Chapter sixteen

Amy rushed off to tell Tammy that they had the entire afternoon off, laughing at the other girl's obvious delight. "Oooh, I can get to ogle Glenn all afternoon. I think he was coming to get me in about an hour anyway, so how about we clear up and go find them instead?"

Amy agreed readily and they put all their work away, making sure the room was spotless. "I'm going to miss working with you," Amy admitted, staring at the other girl. "You're the first real friend I've ever had."

"And you're mine. I don't really make friend's very easily and I'll miss you as well. Not half as much as Mark will though, I expect! Still, it's only a couple of weeks and then we get to stay at one place for four whole weeks! That will be bliss, not having to do all that travelling!" She took a last look around the room and grabbed Amy's arm. "Come on, let's go find those two huge hunks!"

They walked through the arena's corridors, looking in different rooms to see where the men were, eventually ending up at their dressing room. "Guess we should have looked here first?" Tammy said, shaking her head and knocking on the door.

"Come in," Mark's deep voice called out, sounding impatient.

"He doesn't sound too happy," Tammy murmured, grimacing as she opened the door and the two girls walked inside. Glenn was standing muttering to himself whilst he looked at his reflection, turning this way and that and then shrugging.

"What's the matter?" Tammy asked him, coming up behind him and making him jump.

"Hell, I didn't even hear you come in!" he said, swinging round to grab her shoulders and pull her up against him, a big grin spreading across his face.

"That's because you were too busy looking at yourself in the mirror, as usual," she pointed out, letting her eyes roam appreciatively over his huge chest. "What were you muttering about?"

"I've got a zit," he moaned, pointing to a big red spot that had appeared on his forehead. "And there's another one here," he added, pointing to his bare chest. He grinned again when he saw Tammy's eyes transfixed on the broad expanse of naked flesh. "Want to help me squeeze them?" he asked, giving her a goofy look when she grimaced and then dragging her into the bathroom and slamming the door behind them.

Mark shook his head with a small smile and turned to look at Amy, who was standing just inside the door. "What ya doin' all the way over there darlin'?" he drawled, crooking his finger and motioning her over to him with a wicked look.

Amy chewed her lip and moved slowly towards him, still thinking about what he had said earlier about making her pay for her insults. When she reached the couch and went to sit down, he grabbed her arm and pulled her over to him, sitting her on his lap and closing his massive arms around her, trapping her against his chest with a deep sigh. "Hmm, this feels good," he said, his voice deep.

Amy frowned and managed to move her head enough to glance up at him. His eyes were closed and he had a frown line between his eyebrows. "Are you okay? You sounded annoyed when we knocked."

His eyes opened and looked down into hers. "I'm fine, honey, just a couple of aches is all."

She opened her mouth to offer to help, but then remembered what had happened that morning and closed it again, deciding that any such offer wouldn't be well received. Mark saw the small movement and sighed again. "What?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows.

She shook her head. "Nothing," she mumbled.

"Yeah, it is. Come on, say what you were gonna say, I ain't gonna bite your head off this time!"

"I was just going to ask if I could help...maybe give you a massage or something?" she said hesitantly.

Mark looked at her in surprise. "You can give massages?"

"Well, no, I haven't before, but I thought that maybe..." she trailed off and then shrugged uncomfortably. "It doesn't matter, it was just a thought."

Mark grinned at her. "Well, it was a good thought. And since you've asked, yes you can give me a massage. It doesn't matter that you haven't done it before, I can tell you what feels good."

Glenn and Tammy walked out of the bathroom at that point and Glenn laughed. "Haven't done what before? And I just bet you can tell her what feels good!"

Mark shot the other man a poisonous look. "Get your mind out of the gutter. We were talking about her giving me a massage!"

"Oh okay," Glenn said amiably. "On what part of your body?"

"Glenn, I swear to God...!" Mark bit off, glaring at him.

"Okay, okay, I take back every filthy insinuation! Me and Tammy are going down to the ring, see you there in fifteen?" Glenn asked, ushering Tammy out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

"Sorry about that," Mark said, trying not to smile at the way Glenn had acted. "He can be a stupid big bastard sometimes!"

"Mark!"

"Aw, what? Am I getting told off about my language again?" he said, grinning cockily.

"Yes you are!"

"Ya gonna punish me little girl?" he asked her, his voice a deep drawl that made her shiver.

