Page 24 of Revealing Mark

“It’s either that or you stay cooped up in here.” He raised an eyebrow. “Your choice.”

I frowned, not liking the options he was giving me. There was no real choice.

Tired, I let my eyes drift to another folder on his desk. I sat up as I recognized it.

No. It couldn’t be. I felt the heat creep into my cheeks and I so wanted to be anywhere but there.

Mark’s gaze followed mine to the folder.

“How…” I couldn’t quite form the words as I tried to figure out how the folder I had built up over the years was now sitting on his desk.

“Jack came to see me before I left on Friday.”

How? Then I remembered my missing address book from my apartment. It was the only way Jack would have known where he lived.

I swallowed. “What did he say?”

Remembering the conversation he had overheard outside Jack’s apartment just made it worse. My feelings that I had been keeping hidden for so many years were now in the open and I had no idea how to face him.

“He accused me of cheating with you.” His words crept over my skin and I reached for the folder, wanting to hide it.

His hand covered mine and stopped me from taking the folder.

“You going to explain this?” he asked softly. I closed my eyes, hoping I would wake up and this would just be a bad dream, but when I opened them he was still waiting for answer.

CHAPTER SEVEN

In all the ways I had imagined him discovering my feelings for him, this was never the way I had thought it would happen.

I wanted to be brave enough to look him in the eye and admit I’d secretly loved him from afar for most of my teenage years, but I didn’t have the courage. My mind raced for any excuse that would deflect him from realizing the truth of what the folder filled with his pictures meant.

I shrugged. “It’s no big deal. You’ve got great cheek bones and jaw line. Any photographer would love the chance to take your picture.”

The warmth of his hand over mine was scrambling my senses so I pulled my hand from under his and rested it in my lap.

“If you ever wanted a change of career, modeling would be my suggestion.” This time I made a point of looking up at him.

He smiled. It was dazzling, like a moment under the warmth of the sun.

“Anyway…” I stood up, steadying myself against the table.

Get out,my mind instructed me, and I reached for the folder.He lifted his hand so I could retrieve it. He had bought my excuse and my secret was still safe.

He straightened up, standing in my way, and I hugged the folder to my chest as I frowned at him.

“What?” I said when he wouldn’t step out of my way to let me pass.

“You’re a terrible liar,” he murmured. “The worst.”

He knew. No amount of talking was going to take away that knowledge. Years of watching from afar had been captured in the photos he had seen and there was no taking it back. I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say.

The way he looked at me made my breath halt and I stared, unable to say or do anything.

His hand lifted to touch my cheek and I felt my pulse quicken. I swallowed, finding my throat dry. No one’s touch set me alight like his did and he watched my reaction when he lightly brushed my lips with his thumb.

My head was starting to spin. His eyes fixed on my slightly parted lips.

“All these years and I had no idea.” His eyes searched mine.