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"Yes Yes, I told you, theres nothing between us." Josie rolled her eyes as she pulled up in Mark's long driveway.
"Sammy, I have to go, okay, I'm at his house... No I'm not going to get naked, jeez." She said shaking her head.
"Look Sammy, I'll talk to you Monday, have a good weekend." She sighed heavily and got off the phone, Josie was a little embarrassed, she had fell asleep on Mark last night, she didn't even remember him leaving, she had been tired anyway and then the wine hadn't helped, her heart warmed as she thought of how Mark had cooked for her, she just wasn't used to anyone doing anything for her, he had been awfully sweet.
Josie got out and seen Mark in the driveway, working on one of his bikes, she walked over. "Hey Mark."
He smiled up at her. "Hey Josie, sorry I let time get away from me."
He stood up and wiped his hands on a rag. "Let me put the bike up and run and take a shower, go on in, I'll be down shortly."
"Okay." She walked on up the front walk and went in, shutting the door. She had got a good nights sleep and felt much better, she had spent most of the day, cleaning her house, doing clothes and then she had went shopping online for some new shoes, nothing to exciting, but it felt good to just do normal stuff after her busy work week, she went in the kitchen and poured herself a cup of iced tea and sat down at the table, waiting for Mark.
Mark scared her, she would never give a inch to any man, she always had to be the one in control of the relationship, but with Mark that was changing and it scared the crap out of her, she didn't know how to stop the feelings she was having for him, she knew it was bad for her, bad for who she was, but she had no idea how turn off the feelings he brought out in her.
She looked up as Mark walked in in jeans and a sleeveless shirt, his long hair still damp from the shower, he smelled so good, she just wanted to jump on him, she sighed, being around him was hard. Mark bent and kissed her cheek. "Did you bring a change of clothes?"
She nodded. "But I don't see why I have to spend the night, what are we doing tomorrow, that I have to be here so early."
Mark grabbed a beer."We're going fishing, we have to be up at three."
"AM, don't fish sleep, thats crazy." She said shaking her head.
"Yes AM, and you will get up, thats what time we have to get started." He said, taking a drink of his beer.
Josie who was already feeling worried about his undue influence on her felt like there was no way, she was going to take his bossy attitude, decided it was time to nip his chauvinistic tendency's in the bud. "Don't boss me around." She said, but it came out a lot less forceful than she intended, in fact it sounded pretty weak, like a sleepy toddler denouncing bedtime.
Mark smiled and put his arm around her. "You're really cute darlin." He said chuckling.
Josie sighed, she couldn't even assert herself when she tried with him. "I'm not being cute." She said with a pout.
Mark's grin got even wider."Are you cranky or something, still tired, want a nap first, before we get into my romance lesson?"
"No, I don't need a nap." She said feeling like a little kid.
"C'mon then." He said taking her hand and leading her into the den, he sat down and pulled her down beside him. "Okay, explain to me what is romantic to a woman."
Josie looked up at Mark. "Well its not that easy, romance is different to different women, the secret is knowing your partner, you know her well, then you're going to know what she wants."
Mark gazed down at her, he tucked her hair back behind her ear. "And whats romantic to you?"
Josie swallowed hard. "I'm not telling, one day thats how I'll know I've met the right man, cause he'll just know."
Mark grinned amused, he found her entertaining to be around, the more time he spent with her the more he liked her. "Okay then give me an example."
Josie thought a minute. "Okay, when I first started my practice, I had this one couple that came to see me, she just had a baby and they were having problems, he felt ignored, because of the baby, she felt neglected, he didn't treat her the way he used too."
Mark nodded. "And what did you do to help them."
She smiled. "Actually nothing, they worked things out without any real help from me, She was a avid reader, there was a certain series of books she loved, she got the newest one anytime it came out, well just having a baby and everything being crazy, she didn't even have her mind on that, one day her husband came home, he handed her a bag, it wasn't even wrapped or anything, she opened it to find the newest book, she called me in tears, telling me how romantic it was for him to do that, she was so surprised he even knew what she read and who the author was, and that he went to the trouble to go get it for her, that was a turning point for both of them , in her mind he showed her he noticed her and what she liked, her reaction to it, told him what he needed to know about keeping their marriage happy."
Mark smiled. "So each individual woman is going to have a different standard for what they find romantic?"
Josie nodded. "Yep thats pretty much it, you just have to figure out whats important to the woman you love."
He was thinking about Michelle, she pretty much liked the sames things he did. He would have to ponder on that before he saw her next weekend. "So I guess this my last lesson, next weekend, I'll put it all to a test and see what happens."
