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"So how long have you been running your business?" John was actually fascinated with what she did, he had asked what she done for a living and she told him, she wasn't ashamed, she was actually very proud of her success and what she did.
"Five years now." She said sipping the white wine.
"Man I bet you get a lot of people asking for advice?" He said munching a bread stick.
"Yeah, but it don't bother me, I like helping people." She said smiling at him, he was hunky as hell, she thought just maybe he might be the cure for her Mark obsession.
"So how did, you meet Mark?" He asked curious.
Josie laughed and told him how she had literally ran into Mark, with box full of vibrators.
John chuckled. "I bet that was embarrassing."
"It was, but I'm glad I did, he's a really nice guy." She said.
John looked at her intently, did she like Mark like that, Mark had told him they were friends,and maybe they were, he just sensed more behind her words.
Mark was sitting on his deck drinking a beer, he wondered how Josie's date was going, he had a talk with John, and let him know, he better be a complete gentleman with Josie.
He couldn't keep his mind off her, he wondered if Josie would click with John, Josie was a nice girl, she deserved to be happy, but with her views and her mother holding her back, he didn't know if that would happen for her.
His phone rang and he picked it up. "Hello."
"Hey Mark, what ya doing?"
"Hey Michelle, not much." He said tying to drag his thoughts from Josie.
"I been busy, you know how it is, I was wondering how your and John's visit is going?" She said.
"Fine fine, he's not here now, he's on a date." Mark said somewhat distracted.
"A date, with who?" Michelle asked.
"A friend of mine, real nice girl, I thought her and John would hit it off."
Michelle shook her head. "Mark, why play matchmaker , I'm sure John can get his own dates, what, you set him up with some plain jane that cant get a date?"
"No, this girls beautiful, John will like her, she's a nice girl too." He said.
"Okay, well look , I have to go, see you next week." She said.
"Okay, bye." He said and hung up.
John and Josie were walking up her front steps, John felt his phone vibrating, but he figured he would check it later, it was probably Mark making sure he hadn't touched Josie.
Josie opened her door. "Would you like to come in for a minute?"
John was perplexed, she was a nice girl, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Okay." He said following her in.
John followed her in the kitchen and parked himself on a barstool while she made coffee, he studied her, she was very pretty in a girl next door sort of way, the more he thought about it, the more he thought Mark might really like her, but he was in this whole 'Michelle is my future' thing, right now.
John sighed, life was getting way to complicated. Josie sat the coffee in front of him and sat down beside him. "Thanks." He said taking the cup.
"So you and Mark just been hanging together since you had your little run in?" John asked.
Josie decided on a half truth. "Well we got to talking and I been having some trouble dating, I think its because I don't relate well to men, he offered to teach me about guy stuff, like wrestling, football and stuff like that."
John shook his head. "You're a nice girl, I don't understand why you would have trouble getting dates."
"Well not so much getting them, but the guys I date just disappear after one date, I must be doing something wrong."
John shook his head. "No, you just been dating bone heads."
Josie smiled and John decided to give her a kiss, he knew it wasn't right, but he was curious. Josie was taken by surprise by the kiss, but she didn't fight it, he was handsome, nice guy, why wouldn't she kiss him.
Josie kissed him back and his arm went around her and pulled her closer, he deepened the kiss just a little and then pulled back. Josie smiled at him. "That was nice." But that was the problem it was nice and sweet, but thats all it was, when Mark had kissed her, she felt like her body was on fire.
John grinned. "Just nice."
Josie's smile got bigger. "You know as well as I do, that thats all it was."
With the ice broke John started laughing. "I know, guess I'm not irresistible to all women like I thought."
Josie shook her head. "You're very handsome, just not for me."
John understood, there were no sparks there at all, even though she was a very nice girl. They talked for a while mostly about wrestling and then John stood up. "I had a nice time."
"Me too, I'll walk you out."
They stopped at the front door and John gave her a hug. "It was nice meeting you."
"You too." She said, she shut and locked the door behind him, now she had a big problem, this meant that any man wouldn't do, she was attracted to Mark, he's the one that set her on fire, and that was a big problem, besides the fact, he had a girlfriend, he was wanting to marry, even if she was free to date him, her mother would have a cow, probably kidnap her and try to deprogram her, no Mark was not right for her in anyway, the sooner he got engaged or married or whatever the better.
