Page 59 of Strike
“Why?” I turned to face him with a scowl. “I’m here for you, you blockhead. I turned down the job.”
He blinked, completely lost for words.
“I met Lori this afternoon,” I went on. “She brought me here.”
“You met Lori?”
“She came to see me.” I sighed and placed my hand on his knee. “What a pair we are… Good intentions but always just missing the mark.”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, allowing his gaze to fall to my hand. “I’m so messed up I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“What do you want?” I asked. “Be honest with me, Mark. No hiding behind bravado or expectations or past experiences. Just say it. You know I won’t judge you. So, what do you want?”
He reached over with his right hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “You gave up the job?”
“Mark.”
He sighed and raised his chin. Seeing him so vulnerable was shattering. He was this big, bad fighter, and right now, he looked on the verge of something so poignant it was beautiful in its sadness.
Still, he didn’t answer, so I offered him the alternative Lori and I had spent the entire ride over discussing. “I know a guy who can get your story out there. Therealstory. If that’s what you want, of course. Then I know a girl who knows a guy who can get you an in as a personal trainer anywhere in the city. Get your qualification, and you’re set. You don’t have to fight here anymore if that’s what you want. If you want to fight again, I can’t stop you. I won’t like it, but it’s your choice.”
“It seems like you’ve got this all worked out,” he said, the chip on his shoulder growing larger by the second.
“It’s not a bad thing to admit you need help,” I retorted. “It’s not going to make your balls shrivel up and fall off. Nor is accepting a hand up if it’s offered to you. Alegitimatehand up.”
“Is this what you want?” he asked. “What youreallywant?”
“What I want is The Fitzroy Cake Company and a chance to fall in love with you.”
He snorted.
“You and me? I wouldn’t know just yet,” I said. “You haven’t given me a chance, but I’m pretty sure it’ll happen.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t. Not really. You have to meet me halfway.” I moved closer and rested my forehead against his. “All I ever wanted was the shop and someone to share it with. Someone to share my life, you know? Be my partner in crime. My best buddy. A man who could make my knees tremble and kiss me when I’m sad. I know it’s you, Mark. You already do all those things for me. Please believe me when I say…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Please give me a chance to love you.”
He screwed his eyes shut before fixing his gaze on mine once more. “I should have been the one saying that.”
“Whatever. So are you going to answer my question,Storm?” I raised my eyebrows expectantly. “Here’s your chance. Make or break.What do you want?”
Leaning forward, he kissed me softly on the lips. “You,” he said. “All I want is you.”
22
Callie
Standingin the kitchen of The Fitzroy Cake Company, I put the finishing touches on the batch of cupcakes in front of me with a flourish. Swirling the last dab of rainbow buttercream icing, I put down the piping bag and sighed.
“Are these ready to go out?” Melissa asked. She was the first employee I’d ever hired, and so far was just as keen as I was.
“Yep. Load them into the display.”
“They look amazing,” she said, sliding the tray off the counter before disappearing out front.
“Am I interrupting?” a deep voice rumbled behind me.
Spinning on my heel, my gaze collided with Mark’s, and I grinned at the sight of him. My entire body zinged, and an image of what we’d done on the bench—which I’d disinfected—came to mind.