Josie took his hand. "Mark you never needed lessons, you're a wonderful man, and I hope your lady sees that, you deserve someone special."
Mark was very touched by her words, for the longest time, he felt like he had fell short of Michelle's expectations, that he wasn't enough, like he needed to fix himself, but here was his sweet friend, and yeah thats what he considered her, there might be attraction on some level, but in a short time, he had come to care about her, she was telling him, he was enough and that there wasn't anything wrong with him. "Thanks Josie, that means a lot coming from you." He said and hugged her.
Josie laid her head on his shoulder, she had truly become fond of the big man and she dreaded the day he did marry Michelle, she knew they wouldn't be able to be friends like they were now.
Mark patted her back. "Whatta ya say, I order some takeout and we spend the rest of the evening watching wrestling DVD's, you up for it?"
Josie nodded and reluctantly let go of him. "Sounds good."
Josie watched a little TV while Mark was gone to pick up their food, she wondered how Mark felt about her, was it just friendship, she knew she really liked him as a friend, but it was more, she was attracted to him. Little good it would do her even if he was attracted to her, they were not suited to each other, Mark was into sports, bossy, that would never work, and her mother would kill her, no better to leave it at friendship.
Mark was back before she knew it with Chinese food, they spread it out and the coffee table and they both plopped on the floor and watched wrestling for a while. Josie loved watching him in action, he was graceful for such a big man. They laughed and cut up through the whole meal, Josie smiled as he fed her pieces of chicken, she was so relaxed with him, she had such a good time when she was with Mark, why couldn't she find this with a guy that was available.
Mark looked at the time. "Get on to bed, three o'clock comes early."
They got the trash up and cleaned up and she followed Mark upstairs, he showed her to a spare room. "Now if ya need anything, I'm right across the hall."
Josie nodded, she needed something all right, him inside of her, she blushed at the thought and quickly turned to go in the room, Mark's big hand on her waist stopped her. He reeled her back and bent down to kiss her cheek. "Night."
Josie murmured goodnight and quickly escaped to the bedroom and closed the door, sleeping in the same house with Mark, was not a good idea, she just hoped she could get to sleep.
Mark was having the same problem, tossing and turning, he couldn't get off his mind, that Josie was across the hall, probably in very few clothes.
Mark sighed and rolled to his side, he felt bad for having these urges with Josie, him and Michelle had started seeing each other right when his second marriage was ending, they had a lot in common and had just clicked together.
He had taken on training her and he made sure she got a push with Vince, he had been crazy about the girl, then when he announced his retirement, they had grown apart, he hadn't seen her in months and , he felt like she was drifting away from him, thats when she had started the whole he was boring in the bedroom, hell he was doing the same stuff he always had, maybe she was just bored and he needed to spice things up a bit.
He had it set in his head, that Michelle was going to be his wife, she could quit WWE and they would have a houseful of kids, it would be perfect, now if he could just figure out why he wanted Josie so bad.
"C'mom, get up."
Josie slapped the hand away from her shoulder. "Do that again and die." She mumbled and pulled the covers back over her head.
Mark grinned, he had tried calling her three times, she was stubborn. Mark pulled the covers back and scooped her up. "Okay, I'll just throw you in a cold shower, that will wake you."
Josie opened one eye and looked up at the big man. "You wouldn't ..."
Mark headed in the bathroom and reached in with one hand turning on the cold water. "Okay okay, I'm up." She said wanting to slap him.
Josie was mad at having to get up so early, mad because he was being bossy again, but that melted away as quickly as it came when he carried her back to the bedroom and sat down still holding her, the warmth of his chest and arms, felt so good, she snuggled deeper in his embrace "You smell good." She murmured still sleepy.
Mark chuckled and the sound rumbled under her ear. She felt his lips brush her cheek. "I've got some coffee going, get you a shower." he said and got up setting her to her feet, like a puppy, she nodded and scooted off to the bathroom. She closed the door and sighed disgusted with herself, she had always been in control in any relationship she had, she couldn't believe how she just let Mark run over her, it was like she had no will of her own.
She really had to stop it, she was a feminist for God's sake, she couldn't just let a man run over her, what was she thinking?
Josie sighed and pulled her clothes off and adjusted the water, the man had a spell on her, and she had to figure out how to break it.
Josie tromped behind Mark , it was still dark, they were at some lake or another and Mark walked up the the boat dock and he pointed to a rowboat. "Thats mine, I come here to fish all the time."
