22. Mark
It’s early when I return to Seaside, and I’m starving. I’ve just flown a red eye, getting Riggs to PDX and myself back to Seaside. I’m tired, cranky, and in desperate need of food at this hour.
Not in the mood to cook, I pull into the diner shortly after it opens.
True to form, there are already cars filling the parking lot.
As I back my truck into a spot for an easy escape route, I think I see Jack Murdock’s truck over to the side.
I wonder if I’ll see Ryan this morning, too.
Ryan’s less apt to stop in because he likes to help Lanie with the kids most mornings, but since it’s summer, he might let them sleep in.
As the bell jingles above the door to signal my entrance, Martha greets me with a welcoming smile. “Well, look who the cat dragged in. Haven’t seen you around lately.”
“Just got back into town,” I grumble.
“Want the usual?” she asks, walking me to a booth in the back corner of her section.
“Sure. A bacon and cheese omelet with a side of sourdough toast will hit the spot,” I reply, rubbing my stomach. I can’t wait for that coffee she’ll bring to wash it down. There’s no way I’ll make it through the day without it.
As I pass by a booth filled with older men, I swear I’m hallucinating when I hear Faye’s voice call out, “Mark?”
Turning around, I come face-to-face with the most gorgeous woman on the planet. Mouth gaping and wide-eyed, her deep blue eyes stare at me as if she, too, is in disbelief and doesn’t trust I’m actually standing here in front of her.
Without hesitation, I swoop her into my arms and crash my lips on hers.
She tastes like heaven and home all wrapped into one.
The moment she links her arms around my neck and kisses me back, everything is right in my world. I instantly feel complete. My sour mood evaporates on the spot, and my only need is the woman in my arms.
Eventually, a loud throat clearing brings me back to reality.
Fuck, we’re in public, and I completely devoured her like a tall glass of water on a hot summer day.
Reluctantly, I let Faye go, only to hear a familiar man’s deep voice deadpan, “I thought something had been off with you lately; now I know why.”
Reaching for her hand, I turn to face not only Jack and Ryan Murdock, but her dad, Mr. Ames. They’re all seated in the booth next to us. Each with a different shocked expression on their face.
Well, shit. The cat’s out of the bag now.
As I stiffen my shoulders and look them each in the eye, Faye awkwardly lets go of my hand and feigns excitement by using freaking jazz hands to announce, “Surprise. Mark’s back in town… And well… obviously, we’ve reconnected.”
Ryan’s eyes widen, and his brows nearly lift off his face, but I’ll give the guy credit; he doesn’t say anything.
To her dad, she says, “Guess who moved in next door and has been doing all those renovations?”
“You don’t say,” her dad guffaws, as his hand slaps the table in front of him.
Reaching out for his hand to shake, I finally remember my manners. “It’s good to see you, Mr. Ames.”
From the corner of my eye, I catch Ryan covering his mouth and his shoulders shake in silent laughter.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
Ryan was nervous as fuck around me the first time we met, and now, he’s watching my grown ass squirm like he did, until he learned I meant him no harm.
Shaking my hand stiffly, Mr. Ames smirks. “What… I don’t get a greeting like that? I have to say, Faye, this guy sure knows how to put on a show. I think he made sweet Martha blush with a kiss like that.”
Kill. Me. Now.
Ryan finally loses all hope of having any control and audibly rocks with laughter at my expense. His dad is doing the best he can to hold back his amusement but fails miserably, as well.
“Dad,” Faye admonishes and swats at his arm. “Behave.”
“I wasn’t the one putting the moves on my baby girl in public. Serves him right to be in the hot seat. Just how long has this been going on?”
Before she can respond, Martha interjects, “Do you want me to bring your food to this table, Casanova?”
Jeez—I’m never gonna hear the end of this.
“We’ll make room for him here,” Jack Murdock states as he stands and grabs a chair from an empty table.
Mr. Ames and Faye slip back into their side of the booth, and I take the hot seat at the end of the table. When my knee bumps hers, Faye reaches for my hand and squeezes it tight.
Instantly, my body relaxes.
“So…” Mr. Ames starts once we’re all settled, “has this been going on long?”
Again, Ryan covers his mouth and suddenly is very interested in his cup of coffee.
As a dad who happened to be a colonel in the Air Force, I’ll admit, it was sometimes entertaining to put all the guys wanting to date any of my daughters on notice. Being the guy on the other end of that script, clearly interested in dating this man’s daughter, it’s not nearly as entertaining.
Faye and I are grown adults, and I certainly have nothing to hide.