Mark was up waiting for John when he got in, John found him in the kitchen nursing a beer. "So?"
"So what?" John asked.
"How was your date?" Mark asked getting impatient.
"It was good , shes a nice girl, and she kisses good."
Mark jumped up. "I told you not to treat her like some slut, okay, shes not like that!" Mark shouted.
John wanted to laugh, Mark cared about this girl, that was plain to see. "Mark, chill man, it was just a goodnight kiss, thats all, calm down."
Mark sat back down, but he still looked pissed. "I was just trying to get her back in the swing of things, I didn't want ya making a play for her."
John laughed. "I hardly made a play for her, a kiss is not a lifetime commitment, it was nice, we both enjoyed it and left it at that."
Mark was still fuming at the thought of John kissing Josie.
"I'm going to bed, I have to be at the airport in the morning, early."
Mark nodded and watched John leave the room, he really didn't like the thought of John with his hands all over Josie, she was a sweet girl, and from he gathered she hadn't dated in a while, probably hadn't had sex in a while, things could get out of hand quickly if John came on to her too much.
John looked at the few missed calls and groaned, he didn't need to hear it tonight, he had come to see Mark for a reason, but he couldn't deal with it, if he was right about Josie and Mark, maybe he wouldn't have to do anything.
Josie had a busy two days, Thursday and Friday being the busiest days for her partys, by Friday night she was bushed, she told her friends bye and headed home. When she got home, she got out of the car and walked numbly up to her house, all she wanted was a glass of wine and to sit on her sofa and veg out in front of the TV.
Josie showered and got out pulling on a tank top and some shorts and went down stairs pulling a bottle of wine from the fridge. She poured her a large glass and walked in and plopped on the couch and picked up the remote, turning on the discovery channel hoping something interesting was on, just as she started to relax, the phone rang, she reached over and picked it up. "Hello."
"Hey sis, guess what I haven't had a smoke in a week, I think I'm going to do it, this time."
"Great Ana, I'm proud of you, I bet Ben's happy." She said sipping her wine.
"Yeah, he hates it, but he been a lot of help, encouraging me and all, have you talked to Margery?"
Josie sighed. "Last week, why?"
"I was just wondering, she hasn't bugged me in a few days, daddy called, I told him about me and Ben getting married, he was happy and he promised not to tell Margery." Ana said.
"Well I'm glad he called." Josie had always had a suspicion that Ana was daddy's favorite, he seemed to dote on her more, where as he acted like Josie was totally independent and didn't need anyone, he always went on about how well she took care of herself, as Ana had always been more of a mess, she always needed someone to help take care of her, Ben was filling that role now.
"So how is he doing." Josie said not even mentioning that daddy had called her.
"He's fine, just working as usual, he said it would be six months before he was done, but you know what, he is going to come spend Christmas with me and Ben, I'm so excited, he said Margery was going to be overseas anyway." Ana said.
Josie was a little hurt, she had asked dad to come visit her and he couldn't make time, but he could go to Ana's for Christmas, she wasn't mad at Ana, she knew how much Ana loved daddy. She just wanted him to make her a priority sometimes too. "Thats great Ana,"
"Well I know thats a busy time of year for you, but what don't you take some time off and come visit?"
" Wish I could, but its my busy time, maybe I'll make a trip down after the first of the year." Josie promised.
"Okay, but I'm holding it to you, I miss you sis." Ana said.
Josie smiled. "I miss you too, I wish you guys would move to Houston."
"Yeah I know, but Ben plays down here, he ever gets picked up by the majors, we'll have to move." Ana said.
"I know, I just miss you." Josie said.
"Miss you too Sis, I 'll call you in a couple of days, love you."
Josie laid her phone down and mindlessly watched the TV, her mind turning, she missed her dad so much, really he was the only parent that had acted like one, maybe thats why her and Ana both seemed so dependent on him, not that it did Josie any good, any extra time he had went to Ana, and maybe it needed to, Ana was softer than her, she always was, she needed him more really.
Her doorbell rang and Josie jumped, she had been deep in her thoughts and it startled her. She set the empty wine glass down and walked over to the foyer, looking through the peephole, seeing it was Mark she opened the door. "Hey Mark, c'mon in." She said really happy to see someone, anyone.