Josie rolled her eyes, how the hell could anyone be this excited at four in the morning, the man was cracked. "I bet you don't know one woman who likes to fish." She said as he untied the boat and threw their fishing gear in it.
Mark held the boat still while she climbed in. "Michelle loves to fish."
Josie frowned, okay that was it, she was going to sit in this damn boat and act like she was having the time of her life, even if it killed her.
Seven hours later, she was really trying to keep that promise, she was hot, tired, sleepy, sweat pooled all over her, her hair was stuck to her face and neck and she had worm guts all over her hands, and the worst, she had to pee, really really bad, but Mark seemed in no hurry, and he wasn't talkative, he just stared at the water and kept casting his line out, he had caught four fish, and every time she tried to talk to him, he shushed her and told her she was going to scare the fish away.
Josie vowed she would never, ever go fishing again. Mark plopped a hat on her head. "Keep it on, you're starting to burn."
"Yah think?" She thought to herself and shifted in her seat, her butt was numb from sitting so long. "Be still, you'll knock us both out of the boat.
Josie watched her float, she hadn't caught but one tiny fish and Mark had thrown it back, thank goodness, she was about to slaughter a innocent fish.
Mark watched her, he could tell she hated fishing, still she hadn't complained once, he admired her stubbornness, she wasn't going to let on to him, she had been chatty the first hour and he had tried explain you didn't go fishing to talk, but to fish.
"I have to go to the ladies room." She finally said.
Mark rolled his eyes. "Theres a can behind you for that."
Josie looked horrified. "I am not peeing in a can Mark."
Mark sighed deeply and reeled in his line and started stowing his fishing gear. "I was hoping to fish all day, I don't see why you cant pee in the damn can." He complained.
Josie just pulled her line in and put the rod up. She crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Fine, fine, we're going back, damn woman."" He muttered.
Josie looked down, she had failed miserably, she couldn't do this, thats why she could never get a second date, she hated stuff like this.
It took them ten minutes to get back to the dock , Mark kept glancing at Josie, she was way to quite, he had been a little peeved, but he wasn't mad, she looked miserable, he guessed fishing, just wasn't for her.
She went to step out of the boat and Mark tried to grab her, but he couldn't reach her, when she stood, she tilted the boat and she went falling in the water. Mark reached in and grabbed her flailing arms and hauled her back in, she looked like a drowned rat. "Damn girl, next time wait till I tie the boat up."
Mark shook his head and hopped out tying the boat up, he turned to help Josie out , but she had already scrambled out and took off, Mark sighed, she was pissed. He didn't really blame her, he thought as he pulled his gear out of the boat, he had kept her out way too long, she had been a good sport and he had pushed it to far. He took the stuff up to his truck and opened the bed and sat down to wait for her.
Josie made it to the bathroom each step squishing as she dripped the whole way, she was relieved to get there and answer the call to nature, all that coffee had been a bad idea, she washed her hands and looked up and saw herself, and burst into tears, that was just the icing on the cake, the whole day had been horrible and now Mark knew what a loser she was, she couldn't even spend the day with him fishing, she felt like a idiot, for someone like Mark, he would want a woman who couldn't enjoy doing the kind of things he liked, it was painfully obvious that woman wasn't her, she sat down a a bench in the bathroom and bawled even harder.
Mark looked at his watch, she had been gone a while, he sighed and started walking towards the bathrooms. He wondered what the hell was taking so long.
He stood outside the womens room and was about to knock, when he heard her crying, what the fuck was wrong with her. He opened the door to find her sitting on a bench against the wall, crying her eyes out.
She looked like hell, wet, water dripping off her, her skin too red from the sun, and completely miserable. Mark rushed over and pulled her up in his arms. "Poor baby, I'm sorry, I should have had you home hours ago, you been a good sport and I pushed you too hard." he said and his big hands stroked her back.
Josie shook her head as best as she could crushed against his chest. "I'm a failure, I just suck." She said and started bawling even louder.
Mark rubbed her back. "No you're not, hey you stuck it out all day and didn't even complain, most women would have tried to drown me."
Josie sniffed and finally relaxed in his arms. "C'mon, lets get you home, so you can get a hot shower and some dry clothes."
Josie looked up at the big man. "I cant ride in your truck, I'm soaking wet, I'll ruin your seats, I'll ride in the back."
Mark lifted her chin. "I don't give a fuck about the seats, the back, yeah right, if ya wasn't feeling so bad already, I would swat your ass but good."
Josie blushed, he was so damn bossy and high handed, but she didn't issue any protest at all as he lead her out to his truck.