Heartsville 01 - Bookmarked (Piper Vaughn) (7 page)

“Don’t be.” Mark tried to keep his voice casual. “I guess not everyone’s meant to be a parent, you know? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it changed me, and there were times I resented her, but as I got older I realized she might’ve done us a favor by leaving. All she and my father did was fight.”

“Do you ever hear from her?”

“Once in a while I get a birthday card. We’ve spoken a few times since she left. But I’m nearly thirty now, and it’s been just me and Dad for so long. I don’t miss her. My father gave me a good life. A great life.”

“He sounds like a good man.”

“He is, as you’ll find out tomorrow.” Mark grinned. “Anyway, subject change. Is it true that you fell into a well when you were a kid? Is that really what got you into writing? I’ve always wondered if that was just a story.”

Shepherd’s mouth tipped up on one side. “Yeah, it’s true. When I was eight, we lived on this old farm. We knew there was a well on the property, but we’d been told it was sealed. One day I went exploring with my dog, Jet, and he slipped his collar and took off. He disappeared, and I heard a yelp. Like a dumb kid, I didn’t think. I just reacted and ran toward the noise. He’d fallen in through some rotted boards, and I went down right after him. Broke my leg and lay there for almost thirteen hours before they found me. I think I dreamed or hallucinated from the pain for most of that time.”

“And that’s how the idea for Jack Drake came for you?”

“Yep. That scene in the mine shaft in book two? That was inspired by the well incident.”

Mark tugged on the zipper of Shepherd’s hoodie. “And Jet?”

Shepherd snorted. “He made it through with barely a scratch and lived for another five years. Thaine’s hellhound is based on him.”

“Are you more like Jack or Thaine?”

Shepherd went quiet for a few moments. “Jack is the person I wish I could be. Strong. Witty. Always with a ready comeback. He wouldn’t be scared to make public appearances. He wouldn’t have botched it the first time a guy tried to talk to him. Jack would’ve gone after his man right from the start. Well, if he was gay, anyway.”

Mark reached up to cup his scruffy cheek. “Jack is hot and fun to read about, but it’s his grouchy, sexy creator who twists me up inside. Even before I knew who you were, I wanted you. I think you know that.”

“I do.” Shepherd smiled softly. “I wanted you too.”

Mark stretched, knowing his shirt would ride up to show a glimpse of his happy trail. During their two nights together, he’d discovered Shepherd loved to follow that line of hair to the trimmed patch at his groin. “So now that you have me, what do you intend to do with me?”

Shepherd circled Mark’s navel with a finger, causing him to shudder. It both tickled and turned Mark on at once. He laughed, breathless, torn between arching into the touch and shying away from it.

“I can think of a few things,” Shepherd said. “Remember that bathroom scene in book four?”

A quiet moan slipped past Mark’s lips. “Oh yeah.” How could he forget? Sex scenes were rare in
The Drake Chronicles
, which was a shame, really, because Shepherd wrote better smut than any erotica author Mark had ever read. The scene Shep referred to had been between Jack and Alicia, not Mark’s fantasy of Jack and Thaine, but it was still hot enough the memory alone made him hard.

Shepherd grinned. “I’m feeling dirty. I think a shower might be in order.”

Mark laughed, adoring this playful side of Shepherd, and still not quite believing they’d somehow gotten to this point. Three months ago, he couldn’t have imagined this—being close to Shepherd, sharing jokes and casual kisses—but he’d take it, however long it lasted.

He slid from the couch and held out a hand to Shepherd. “Well, that makes two of us. We’re a pair of dirty boys, Mr. Knight. Let’s get cleaned up.”

Seven

The day of Halloween dawned bright and windswept. Downtown Heartsville was awash in decorations, from cute to creepy, and the golds and reds of changing leaves. Mark unlocked the door to Bookmarked, buoyant with happiness, relishing the slight burn in his lungs as he inhaled the crisp fall air. The rich aroma of coffee wafted toward him from the direction of Market Café. He’d have to stop in later for a pumpkin spice latte. For now, he was content, belly stuffed full from the tea, toast, and scrambled eggs he’d eaten at Shepherd’s place that morning.

