Mark rises from the sofa and walks to the television, taking the film out of the machine while I wander off to the bathroom again. I need a little time to myself to think. I really like him. I feel safe around him, but this is all moving too fast. This is just not possible. I feel like a lifetime of hurt dissolves just looking into his eyes. It amazes me that all the insecurities I have ever felt vanish when he touches me. I walk back into the sitting room to find Mark sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone.

“Your phone went off while you were in there,” he informs me.

“Thank you.” I smile.

I walk around Mark, sit down next to him and pick up my mobile.  

“It’s Jenny, telling me about her day.” I tilt the phone so he too can see the text.

Hey beautiful, have had a fantastic day with Rich. We managed to sort so much out. How are you and bump? Did you do anything special today with Mark? Xx

I smile, look at Mark who smiles at me, and I reply to Jenny’s question.

Hey Hun, I’m so glad you got lots sorted. We are both well. Mark has been here since around ten. I’ve had an ‘eye-opening’ day. Xx

Mark smiles again, but this time it is a different smile. He shifts his body and turns toward me. With his index finger, he makes small circles on my knee. I look into his eyes and suddenly start feeling nervous.

“May I ask you something?” Mark takes my hand with both of his.

“Of course, you may. Anything, Mark,” I answer, but I am afraid of what he will ask, and if I am able to trust him enough to answer him. It always boils down to trust.

“Where is 'Bump’s’ dad? You don’t have to answer if it’s too difficult to talk about, only if you want to and only if it feels right.” 

I smile. Can I trust him with this? I don’t want him feeling sorry for me. I pause, take a deep breath, and look down at our hands.

“He lives near me, the next town over.” I pause again, taking a deeper breath. “I caught him cheating on me with another woman. I found out he was married. He also has three children.” I can’t quite believe I told him all this information and so willingly.

Mark moves his hands from mine and puts one beneath my chin, ensuring I make eye contact with him. “Thank you for telling me. Are you okay?”

I can see the sorrow in Mark’s eyes. “I’m fine. I’m over him,” I state emphatically, hoping Mark can tell I want to move on from my ex and all the troubles associated with that chapter of my life.

Mark smiles, and it is not his normal cheeky one. “Does he not want ‘Bump’?”

“He doesn’t know about her. I found out a month after I last saw him. He wouldn’t answer my messages, and he’s since changed jobs. I do not want to break up his family. It would not be fair for his children. He has made his choice. I will never get back with him anyway. I want someone I can trust, someone who wants me for me and no other.”

Mark kisses my hand. “He’s not a real man because no real man would do that.”

“I’m okay, and I’m going to make sure he can’t hurt ‘Bump’.”

“He doesn’t deserve either of you.”

“Thank you, I know we’ll be okay. I’m going to do everything I can for her.”

Mark pulls me close to him, wrapping his arms around me.

“She’ll be fine, especially with you as her mum. Thank you for telling me.” I feel a huge weight lift from my chest.

I sit there in Mark’s arms, listening to his heartbeat.

“Shall we get something to eat? It’s getting late. You need to eat.” Mark lets go of me. It’s nice that he is thinking of me, or possibly himself. We all know men love their food. I’m not really hungry, but “Bump” needs me to eat.

“Sounds like a good idea. What do you fancy?”

“It’s up to you. We can go out for something to eat, order room service or get take-away. I’m okay with whatever you like.”

Mark smiles his usual cheeky smile, the smile that makes me melt. “How about we eat here? We can have take-away or room service. I don’t mind.”

“Sounds like a good idea, baby. How about take-away?” Did I just hear him right?  Did he just call me baby? I must be hearing things.

“Are there any take-outs you don’t like?” I enquire.

“I’ll eat anything, baby.” Mark kisses my hand, and I realize he did it again. I’m not hearing things. He called me “baby”.

“Chinese it is then.”

Mark uses his mobile to locate a Chinese restaurant and brings up a menu, and then he passes the phone to me so that I can choose what I like. I choose something simple, playing it safe, as I am conscious at all times that I have a precious life growing inside me and I have read that certain foods can be potentially dangerous to an unborn child.

“Chicken fried rice,” I inform Mark. “That shouldn’t have anything I’m not allowed.”

Mark smiles and places his palm against my bump and asks my unborn child if she’s hungry, which makes me smile. I love the way he considers “Bump,” making me feel like the pregnancy is not an issue for him.

“I’m going to have duck and pineapple in sweet and sour sauce. Shall I call for it?”

Mark rings the order in, and he informs me he is going to go and collect it as it’s just down the street. It would be quicker than waiting on a delivery.

He leaves me, giving me more time to think. I have never been a person who believes in love at first sight. I have been hurt too many times. I’m only twenty-four, and I’ve have had my heart broken twice. I was never one of those girls who had boyfriends at school. I kept to myself.

