"Girl you've been talking about this guy all night.

Be sure not to fall in love with him. First sex I

understand but the second? Reva, what we're you

thinking?" Ivy stirs her cup of coffee while scrutinizing me with her large eyes.

"What? No! Falling in love with him will be stupid. We are talking about Mark Shepherd." I say avoiding her painful gaze.

Go ahead Reva, keep lying to yourself.

"Uh huh and with the way you are going about this, you are definitely going to fall in love with him, if you are not already in love with him."

"Of course not . I'm not in love with him."

I'm not in love with Mark. Am I in love with Mark?

"Don't worry about me Ivy, I can handle myself. I'm a big girl."

"You better because when you hurt I hurt. Look

what happened with Devyln. You were heartbroken

for months. This Mark guy seems to be like a bad boy.

With all his money and good looks, he has to be."

"Come on Ivy. You don't even know him. You are just stereotyping him."

Did I just defend Mark? Oh my! Reva!

"And you do? You know him? Just be careful Reva."

"I will."

"On a lighter note, there is someone I want you to meet."

Jeez. Matchmaking. Really?

"Yeah?" I say dryly.

Ivy laughs. "Reva you've not even met the guy. It's

good to have options you know. I know you are way

over your head right now because of your Mark

Shepherd."

Aww. I like the way she said it. Your Mark Shepherd. My Mark Shepherd.

"Reva, his name is Trip. I will give you his number and you can call him anytime."

Give up already Ivy.

"Fine Ivy. I will give this Trip guy a call, just for you." I lie.

I'm not calling him. I know I'm calling him.

"Thank you." She says smiling. "I'll really like to stay up and talk but I have an early shift tomorrow at the restaurant."

"Ivy." I pout. "You are going to leave me all by myself?"

Ivy laughs. "You should sleep too." "Go ahead. I'll join you in a bit." "Alright good night darling."

I lay on the couch, still on my mini dress. I know

I should take a shower but I don't want to. I don't

want to get rid of Mark's scent on me. At least till

morning. I wonder what he is doing now, who he's

with or if he is really thinking of me like he said he

would.

I grab my phone the moment it beeps.

Mark: HI beautiful. Still up?

Whoa. Mark just texted me. I sit up on the couch, grinning like a high school teenager who has just received a text from her crush.

Me: Not yet.

I hit send and my phone beeps again almost immediately.

Mark: Are you thinking of me.? Me: Maybe.

Mark: Maybe? Don't break my heart Reva. Me: Yes I'm thinking of you.

Mark: You are right here in my mind too. I'm in bed and all I can think of is you.

Oh my! We are texting! Incredible!

Me: Mark Shepherd, thinking of me? I must be very special.

Mark: indeed. I want to see you again.

Me:Yeah? On a scale of 1 to 10, how badly? Mark: 11

Colors flood to my cheek.

Me: He is smooth and he is also a sweet talker.

Mark: Oh Reva. I would love to show you just how smooth I can be. Meet me at the Coble restaurant by 8pm tomorrow.

Me: is that a date?

Mark: Yes Reva. It's a date. I loved your dress this evening. You have amazing legs. I can't stop thinking about them.

Me: I have amazing legs? That's a first. Mark: Goodnight Reva.

Me: Sleep tight.

I lay back on the couch, grinning from ear to ear.

I have a date. I have a date with Mark Shepherd.

____________________

All day at the office, I think of nothing but my date with Mark.

"Miss Anderson, your father is requesting for you." My assistant peers into my office and says.

I adjust my jacket and I walk to my daddy's office. "Daddy?"

"Oh Reva. I have some good news."

"What happened?"

"I've gotten other investors who are considering investing."

"Oh. So we don't need Mark Shepherd anymore?"

"Don't be silly Reva, we still need him. The news that Mark Shepherd is going to invest in Anders group is what's making our investors stay and it's what's attracting new ones."

"Oh. That's great."

"I'm never wrong Reva. I'm never wrong." "Well, I'm glad."

_____________________

"Finally, she comes out with me."

The corners of my mouth turn up. "Hello to you too G. I just want my hair taken care of."

"Its about time. Come on."

We walk into the salon.

"Take care of her will you?" Gina says to the attendant.

"I want to get rid of the split ends and I want it curled." I say to him while looking into the mirror. I sit and he begins to work on my hair.

"I've never seen you this excited. What's going

on?"

I giggle. "Well since you asked, I'm just going to tell you. I have a date."

"You have a date?" Gina asks in a very low excited

voice.

"I do." I smile. I've been smiling all day.

"With who? Do I know him?" She whispers and I give her a knowing look.

"Seriously. Him? I didn't even know you saw him again." Gina whispers.

"I did and he asked me out on a date."

"Oh my. Look how happy you are. It's all in your eyes. So have you picked a dress?"

"No. I will choose something from my closet." I say

looking at my fingers and realizing I need a manicure.

"Reva, you are going on a date with Mark Shepherd, Tacoma's most eligible bachelor. You should dress the part. We'll head straight to the mall once we are done here."