A voice called his name, and Mark turned to see Milo walking past.

Milo gave him a little wave. “Good morning.”

“Morning. Hey!” Mark motioned him over. “I know you’re a Shepherd Knight fan. If you’re interested in seeing him again, he’ll be here tonight for the NaNoWriMo kickoff party. We had to put a cap on the spots, but we have room for you if you want to come.”

Milo bounced on the balls of his feet. “Oh, I know. I saw the fliers, but about the only writing I do is taking down orders. I’m sure it’ll be awesome, though. I’d jump at a chance for advice from him if I was an author.” He grinned.

“I’ve been kind of desperate to get business in the doors, but the response has been great for it being so last minute. Had to try out some new activities, you know? See what works. So many bookstores are going under these days.”

Milo’s smile dimmed. “Yeah, and I’d hate to see Bookmarked go. The neighborhood wouldn’t be the same without it. I hope it all works out.”

“Me too.”

“Well, I’d better get to the shop.” Milo tipped his chin toward Bloom Box. “Gotta make sure the wedding orders are ready to go. We had two today. I love the idea of a Halloween wedding. So fun.”

“Totally. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

Mark went through his morning routine, then opened the door to admit the pair of customers who waited on the sidewalk. He greeted them, directed one lady to the mystery section, and was reorganizing the gift card tower near the registers when his father walked in.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Morning, Markell.” Bruno held up a bag. “I stopped for coffee, and Aaron sent some of those pumpkin things you like so much.”

His mouth watering, Mark nearly snatched the bag from him. “Yes! I’m not even hungry right now, but I’ll never say no to one of these.”

Bruno chuckled as Mark dug out a scone and bit into it. “I brought the candy for later as well.”

“Thank you,” Mark said in a pastry-muffled voice. They always got a fair amount of trick-or-treaters. The little ones came in the late afternoon, their parents taking advantage of Heartsville’s safe, brightly lit downtown strip. Every shop in the area handed out sweets or toys.

“Is everything ready for tonight?” Bruno asked.

Mark nodded. “Yep. We just have to rearrange the chairs and tables and set out the snacks after close. Angie doesn’t start until eight so she can help.”

The plan was to let people come in and pick a spot before Shepherd spoke at 11:30. At midnight, NaNoWriMo officially commenced and the writing would begin. The kickoff party was scheduled to end at three, and Bruno would be opening the shop tomorrow so Mark could get some sleep. Mark didn’t anticipate any sales, but the idea was to get potential customers in the door. Hopefully, they’d return later to write at Bookmarked and maybe buy some books while they were there.

Bruno set his coffee cup next to one of the registers and tucked his bags behind the counter. “And your man? Is he nervous?”

Mark smiled. His father had taken to calling Shepherd “his man” since their dinner last Sunday. At the start of the evening, Shep had seemed withdrawn and quiet, saying almost nothing, but gradually he’d loosened up. Then they discovered he and Bruno shared a love of
Doctor Who
and the old 1960s
Batman
TV series. By the end of the night, they’d bonded, quoting Adam West, arguing amiably about who played the best Doctor, and laughing like a pair of long-lost friends. It warmed Mark’s heart to watch them together and made him hope for things it was probably too soon to be hoping for.

“He’s a little anxious,” Mark said. Shepherd had practiced his speech on him the night before, and even with Mark as the only listener, he’d gotten flustered. “But Britt will be there for most of it, and I think that’ll make it easier for him.”

Bruno leaned against the checkout counter and crossed his arms over his burly chest. “Maybe it’ll help him knowing we’re there too. I always tell my students to look for their friends in the audience when they give presentations. Sometimes it calms their nerves just to see a familiar, encouraging face.”

Mark glanced at him in surprise. “You’re coming back to watch?” Usually, his father only stuck around until Angie showed up.

