Open Book {Mark Lee Series}

Chapter 3

Mark and Clara sat at the same coffee shop where they had first met. It was their first meeting since the infamous texting incident. Mark swirled his coffee with a spoon and debated whether to tell her that it wasn't him who texted that racy comment to her. Deciding to opt for transparency, he jumped in.

"Hey, that last text you got from me was really Haechan messing around. I didn't write that," Mark explained.

"Well, I did think it sounded a bit out of character, but I've learned to never assume too much. Take me, for instance. Everyone thinks I'm boring because I'm usually quiet, but I've got plenty to say in the right circumstances," Clara revealed.

Mark nodded. "Yeah, it's hard to really know every aspect of a person. We're a lot more complex, I guess."

"Precisely," Clara concurred.

"So, listen," Mark pivoted. "I was wondering if you want to go to an amusement park this afternoon. I rarely have a day off and there's no one I'd rather spend it with than you."

"Aw, that's sweet!" Clara said. "I'm actually a great lover of roller coasters," she admitted.

"See, I wouldn't have guessed that. You always seem very prim and proper. I wouldn't have taken you for the roller coaster type, but OK," he replied.

"No, I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie to be honest," Clara said, twisting a curl around her finger and releasing it into a perfect spiral. Mark watched her intently, wishing he could bury his hands in that mass of black curls. She wore a dark lip again today, but instead of red, she had opted for a deep purple. He didn't know how many girls could get away with such a pigmented shade, but she was rocking it. Her lips were full and broad.

"Oh, my God," he thought. "Stop staring at her lips!" He shifted his gaze to her tan shoulders that led to perfectly formed collarbones. His eyes continued to drift over her ample curves. "Damn it, Mark!" he scolded himself inwardly. There seemed to be no safe place to look that didn't lead him somewhere else. Clara watched him, seeing his inner struggle playing out on his face. He seemed incapable of deceit. His face told stories even while his mouth was shut. When Mark saw that Clara was watching him calmly, he blushed at having been caught checking her out.

"So, amusement park," he said awkwardly. "Let's do that. Let's do that right now," he said, jumping up from his seat, suddenly eager to get some fresh air. As they walked outside, he pulled on a black mask and a blue ball cap.

"Sorry," he said, "hazards of the job."

"No, I get it," Clara said. "You can't be seen with a woman, or all hell will break loose."

"Exactly," he confirmed.

They hopped in a cab and headed off to the park. The cab driver took off much faster than he should have, slamming Mark right into Clara rather violently. He recovered from the shock to find that his head was resting on Clara's chest. He sat up quickly. "Sorry about that," he mumbled. "This guy must have gone to the Dwayne Johnson school of driving. Get it? Because he's in the Fast and the Furious movies?"

Clara laughed at Mark's awkward attempt to draw attention away from what had just happened. "I'm very familiar with those movies," she replied. "My dad watched them every time they were on," Clara laughed. "In fact, people say my dad looks like The Rock."

"Oh, yeah? No kidding," Mark said, for lack of anything more compelling to say.

When they reached the park, Clara shot off running toward the rifle game. Mark ran behind her, finally catching up to her after she had already paid for a round.