His Leading Lady (4 page)

“Ready?”

“Let’s go.” She stepped back and moved around
to the passenger side of the SUV.

“You like Italian food?” he asked.

“Love it.”

“Good. I’ve got the name of a place that’s
supposed to be great, and it’s not far from the bowling alley.”

We’re really going bowling? Great! He’s
not going to try to get me into bed after dinner? He might be a
keeper. Don’t rush it, girl. Things have started out like this
before.
“We’re really going bowling?”

“Of course. What did you think?” He glanced
over at her for a moment before directing his gaze back to the
road.

“I…I…didn’t know what to think.”

“I’m pretty good, too.”

“Oh? Is that a challenge?” She tried not to
smile.

“Are you up to it?” His eyes twinkled.

“Bring it on, baby.”

The Italian restaurant had not been
fantastic, but what the food lacked was made up for by the company.
Mark talked about how he had come to love football, his sister, and
his plans for the future. Penny listened closely. She was thankful
not to have to talk about herself, hide the truth of her past, and
was captivated by the humor and seriousness of the young
athlete.

“I have to tell you something,” he said,
squirming slightly in his seat.

Oh, shit. He’s got a wife and two kids.
The good ones are always married.
She sat fidgeting with her
napkin, fighting a sense of dread.

“I’m sure you’re used to rich guys taking you
to fancy places. I make good money, but I have…uh…financial
obligations,” he began.

“Are you married?” She couldn’t keep the note
of irritation out of her voice.

He laughed. “Married? No way. Nope. I’m
paying off our college loans, and I help support my mom.”

Relieved, Penny smiled at him. “That’s
all?”

“Oh, and there’s Megan’s Master’s, too.
Forgot that.”

Whew! He is a good guy, maybe.
“That’s
refreshing, Mark.”

“Refreshing to be in debt, to be poor? Well,
not exactly poor, but not rich, by a long shot. Not like the
starting guys.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. He
grinned at her. “You’re wrong. I don’t go on fancy dates with rich
men. I don’t date much at all.”

“You don’t? A gorgeous girl like you? Why
not?”

“Too many men out for only one thing.
Everyone wants to screw an actress then brag about it. I don’t want
to end up in the tabloids and destroy my career.”
Is he really a
good guy, or is he just out for sex, like the rest? He keeps
staring at my chest.

“Never thought about that.”

“I’ve already made enough bad choices for a
lifetime.”

“I’m not like that.”

“No? But you’re attracted to me, right? I
remember bumping into you in front of Jean Louis.”
Time to put
you to the test, Mr. Quarterback.

Mark blushed. “You remember that? Geez,
thought I was the only one. Yeah, you made an impression on
me.”

“An impression?”

“I was attracted to you right away.”

“A physical thing, though, because you didn’t
know me.”

His color grew deeper. “Is that a crime? Guys
always want to sleep with beautiful women. Doesn’t mean we act on
it…all the time. I mean, I want to get to know you, and…”

Her eyes narrowed as she watched him stumble
over his words. “Do you? Or is this about beating out Darvin
Sweetwater? Am I a conquest? Would you brag to Sweetwater that you
made it with me and he didn’t?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” Mark shook his
head.

“Really?” She watched him redden.
Ha
ve
I caught him? Revealed his true motive? Or is he tongue-tied for
another reason?
Penny wiped her mouth with her napkin and put
it on the table. She picked up her purse. “I thought you were
different. Wrong again.” She stood up.

Mark grabbed her arm. “Wait! Don’t go. Sit
down. Can’t we talk about this?”

“What’s to talk about?”

“Give me a chance. Hey, come on.”

“Why should I waste my time?” She
shrugged.

“Because I’m asking you to. Please?”

She sat down, and her lips formed a thin
line. “Talk.”

“Yeah, I don’t know you. Guys pick girls by
the way they look sometimes. Okay, most of the time. And yeah, it’s
about sex. That’s the way we’re wired. But that’s not all it is for
me. I’m not into one-night stands.”

“Oh?” She arched an eyebrow. “And you
wouldn’t sleep with me, if I offered?”

“Hell, yeah, of course I would. Do you want
me to lie? But I wouldn’t disappear in the morning. If I liked you,
and I do, I’d want to stick around.”