"Well...I guess I could refuse to take you for a walk..." she said, smiling cockily right back at him.

Mark raised his eyebrows and gave her a truly evil smile. "That's another one I owe you. That's about...oooh...four insults I've counted so far, so that's four points you've earned yourself. You got some payback coming your way pretty soon."

She tried to look braver than she felt. "I'm so scared!" she said sarcastically, making a laugh burst out of him before he controlled himself. He stood up, taking her with him and then stood her on her feet, looming over her. "You should be scared, darlin', you should be real scared!" he growled, rolling his eyes up into his head and sticking his tongue out at her.

Amy recognised his old Undertaker gestures and giggled, giving him a shove that didn't move him an inch. "Oh, and now she attacks me?" he asked the room, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at her. "That's five! Come on let's get down to the ring and you can watch me and Glenn throw each other about!"

"I thought you wanted a massage?" she asked in confusion.

"Yeah, well, maybe Glenn had a point. If you start touching me I might have to start guiding your hands to one particular muscle..." he trailed off and laughed as she went red. "That being the case, we'd better get out of this room, hmm?"

"Okay," she agreed, partly relieved to get out of the room and partly disappointed. Still, she was looking forward to watching him wrestle from the ringside instead of just on television. He took her hand and tugged her along with him until they reached the ring. Amy stared around her with her mouth open, trying to take it all in. The auditorium was huge, row upon row of seats stretching back into the semi-darkness as far as she could see, all centring on the ring itself.

"It's much bigger than I imagined," she murmured as they made their way down the aisle towards where Glenn was trying to tug Tammy into the ring.

"You were here the other night, though," Mark pointed out.

"Yeah, I know, but I didn't really notice it then," she said as they stopped next to the steps.

"Gonna get in the ring with me?" Mark asked her, cocking one eyebrow.

Amy thought about it for a few seconds. "I don't think so, you might use it as an excuse to pay me back for my insults, and I wouldn't have a hope of winning against you in there!"

He bent down and playfully bit her neck. "What makes you think you could win against me anywhere else either?"
She yelped and shoved him off her, smiling when he threw his hands up and shook his head. "There you go attacking me again! That's six," he said, stepping up on the ringside and quickly ducking under the top rope to join Glenn, who had been unsuccessful at getting Tammy in the ring with him.

Amy walked over and joined the other girl and they leaned against the side, watching as the two enormous men started trading blows, bouncing off the ropes and generally leaping about. Tammy sighed as she stared at Glenn. "Aren't they great?"

Amy nodded dreamily as she watched Mark grab Glenn's throat and push him into a corner, looking ferocious. He looked down briefly at Amy and his face softened instantly, a small smile curving his mouth. Glenn took advantage of his sudden loosening grip and shoved him away, picking him up and holding him over his head, grinning down at Tammy as he did so.

"Ya damn show-off," Mark growled down at him. "Put me the hell down!"

"Keep talking like that and I'll throw you out of the ring," Glenn threatened, grinning inanely.

Amy heard what he said and she rushed over to the steps, climbing up them and leaning over the top rope. "Glenn, don't you dare!"

"Yeah, Glenn, don't you dare," Mark said mockingly, feeling the younger man's arms start to shake under the strain of holding his weight up for so long.

"You big girl!" Glenn mocked. "You need a woman to protect you now?"

"Boy, you're in for some pain when I get out of this!" Mark said, trying not to smile.

"Glenn, put him down!" Tammy said, joining Amy.

"Why don't you make me?" Glenn said, raising his eyebrows at the blonde girl.

Tammy looked at Amy and started laughing. "Come on, let's get him!"

She climbed under the ropes and waited for Amy and then, with a mutual nod, they rushed him, starting to tickle him under his arms. He was in just the perfect position and he had no defence at all. Caught between wanting to put his arms down and not wanting to hurt Mark, he tried walking away from them. "I'm going to drop him!" he warned through his laughter as he tried to get away from their nimble fingers.

They stopped their tickling and Tammy stood with her hands on her hips. "Well, you'd better put him down now then, because I haven't finished with you yet!"

"That so?" he asked, lowering Mark and throwing him back on his feet, before he turned to Tammy with his arms crossed over his chest. "Want to try doing that again?"

"Uh-oh, I think we're in trouble," Tammy said to Amy with a huge grin, quickly darting to the other side of the ring. Glenn was quicker than her and he caught her and lifted her off the ground.

