The Real Deal
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Harley was silent for a moment as let Mark's question set in.
"I don't really know what I want to accomplish. As you may have guessed I haven't really planned this all out."
"Well there is no better time than the present." Mark said.
"True." Harley said smiling at Mark.
"Okay then go for it."
"I want to prove to mother that I am capable of finding a man who loves me. To make her see that I am not the social outcast that she seems to think that I am."
"I am sure that your mother doesn't feel that way about you. You are her child, her flesh and blood."
"You don't know Havilland Reynolds-Cooper." Harley said shaking her head at Mark.
"Why does your mother treat you so different? It can't be just because you aren't married."
"My mother hates me." Harley said looking away from Mark.
Mark seen the hurt in her eyes and cursed to himself. He didn't mean to upset her; he just wanted to understand her.
"I'm sorry, Harley, we don't have to talk about this if it's making you uncomfortable."
"It's okay; I don't mind talking about it. I have only ever talked about this with one person, but if you want to know the real story behind my mother's hatred for me I will tell you." Harley said finally looking back up at Mark.
"All right I would like to know."
"My mother blames me for the death of my father." Harley said softly.
"I don't understand why would she blame you?"
"My mother went into labor with me early; daddy had been away on a business trip, but when mother called he rushed home. It was a bad storm that night and from what the police told mother, daddy was driving very fast on the slick road and his breaks locked up and the car hydroplaned. Daddy crashed into a tree and was killed instantly. Mother blames me for the accident." Harley said near tears.
"How is that your fault?" Mark asked a little confused.
"Mother said that if I wouldn't have come early then daddy never would have been behind the wheel that night and he wouldn't have died and left her alone to raise three children."
"That's bullshit, Harley; you are not the reason your dad died bad weather and reckless driving are." Mark said.
"Mother doesn't see things that way. As a child mother told me constantly how I was a bad seed and that I was a waste of perfectly good space. When we were kids mother would take my sister's places but I would have to stay at home with a neighbor. She use to tell me that she hated the sight of me because I reminded her of my father."
"And this is the woman you are trying so hard to please?"
"She is a beast I know that, but still she is my mother. The only one I've got." Harley said with a shrug.
"She may have given birth but that doesn't make her a mother." Mark said angrily.
"Laurel say's she can't believe I came from that." Harley said with a chuckle.
"I second that." Mark said giving Harley's hand a squeeze.
"I still can't believe that I just gave her another reason to ridicule me." Harley said shaking her head disappointedly.
"What if I say I want to help you prove your mother wrong about you?"
"What do you mean?" Harley asked baffled.
"Marry me?"
"You're not serious?"
"Oh but I am. Harley Calaway has a nice ring to it." Mark said with the sexiest grin that Harley had ever witnessed.
"I couldn't ask you to get involved in this Mark." Harley said vehemently shaking her head.
"You're not asking I am offering. I hate hearing the way your mother treats you. I want to help you stick it to her good." Mark said seriously.
"Yes, she will do it!" Laurel said running towards them.
"LAUREL!" Harley said shocked.
"Harlz this is perfect, Havilland will go into cardiac arrest when she arrives."
Harley had to laugh. Laurel was probably right about that.
"Maybe, but she will never believe that I am married to a man like Mark."
That comment stung Mark's ego and he frowned at her.
"What the hell does that mean?" He asked looking at Harley.
"Mark I didn't mean it like it sounded."
"Then what did you mean?"
"My mother would never believe a man who looks like you would want to marry someone who looks like me." Harley said honestly.
"Stop putting yourself down Harlz, you are beautiful isn't she guys?" Laurel asked Shawn and Mark.
"She is a knockout." Shawn said smiling at Harley.
"A natural beauty." Mark said giving her a wink.
Harley smiled at Mark and then looked over at Laurel.
"You have always described me that way to people." Harley said shaking her head at her friend.
"It's what you are. You are beautiful inside and out." Laurel said with a shrug.
"So what would you get out of this?" Harley asked Mark with a raised eyebrow.
"Well I get to help out a new friend and stick it to a real bitch." Mark said causing Harley to laugh.
"Harley, this is perfect, just say yes and stop analyzing things to death." Laurel told her friend.
"Thank you Mark, I would love to be your wife." Harley said with a grin.
Mark's breath caught at Harley's smile. He wanted nothing more than to pull her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but he thought better of himself. He had two weeks with her and he planned to use his time wisely. He would take things slow at first and then he would make it clear that he wanted her and he hoped that she felt the same way.
The rest of the night was spent eating, drinking and talking. Shawn and Mark told the girls all about their illustrious careers and Laurel told them about "Perfect Harmony". Harley talked about her family and Mark and Shawn were stunned at some of the stories she told about how her mother and sisters treated her. Mark made a silent vow that he would not let Havilland say or do anything to demean Harley while he was around.
"I am beat, Shawn do you think you could take me home now?" Laurel asked as she stretched.
"Of course, Harley, you ready?" Shawn asked standing.
"Harley why don't you stay a while longer, that way you and Mark will have a chance to get to know each other a little better." Laurel suggested.
Harley glared over at her friend. "But Shawn is my ride; if you guys are leaving I have to go as well." Harley said preparing to stand.
"I am sure Mark won't mind driving you home, would you Mark?"
"No, I wouldn't mind that at all, that is if you want to stay Harley."
"Good. Harley all you are going to do if you go home is curl up on the couch and watch some god awful scary movie until you fall asleep anyway."
"Laurel, can I please speak with you in the kitchen!" Harley said through gritted teeth as she made her way from the den to the kitchen.
