Blossom Street Bundle

She’d learned two things from Melissa. The habits of a lifetime could be changed. And family could come about in the most unexpected ways.

Chapter 26

When Barbie approached the ticket window at the movie complex, she was pleased to note that Tessa was handling sales again that night. As soon as she’d advanced to the front of the line, Tessa broke into a huge smile.

“Uncle Mark left a ticket for you.”

Barbie hesitated. “He bought my ticket?” So far, they’d met at the pool four times for the adult lap swim session—and that was it. Although they’d kissed that first day in the water, they hadn’t since. Not for any lack of desire, at least on Barbie’s part. But the circumstances weren’t ideal; their privacy the first time hadn’t been repeated, and she wasn’t interested in giving the seniors’ swim class an eyeful.

“It’s a date,” Tessa said, as if she needed to clarify.

“Please tell me we’re not seeing another horror movie.”

“No,” Tessa assured her. “It’s a courtroom drama. Lots of talking. You don’t have to worry about being scared out of your wits.”

But Barbie was scared. She’d fallen for Mark and fallen hard. The wheelchair didn’t frighten her, but the man who sat in it did. Their relationship wouldn’t be easy and the realities of a future with him were intimidating. Yet the strength of her attraction overcame her doubts.

He was slowly letting her into his life, and that thrilled her. As was her custom, she purchased popcorn and a soda and entered the theater.

“Howdy,” she said as she slipped into the seat directly beside Mark’s.

“Hi.” He didn’t look in her direction.

“Thanks for the ticket.”

“My pleasure.”

She tilted her bag of popcorn in his direction and he took a handful. “As Tessa pointed out, this is like a real date.”

“Aren’t we both a bit old for that nonsense?”

“I certainly hope not,” Barbie said. “My mother has a male friend and they’re dating.”

“You make it sound like high school.”

“Does it feel like that to you? In some ways it does to me.” In good ways. She woke each morning with a sense of happy expectation. Mark was in her thoughts when she drove to the dress shop and then at noon when she dashed to the fitness center. He’d never asked for her phone number, which she would willingly, gladly, have given him. It would’ve been sheer heaven to lie in bed and talk to him on the phone, like she had with her high school boyfriend. And then with Gary…

“Yeah, it feels like high school.” Mark snorted. “In all the stupid ways.”

“Mark!”

“I’m not a romantic.”

“No!” She feigned shock. “I never would’ve guessed.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” he said, his voice clipped. “I don’t expect this to last.”

“You’re obviously an optimist, as well,” she teased.

Mark still wouldn’t look at her. “I don’t know what you expect to get out of this relationship, because I haven’t got much to give.”

“Would you stop?” This little speech of his sounded rehearsed.

“Let me finish.”

“All right, have your say and then I’ll have mine.” She tilted the popcorn in his direction again.

He stared at it. “I can’t eat very much of that.”

“Why not?” He had eaten it earlier, so it wasn’t a food allergy.

“I have a lot of limitations, Barbie. For instance, I can’t eat whatever I want.”

“Few of us can eat whatever we want. You know what? Everyone has limitations. Okay, so yours are more obvious than some people’s. But I have several of my own, which I’m doing my best to keep under control.”

“Let me guess.” He pressed his index finger to his lips. “First, you have one hell of a temper.”

She laughed outright at that. “How kind of you to remind me.”

“What I’m trying to say,” he continued, “is that this relationship is doomed. You apparently get some kind of emotional kick out of flirting with me, and that’s fine. It’s good for the ego, and mine’s been in the gutter so long that this is a refreshing change. But I’m not a fool. A woman like you can have any man she wants.”

“Mark, I—”

“I don’t mean to be rude here. However—”

“Why not? It hasn’t stopped you in the past.”

He grinned. “True. Just let me finish, okay?”

She motioned with her hand. “Be my guest.”

“This is the way I figure it. For reasons beyond my comprehension, you’re attracted to me.”

“Is it a one-way attraction?” For the sake of her own ego, she needed to find out. “Answer this one question and I promise I won’t interrupt you again.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You already know. You pretty much turn me inside out every time I see you.”

Barbie clasped her hands, still clutching the bag of popcorn. “Do I really?”

“Barbie, please, you’re making this difficult.”

“Okay, sorry.” But her heart was leaping with joy.

“Listen, for whatever reason, you feel safe with me. I’m not a threat to you. I don’t know what went on in your marriage, and frankly, I don’t want to know. Whatever happened then or since has really rattled you. So a guy in a wheelchair’s a safe bet. Fine. The truth is, I can’t seem to forget you and I’m tired of fighting my attraction to you.”

“For your information, I had a very good marriage.” Barbie wasn’t sure where all this talk was leading. “I think you’re looking for an excuse to avoid a relationship with me.”

“Listen,” he said again, exhaling slowly.