11.

Mark was wearing a thoughtful smile as he eyed her from head to toe. "You haven't changed much."

"You have. Where did you go? What happened to you?"

His hands were laced together on the tabletop. He dropped his eyes to look at them. "Joined the Marines that fall. I used to think that I was in shape." Mark smirked. "Spent six years doing some wild shit. I was angry a lot of the time. Because of Mom and giving you up. It took a long time to work through that. And then when I got out of the military I moved to Houston. Got a job as a cop." He snorted softly. "Last thing in the world I ever thought I'd be. Got promoted to detective a couple of months ago. Figured I finally had my life sort out, right? Then I got an invitation to this reunion and I started thinking about things. About you. And I wondered how you were. If you were still angry. Your mom said that you'd forgive me eventually. I believed it. Guess I learned she got that part wrong."

"She didn't know me as well as she thought she did." Avery said. She slowly moved and sat down across from him, on the bench this time.

"You got married." It wasn't a question.

"For a while." Avery said. "It didn't work out. He was more married to his job. What about you?"

"Me? Nothing ever really stuck." He shrugged. They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither quite knowing how to proceed.

She figured being honest was a good start. She wasn't a naive kid anymore. And since he had laid everything out she figured she owed him something in return. "I felt the same way, you know?"

Mark looked at her. "About?"

"About you. That I wasn't good enough for you. I had such a huge crush on you before you asked for my help. And then I guess I actually fell for you. Hard." Avery put her hand against her stomach. "Every time I looked at you I felt like...ugh. Hard to describe. The reason what happened, happened was because I did love you. You didn't talk me into anything I didn't want to do. I was just afraid you were only doing it because...well. I was conveniently there and you were upset."

"I didn't mean to make it feel like I was just usin' you, Avery." Mark said softly. Once again, the sound of her name in that deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. It was ridiculous. That was 20 years ago. She was over it, over him.

But that damned attraction was still there.

Avery had no idea how to counteract it. Or if she should try. Or act on it. Or just walk away and let it die again. Mark was still looking at her, and it made her feel weak. He'd always been so intense, and that hadn't changed. Like he was trying to see into her mind, or figure her out.

Instead of speaking, she got up and walked away from the table. Toward the water. Sand spilled into her shoes and she paused to kick them off and sighed when her toes sank into the warm sand. She glanced back at the table, where Mark was still sitting and watching her with interest. So where did they go from here? Was that it? Had they both just needed to get it off their chests so they could move on finally?

Avery had no idea. She was pretty sure it hadn't been ancient history that had caused her marriage to come undone. She'd married a friend, and she loved Jack but it hadn't been enough. Her life had been good. She had a job she loved, a beautiful daughter. She couldn't ask for more. So it wasn't like what had happened had turned her into a man hating hermit.

But it had left an impression. She remembered the first time she'd slept with Jack. It had been fine. Not earth shaking, but pleasurable. It felt safe. The thought almost made her laugh. She knew that when a person thought of sex, feelings of security probably wouldn't be on top of the list of what came to mind. But it was apt. Sex with Mark had felt dangerous. Exciting. Not only because it had been her first time but because together they were greater than their single selves. Somehow.

She figured it was something her mother had noticed. Noticed and been terrified of it. Mark was everything Suzanne had been against. So of course she had agreed with Mark's request. What other choice did she have?

Avery had to hand it to her mother. She'd sell her soul to ensure her kids did better than her. Even if it meant make her daughter miserable in the process.

She wanted to stop. Just stop thinking. Just let it all go and live in the moment. Hell, had she ever done that? After that night?

And without thinking about it, Avery reached down and tugged the silky material of her tank top up. She tossed the shirt toward her shoes and slipped out of her skirt, sending it in the same direction as her shirt. That left her in a black bra and matching panties, rather conservative undergarments. At least this time she was wearing a bra. She remembered something else too, something that she'd forgotten, or had made herself forget. That power she had felt when she was with Mark. In her mind she could hear his soft moan against her ear, and the memory sent another shiver down her back.

"What are you doing?" Mark's voice cut into her thoughts. While she had been distracted, he had gotten up and approached but still stayed on the grass.

Avery shrugged. "Swimming?" With that she half-smiled and headed for the water.

It wasn't arm but it wasn't cold either. She waded in past her knees then took a deep breath and plunged in. She came up gasping at the cool sensation on her skin. It only took a minute to get used to it. She was nearly at the center of the pond when she turned and looked back toward the beach. And lost her footing. Mark was right behind her in the water. She hadn't even heard him, she'd been concentrating on swimming.

"You scared me." Avery managed to sputter.

"Sorry." But he was smirking. "Avery..." He stood up, and she took in his broad shoulders. And more tattoos. "Pretty sure this is what got us into trouble the last time." She could tell he didn't want to say it but felt he had to.

She could also tell she still held a bit of that power over him. Time had given her perspective. Back then she hadn't known what it was. Now she did. He still wanted her. For whatever reason, he wanted her. She didn't know if she'd ever get past thinking she was plain at best, no matter what he said.

"Swimming?" She played innocent.

"Sure." Again with the smirk. "Look. I don't harbor the notion that you're ready to forgive me yet. I wish it was true but I know better. And I don't wanna do anything now that you'd regret."

"We." Avery corrected him again.

Mark shook his head. "No. Because I wouldn't regret it at all. We had somethin' together. Hell if I know what it was was, or why it was. Never felt anything like it again."

Avery lifted her eyebrows. So he felt the same way. She didn't know why it surprised her.

"Kinda worried it won't be like that again." He continued, voice lower.

She didn't get a chance to answer. The unmistakable sound of a car approaching on the gravel road could be heard. It was getting louder. They both turned and saw headlights through the trees. Apparently whoever it was spotted the parked vehicles. They stopped and there were several minutes of quiet. Then the car backed up the way it had come in.

"This place isn't nearly as private as it used to be." Avery commented. She was a little disappointed when she should have felt relieved. If nothing else, the car had served to remind her that things had changed. A lot of things had changed. She sighed. "I should probably head home. It's late."

She didn't give him time to answer that. Avery pushed off and swam back toward the shore. Not rushing. She wasn't trying to run away from him like before because she was scared. She picked up her clothes and realized she was going to ruin her silk shirt by getting it wet. And decided she didn't care. She could buy another shirt.

"Avery..." Mark had caught up to her again. She glanced at him and did a double take. One thing had changed anyway. He hadn't bothered wearing the boxers this time.

"Follow me. Back to my place." She was stepping into her skirt, not looking at him again after that initial realization that he was naked. "I'm not a kid anymore. And I'm sure not up to trying to do this in a car again." She picked up her shoes. "Once again, I have the place to myself until tomorrow night. And I'm pretty sure nobody is going to pop in early to scare you off."

Avery headed for her car, not giving him time to argue or ask questions. She still wasn't sure if she were doing the right thing. At the moment, it felt like the only thing.