Page 69 of Waiting for a Prince
Mark could live with that. Hell, yes.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tuesday, September 24
“Okay, out with it.”
Mark gave Sonia a look of wide-eyed innocence. “Out with what?” He’d been on his break for as long as it took to make a cup of tea before she’d launched.
Not that Mark was surprised. Sam had said he had this glow about him.
Gee, I wonder what caused that?
Sonia snorted. “Yeah, like I believethatlook.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Aw, come on, sweetie, you can tellme.”
Mark guffawed and almost sprayed her with his mouthful of tea. “And don’t try those puppy dog eyes on me. You know I can never resist when you do that.”
She winked. “That’s what I was counting on.” Mark continued to meet her gaze with a reasonably straight face, but he burst into laughter as she grew more and more impatient. “You are a pain, do you know that, Mark Horrocks? Now tell me what’s going on, because you’ve had a smile a mile wide plastered across your face all morning.” Sonia took a bite out of her sandwich and gazed at him expectantly.
Mark was in a brilliant mood. Being back at work after his two days spent with Sam was a real drag, but he consoled himself with the fact that he’d see Sam after work. They were going to talk seriously about their living arrangements.
Waking up that morning with Sam in his arms had been sheer heaven. There were definite advantages to sharing his bed. Top of the list would have to be morning cuddles—which had turned swiftly into mutual morning blowjobs. Mark smiled to himself as he thought of their shower together, a little awkward as the shower was above the bath. A decent sized shower was going to be on their must-have list for a new place together.
Mark still couldn’t believe Sam had agreed to them moving in together. He was pretty sure his face was sporting a sappy grin, but right now, he couldn’t give a damn.
Sonia cleared her throat impatiently and Mark was pulled rudely from his delightful thoughts. He grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. I was miles away.”
Sonia pouted. “Yeah, but it’s where you were that’s driving me crazy.” She opened her eyes wide. “This is about Sam, isn’t it?”
Mark laughed. “Well, duh. It’s taken you all morning to workthatout? Your psychic powers must be failing.” He couldn’t hold back the gleeful giggle that burst out of him.Have Ieverfelt this happy? The answer was easy.
Hell, no.
Wendy stuck her head around the staff room door. “Mark, are you still on your lunch break? ’Cause you have a visitor.” She retreated.
Mark frowned.Since when does anyone visit when I’m at work?He wasn’t even sure his mum knew—or cared—about his job at the salon. It wasn’t likely to be Sam either. He’d gone back to his flat to get some work done.
Apparently, he’d gotten a little behind over the weekend for some reason.
There was that grin again.
Mark hauled himself up off the tiny sofa he was sharing with Sonia. “I’d better see who it is.”
Sonia demolished what was left of her sandwich in two bites. “I’d better come, too,” she mumbled incoherently as she swallowed the last of it. He gathered up the two mugs and hurried out of the small staff room, curious to see who had arrived.
Sam stood in the middle of the salon, his face pale and drawn, his hands nervously twisting the denim jacket he was holding.
Mark went over to him. “Sam, what’s wrong?” Sam’s eyes were red, but it was the dull look in them that grabbed Mark’s attention. This was not the same man who’d kissed him goodbye a few hours ago.
“Can we go somewhere and talk, please?”
Mark glanced at the wall clock. He had ten minutes left of his lunch break and Marie was nowhere in sight. “Sure, come with me.” He led Sam back into the staff room and pushed the door shut behind him. No sooner had he done that, Sam had his arms around Mark, holding him so tightly that Mark grew concerned. “Babe, what is it? What’s wrong?” Sam was shaking. Mark pulled him toward the tiny sofa. “Come on, sit down for a sec.”
Sam sat down, seemingly unwilling to let go of him. Shock ricocheted through Mark to see tears sparkle in his eyes. He pulled Sam to him and held him close, stroking his hair. “I’ve got you, Sam. Talk to me.”
Sam said nothing for a moment, but the shaking eased. He raised eyes full of misery to gaze at Mark. “I called my dad.”
Mark’s heart sank.Aw fuck. “I take it he didn’t react well.”
