Page 75 of Marked

Escaping Maria’s fussing, I headed for the stairs, only to collide with Anna in the hallway. I’d noticed her dusting thesame spot on the hallway wall when Maria first dragged me upstairs to change. It’s been ten minutes and she was still there, feather duster moving in the exact same pattern over the apparently fascinating wallpaper.

“Still battling that stubborn dust spot?” I asked.

“Oh! I was just…” She clutched her feather duster, eyes widening as she took in the suit. “You look so… perfect!” she whispered, then added something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “just like in chapter six.”

“Thanks?” I steadied her duster before it could fall. “And um, about yesterday with the pillows…”

“No, no, it’s fine!” Anna giggled, her eyes sparkling with an intensity that made me take a step back. She was still whispering to herself, and I caught what sounded like “perfect little wolf!” but I was choosing to believe she’d said “perfect little… walk.” Maybe she was really into exercise?

I made my way downstairs, gripping the banister a bit tighter than necessary in these borrowed dress shoes. The Stone brothers were waiting in the foyer, and I swear time actually slowed down as three pairs of eyes snapped to me like I was wearing a suit made of catnip. Or wolf-nip. Whatever.

“Well?” I spread my arms, trying for humor to hide my nervousness. “Does it scream ‘hire me’ or ‘help, I raided a prep school’s lost and found’?”

Caleb practically bounced on his feet. “I knew it would fit perfectly! See, Marcus? Didn’t I tell you?”

Derek made a strangled sound that might have been approval or cardiac arrest.

Marcus just… stared. The intensity in his eyes made me want to fidget, check if I’d missed a button or grown a second head.

“We should go,” Marcus said, his voice rougher than usual. “Don’t want to be late.”

“Right. Job at the bookstore. No pressure.” I tried for a casual shrug. “Just my entire financial future depending on whether I can convince someone I’m qualified to alphabetize things.”

Derek snorted. “You’ll do fine, little—” He caught himself, clearing his throat. “You’ll do fine.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“The bookstore will be perfect for you,” Caleb insisted, practically bouncing. “Trust me.”

Marcus guided me toward the garage with a hand hovering near my lower back. I tried not to think about how that barely there touch sent tingles up my spine. He led me to the same Mercedes from yesterday.

“Your chariot awaits,” he said.

“Wait,” I paused before getting in. “My phone’s still at the cottage from yesterday’s… impromptu evacuation.”

Something flickered in Marcus’ eyes. “Of course. We’ll stop there first.”

The detour was quick, Marcus’ car practically purring down the winding roads. He insisted on accompanying me inside—apparently the Stone brothers had never heard of personal space—hovering close as I retrieved my phone from the bathroom counter. The screen lit up, showing several missed calls from Luke.

“Your friend seems concerned,” Marcus observed, somehow knowing exactly who’d been calling.

“Luke’s always concerned,” I muttered, quickly sending a text to let him know I was alive. “It’s his default setting.”

Back in the car, I slid into the butter-soft leather seat. “I feel like I should have better life choices to match this car.”

The drive into town was… interesting. Marcus seemed determined to break some kind of silence record, while I tried not to fidget in my borrowed suit. The morning sun caught his profile as he drove, all sharp angles and perfect stubble, likesome luxury car commercial come to life. Surprisingly, my usual anxiety about the forest didn’t kick in. Maybe it was Marcus’ steady presence beside me, or maybe I was too preoccupied with not hyperventilating about the job.

“You seem tense,” he observed, finally breaking the silence.

“What gave it away? The nervous fidgeting or the way I’m trying to mentally calculate how many books I’d need to sell to cover my student loans?”

“You don’t need to worry about—”

“The loans? Yeah, that’s what my bank account keeps telling me, right before it laughs.”

Marcus’ lips twitched. “I was going to say the job. Jane’s fair. Just be yourself.”

“Be myself? Have you met me? I’m the guy who trips over air and makes inappropriate jokes when nervous. Which is always.”

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