I tidy up a bit and put the last film into the machine, ready for when Mark returns. I sit back down on the sofa and check my messages. I know what Jenny’s like, and she’s forever texting me.

OMG, he’s so in to you. Have you kissed him? Xx

I can’t do anything but laugh. Trust her to want all the juicy details.

Yeah I’ve kissed him. Are we still hitting the shops tomorrow? Xx

I hear a knock on the door. I walk over to the door to see Mark. He is back already with the food. That was very quick. I smile and move to the side, letting him back in. He places the food onto the counter and quickly dishes it out onto plates. I stand near the table, watching him. He seems like such a happy man. I sit back down on the sofa, making sure I am comfortable as he told me to do. I don’t often do as I’m told; I’m usually the one in control. Mark comes over with the food, sits down next to me, and starts the film.

Whose bright idea was it to leave the horror movie until this time of the night? I’m not a person who gets easily scared, but this one is a scary film. I find myself grabbing the cushion from next to me to hide behind. Mark takes hold of my plate, puts it onto the coffee table, and pulls me closer to him. I can hear him tittering at me.

“Hey! Be nice. It’s a scary film,” I protest.

“I know it is, baby, I’ll keep you safe.” There it is again. Baby. We are friends. I am not his baby.

I sit there in his arms, watching the film and feeling safe, the safest I have ever felt with a man. I know nothing will happen between us. I know it will just be a couple of days and that’s it. I don’t want this time together to end. Part of me wants to tell him to leave, but the other part wants me to ask him to stay, to stay with me.

“Mark, would you like to stay the night? It’s almost midnight. I don’t want you crashing your car driving home.”

I can’t believe I just said that. I’m not usually so forward.

“I will if you want me to. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“You’re not sleeping on the sofa. I’m sure we can be adults and share the bed. No groping me, though.”

Mark’s cheeky smile reappears. “I’ll try my best not to grope you.” He winks.

I have to laugh. I get up and head over to the drawers to get my pyjamas.

“I’m going to get changed for bed.”

Mark gets up from the sofa and walks over to me.

“Sleep in this.” He takes off his T-shirt and passes it to me. He has an amazing body with a tanned six-pack. I want to touch him, to caress his toned abdomen, but I don’t, and I keep my hands to myself.

“Okay,” I reply. His suggestion caught me off guard, and I don’t know what else to say.

I turn back to the chest-of-drawers and find a matching set of underwear, white lace French knickers and a bra. Mark’s T-shirt is very long, so it should look okay. I make my way to the bathroom. I have a quick wash and then get dressed for bed. I brush my teeth and then my hair, making sure I look okay, even though I’m only going to bed. I pull his T-shirt then a dressing gown. I walk back into the other room to see Mark sitting on the sofa with the folder from his house on his knees.

I walk up behind him. “Hey, you’re busy working again.”  Mark jumps and covers the folder with his hands.

“Something like that. Nice robe.” He winks with his cheeky smile.

“What are you hiding, Mark?”

“Nothing at all, Megan,” he replies.

“Are you sure?”

Mark moves his hand to reveal a beautiful drawing of me.

“Just something I enjoy doing when I have the time.”

“It’s beautiful. Is art your career?”

I stand there, looking at this amazing picture with such intricate detail. It’s so life-like, like looking at a photograph. I can’t believe how much like me it is.

“No, I’m an entrepreneur. I own Reed Enterprises.”

“Wow, you’re a Big-Wig then?” I might have to look up this company. I choose to change the conversation as I feel uncomfortable talking about such things.

“So what do you want to do? I’m thinking of going to bed and relaxing.”

“I’m happy to do anything you want, baby. Snuggling in bed sounds like a great idea to me,” Mark says. 

“Well, it is past midnight, so I think bed is the best idea.” Mark gets up and turns off the television. He takes the duvet off me and places it onto the bed. While he does this, I switch on the bedside lamp. I put my phone on charge, remembering to set the alarm for eight o’clock. 

I remove the dressing gown and climb into bed, trying not to look and see what he is doing. I just hope he’s not watching me. The thought of that makes me blush. Mark climbs into bed on the other side. I snuggle down in the bed and face Mark.  I smile at him, and he places his hand on my bump. 

“Night, ‘Bump’. Goodnight, Megan.” Mark leans over and kisses me on my cheek.

“Night, Mark.” How sweet he is. He considered “Bump”.

I snuggle farther down in the bed and suddenly realize that Mark is naked. I can see his manhood, and to curb any further thoughts, I roll away from him onto my side. I am surprised when Mark snuggles in close behind me, my back pressed against his chest and his arm over me. I am sure I did not say I would snuggle, yet I feel safe. However, I still can’t believe he has on no underwear.