Clearing my throat, I look him straight in the eye. “We ran into one another a little over a week ago.”
Mr. Ames quirks a brow and smirks at his daughter. “Does this have anything to do with that time you had ants in your pants and called me bright and early, itching to get out of your house?”
When Faye nods with a shrug, Mr. Ames shakes his head and grimaces to himself.
“I knew something was off that day. Your panties were all in a twist. You were jumping at everyone who walked through the door, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.
” Locking eyes with his daughter, he points to me. “I presume this fella was the reason?”
“We’d bumped into each other the day before.”
Suddenly, his attention turns to me. “So, does this mean you’re back in town for good?”
“Yes, sir. I’m here because my daughters and their families are here.”
Mr. Ames darts his eyes from me to Ryan. “Oh, that’s right. He’s your son-in-law. He and Lanie have the cutest kids.”
“Yes, they sure do,” Jack muses as he reaches for his mug of coffee.
“It’s a small world.” Ryan smirks, still not looking me in the eye.
“And it keeps getting smaller,” Mr. Ames agrees.
“Okay…” Faye interjects. “It’s a small world. We all get it. Mark and I are seeing one another, and it’s time to get on with it.”
Shaking his head, Mr. Ames chuckles in delight. “Your mom is gonna be pissed she didn’t make it to breakfast. She missed the tea of the century for this small town.”
“We’re not that big of a deal,” Faye huffs in annoyance.
“ Oh, this is pretty big ,” Ryan says under his breath as he sits up straighter in the booth.
Thankfully, Martha comes to deliver their food, and all is forgotten, for now.
“I’ll be right back with yours, Mark. Can I get you some coffee?”
“Yes, please,” I plead.
My adrenaline may have me on full alert now, but once my nerves settle from this little escapade, I’m sure I’ll be crashing once again.
When everyone’s occupied with their meal, Faye leans toward me and asks, “When did you get back?”
“I drove straight here from the airport. I didn’t expect you to be up.”
“We like to grab breakfast once a week or so,” Mr. Ames interjects before taking a bite of his pancake.
“I’m surprised we never ran into one another,” I wonder aloud.
“Dad, you know Mom likes to monitor your meals. She only lets you get away with coming to town because she thinks I’ll do her job for her.”
This earns Faye a grimace. “I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much.”
Faye puts her hands up and surrenders. “You’re the one who underwent heart surgery. You can deal with her wrath if you don’t want to stick to your diet.”
“I stick to my diet. But an occasional piece of bacon won’t hurt me.”
Wanting to help the guy out, I interject and change the subject. “Hey, Ryan, do you think Lanie and the kids would be up for a bonfire tonight? I’d been promising them one for a while, and with the forecast, tonight might be the best shot we have for the next week or so.”
“I’m fairly certain we’re free, but I’ll double-check.” Ryan digs out his phone and presumably texts his wife.
Within a few seconds, he looks up from his phone and grins. “We’re good. Want me to mention it in the family group chat? I pretty sure everyone’s back in town, including Sloane.”
“Saves me the trouble.” I shrug. Then, to the rest of the table, I add, “You’re all more than welcome to join us.”
Looking at Faye, I squeeze her hand, hoping she, of all people, will attend.
I know I should’ve cleared my sudden plans with her first, but as I glance her way, she smiles in reassurance.
Besides, she’s already agreed to meet my girls.
With Ryan being a first-hand witness to my kissing the hell out of her just a few moments ago, it’s probably best not to put their meeting off any longer.
“Thanks for the offer,” Jack says, “but we’ve got a chamber of commerce dinner tonight.”
Faye’s dad simply shakes his head. “No can do. Your mom and I are playing pinochle with the Starkweathers. You know how much Lisa and Roy love their games. We’ll catch you another time.”
As my plate of food is brought to the table, Ryan looks up and grins. “Everyone’s in for the bonfire. The girls want to know what to bring.”
“Tell them I’ll text the group once we’re done eating,” I say, before taking my first bite of omelet.
My stomach grumbles in anticipation, and Faye’s beautiful laughter fills the room. “When was the last time you’ve eaten?”
“Last night before we took off,” I admit.
“Hmmm…” she muses as she takes a bite of her waffle. “And you get after me for skipping meals.”
Conversation picks up around the table, and I spend the next few minutes devouring my plate.
Eventually, while everyone is occupied, she leans over and whispers so only I can hear. “I finished my project late last night, so I’ve got a few days free. Think I can persuade you into hanging out with me?”
“Sweetheart, that’s something you’ll never have to ask me twice. As soon as we finish eating, are you ready to get out of here?”