Mark watched her walk away and his mind began to picture her underneath him as he fucked her hard from behind, smacking that succulent ass making her scream his name all night long.
"Earth to Mark." Shawn said waving his hand in front of his friends face.
"Huh?" Mark asked looking over at Shawn who was laughing his ass off.
"Mind telling where you were just now?"
"What?" Mark asked as Shawn continued to laugh.
"Aw man, buddy you got it bad." Shawn said.
"I just need a piece of ass; it's been a few weeks." Mark said.
"I told ya man, you are a terrible liar." Shawn said still laughing.
"Laurel what the hell are you doing?"
"Trying to make sure that my best friend doesn't end up some old spinster. Come on Harley the guy is hot and he likes you, why not just say the hell with it and go for it?"
"Because me and relationships don't mix and where in the world did you get the idea that Mark likes me?"
Laurel popped Harley in the forehead before waving her hand in front of Harley's face. "Have you not been here tonight? Mark hasn't taken his eyes off of you for more than two seconds and he offered to help you pull this whole marriage crap off, of course he likes you!" Laurel said flabbergasted by the naivety of her friend.
"He offered to help because he feels sorry for me and he has not been looking at me tonight."
"You, my dear, are in denial. Mark Calaway has the hots for you and if you are as smart as you claim to be you will go after him now, because believe me honey men like him don't come around very often and if you don't snatch him up some other woman will. I love you Harley, you know that and that's why I am pushing you so hard on this, now go and enjoy the rest of your night and call me when you get home, wait, you better wait until morning, I may ask Shawn to stay for a nightcap." Laurel said winking at her friend before leaving her alone in the kitchen.
"You ready to get out of here beautiful?" Shawn asked Laurel when she returned to the den.
"I sure am. Mark it was very nice meeting you." Laurel said to Mark before pulling him down to her level to whisper in his ear. "If you hurt her I will rip your nuts off." Laurel said sincerely.
Mark pulled back and looked down at Laurel who was smiling innocently at him. "You two have fun." Laurel said as Harley made her way back into the den with everyone else.
"Later Mark, behave yourself?" Shawn said with a smirk.
"Get the hell out of here Michaels." Mark said as he walked Laurel and Shawn out.
When Mark walked back into the den Harley was sitting on the sofa with her heels on the floor and her aching foot in her hand as she gently rubbed it.
"You okay?" Mark asked her as he took a seat beside her.
"Yeah, these shoes are gorgeous, but they reek absolute havoc on your feet." Harley chuckled.
"Here, let me." Mark said as he started to raise Harley's foot into his lap.
"No, it's okay Mark you don't have to do that."
"It's not a big deal, besides I have been told that I give great massages." Mark said flashing Harley a smile.
"I'm sure you do, but with this dress I can't really throw my legs up or anything." Harley said embarrassed.
"I could lend you a t-shirt if you would like, don't want you thinking I'm trying to sneak a peek or anything." Mark said winking at Harley.
Harley thought for a moment. It wasn't that she didn't want Mark to touch her it was more like if he did then she would probably melt into a puddle on his floor, but when Harley looked up at Mark and saw the smile on his sexy lips she couldn't resist him.
"Alright if it's not a big inconvenience to you."
"None at all follow me I will show you where you can change." Mark said standing.
Harley followed Mark into his bedroom and watched as Mark went into a drawer and pulled out a huge t-shirt. Mark showed Harley to the bathroom and told her that he would meet her back in the den when she was done. She smiled as she unfolded the large shirt to see that it was one of Mark's old wrestling shirts. Without thinking Harley put the shirt up to her nose and inhaled breathing in Mark's delicious scent. After another whiff Harley pulled the shirt over her head and laughed when she looked in the mirror to see that it fell way past her knees. Harley took another look in the mirror, straightening out her hair, before making her way back towards then den.
Mark laughed when he seen her. She looked so damn cute wearing one of his shirts.
"I know I am drowning in this thing but I am much more comfortable now. I can't believe I let Laurel talk me into wearing that thing." Harley said tossing the dress on the couch before taking a seat beside Mark.
Mark patted his lap and Harley smiled before turning sideways putting her legs across Marks lap.
"I don't know about how you felt in that dress but you sure as hell looked good in it tonight." Mark said as he began to massage her feet gently.
"Thank you." Harley said relaxing under Mark's touch.
Harley absent mindedly started moaning as Mark's hands kneaded her feet soothing all the aches that had been bothering her all night.
"Mmmm Mark you really do give great massages."
Before Harley knew what was going on Mark was lifting her in his arms and laying her carefully on her belly.
"What are you doing?" Harley asked looking at Mark over her shoulder.
"Just relax I'm not going to hurt you." Mark said as he began massaging the bottoms of her feet and up to her calf's. He kneaded her flesh in his big hands and he could feel Harley relaxing underneath him.
"That feels nice, Mark." Harley said sleepily.
By the time Mark reached Harley's shoulders she was fast asleep. Mark finished the massage before scooping Harley up in his big arms. Mark thought about putting Harley in the bed with him, but he didn't want her to wake up and freak out, so instead he took her to the guest room right across the hall from his room. He placed her in the big bed and pulled the covers up over her. He stood over the bed for a minute watching her. He didn't know what it was about the woman that drew him to her like a bee to honey, but something made him want her. Mark leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to Harley's lips before turning and leaving the room.
Mark took a shower before climbing into bed. He lay there for what seemed like hours just thinking of the woman who was sleeping across the hall from him before finally drifting off into a peaceful sleep dreaming about the beautiful Harley Cooper.