Mark walked in but he didn't look too happy, she frowned as she shut the door. "You okay."
He grunted and walked past her into the living room. "Okay." She said wondering what his problem was.
"You want a beer or some wine?"
Mark shook his head and she sat down beside him on the couch. "You mad or something?" She asked getting worried now, she really like Mark and truly didn't want to lose him as a friend, if she had upset him, she wanted to know.
Mark looked over at her seeing the worried look on her face and sighed, he was being a prick, he was pissed cause she kissed Cena and he didn't have any right to be. "Naw, sorry darlin, its not you, just a long day, I haven't heard from you since your date with John, I thought I would drop by."
Josie looked relived and sat back on the couch pulling her feet under her. "Sorry, I should have called you, the last two days have been so busy, I haven't moved since I got home." She said laying her head back, Mark wanted to reach over and tuck her loose hair behind her ear, she was such a cute little thing.
"Poor baby, you look beat, have you ate yet?" Mark asked.
"Huhh uh, I just been sitting here, soaking in wine." She teased.
"Well lets feed you before, you get drunk, I'll cook." He said getting up.
Josie got up and trailed after him. "You don't have to do that, I'll fix something."
Mark turned and lifted her on to one of the stools. "You can watch, now sit your ass still, I'll cook."
Josie wasn't used to being bossed around and she wasn't sure whether to yell at him or be happy about it, she decided on being happy and grinned. "Okay." Mark grinned and bent to Kiss her cheek. "Good girl."
Josie flushed red and Mark just shook his head and pulled out the wine pouring her another glass. "Thanks." She said when he handed it to her.
She watched as he pulled out the steaks, she had, he had them on the grill in no time and was back making a salad and pulling rolls from the freezer. "So how was your date with John?"
Josie sighed and took another sip of wine. "It was okay?"
Mark put the salad in the fridge and turned to face her, she was mesmerized by his big arms, God she wanted to touch him. "Just okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah, he's very nice, but well he's just not my type, God like I even have a type, I don't know, I don't think I have a type."
Mark walked over and sat down beside her. "Sure you do, you just haven't found him yet, but you will."
Josie smiled. "Thanks for coming by, I was feeling a bit lonely, my sister just called, I miss her."
Mark put one big arm around her. "Well then I'll just keep you company, okay?"
Josie leaned on his shoulder, why did she like him so much, maybe because in all her years, no one ever made her feel safe, like when she was with him, no one had ever cooked for her either, except her housekeeper Lisa, and that wasn't the same.
No the thing was, Mark was taking care of her, and no one had ever done that, and she knew she wasn't supposed to want a man to take care of her, but she was ashamed to know that deep down she did, she didn't know what was wrong with her, she couldn't be feeling this way, her mother would have a fit, Josie knew better than to be dependent on any man. "You okay?"
Josie smiled up at Mark. "Yeah, I'm great." Mark lifted his hand to move a lock of hair off her cheek. "Good."
Josie knew he was dangerous, she shouldn't be having these feelings, but she couldn't seem to help herself.
Mark pulled her closer to him, they were sitting on the couch watching TV, she had inhaled dinner and he washed up the dishes even though she protested and then they had both perched on the couch together.
Mark was watching a boxing match and Josie watched too, just happy to lay against his side, she really didn't give a damn what was on TV.
Josie remembered women telling her they watched sports even though they didn't like them, just to be near their man, she had thought that was the silliest thing she had ever heard, but now she realized why, they could be watching paint dry and she would be content to sit right here beside him
Mark looked down smiling, this girl needed someone to take care of her, she was so sweet. He rubbed the back of her head and seen she was already half asleep. "You ready for bed?"
"Nooo." She protested like some little brat and Mark smiled. "Okay then."
He knew she would be asleep soon and he would carry her upstairs and then leave.
It took about ten minute and he loosened her from his side and stood and bent and lifted her easily in his arms and carried her upstairs to her bedroom, he pulled back the covers and laid her down and pulled the covers over her. Mark kissed her cheek. "Night darlin."
She murmured sleepily and he smiled, she was a special girl, he wanted to stay friends with her, he liked hanging out with her, his jealousy over John long forgotten, he just hoped once him and Michelle got married, they could stay friends, woman most of the time could be possessive, he just hoped Michelle wasn't one of them.