Amy laughed as she watched their antics and then realised that Mark was standing just behind her, staring down at her with his hands planted on his hips. "What?" she asked warily, wondering why he looked like he had just won a battle.

"I suppose I should be grateful that you tried to 'rescue' me from Glenn? Maybe take away some of those points you've added up?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Amy nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds like a good idea!"

"Hmm, I just bet it does. Well, seeing as how you were being so brave, maybe I'll take away one point," he murmured, pursing his lips.

"Only one? I was being really brave you know!" Amy said hopefully, smiling up at him in a winning fashion, then giving a mock frown when he didn't seem moved. "If I hadn't been here, you could still be in real trouble you know. What with you being so much older than Glenn and all!"

"Oh, you did not just insult me about my age again!" he growled, reaching out and grabbing her waist to haul her up in the air in front of him. "Now not only am I not going to deduct any points, but I'm gonna add an extra two! That makes eight!"

Amy grabbed his shoulders. "That's not fair!"

"You should have thought about that before you insulted me again!" he growled, narrowing his eyes on her suddenly defiant expression. "Don't even think about it, little girl!"

Amy's eyes widened. "What are you, a mind reader or something?"

He smirked at her. "Something like that. Why? Are you gonna deny that you were about to insult me yet again?" He waited for her to answer, but when she remained silent he just grinned at her. "I didn't think so! Well, since you're finally in 'my yard', then I guess it's payback time!"

She stared at him warily. "What are you going to do?"

"Worried?" he asked smugly, his smirk getting bigger.

She glared at him. "Not at all!"

"Oh really?" he said, lifting her higher and then dropping her over his shoulder, his hand coming up to give her a light slap on the backside.

"Mark, you put me down!" she gasped out, pushing at his back.

"Nope!"

"Mark, so help me, if you don't put me down, right now..I'll...!" she said, her words stopping when he suddenly placed her on her feet in the corner, his arms holding the ropes either side of her so she couldn't get away.

"You'll what?" he asked softly, looking genuinely interested. He bent and gave her a soft kiss, his hands moving to her arms to hold them out at her sides. He had her so distracted that she didn't notice that he was pulling the ropes up to trap her arms in between them, not until he stopped kissing her.

When she tried to move she found her arms outstretched, being held by the ropes either side of the turnbuckle, and she looked up at him, her mouth dropping open as he stood there with his arms folded over his huge chest. "What are you doing?"

"Paying you back, of course. I thought it might be easier if you were helpless..." he said, smiling and placing his hands on her waist. He ran his fingers lightly up and down her sides and her eyes widened when she realised what he was up to.

"Mark," she said hesitantly, "don't you dare..."

It was too late. With an evil smile he started tickling her and she lost all control, laughing hysterically and trying to get away, pleading with him to stop. "Got a problem honey?" he asked her, a huge grin on his face as he mercilessly tickled her.

"Mark...please..." she gasped out, her ribs actually aching from laughing so hard.

He slowed down the pace of his hands and bent down so his face was level with hers. "Now you know I like the sound of that," he murmured, his voice deep. "Your voice all husky and begging me...hmm, maybe I can think of a better punishment than this."

Amy managed to catch her breath when he finally stopped tickling her and she glared up at him through watery eyes. "You mean you haven't finished yet?"

"Not by a long shot. That was one, you still have seven coming to ya," he said arrogantly, staring down his nose at her as he straightened up.

"That's not fair!"

"You keep saying that. If you can't stand the heat, honey...you know what they say. Maybe you should have thought before attacking me?" He looked so smug as he looked down at her helpless form that she started frantically trying to get out of the ropes so she could attack him again.

"Oooh, you let me out of here! I'm going to kill you when I get out of here...!" she threatened, narrowing her eyes on his face.

Mark watched with amusement as she struggled, then sighed and untangled her from the ropes, stepping back quickly before she could hit him. "Temper, temper," he murmured, making her madder still, just as he'd known it would.

She rushed at him, hitting him squarely in the stomach with both hands and making him stagger backwards. When he burst out laughing at her actions, she almost stamped her foot. "That the best you can do, baby?" he taunted her.

She gritted her teeth and pushed him again, using all her strength, frustrated when he moved back only one step and grinned at her. "Come on, Amber, put me on the floor, if you think you can!"

She looked him up and down and tried to decide how to put someone his size on the mat, but she couldn't figure it out. Maybe his legs, she decided, going up to him and grabbing his arms for support as she tried to pull his legs out from under him with her feet. Nothing worked.

