The Real Deal
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"I can't believe that Harley didn't put up a fight about moving in with you." Shawn said as the two men spoke on the phone.
"I just knew I was gonna have to chain her down in the basement or something to get her to agree, but she was very open to the idea."
"Are you going to go after her?" Shawn asked.
"I am going to help her with her situation, if something more comes of this then so be it."
Shawn couldn't control the laugh that escaped him.
"What's so damn funny?" Mark snapped.
"The fact that you are feeding me a bunch of bull and the funniest part is I think that you may be sincere about it."
"Look I am not going to attack her like some horny teenager, but if she shows any interest then hell, we are both consenting adults." Mark said. "I bet she is hot as hell in bed too." Mark admitted.
"So when do you want me to help you move in some of her things?" Shawn said deciding to ignore his sex crazed friend.
"Can you meet me at her place in an hour?"
"Sure, does she know we are coming?"
"She left me her key; said she might have to work a little later than usual."
"So how will you know what to get and what not to get?" Shawn asked confused.
"She said that she was going to pack up some stuff last night, said she would have some things marked in boxes for us to pick up."
"Alrighty then that's all I need to hear. See you in an hour." Shawn said before hanging up.
Mark walked into Harley's place and took a look around. The first thing he noticed was that there wasn't one picture of Harley with her family. There was an 8X10 in her bedroom of, who he could only assume were, her sisters and their children and it sat beside a larger picture of, who Mark figured was, Harley's mother.
"Harley was right; she looks nothing like these people." Mark thought to himself as he carefully studied the two photographs.
"Mark you in here?" Mark heard Shawn say as he walked down the hall.
"Yeah man, right here." Mark said walking out of the bedroom.
"You in there raiding Harley's panty drawer or something; I called you three times." Shawn joked.
"I was just having a look around." Mark said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah whatever you say man." Shawn joked.
"Just grab a box and shut the hell up." Mark growled.
Mark and Shawn got all of Harley's things back to his place in just three trips and were carrying in the last load when Harley pulled up. Shawn saw the smile on Mark's face as he watched her and he knew at that very moment that this was more than just some great scam that Mark was trying to pull off. To Shawn it was obvious that Mark was more than just attracted to Harley, Shawn just wondered how long it would take his friend to realize this as well.
"Hey guys." Harley said joyfully as she followed them into the house.
"Hey Harley, how's it?" Shawn asked.
"Well I had a meeting that ran extremely long but other than that today was a pretty good one."
"That's good, how about I call up Laurel and we all go out to dinner tonight?" Shawn asked as he sat the last box down carefully on the floor.
"That sounds nice but I would rather stay in, but if it's okay with Mark maybe I can fix us a nice dinner here?" Harley said looking over questionably at Mark.
"Hey this is your house now too; you can invite whom ever you want over." Mark said with a shrug.
"Thank you, Shawn you go and call Laurel while I go and get comfortable and then I will see what I can whip up." Harley said kicking off her heels and walking towards the guestroom.
"She's a keeper Mark." Shawn said slapping his friend on the back before going and making that call.
"This is absolutely delicious Harley." Shawn said as he served himself another helping of pot roast.
"Thanks Shawn I am glad you boys like it." Harley smiled as she watched both Shawn and Mark devouring their food.
Harley had found a roast in Mark's freezer and decided that it would make a proper meal. She added potatoes and carrots to the roast and steamed some broccoli. She also found a box of instant cornbread in the cupboard and made that as well and for dessert Harley made a strawberry pie.
"Yeah Mark with Harley around you will eat like a king. She is a really great cook; even if she does only cook once a month." Laurel teased.
"When you live alone there is never a need to cook." Harley shrugged.
"You don't have to sell me Laurel this food speaks for itself." Mark said as he finished off his dinner.
After dinner Mark and Shawn sat in the living room watching sports center as the girls tidied up the kitchen.
"So you and Mark gonna do the nasty?" Laurel asked causing Harley to drop the plate she was washing back into the sink.
"No, Laurel we are not going to do the nasty." Harley said whispering the last word making sure that she was not overheard.
"Why not, don't you think he is sexy?"
"Yes, but…"
"But what? I mean really Harlz when was the last time you had sex? Don't you think that Mark is just what you need right now?"
"Good lord Laurel, you are starting to sound like mother." Harley said looking disgustingly at her friend.
"Next time just stab me with a knife that would hurt a whole lot less." Laurel said seriously.
"Sorry, I know that you are nothing like her, its just…I bet Mark doesn't even think about me in that way."
"Are you serious? The man has moved you into his house for goodness sakes."
"Because he feels sorry for me and is helping me, that's why he did that."
"Wake up honey, have you not noticed the way the man looks at you? Shawn and I noticed it that very first night and if you open your eyes and stop letting your fear of being hurt run your life just maybe you and Mark can be happy together. Think about it." Laurel said before walking out of the kitchen to join Mark and Shawn.
"You ready to go love?" Laurel asked Shawn.
"Sure let's go." Shawn said standing as Harley joined them.
"Harley dinner was fantastic; we have to do this again sometime soon." Shawn said kissing Harley on the cheek.