The hair dresser gasps. "You have a date with

Mark Shepherd? I'm so jealous of you. He is my

crush."

I look at Gina and we both laugh.

"G?" I show her my nails. "They are messy."

"Really? Reva Anderson, if I had told you your nails were a mess before this date, would you have listened?"

I pout and blink rapidly, making my best cute

face.

Gina exhales, "What can I say? Thank you Mark Shepherd."

With the way I'm getting ready for this date, it feels like I'm reliving my high-school prom.

______________________

It's 7:45pm and I walk into the restaurant

wearing a body con short black dress. Gini picked it

out.

"Every woman should have a short black dress. It always comes in handy." She had said.

The restaurant is not very big and it has a romantic aura, like it's meant only for those in love. Beautiful lights, wooden chairs and tables covered with silver colored table clothes.

Nice Mark.

The waiter walks up to me.

"Hi. I'm to meet Mark Shepherd by eight but I think I'm a few minutes early." I say glancing at my wrist watch.

"He made a reservation. This way please."

He walks me to a more intimate and secluded corner of the restaurant. The table cloth is red and there are roses in a glass vase. I sit.

"Would you like anything while you wait for your date?"

"Yeah. A glass of red wine would be fine."

Nicely done Mark.

This place looks amazing. It almost feels like valentine. I look at my nails and I smile. Gini made sure they got the proper care.

The waiter arrives with the glass of wine.

"Thank you." I mutter and I slowly sip on my

wine.

Jeez. When was the last time I was out on a date?

I glance at my wristwatch, 8:15pm. Maybe Mark is caught up in something.

I'll just give him a call.

I dial his number and it just keeps ringing out. I

sigh.

I'll wait for him a bit longer.

I plug in my earpiece to my phone and I begin to nod to some music I got from Ivy, trying hard not to get upset. My glass of wine is finished and I order another one.

After listening to about thirty songs play out on

my phone, I look at my wrist watch. It's 9:45pm. Mark

is an hour and forty five minutes late. No. He is not

late. He is not just going to show up. How do I know

this?

"I'm sorry Miss but Mr. Shepherd is not going to make it but he would like you to order whatever you want, it's already paid for." The waiter says.

I'll be dammed.

Without saying a word, I grab my phone and my purse and I storm out of the restaurant.

___________________

The elevator beeps and I walk solidly into Mark's apartment.

He had better not be here.

I don't care if I get arrested for invading his

property. Who's going to arrest him for invading my

body, my time, my emotions and probably my heart.

Curse you Mark!

I'm so glad he doesn't have any security here. At least none that I have seen.

"Miss Anderson." Eden his housekeeper calls out.

I force a smile. I can't have her know I came for trouble. "Hi Eden. Is Mark in? I'm supposed to meet him here but his phone is not connecting." I lie.

That is the only way she's going to be calm about my presence here.

"Oh. Mr. Shepherd didn't tell me..."

"Probably slipped his mind. Where is he? Upstairs?"

"Yes. He is in his bedroom." "Thank you."

I climb up the stairs. I feel slightly tipsy from the two glasses of red wine I had.

Mark is in his bedroom. How wonderful.

I roughly kick the door open. I see Mark under the covers of his bed.

Is he asleep? Is he fucking asleep?

I can almost taste the anger from the pit of my stomach in my mouth.

Bastard! He has no fucking right to sleep.

I yank away his covers with all the energy in my body and Mark jumps out of bed.

"Reva..."

Thud! The slap lands across his face and a line appears between his brows.

"You are the most inconsiderate arrogant bastard I've met my entire life. How dare you? How dare you humiliate me like this?" I ask with my eyes wide and my hands spread apart.

"Reva. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" my eyes are wet. "You couldn't have called me to cancel? You had me waiting like a complete idiot for an hour and forty five fucking minutes." I make a failed attempt to kick him.

"I froze okay? I froze." He yells and ruffles his hair.

"You froze? Mark it was a fucking dinner not our wedding. Why didn't you call me to cancel? Why did you have me wait for you." I yell back at him.

"I don't know. I don't know. I just froze. Jesus, Reva. What do you want from me?"

I laugh cheerlessly. "What do I want from you? Did I hear that right? Mark you started this bullshit. I was doing fine till you came barging into my life. Mark I didn't beg you to set up that dinner, it was all you. I didn't beg you to want me, it was all you too. Now you have the nerve to ask me what I want from you? My only mistake was thinking you were decent enough to show up for a date that you set up." The tears are blurring my vision.

I'm so grateful my mascara is water resistant.

Mark just stands there looking at me. It annoys me so much.

"Say something you jerk. Say something." I push his chest but it doesn't move him.

"What do you want me to say?" He asks calmly.

"Reva if you are looking for a relationship, you are

looking for it with the wrong guy." He says coldly.

I stare at him in disbelief and I feel my heart getting broken and the pain is spreading to other parts of my body.

"I hate you. I hate you Mark."