She noticed that Glenn and Tammy were standing watching them, both of them laughing at the impromptu performance, and Glenn motioned her to come over. "Want to know how to put him down?" he asked, bending to whisper in her ear.

Mark watched them suspiciously and eyed Amy as she walked back over to him, her face serene. "What did he say to you?"

"Nothing important, just saying what a weakling you are," she said with a smile, watching his eyes narrow.

"That so? How weak do you think I am honey?"

"Let's see shall we?" she asked and reached up a hand, running it gently through his hair and down the side of his face, taking him by surprise, her other hand running up and over his huge chest. His breath hissed in when she ran her nails lightly across his nipple. "You don't feel like a weakling," she murmured, studying his physique. "In fact, you feel wonderful, all firm and solid...come down here, please," she said softly, staring at his mouth. Mark forgot everything when she looked at him like that and he obediently bent down, receiving a quick kiss from her when he did so. She put her arms around his neck and caressed his shoulders, giving him another kiss on the lips followed by one on the cheek. Her mouth moved to his ear and bit his lobe gently, laving the small wound with her tongue in a sensual motion that made him groan. "Can you kneel down for me?" she asked, rubbing her face against his.

She felt him give a deep shuddering sigh before he dropped quickly down onto his knees in front of her and wrapped his massive arms around her. It wasn't until he noticed her broad grin that he realised something was wrong. "What?" he asked, his tone hesitant.

"I did it, I put you on the floor!" she said happily, trying to look superior. "You told me to put you on the floor, and there you are. And I didn't even have to use force!" she said gleefully.

Mark rolled his eyes and pursed his lips in disgust. "That was really low," he told her, trying not to smile.

"Well, you made it sound like I couldn't do it..."

"You tricked me!" he said. "That wasn't fair!"

"I thought that was my line?" she said, running her fingers through his hair again and enjoying the silky texture of it.

"You know what? That point I took off for tickling you, I'm putting it back on!" he growled, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.

"But I didn't do anything wrong!" she said, shuddering when he bit at the delicate skin between her neck and shoulder. "How many do I get anyway?"

"You don't get more than ten," he said, looking impossibly arrogant even though he was on his knees in the middle of the ring holding her close to him. "We have to clear the numbers before you go over ten, and we're gonna start right now."

"We are?" she asked, wondering what he was going to do now.

"Oh, yeah," he murmured, closing in and kissing her deeply, not caring who was watching or how turned on he happened to get.

When Amy was thinking she would pass out from a mix of pleasure and lack of oxygen he drew back and gave her a lopsided grin. "Okay, that cleared at least two," he told her. He stood up and pulled her with him. "Now, you want to clear the rest in one go?"

"How do I do that?" she asked worriedly.

"Simple," he said, holding her in front of him and smirking. "You put me down on the floor without using your feminine wiles to do it."

"But I can't do that, you're too big!" she protested, giving him a disgusted look.

"You know what they say, sweetheart, the bigger they come, the harder they fall. You can do it if you really put your mind to it."

"Yeah, right. Maybe that would be true if I was anywhere near as big as you or if I knew any of the moves you do. I can't do it."

"Sure you can. I tell you what, I'll keep one arm behind my back at all times okay?" he offered, slowly placing his arm behind him and smiling.

"Well, okay. You promise you won't hurt me?" she asked him.

"Of course I won't hurt you. Come on, give it your best shot!" He looked like he was really enjoying himself, she decided, as they circled one another.

She bit her lip and looked him over, trying to find a weak spot, but the only one she knew of would cause him such pain that she would never even contemplate it. Every time she tried to get a little bit nearer he went to grab her and she dodged back again, starting to laugh now as she relaxed. Especially since he was looking down at her with sparkling eyes, quite obviously enjoying himself.

Throwing caution to the wind she charged at him, but he neatly twirled, grabbed her arm and used her own momentum to push her smoothly into the ropes, making her bounce back at him so he could catch her, his free arm going around her waist from behind and bringing her back against his chest so he could curl his body over her.

"Gotcha!" he growled in her ear, making her giggle at how fast he had managed to disable her.

