Love For Hire: The Helena's Grove Series Book 2 by Ivy Alexander Page B

make every situation better. It was no mystery why Zack was in love with her.
    “I wish I had your confidence,” Annie said quietly.
    “Confidence is kind of like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.”
    Annie smiled and the two of them embraced. Together they walked to the front of the house where Zack, Marcus and Aunt Gabby were in the car waiting.
    The tension on the ride home seemed palpable as they made the fifteen minute drive back to the hotel to drop off Zack and Jen. Once back at Aunt Gabby’s Annie went quickly to the bedroom. She didn’t say anything to Marcus and he seemed fine with the silence. They worked around each other as they got ready for bed. Annie insisted Marcus take a shower first; she felt the need to stand under the water without the pressure of being rushed. After a long, hot shower she felt some of the stress alleviate. She wished she could spend the entire night under the deluge of the steamy liquid, but her body was calling for the comfort of the bed as exhaustion settled in.
    She peeked outside the bathroom and sighed with relief when she heard Marcus snoring soundly. The clock read 2:04 a.m. when she finally climbed into bed. Sighing heavily, she thought of her nine a.m. flight in the morning. At least she could take a short nap on the plane.
    The night was filled with angst as she tossed and turned, willing sleep to come but to no avail. She stared into the darkness above her, thinking of the events of the past week. She listened to the ins and outs of Marcus’ breathing and the slight snore that escaped him every couple of breaths. She knew she should take Jen’s advice and tell him how she felt, but the very thought terrified her. She’d never been good at expressing romantic feelings. The fear of him rejecting her made her pulse race and her heart ache. Jen felt that not knowing would be worse than rejection but Annie didn’t think she agreed with that. She’d spent her entire life not knowing, wondering what could have been and she was fine. At least, she thought she was fine.
    Marcus stirred slightly and settled again. Annie waited for his even breathing to resume. Annie suddenly had a thought. Jen was right about her needing to tell him, but she never said he had to be awake when she did.
    “Marcus, are you asleep?” Annie asked in a whisper, feeling stupid for asking such a question. When he didn’t answer she took a deep breath and began. “I want to tell you how I feel. The last week of my life has been one of the most awesome of my entire life.” She stopped and bit her lip when she remembered him pointing out that she used that word a lot. She took a breath. “I’ve learned so much about myself and what a relationship could be... I’m grateful to you for everything. But… I don’t want it to end. I want to get on that plane tomorrow and know that I’ll see you again after we land. I want to go places with you and share ideas and dreams. I want to be with you Mar…” She stopped abruptly when she heard him sigh. She looked toward him in the dark; his snoring had stopped. “Marcus?”
    “I’m awake.”
    “Oh…” Annie grimaced, closing her eyes. “How long have you been awake?”
    “Since you asked if I was asleep.”
    “And you didn’t say anything? That’s rude.”
    “I know, I’m sorry.”
    Annie was embarrassed he’d heard everything she’d said. Even though she was technically saying it to him, it didn’t mean she’d intended him to ever hear it.
    “Annie,” he began with a sigh. “You don’t want to be with me.”
    “I don’t?”
    “No, you don’t because you don’t know me. You only know Marcus but, I’m not really him.”
    Annie was silent as what he was saying sunk deep into her soul.
    “Me, the real me, I’m what people would call damaged. I’m not boyfriend material. Not in the real world.”
    “Why not? Why are you any more damaged than the rest of us?” Annie asked, hoping against hope he wouldn’t