Ch 13

The rest of the day went quickly as Mark and Lisa spent the afternoon watching Kelly while John took Glen and Christina for a ride on his speedboat. When they came back, Lisa had dinner ready. They all sat out on the porch talking till John said good night heading back to the bed and breakfast for the night. Lisa turned in next followed by Christina. Glen and Mark stayed up for awhile watching TV till Mark decided to go to bed.

Mark couldn't stop tossing and turning. He couldn't stop thinking about Lisa wishing she was in his bed instead of a few rooms away. He understood her decision to stay in her room. He couldn't help missing the feel of her warm body against his. He looked at the clock seeing it was almost midnight. He figured everyone else must be asleep since the only sound he heard were the waves crashing. He slowly rolled out of bed deciding to take a walk on the beach. He quietly made his way to the front door surprised to find it open. He pushed the screen door open smiling when he saw Lisa on the porch swing reading. She looks so beautiful, Mark thought loving the way she looked in the red sundress. She felt his stare looking up at him.

"Sorry did I wake you," she asked happy to see him. She had been thinking about him since the minute they said good night. It was harder than she thought to sleep alone with him so close by. She also couldn't stop thinking about why John had come for a visit and how it would effect things between her and Mark. She had come out on the porch hoping to fall asleep reading like she had many nights before.

"No, I couldn't sleep," Mark sat down next to her.

"Me either," Lisa frowned looking away from him.

"Hey what's wrong?" Mark reached over touching her hand.

"I don't know," she said softly.

"You do know tell me," Mark gently grabbed her chin making her look at him. He was surprised by the tears in her eyes. "Please talk to me."

"Damn it why do you have to be such a perfect guy. Why couldn't I have met you years ago before him," Lisa said pushing his hand away hurrying off the porch towards the beach. Mark was stunned for a minute not sure what had just happened. He quickly stood up going after her. He finally caught up to her near the water's edge grabbing her arm.

"What did I do wrong?" he stared into her eyes.

"You have done nothing wrong only everything right. I'm sorry," Lisa stuttered over her words.

"Please tell me what's bothering you," Mark pleaded with her as she trembled slightly. Lisa looked into his piercing green eyes seeing all his confusion feeling like a fool for flipping out on him. He lightly rested his hand on her waist running his other hand through her hair. "Please Lisa talk to me even if it's just to tell me to go to hell."

"Mark, I wouldn't say that to you," Lisa bites her lip trying to control her emotions. "I thought coming here would help me sort out my feelings but its not working. You have taken me by complete surprise. I never thought I would meet someone like you, who would turn my world completely upside down."

"Is that good or bad?" Mark said silently hoping she wouldn't say it was bad.

"It's a combination of both. Good for what you make me feel and bad because I'm in a relationship that I'mterrified to end," Lisa stuttered over the last part.

"Do you really want to end it?"

"Yes," Lisa didn't have to think about that she knew her current relationship had to end.

"Why are you afraid of ending it?" Mark saw a fear in her eyes.

"He will make my life a living hell. I can deal with that but he will not stop at me he will find a way to torment my family. The last time I broke up with him, he kept harassing my mother at all hours of the day and night," Lisa trembled slightly thinking of the nights her mother called her in tears about the never ending phone calls. Mark sighed deeply not able to resist pulling her close.

"It's unhealthy to stay in a relationship out of fear," Mark said wanting to take away her pain.

"I know," she rested her hand on his chest. "I'm sorry to dump this on you."

"There is no need for an apology," Mark kissed her forehead. "Come on let's go for a walk I think it will help calm your nerves."

"Ok," Lisa slowly pulled away from him. She was happily surprised when he took her hand leading her along the water's edge. They walked for a few minutes in silence till Lisa stopped suddenly surprising him.

"You ok?" Mark lightly caressed her cheek.

"Yes, I need to explain to you why I ran away from you on the porch," Lisa swallowed hard trying to find the right words as Mark searched her eyes.

"Its ok you don't have to," Mark smiled at her.

"Yes I do," Lisa said feeling the butterflies going crazy in her stomach. "I want to be honest with you no secrets. I ran away because I could easily fall in love with you if I let myself. It's not fair to do that to you when I'm with someone else. I will bring nothing but pain to your life. I feel like I'm toying with your emotions but I don't I want to lose you. That is why I got upset I wish more than anything in this world I could have met you before him." Lisa let a tear roll down her cheek. Mark's heart was beating rapidly from her words. She could fall in love with me, Mark kept hearing those words replaying in his head as he stared at her. It felt like time was standing still.

"I don't give a damn about him," Mark took her face in both of his hands. "He is a son of bitch for the pain he causes you. I don't want you to run away from me. I will protect you from that bastard at any cost."

"Mark, you don't need those problems. He will mess with your life too," Lisa was trembling. "I'm the one who got involved with him and I need to deal with him on my own." Mark shook his head no staring into her eyes.

"No, you have me now. We will deal with it together. Baby girl I am here if you want me in your life just say it. If you need time and want me to wait for you I will," Mark ran his finger over her lips. "I'm crazy about you haven't you realized that yet. I couldn't sleep tonight because you weren't in my arms."

"I missed you too," Lisa smiled at him.

"I have an idea," Mark smiled wide as Lisa wiped her tears away. "Let's go back to the cottage and get some sleep enjoy the rest of the weekend. Tonight it's just us and nothing else matters. All I want to do is hold you."

"I love that idea," Lisa squeezed his hand as he led her back to the cottage.


Lisa reclined her seat stealing glances at Mark sleeping. She wished the weekend would have been longer. She had never felt as relaxed and comfortable as she did being with him. Everything just felt natural with him. She didn't have to pretend to be happy because she truly was happy. Kelly's cooing broke Lisa's thoughts as she looked over at Christina asleep on Glen's shoulder while he played with Kelly. Lisa smiled happy that Glen and Christina seemed to be getting along well. Christina had told her the night before that she and Glen were getting closer. Lisa was happily surprised when Christina agreed to go with them to Atlanta for Raw. Lisa felt Mark touch her hand lightly caressing it.

"I thought you were going to take a nap with me?" Mark smiled at her opening his one eye.

"I tried I'm too nervous to sleep," Lisa turned on her side meeting his eyes.

"Are you nervous about Raw?"

"No, I have to make a phone call after Raw that I'm not looking forward to," Lisa frowned knowing her boyfriend was going to flip out when she said their relationship was over.

"Want me to be there with you?" Mark lightly ran his fingers up her arm.

"That would be nice," Lisa smiled at him.

"What else is bothering you? You have been a bundled of nerves since we got on this plane," Mark asked searching her eyes.

"John warned me that the storyline might be drastically changed tonight," Lisa softly said.

"That is normal. Vince always makes changes," Mark reassured her.

"I guess we will see tonight," Lisa tried to push her worries away.

"That is the right attitude. Just keep thinking back to you and I on the beach cuddling under those stars this weekendwhen you feel nervous unless that makes you nervous too?" Mark ran his fingers along her cheek. He had wanted to kiss her so many times over the weekend but had always stopped wanting to wait for that perfect moment.

"Doesn't make me nervous at all," Lisa cuddled close to him.

"Good, try to get sleep we will be landing soon and it will be a late night," Mark kissed her cheek. Lisa smiled resting her head on his chest letting the thoughts of them fill her head as she drifted off to sleep.