She relaxed against him and thought for a second, then quickly brought her foot up and then stamped it down on his toes, trying not to do it too hard, just enough to surprise him. He gave a yell and released her, lifting his foot up and hobbling about. She gave a grin of triumph and then grabbed his head whilst he was bent down enough for her to reach it, turning it to the side and getting hold of his earlobe and twisting it. "On your knees, boy," she told him, trying to copy his drawl.

"Ow, ow, okay, okay!" he yelped, instantly falling to his knees, his head bent at a painful angle as he tried to get his ear out of her grasp. "Come on, honey, that really hurts," he pleaded, looking at her with soulful eyes.

"I'll let go as soon as you admit defeat," she said, knowing full well he'd make her pay once she let him go.

"I won't do that," he said, giving her a poisonous look. She twisted harder and he yelled, his eyes flashing at her. "Okay, you've got me beaten. Let go!"

Glenn was laughing so hard that it was echoing around the auditorium, making Mark send him a furious look. Amy let go of him and rubbed his earlobe for him before rushing to get out of the ring.

"Get back in here!" Mark bellowed at her, his eyes holding amusement which stopped her from getting scared.

"No way, I know you, you'll try and get me back! Anyway, we're quits now, my points are wiped, right?" she asked him, raising her eyebrows.

"Wiped? I'll give you wiped..." he threatened, vaulting easily out of the ring and starting towards her.

Amy gave a small shriek and turned and ran, making her way as quickly as she could back up the ramp to the backstage area, oblivious of the laughs and amused glances she received from some of the workers nearby.

She got to the end of the corridor and skidded to a stop. Okay, which way did she go from here, she thought, looking left and right and not recognising either way. The sound of Mark's footsteps rapidly approaching made her decide and she turned left and continued running, hearing him getting closer by the second. Before she had taken many more steps he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her clear off the floor, continuing his momentum until he had her in his dressing room. He stood looking down at her, his eyes narrowed and then he carried her into the bathroom, dumping her under one of the showers and turning it on.

Amy screamed as the cold water cascaded over her head and she tried getting out from under the spray, but he kept her there with one big hand, the other leaning against the wall whilst he watched her. He gave a slight nod and turned off the shower at last, obviously satisfied that she was thoroughly drenched. He stood back and waited to see what her reaction would be.

Amy looked down at herself and then up at him, seeing that same smug look on his face that had been there before. "I suppose you're happy now?"

He nodded. "Yep, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself right now."

"You...you...overgrown..."

"One," he said, holding up one finger.

"...pompous..."

"Two."

"...overbearing..."

"Three."

"...big headed..."

"Ouch...four."

"...dumb..."

"five."

"...cowboy!" she finished, stamping her foot.

"Six. Actually, I don't mind the cowboy bit, so just five. Got any more insults for me?" he asked, grinning cockily.

"I wouldn't waste my breath throwing any more insults at your thick skull!" she said, lifting her chin and glaring at him.

"And yet there you go calling me names again. Well, that's six. But I guess I can wait until we meet up in Connecticut to get payback this time. I think you've had enough for today," he said.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, blowing a strand of wet hair out of her eyes. "Maybe I don't want to meet up with you in Connecticut!"

"Sure you do, honey," he returned easily, grabbing a towel off a nearby shelf and throwing it at her. "Better get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold."

"I probably will catch a cold, then it'll turn into flu, then pneumonia and I'll die. Then I'll come back and haunt you!" she threatened, wiping her face with the towel.

He raised his eyebrows. "As long as you're the sort of ghost that strips me naked and has her wicked way with me, then I don't have a problem with that!"

"Huh," she snorted, shouldering past him. "You'd be lucky."

"Wouldn't I though?" he murmured, watching the way the clothes were plastered to her body, leaving very little to the imagination.

He followed her back into the main dressing room and opened his locker, pulling out a clean T-shirt and a hairbrush. "Come here," he said softly, waiting until she stood looking mutinously up at him. He took the towel from her hands and dropped it on the couch, turning to pull her wet top over her head and then start on the sweat pants she was wearing.

Amy didn't even have the presence of mind to protest his actions, she just stood letting him do it, starting to shiver as the air got to her wet skin. He threw her clothes in a heap across the room and then looked down at her soft curves, covered now only in her underwear, and he had to force himself not to take them off as well. Taking the towel he wrapped it firmly around her body and sat her down, going off to the bathroom for another towel and then sitting down to dry her hair. It was difficult to get it out of its braid with it being so wet, but eventually he managed it and started towelling it dry. When he was satisfied that it wasn't dripping anymore, he took the brush and started pulling it through the thick tresses.

