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Mark reached out in front of Lexie and opened the door. She stopped dead in her tracks and peered over at him out of the corner of her eye looking at him suspiciously. He flashed her one of his million watt smiles and simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Ladies first," he said cordially.
He had always thought that opening doors and pulling chairs out for the lady was the gentlemanly thing to do, and he considered himself to be a perfect gentleman, most of the time anyway. Although right now, he was insanely curious as to why Grey suddenly asked him to lunch. He had Lexie Grey pegged as the sort that didn't fraternize with guys like him.
Mark stayed just a couple steps behind her as they walked into the deli and took a moment to admire exactly how fine her butt was. The way that her rear end swayed with each purposeful step she took would make any red-blooded breathing man stand up and take notice, he mused. The lady sure had a confidence that radiated from her, one that even possibly rivaled his own. And that was saying something considering the size of his ego.
After walking into the deli, Lexie was feeling the overwhelming first signs of nerves settling she crazy for asking Mark Sloan to do this, to be her fake husband? She answered herself by snorting aloud at the mere absurdity of the question.
Stopping at an empty table she glanced over her shoulder at the admittedly handsome man. His cerulean blue eyes were watching her every move. He was grinning at her with a charming smile that she was certain had probably melted many women's hearts.
"What?" he finally asked her lifting a questioning brow. Lexie shook her head and took a deep breath.
"Nothing," she said curtly. Averting her gaze and flattening her mouth into a grim line. She added a stiff, "Nothing at all," before rigidly sliding into one side of the table.
Once Lexie had taken her seat, Mark slid into the seat across from her and rested his elbows on the table. He could sense that Grey had something on her mind but for the life of him he couldn't figure out why it would have anything to do with him of all people. He would have figured himself to be the last person on earth that Lexie Grey would have come to for a civil lunch conversation, not that he was complaining. Even with her astute manner and tapering gaze, Lexie Grey was definitely hot.
"So," he started and lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop in a rhythmic beat. "Why did you want to see me?" he asked her straight out because his curiosity was getting the better of him.
Her piercing brown eyes stared back at him with such intensity that he almost buckled under the pressure. With just one look, she could almost bring a man to his knees.
"I-" Lexie said and then snapped her mouth shut when two menus were slapped on the table in front of her and a gaudy waitress stood beside them.
"What can I get you two?" the assertive waitress with the double D breast enhancement straining out of the top of her too small shirt asked, looking solely at Mark. She was smiling from ear to ear and not so subtly trying to push her chest out even further for his turned that award-winning smile on the waitress who swayed slightly before grabbing a hold of the edge of the table to steady herself.
"I would like a slow roasted roast beef and a sweet ice tea, pretty miss," he said and then winked. who even does that anymore? Lexie asked herself annoyed by the situation as a whole. Rolling her eyes Lexie loudly cleared her throat, interrupting the little private conversation occurring right in front of her.
"Oriental chicken salad, please."
The waitress jotted down their orders before offering another suggestive smile to Mark. Of course, he returned it and the giddy waitress seemed to skip off happier than when she made her first appearance.
"Unbelievable," Lexie muttered when the waitress was out of earshot from the chuckled.
"You know what you need Grey?" he stated leaning over the table so that he could be closer to her. Mark didn't know why he leaned, other than the fact he had this strange desire to smell her scent.
"What?" she replied hesitantly. Lexie didn't miss the little glint that he had in his eyes, the one that had mischievously written all over it. Maybe that should have been her first warning of caution about what he was going to say next.
Mark crooked his finger in a come hither motion for Lexie to come closer. He could see that she was wary of him already and he was getting a kick out of watching her try to keep that cool façade she was so famous for.
Lexie figured what the hell and leaned in so that she was just an inch from Mark Sloan's face.
"Tell me, Sloan, what is it that I need?" she asked. And for just a moment, Mark froze at listening to the way she posed that question. Such fervid sensuality seeped out Grey that startled his thoughts unexpectedly and, truth be told, it knocked him for quite a loop.
"I'm waiting, now tell me," she breathed out, looking at him expectantly. Mark closed his eyes and easily regained his own composure.
"You need," he said and kicked up that corner of his mouth before continuing, "You need a good ole' fashion 'roll in the hay' so that you can pull that shoved up pole out of that pretty little ass of yours."
Lexie gasped in shock and covered her mouth. Suddenly jumping back from him she could hardly believe what he had just said.
"You did not just go there," she accused, her brown eyes wide with leaned back in his seat and laughed.
"I'm only stating the obvious, Grey," he said, struggling to contain himself. He had achieved the reaction that he wanted and was pretty pleased with himself. The look on Lexie's face was priceless. "You might want to close your mouth Lexie before a big bug flies into it," he said laughing once again.
