Mark of a Good Man Read Online Free Page A

sleeve. “I’m fine.” She whipped away from him and hurried to catch up with Colby and Josie. She knew Mark was having a great view of her tight derriere, but it was safer than walking next to him. She needed space to conquer her involuntary reaction to that gentle look of his—the look that could make a woman strip down to her birthday suit, no questions asked. She didn’t have that much on to begin with.
    “Hey,” she rasped, falling into step next to Josie.
    “Hi, Amber. Colby and I were just talking about dinner.”
    “Good, ‘cause I’m starving. I only need about half an hour to shower and dress. How about you?”
    “Well, actually, we were thinking of staying in.”
    “What? I was looking forward to sinking my teeth into some succulent lobster and conks tonight.”
    “And we still can,” Colby promised. “Mark and I will go pick up the food while you ladies change. I have an early flight tomorrow morning.” He placed his arm around Josie’s waist and tucked her closely to his side. “I just want to spend a quiet evening at home with my lady and my friends. Is that alright with you?”
    “If Amber really wants to go to Euolie, I can accompany her,” Mark offered, falling in beside Colby. “It’ll give us some time to talk, get to know each other.”
    “What an excellent idea,” Josie stated. “You two should definitely go out.”
    “An evening at home is fine with me.” Amber stared Josie down. She knew she wanted to be alone with Colby, but after the stunt she pulled today, there was no way she was letting her off that easy. Payback was a bitch. And she was it. She smiled in triumph as she ran up the steps to the veranda.
    Besides, she thought, as she walked down the hall toward the guest room, she didn’t want to get to know Mark, because if she did, her feelings for him may transcend beyond the physical, and she didn’t want to go there.
    “You’re a witch,” Josie said following her into the bathroom.
    “It takes one to know one.”
    They burst out laughing.
    “Seriously though,” Josie said, coming to stand beside Amber as she rummaged through her cosmetic bag for her shampoo and conditioner, “what do you think about Mark?”
    Amber shrugged. “He’s okay.”
    “Just okay? Have you noticed his rock hard body, and that smile that makes a woman think of only one thing. And you know what I mean.” She nudged Amber.
    “I thought you were practically engaged.” Amber walked over to the shower stall and turned on the faucet.
    “I am. I just want to make sure your eyes are opened,” Josie said, as she left, closing the door behind her.
    Amber stepped into the shower stall and raised her face to the warm sprays. Her eyes were opened. They were wide open. Her heart, though? The thing needed a deadbolt.
    * * *
    “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”
    Amber looked across the table at Mark and wrapped her fingers around her glass. They had eaten their scrumptious dinner of lobster and conks on the veranda and were now sipping on Killer Bee the men had picked up from Moonshine.
    Colby and Josie had abandoned them about an hour ago, and the only sound coming from inside was Bob Marley’s voice belting out Baby Don’t Worry About A Thing . Amber was sure they’d turned up the music to muffle any sound that may escape from their bedroom.
    “Yes.” She smiled back at Mark. They’d been making small talk with each other since Colby and Josie left. “Everything about this island is beautiful.” She felt more at ease around him now, perhaps because he was fully clothed in Khakis and a light yellow shirt, instead of his revealing swimwear.
    “It’s rather hypnotic,” he replied, taking a sip from his glass. “I love Barbados because it’s my mother’s native land, but if I had to choose a place to settle down, it would be Dulcina. I love the serenity and remoteness of the island. Not too many people know of its existence. It’s not yet spoiled by the influx of tourism