“For a convenient hook-up?” She arched her
eyebrows. “Sex on demand?”

It was Mark’s turn to frown. “You’re twisting
my words. Obviously, I’m guilty until proven innocent. Hey, if you
don’t like men and don’t like sex, what’re we doing here? You’re
right, this isn’t working. I misjudged you. I’ll take you
home.”

“Wait, wait. Maybe I’ve been hasty.”

“It’s okay. I understand.” He pushed out his
chair.

“I’m not a lesbian.”

“You don’t have to be a lesbian to hate sex.
I’m just not interested in a forever-platonic relationship. No
harm, no foul.” He raised his palm.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Didn’t you? You’re all up in my face because
I have normal desires toward you.”

“It’s not that. Just that I’ve gone out with
too many men who only wanted that.”

“Okay, point taken. I’ll get the check.”

“You’re not interested?”

“Not anymore. It’s okay. I’ve been on plenty
of dates that didn’t work out. That’s why I’m single.” He motioned
to the waiter.

Panic seized Penny. She’d never met anyone
like Mark, and she liked him. More than she was ready to admit to
herself. Now, she was losing him, or had she already lost him?
Words failed her. This attractive man who made her feel safe was
slipping through her fingers.
I drove him away. Why did I do
that? Why am I so defensive all the time?

Penny tried to rectify things, to put them
back on an even keel, but Mark wasn’t listening.
He’s already
made up his mind that I’m a cold bitch. And I sounded like that,
true. But I’m not. Please, Mark, give me another chance.

They drove home in silence. Penny searched
her brain for the right words, but Mark didn’t respond.
I hurt
him. How can I fix this?
She made small talk, and he replied
with one word answers.

Mark walked her up to her door. She touched
his shoulder, but he didn’t react. “No goodnight kiss?” It sounded
feeble, even to Penny’s ears.

“What for?” Mark stepped back. “Thanks for
your honesty. You’ve saved me a lot of time and money. And
heartache.”

“Oh my God, Mark. Please. I’m sorry. I’ve
misjudged you. Please give me another chance.”

“Why should I? You’re not interested in me.
Maybe not in any man. Or some ideal of a man who isn’t interested
in sex. Good luck with that. It’s been eye opening, Penny. I’m glad
I met you. Good luck with your career.”

He leaned down, kissed her cheek, and was
back behind the wheel before she could say or do anything. Tears
burst through as she watched the car disappear into the night.
What have I done? Ruined the best thing to come along in
years.

Mark returned to his apartment and flopped
down on the bed.
Shit!
His bubble was burst. His dream woman
had become a nightmare.
Penny Thatcher is a cold, sex-hating
bitch. Damn!
Sadness filled his heart. He had already fallen
half in love with her before their date. When he had rescued her
from Darvin, she had seemed so sweet and vulnerable, funny and
charming. But tonight, she had interrogated him, expecting the
worst.

He was embarrassed to be so transparent about
wanting to sleep with her.
I guess all guys want to sleep with
women who look like her.
She thought he was an evil,
fuck-and-run kind of guy, a guy who wanted to seduce and abandon
her. But that wasn’t who he was. He wanted to fall in love with
her, and now that would never happen.

How could I be so wrong about her? Did I
think she was the sweet character she plays on TV and in the
movies? Was I naïve, stupid?
He wanted to get to know her—her
favorite color, food hates, if she likes dogs or prefers cats—but
tonight’s conversation had shut everything down. He was depressed.
So, he called his sister.

“Hey, Squirt.”

“Hey, yourself. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. What makes you say that?”

“You always call me when you’re down. What
happened?”

“Well, I had a date with Penny Thatcher
tonight…”

“That chick from TV? Wow. Stepping up in the
world.”

“That’s what I thought. But it was a
disaster.” Mark went on to explain what happened. Megan did what
she could to soothe his ruffled feathers, but he was still sad.

“Wait a week or two and call her. Maybe she
was having a bad day.”

“Maybe it was her time…of the…you know.”

“Yeah, maybe. If you liked her that much,
it’s doubtful you could be so wrong. Besides, you’ll be mooning
over her forever, if you don’t find out for sure.”

“You’re probably right. Thanks, Squirt.”

“Anytime, Lug. Gotta go.”