“Just for the beginning. I’ll need my beauty rest if I don’t want to scare off your customers tomorrow.”

Mark laughed and gave Bruno an impulsive hug. “I’m sure Shep’ll appreciate it. And I will too, of course.”

Bruno patted him on the back with a big hand. “You know I’m always rooting for you, in both business and love. You like him very much, don’t you?”

Mark suppressed the dopey grin that tried to overtake his face. He lifted one shoulder, aiming for casual but probably missing by a few hundred yards. “Maybe.”

Bruno smiled knowingly, but he let Mark off the hook by changing the topic. “I brought some power strips and extension cords. I figured they might come in handy later. We don’t want anyone’s laptop dying at a crucial moment, do we?” Bruno huffed a laugh. “I’ll put them on your desk.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Mark watched as Bruno collected the bags from behind the registers and walked toward the back, leaving the candy behind. As he’d told Shepherd, his father was a great man. They might not have been wealthy, but Bruno always put Mark first, and his consideration showed in every small gesture—like thinking of power strips and extension cords when Mark had forgotten in his distraction.

“Excuse me, sir?”

Mark turned to smile at the lady who’d asked him about the mystery section earlier. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Do you know if I have to read these books in order?” She held up a familiar hardcover.

Mark took it from her and gave her a conspiratorial wink. “Oh, most definitely. You don’t want to start this series in the middle. But, trust me, hon, you’re going to love every second.”

****

After a surprisingly busy day and doling candy to a few dozen trick-or-treaters, Mark was exhausted by the time they closed at nine. Outside of dinner and a brief midday nap while his father covered the shop, he’d already been on his feet for over ten hours, and it would be another seven before he got to leave.

When Aaron started bringing over the drinks and snacks for the party, Mark handed him some cash and begged him for a double espresso. He practically chugged it the second Aaron brought it back, burning his tongue a little in the process.

Aaron watched him, laughter clear in his green eyes. “Long day?”

Mark sighed. “And it’s nowhere near over. Thanks for the scones, by the way.”

“Anytime. We’ll come collect the coffee urns in the morning, if that’s okay? Heading over to catch Rocky Horror at the Oasis tonight.”

“Yeah, of course. Have fun. One of these days, I’ll make it to a show.” Thanks to his schedule, Mark almost always missed out on the local theater productions. Maybe someday he’d catch a musical when he could afford to take a full day off.

“Thanks. Good luck with everything. See ya tomorrow.”

Mark locked the door behind Aaron, then went to help Angie with rearranging the tables and connecting the extension cords and power strips. Shepherd would be giving his speech on the ground level, but people would be free to set up wherever they wanted. They had room to seat about thirty writers without it being too overcrowded. More if he let people sit on the floor, but Mark figured that wouldn’t be very comfortable after a couple of hours.

Shepherd called him from the delivery entrance at half past ten. With a few people already waiting outside, Mark wasn’t surprised he’d gone around to the back. Shep’s skin was pasty white, made even more obvious by the dark hair falling around his ears, and his eyes darted nervously, not settling on anything for more than a second before skittering away. He looked jumpy as hell, so Mark drew him into the office and shut them inside.

“Where’s Britt?” he asked once the door was locked. Only Angie was in the shop, but he expected Bruno to return at any minute.

“She’ll be here at eleven.” Shep exhaled shakily. “My stomach is killing me.”

Mark took Shepherd’s laptop bag and set it aside. Then he kissed him, trailing a hand down Shep’s spine to the hem of his sweater. He snuck his fingers underneath and rubbed the small of Shepherd’s back in comforting circles, offering warmth and support. “Nervous?”

Shepherd jerked his head in what barely passed for a nod.

“I can help with that.” Mark found Shepherd’s belt buckle and slowly worked it open.

Shepherd met his gaze, blinking. “What are you—”

“Shh. Just let me. You’re way,
way
too tense, Mr. Knight.”