"That's it," Lexie snapped. This was a bad idea. There was no way she could deal with a man like Mark Sloan for an entire week in Hawaii, pretending to be married of all things. She'd kill the man before they ever landed on the island. Lexie reached for her purse and stood from the chair at the same time that the waitress so conveniently returned with their order. The waitress, Lisa was her name according to the little nameplate pinned to her shirt, had a smile for Lexie now.
"Leaving so soon?" she quizzed.
Lexie reached in her purse and pulled out money slapping it on the table with more force than necessary. She shot a look over at Mark that expressed exactly how much she did not appreciate his assessment of what she needed. Who was he to tell her what she needed anyway? Heck, for all he knew she had a different man for every night of the week, she told herself. Mark Sloan was nothing but a Grade 'A' asshole.
"I need to get back to the hospital to check on my patients," she said with as much dignity as she could muster. "Maybe even go and find me some hay somewhere," she added before haughtily turning on her heel and walking away. She could hear Mark's boisterous laughter even as she hit the door and stepped back out into the midday sun.
God, what a fool I was, Lexie chided to herself walking down the hallway of the hospital. Kepner was right, she conceded, as always. Mark Sloan was a certifiable, egotistical, pompous of a breathing jerk. Thank goodness she came to her senses before she made possibly one of the biggest mistakes of her life. Just as she hit the steps to the elevator, her phone began ringing inside of her purse. Reaching in, she pulled it out, checking the caller ID. It's her Mom. This day was getting better by the minute, she thought mockingly to herself.
Sighing, she answered the phone and said, "Hi Mom," with what she hoped sounded like mild enthusiasm.
"Sweetheart, how are you?" her mother asked.
"I'm fine," she said, knowing that her tone sounded short, but Lexie's patience was hanging by a very thin thread.
"You don't sound fine dear, is something wrong?" the older Mrs. Grey asked with sincere concern one could expect from a loving mother, sometimes too loving.
"I'm fine," she reiterated. "It's just been a long day," Lexie stated as she sauntered into the doctor's lounge hastily collapsing in a comfortable chair.
"Alright, if you're sure," she said, not sounding so convinced.
"I'm sure Mom," Lexie said, trying to reassure her mother.
"Was there something you needed?" Lexie asked. She loved her mother but if she let her, her mother would go on rambling forever about nothing; and she still had research to get to do before calling it a day.
"Actually," her mom answered, "There is. I would like you to come to the house tonight for dinner. Your father's friend is coming in from Maine and he has his son…."
"Mom got to go- emergency just walked in," Lexie spoke up quickly, cutting her off. She already knew where this conversation was heading and she was so not willing to go, don't they just give it up already?
"But…" her mom tried to speak and Lexie cut her off again.
"Tell Dad I love him and I love you too, Mom, bye," she said abruptly while disconnecting the phone call.
Dropping her head on the desk in front of her she groaned. How was she going to keep thwarting all of their attempts at once? She knew that her family loved her, but they were driving her absolutely nuts.
"Excuse me," a familiar voice piped up. As soon as she heard the voice she cursed herself for not closing the door when she walked in, in the first place. Looking up she once again stared into the infamous face of Mark Sloan. He was still smiling. 'Did he ever do anything other than smile?' she briefly pondered before sitting up only to scowl back at him.
When Lexie didn't respond Mark took the initiative and stepped in front of her. He felt bad for offending her back there at the diner and wanted to try smoothing things over just a little. They were co-workers after all.
"Um, I…I just wanted to apologize for my behavior back there," he said with sweet sincerity. "It was uncalled for."
Lexie only glared back at the man. She couldn't believe he had enough gumption to waltz in here, say sorry and expect everything to be okay. Their eyes remained locked onto each other's, when her phone began ringing again, startling her from the trance-like state. Glancing over she spotted the familiar number and mother wasn't going to give up; not today, not tonight and definitely not in Hawaii. Lexie made no moves to answer that phone call. Instead, she turned back towards the man standing in front of her.
"You're really sorry, huh?" she stated, looking for a confirmation from Mark himself.
"Yes, I am," he replied as he cocked his head to the side. "Do you want me to get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness?" he asked cheekily. Lexie sat back in her comfortable chair and crossed her hands over her chest.
"As appealing as that visual sounds, no. But…" she said and this time she offered a sly smile of her own. "Dr. Sloan, I have a proposition for you. Are you interested?"
Mark took in that smile and told himself that if he had any sense at all he should backpedal out and he should be doing it right now. But Callie had always told him that when it came to pretty women, all his good sense seemed to fly out the window, and this case was no different. Taking a step closer, Mark mimicked her stance and crossed his hands over his chest too. It was an old tactical move meant to intimidate, but it did nothing in the face of Lexie Grey.
"Alright," Mark said after a moment of audible silence. He could feel the rising tension between them mounting in the room and finally asked the million dollar question of the day. "I'll bite, Dr. Grey. Exactly what kind of proposition do you have in mind?"
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