“Hot date?”

“Are you kidding? Exam tomorrow.”

“Good luck, Meg.”

“You, too.” Mark hung up the phone.

He grabbed a beer and turned on the
television, but nothing could distract him from Penny.
Why
couldn’t she be the girl I thought she was?
He sucked down the
brew and went to the window. Loneliness crept into his soul. He’d
built Penny up to be the girl of his dreams, the one who would warm
his bed and his heart forever. Now, he had to admit that was a
pipedream.

Penny was flesh and blood, with good points
and bad, like everyone else. No fairy princess. And the letdown was
huge. He undressed and slipped into the sack, hoping she had
deserted his dreams. He slept fitfully and woke up tired the next
morning.

For the next two weeks, Mark threw himself
into working out and practicing with the team. He turned his focus
toward football and tried to forget about Penny. He even stopped
watching her show. Harley bombarded him with questions about her,
but Mark fended them off like he straight-armed opponents. He
wasn’t going to talk about her.

Darvin Sweetwater asked about her, too, but
Mark gave him the silent treatment. He dressed for the game against
the Florida Falcons and loped out onto the field with his
teammates. Harley leaned over and whispered to him.

“You broke up? Liar. She’s there. In the
stands.”

Mark whipped around and searched for her.
There, in a seat as near the family section as you could get
without being family, was Penny Thatcher. She caught his eye and
nodded. He nodded back.
What the hell is she doing here?

Fortunately for Mark, the Falcons proved to
be a good team, and he never got called to go into the game. His
head wasn’t in it. After the last whistle, he showered and dressed
quickly, ignoring the insults thrown at him by Sweetwater. When he
came out, there was Penny, lounging against his car. His heart
leapt up.
Slow down. She’s not interested. Then, what’s she
doing here?

Knowing he should be polite, but unable to
control himself, he blurted out, “What the hell are you doing
here?”

Penny straightened up and backed away, almost
as if she had been slapped. Her face colored. “Nice to see you,
too.”

“I asked you a question.”
Don’t be such a
hard ass. Give her a chance.

“I wanted to see you. Is that a crime?”

He noticed tears in the corners of her eyes.
You idiot! Now, you’ve made her cry.
“No crime. Just didn’t
think you were interested in an oversexed guy like me.”

She laughed. “Are you oversexed?”

“Haven’t had any complaints from the ladies
in that department.” He opened the door.
Manners. What would Meg
say?
“Thanks for coming to the game and for stopping by to say
hello.”

She grabbed his arm. “Wait. Can’t we go for a
drink or something? Won’t you give me another chance?”

“Why? You had me pegged with no second
chance. Why should I offer one to you? You made it pretty clear
you’re not interested in a relationship that includes sex, and I
am. What’s to talk about?”

“That’s not true.”

“So, now you do want to sleep with me? Make
up your mind.”

“Please. Can’t I buy you a drink? Do I have
to beg?”

Her eyes were so sad, he melted.
What are
you doing? Being so cruel to this beautiful woman? Don’t punish
her. Hear her out. You won’t be any worse off than you are now.
“Why don’t you come over to my place? I have margarita mix, beer.
We won’t be disturbed there. I promise not to touch you.”

“Sounds great. The privacy and margarita, not
the no touching,” she said.

“Follow me. Then, you can leave whenever you
want.”

“Thanks.”

Opening the door of his apartment, he
silently thanked the woman who cleaned for him that she had picked
up his dirty clothes and did the laundry.

“Surprisingly clean for a bachelor pad,” she
said.

“Making judgments before I even mix the
drinks?”

“You’re right. There I go again. I’m sorry.”
The silence hung heavy as he made a margarita for her, grabbed a
beer for himself, and opened a bag of pretzels. Penny sat on the
sofa, and Mark purposely sat in a seat facing her. She wore a
simple, feminine dress in a lavender print with short sleeves and a
full skirt. When she leaned over a little, he got a great view.

Her eyes looked sad. Funny, he hadn’t noticed
that before. Still, she looked so beautiful, he could hardly
breathe.
How can I still want her when I know what she is? Do I
really know what she is?
His gaze rested on the swell of her
breasts then the curve of her hips. Her body was not skinny, but
generous in the right places, and looking at her made his fingers
itch.