“Ummm …”
“Ignore her, she just wants to make sure that Mark is good,” Alice said, and she frowned, wondering what Alice meant by that.
“Mark is special, and he’s really important to me,” Christine said, still watching her, her gaze seeming to study her. She tried to not let it show, but the bottom fell out from under her at her words.
Had she and Mark been together?
She wasn’t stupid enough to think that Mark was a virgin like her, but having the woman there in her face was another matter altogether.
“Not like that. He saved my life about a year ago.”
Everything started clicking in place. Mark hadn’t told her what happened in detail but had mentioned briefly that he had to shoot someone, to protect someone he cared about.
Now it all made sense.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and Christine must have known that Mark had told her as her face shifted before settling.
“Don’t be. I’m here and I’m good. I have my Rick, and we are expecting a little one soon.” Christine’s face lit up as she said the words her hand going to her still flat stomach. “But I want to make sure that you know just how important he is to this family. Even if he doesn’t know it.”
“He does seem more … reserved,” she said cautiously, deliberately not saying that it only seemed to be around them.
He hadn’t acted that way around her.
“I suppose so. Has he told you about Sergio?”
“Yes a little.”
“Good. Just promise me that you won’t hurt him.” Christine’s words were sincere, her gaze a little too strong, but Winter held her ground.
For Mark.
But mostly for herself.
Because she was starting to see what Mark saw in her, a strong beautiful woman.
She was right there just waiting for Winter to let her out.
And Mark would be there the whole time.
“Let’s go see what all the fuss is about then shall we?” Christine said, getting up but Alice was slow to rise.
“Umm …” Alice said looking to her before looking to Christine, her eyes wide. “Maybe we should wait a bit.”
“What do you know?” Christine asked bluntly, her hands going to her hips, her eyes narrowing. Winter’s eyes widened at the sight. It was clear that Christine was not a push over.
“Just that maybe it would be best if we weren’t there.” Alice gave her a side glance again and she got the meaning instantly.
They were talking about her.
“Is Mark in trouble?” She stood from her seat, worry filling her.
He had put everything on the line for her, she would hate to have him in trouble because of it now.
“Dominic just has some concerns is all.”
“Some concerns?” She heard herself say, but she wasn’t focused on the words coming out of Alice’s’ mouth, or the way that Christine was frowning between them.
It was the feeling that was rising up inside of her.