Amy sat still and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his hands smoothing through her hair. He was incredibly gentle with her and she gave a deep sigh, leaning back against him and feeling his arms close around her, his head lowering to rest on top of hers.

"I wish I could stay here," she murmured, thinking of the fact that she would be leaving soon.

"I wish you could too, darlin'. But it's only for a short while, then you'll be travelling with us all the time won't you?" he asked her, hoping that that would be the case.

"I think so, Vince hasn't said. I hope so," she answered, her arms resting over his and stroking his tattooed flesh. "I don't want to go."

"Don't you want to see Vince's house, or should I say your new home?" Mark said, and she felt him smile against her hair, his fingers caressing her waist.

"Yeah, I do, but...I don't know. I'm going to miss you really a lot," she admitted, her shoulders slumping. "I guess that sounds stupid doesn't it? I've only known you a few days, so how on earth am I going to miss you?"

"It doesn't sound stupid, not unless I'm stupid too, because I'm gonna miss you just as much, maybe more," he said softly, kissing her head.

She didn't say anything, but she couldn't help smiling. She was starting to care for him a lot, and it was quite nice to think that maybe he was starting to care for her too. She turned her head and leaned back, looking up at his beautiful eyes and his tempting mouth, lifting a hand so she could flatten it against his cheek. "Are you going to come and see me when you get to Connecticut?"

"Stupid question," he murmured, smiling down at her. "Just try and stop me."

He stared down into her face and smiled when he saw her expression, finding it amusing how easy to read she was. Her eyes were fixed on his mouth and she obviously wanted to kiss him, although she wasn't confident enough just yet to go ahead and do it. She would soon get used to it, he decided, a smirk tilting his lips.

"What are you smirking about?" she asked him, narrowing her eyes.

"Just wondering when you're gonna pluck up enough courage to kiss me, I know you want to. And since you do, then I have to assume that you ain't mad at me for giving you a soaking," he said, smiling wickedly at her.

"I might be mad," she replied, trying to look angry and failing miserably.

"Yeah, and you might be taller than 5 ft too, but I doubt it!"

"I am taller than 5 ft!" she protested, sitting up straighter and glaring at him.

He gave her a doubting look and just smiled. "Sure you are honey."
"I am too! I'm 5 ft and one whole inch!!"

"Wow, one whole inch huh? Okay then, I take it back. I was wrong, and I am very, very sorry," he said, plastering a repentant look on his face that made her laugh.

"You big fake," she said softly, giving a deep sigh as she stared at his face, wondering how someone so handsome could possibly be interested in someone as plain as her.

"What's that look for?" he asked her, stroking her face with his knuckles.

She smiled and shook her head, not wanting to voice the question in case she didn't like the answer. "Nothing...just looking, stocking up on memories for the next couple of weeks."

He raised an eyebrow. "I could give you a very graphic memory to take away with you, if you'd like?" he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

She gave him a hard slap on the arm and wagged her finger in his face. "Stop being rude!"

Mark put on a hurt look, something that didn't sit well on a nearly 7 ft man. "You're not a nice person, You insult me, you attack me...I don't know why I bother!" He stopped his playacting when her face fell. "Hey, I was only kidding!"

"I know, it's just...well, I was just thinking that...I don't know what you see in me. I mean, you're so handsome and everything, why are you bothering with someone like me?"
"You know, honey, I don't know about all that handsome shit, I'm just a man, like any other. But you are something special and something rare in my life. You're innocent, you're beautiful, you make me smile and you make me feel as if I really am handsome. I love spending time with you, even though we have only known each other a short time," he said, catching her eyes and holding her gaze. "I actually feel as if I've known you forever."

"Maybe we knew each other in a past life?" she said, trying to joke.

He nodded. "Maybe we did. Of course, I would have been the lord of the manor and you would have been the lowly servant," he said looking arrogant.

She smiled at him. "Oh, that's right, give yourself the best role. Typical!"

"Aw, come on, honey. You may have been a servant, but I still would have chased you around the house trying to get under your skirts!"

She laughed at the naughty schoolboy look he was adopting and he grabbed her to him, tilting her chin up for his kiss. "Mmm, that's better," he growled. "So, what are you doing now?"

"Nothing. Vince gave me the afternoon off."

"Well, well. Looks like I can keep you here with me then doesn't it?" he said, bending his head to kiss her again.