Lahat ng Kabanata ng Jaded: Kabanata 191 - Kabanata 200

MarcThe love making never happened the night before. Something was wrong with Lisa, but she didn't want to talk about it. Marc got up the next morning in time to throw on clothes and pack a bag. She was pacing the floor in the kitchen by the time he walked in, scratching his head."Baby." He stopped and put a hand on his hip.She had to open up to him. They were planning a life together, and the other women in his life vomited emotion most days of the week. There wasn't much he didn't know about his mom or Kari, scary enough. Lisa had to at least try to let him into her situations."What?" She stopped and walked to the coffee pot, leaving her back to him."What's going on with you?" He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her before leaning down to kiss up the long line of her neck. "Talk to me. I'm right here and I want to help.""Nothing, Marc. I told you that my father called and they want to see me." She stiffened in his arms. "Leave it alone, okay? I'm fine."He kisse

Marc"Your mom tells me that you're studying biology at NYU. You know I work with your mom at St. Mark's. If you're interested in an internship in one of our research areas, I could help with that." Charles sat down across the table from Marc."I appreciate that. I'm not sure where I'm going to be." Marc shifted his eyes toward his mother, who stood in the kitchen, looking back at him. "I'm dating a woman in Maine.""Oh." Charles chuckled and turned toward Marc's mom. "Love comes first, then career. The boy has it right."She smiled and walked toward them, ruffling Marc's hair. "I just prayed that he would fall in love with someone and do right by me one day.""Mom." Marc stood as someone knocked at the door. "Let's not talk about my childish antics with girls in the past, please?"Marc hated to admit it, but Charles was a great guy. He was the right guy for Marc's mother. He was polite, older, wealthy and had a calm about him that was contagious. As much as Marc wanted to be a dick t

Lisa"Lisa, tell me again about your real estate business. Were you doing that here in New York before you left?" Marc's mom walked back into the dining room after dinner with a platter of carrot cake in her hands.Lisa lifted her coffee to her lips and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I started my sophomore year in college working on the business. When I realized I didn't want to go into law, like my mother expected me to, I changed my major to business. It was a huge deal at the time, but I'm glad I did. I couldn't work the hours that most lawyers do.""I understand that. I wish someone would have warned me about being a nurse." The older woman sat down and picked up an empty plate, lifting it toward Lisa. "You want to try my homemade carrot cake?""Yes. Badly." Lisa laughed and took the plate."Almost there. Just shake it. Hard." Marc and Charles were in the living room, trying to put up a fake tree and having hell with it. They were taking turns giving each other advice over how to get it to

LisaShe couldn't help but smile at Marc and Maria's teasing. Never in a million years would she have wanted kids before Marc Martin. He was going to change everything about her. In the past she would have tucked tail and ran like crazy from anyone who was trying to change her, but it felt right with him. Like it was all part of a larger plan."Hey. Come let me hold you." He dropped down on the couch and reached for her as she moved toward the fire and turned to face him."How about you hold me upstairs in the bed? I've been admiring how well your ass fits in those jeans.""Oh yeah? Wanna rip them off of me?" He smirked and she laughed. He would forever be the playboy she fell in love with. As long as she was the only one he was playing with."I sure do." She walked toward the door, glancing over her shoulder. "Or we could start with a strip tease.""Um, yes. Just yes." He bolted off the couch and walked behind her as they moved up the stairs in the darkness. She expected him to reach

Lisa"Thanks for helping my mom this morning." Lisa glanced over at Marc as he drove them toward the mall. She hadn't been ice skating in ten years if not more. It would be nice to do something fun for a few hours and try not to let the situation back home consume her thoughts."How did you know I helped?" He reached over and cupped his hand over hers as it rested on her thigh."Johnny told me." She smirked."Oh, Johnny the ex-boyfriend who popped your cherry?" Marc intertwined his fingers with hers."Jealous, are we?" She turned to watch the world go by. The city was filled with people, lights and snow. It was almost majestic."Not in the slightest. I mean, I wish we would have known each other when we were younger, but I'm happy about how things are turning out." He shrugged. "Your mom needed help this morning and was giving Maria hell about toting her downstairs, so I thought I would offer some help.""Well, thank you. It means a lot to me." She glanced back at him, taking time to