Mark smiled in amusement as he watched Jessie trying to bait the hook. She sat beside him on the dock in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Her head bent in concentration. He watched as she bit her bottom lip stopping once to blow a stray curl out of her face. Suddenly she looked up with a smile. "I did it." Jessie said holding up the hook with the worm attached to show him. "That's great Jessie." Mark said smiling down at her. "Now stand up and I'll show you how to cast it." Mark said. Jessie stood up and Mark moved behind her and held her arms and showed her how to pull back and when to release the button. Jessie tried it and cast the line a good ways. "I did it Mark." Jessie said smiling up at him. "Yea ya did." Mark said reaching out to tuck some stray curls behind her ear. Set down now and wait for a bite." Mark said. Jessie sat down on the edge of the dock with her feet hanging over and Mark slid in behind her so that she was sitting between his legs. Jessie leaned back against him. "Aint you going to fish?" she asked. "Nope I'm just going to help you. How many fish can the two of eat anyway?" Mark asked. "How we going to cook them?" Jessie asked. "I'll get us a room with a kitchen tonight. I'll fix ya dinner." Mark said as he sat there and played with her hair. "Mark!" Jessie said. "What?" He asked. "I think I got a bite." She said excited. "Okay don't reel it in too fast. Take your time." Mark said. Jessie's face was a mask of concentration as she reeled in the fish. She reeled it all the way in and flopped it over on the dock. "What kind of fish is it?" she asked. "It a bass and a big one." Mark said. Mark got up and removed it from the hook. He put it in a small cooler he had bought. He looked at Jessie and she was already baiting the hook again. Mark watched as she cast off again. "You're a quick learner Jessie." Mark said. She looked up at him and flashed that beautiful smile of hers. "You're a good teacher." Jessie said.
"Good news boss." Tommy said. Davie looked up with cold eyes. "Umm well we found the first hotel they stayed at on the turnpike. The manager remembers them. They don't sign check in books there just a cash business so no names, but he did say the truck had Texas license plates. "Tommy do you realize how big Texas is you moron." Davie said. "Yea boss but it's a start. We have our contacts down there keep there ear to the ground." Tommy said. "I want more and you better get it." Davie said. "I will boss I'll keep on it." Tommy said walking away. "I want her back." Davie whispered.
Jessie was lying on the blanket. They were eating the fried chicken and potato salad they had picked up at the grocery stores deli. "I'm glad to see ya got an appetite you need to gain some weight." Mark said. Jessie looked at him. "Yea I might get fat if ya keep feeding me so good." She said. "I'll chance it." Mark said. They got through and Jessie packed up the leftovers. Mark lay on his back on the blanket with his hand behind his head. Jessie looked at him. He had on black jeans a white t- shirt which was stretched tight and straining against his muscles. Jessie loved his tats. He was a gorgeous man. Jessie had never thought of a man in those terms before. But Mark was causing a lot of firsts for her. He was the first person she had ever trusted. "Mark tell me about your child hood?" Jessie asked. Mark opened his eyes. Jessie was staring at the lake. "Well not much to tell. I was born in Houston Texas. My Mom was a housewife. My dad was a farmer. It was a good life. I had a great childhood with two loving parents. They are both passed away. I miss them they were great." Mark said. "Sounds great." Jessie said still looking at the lake. "I bet you were a cute little boy." Jessie said suddenly smiling. Mark flushed and shrugged. "I don't know about all that." He said. Jessie suddenly stood up and started taking off her clothes. "Jessie what in the name of hell are ya doing?" Mark asked. Jessie grinned at Mark as she pulled off her shirt. Number one on my list remember, skinny dipping." She said. "Jessie its November the water is to cold your going to get sick." Mark said sitting up. "You worry too much." She said unbuttoning her jeans. She had on nothing but her bra and panties and was headed for the lake. Mark stood up. "Jessie get yer ass back up here now!" Mark yelled. Jessie turned around. "No way." She said and stopped at the edge of the lake where she peeled off her under wear. He watched as she jumped in the lake. Mark grumbled under his breath as he went and got a couple of towels out of his truck. He took them and went down to the edge of the lake. Jessie was swimming a little away from shore. "Alright Jessie come on now before ya get sick." Mark said. Jessie swam about 6 feet from shore. "Come get me." She said grinning. "No way you can just forget it I'm not getting in that cold water." Mark said. "Well I'm not coming out then." Jessie said staring to swim further out. "Oh hell." Mark said and pulled off his shirt. He sat down and pulled off his boots and then his jeans. She had her back away from her so she didn't see him. He pulled off his boxers and walked in. Damn it was cold. Mark swam right up behind her and grabbed her. Jessie squealed trying to get away. "Girl I should just let ya freeze." Mark said. Jessie just laughed and splashed water in his face. Mark looked at her and burst into laughter. "You're in trouble now." He said dunking her. Jessie came up sputtering. Jessie looked up at Mark laughing. "Feels great don't it." She said. "Cold is more like it." Mark said. Mark lifted her chin with his finger. "Come on now get out before ya freeze." Mark said. Jessie noticed she had a fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach. What the hell was wrong with her was she sick she thought. Then she realized she wasn't sick. It was Mark his closeness was causing her heartbeat to speed up and the fluttering in her stomach. Jessie had no experience with this kind of feeling so she really didn't know what to make of them. Mark noticed she wasn't saying anything and she looked weird. "Hey you, okay?" Mark asked. "Uhh yea. I'm getting out." She said. "Let me get out first and I will bring you a towel." Mark said. Jessie stood there watching as he got out. Jessie about fell over. "Oh my god he was huge. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Of course she had only been with that ass Davie but she was pretty sure Mark was above average. Jessie flushed at her own thoughts. What the hell was wrong with her. She looked back up and Mark had dried off and put on his boxers. "Come on Jessie; get your butt out of there." Mark said. Jessie emerged from the water and Mark wrapped her in a huge towel. Jessie started shivering. "See now. I told ya it was to cold to go in the water." Mark said. "Don't just stand there dry off." Mark said. Mark walked back to there blanket and Jessie quickly dried off and pulled on her bra and panties. She walked back up to the blanket and pulled her clothes on. She looked at Mark who was sitting on the blanket with his knees up and his arms lay across the top of them. He was already dressed. Jessie went over and moved his arms and sat between his knees turning side ways so she could snuggle against his chest. She was shivering. "Cold huh?" Mark asked wrapping his arms around her. "Yea." Jessie said. After a few minutes she started to warm up. "Mark it was fun wasn't it?" Jessie asked. Mark chuckled in spite of himself. "Yea it was Jessie." Mark said cradling her head with his hand for a moment. Mark stood up and pulled her up. "Come on we need to get on the road." He said. Mark watched as Jessie skipped up to the truck. She was like a happy child he thought. He picked up the blanket and followed her. He was eager to get on the road and put more distance between them and West Virginia.