"I would like that." Harley said hugging Shawn.
"Mark, you and Harley have a good night and don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Laurel said winking at Mark.
"That will be a very short list Laurel." Harley said playfully.
"That's my point." Laurel said as everyone laughed.
"Have a good night you two." Shawn said as he and Laurel left.
"Well I am really tired so I am just going to shower and call it a night." Harley said after minutes of awkward silence.
"Alright if you need anything just give me a yell."
"Will do. Goodnight Mark."
"Night Harley." Mark said as he watched her retreat to her bedroom.
Laurel sat at her desk sorting through her newest batch of profiles when her phone began to ring.
"Perfect Harmony, this is Laurel speaking, how may I help you?" Laurel said in her most oober perky voice.
"Hey Laurel this is Mark."
"Harley's Mark?" Laurel said laying the paper that was in her hands back on the desk giving her full attention to the conversation.
"Well uh yeah I guess." Mark chuckled.
"What's wrong; did something happen to Harley?" Laurel said now a little panicked as he worried about her friend.
"No she is fine. I got your number from Shawn."
"Oh okay but why?"
"Well I kind of need your help." Mark admitted.
"My help with what exactly?"
"Picking out a ring for Harley."
"A ring?"
"Yeah I mean she is going to have to have a ring to make her mother believe we are really married, right?"
"Right." Laurel answered. "But why not just take Harley to pick out her own ring?"
"Because I want to surprise her with something nice."
"Aww Mark you're just too sweet. Harley is definitely lucky to have you. I am taking my lunch break in about thirty; meet me at the corner of Main and Fordham I know a great little jewelry store on that side of town."
"Thanks Laurel I'll be there." Mark said before hanging up.
Mark met Laurel thirty minutes later and they walked the two blocks to "Lynx" a very low key jewelry store that was owned by a close friend of Laurel.
"So how long have you and Harley been friends?" Mark asked as he and Laurel looked at rings in the display cases.
"Over ten years."
"Was she one of your clients?"
"Good lord no, Harley doesn't believe in matchmaking that's why I had to trick her into meeting you." Laurel said smiling up at Mark.
"I'm sure Shawn told you that I wasn't too keen on the idea of meeting her either, huh?"
"Yeah he did. He also told me that you said she was probably "homely" and a "coyote date"."
"Sorry about that I was kind of in a bad mood that day."
"So now that you aren't in a bad mood, what do you think of her?"
Mark smiled but didn't speak.
"Yeah that's what I thought." Laurel said stopping when she spotted a very simple ½ diamond engagement ring and matching wedding band.
"This is it." Laurel said.
"You sure?" Mark asked skeptically.
"You brought me along to help you and I am telling you these rings scream Harley Cooper."
"You know her better than I do." Mark said motioning for the sales clerk.
"Did you find something you like?" He asked.
"Yeah Lonnie we are going to take the set right there." Laurel said pointing.
"Nice choice." Lonnie said taking the rings out of the display.
"Now you need to pick you out a band." Laurel said looking at Mark.
"I will just were my old one." Mark shrugged.
"Wait, you've been married?"
"Three times." Mark said as he handed Lonnie his credit card.
"And none of those women were smart enough to hold on tight to a man like you?"
"I was smart enough to know that all of them were only after my money." Mark said seriously.
"Well just for the record, Harley isn't like that."
"Just for the record…I know." Mark said as he grabbed the bag that Lonnie had put the rings in before he and Laurel left the store.
"Thanks for the help Laurel." Mark said as he walked Laurel back to her car.
"You're very welcome Mark, now go and put those rings on Harley's finger." Laurel told Mark before driving off.
"Hello mother." Harley said answering her phone.
"Harley dear I was just calling to tell you that I won't be coming in two weeks after all." Havilland said causing Harley to breath a sigh of relief.
"Oh mother that's too bad. Maybe you can make a trip out at Christmas." Harley said.
"That's not what I meant dear. I won't be coming in two weeks because I will be there tomorrow morning."
"What?!" Harley said stunned.
"I just couldn't wait to meet…what is your husband's name again dear?"
"Mark." Harley answered in shock.
"Pick me up at the airport at 11am sharp dear you know how I hate to wait." Havilland said before hanging up on her daughter.
"Could this day possibly get any worse?" Harley thought just as her intercom beeped and her receptionist's voice filed her office.
"Ms. Cooper there is a Mr. Drew here to see you."
Harley groaned inwardly as she slowly began to massage her temples.
"Guess that answers my question." Harley said before responding.
"Send him in Meredith." Harley said reluctantly.
"Harley babe, how are you?" Kendall Drew said with a cocky grin when he entered her office.
"Don't call me babe Kendall, I didn't like it when we were dating and I don't like it now. Just tell me what you want and then get the hell out of my office." Harley said irritated.
"Somebody is grumpy today." Kendall said sitting down in the chair across from Harley.
"What do you want?" Harley asked again.
"That's simple sweetheart." Kendall said with his signature smirk that use to make Harley weak at the knees, but now it only made her sick to her stomach.
"I want you."
