distance from this lady or he could end up hurting her and that was something he didn't want. He now just had to come up with a plan to make himself follow through with keeping his distance.