The Affair

Chapter 5

As they sat across from each other, both pretended to be engrossed in their menus. But neither of them was actually reading.

Kendra held the menu up, her eyes scanning over the words without really processing them. She was too aware of Mark sitting right in front of her—how his strong hands gripped the edges of the menu, how his sharp jawline flexed every time he swallowed. It was maddening.

Mark was no better. He kept his gaze on the menu, yet his peripheral vision betrayed him. He could see the soft waves of her dark brown hair cascading over her shoulder, the burgundy lipstick that made her lips look even more inviting, the way her blouse hugged her curves in all the right places.

They both stole glances, but each time one looked up, the other quickly looked away. It was a ridiculous, silent game neither wanted to acknowledge.

Then, Kendra shifted in her seat, crossing her legs beneath the table.

Her foot brushed against his leg, just barely, a ghost of a touch.

But it was enough.

Mark’s pulse quickened, his entire body tensing at the unexpected contact. It wasn’t even intentional, he knew that, but it didn’t matter. The warmth of her leg against his sent a jolt through him, making his grip on the menu tighten. His jaw clenched, his body on high alert.

Kendra felt it too. Her breath caught for a fraction of a second, and she hesitated before slowly pulling her leg back. It was an innocent accident, but the way Mark had stiffened—she knew it affected him just as much as it did her.

She needed to break the tension.

“So,” she said, finally setting her menu down. “How did you meet my mother?”

Mark exhaled, grateful for the distraction, though his body still hummed with pent-up energy. He set his menu aside as well, folding his hands together on the table.

“At a charity event,” he said. “A fundraiser for children’s hospitals. I was one of the keynote speakers, and she was volunteering.”

Kendra raised an eyebrow. “My mother, at a charity event?”

Mark smirked slightly. “She was helping coordinate the auction. And before you say anything, yes, she was actually very dedicated to it. She was charming, warm—she had this energy about her that just drew people in.”

Kendra tilted her head, studying him. “And you?”

Mark chuckled softly. “I was the serious, business-minded guy giving a speech on why we needed more corporate sponsorships. She came up to me after, said I needed to loosen up. That life wasn’t just about numbers and deals.”

Kendra smirked. “Sounds like her.”

Mark nodded, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “She convinced me to bid on something ridiculous—a private cooking lesson with some celebrity chef I’d never heard of.”

Kendra let out a laugh. “Please tell me you actually did it.”

Mark chuckled and shook his head. “I paid for it, but never went. Your mother ended up taking the lesson in my place.”

Kendra rolled her eyes. “Of course she did.”

There was a pause. For a brief moment, the tension between them softened, replaced by something lighter.

Mark leaned back slightly. “She’s a good woman, Kendra.”

Kendra looked down at her hands. “I know she is.”

But as much as she wanted to focus on her mother, she couldn’t ignore the undeniable pull between her and the man sitting across from her.

And neither could Mark.

A waiter arrived, interrupting the moment as they both quickly glanced down at their menus, pretending to have made a decision. Mark ordered a steak, medium rare, while Kendra opted for a grilled chicken salad, though she barely registered what she was saying.

Once the waiter left, silence settled between them again.

Mark drummed his fingers against the table, debating whether to address the obvious tension or ignore it altogether. His logical side told him to keep things professional, to focus on his relationship with Rebecca and his new role as Kendra’s boss. But his body—the way it reacted to her, the way his pulse still hadn’t calmed from that accidental touch—was telling him a completely different story.

Kendra, on the other hand, was doing her best to keep her composure. She could still feel the ghost of his leg against hers, still hear the deep timbre of his voice when he spoke. She needed to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory.

“So,” she started, taking a sip of water, “you’ve only been with my mom for a few months, and now you’re engaged?”

Mark leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “That’s right.”

Kendra raised an eyebrow. “That’s… fast.”

Mark tilted his head, studying her. “Are you questioning my intentions?”

Kendra shrugged. “I mean, can you blame me? My mom’s a hopeless romantic, and you—” she gestured toward him, “—look like a man who doesn’t do anything without careful calculation.”

Mark chuckled, amused by her bluntness. “You’re not wrong. I don’t make decisions lightly. But your mother… she caught me off guard.”

Kendra folded her arms on the table, intrigued despite herself. “How so?”

Mark exhaled, choosing his words carefully. “I’ve spent years building my company, focusing on nothing but work. I never really thought about marriage. But then Rebecca came along—she’s kind, compassionate, full of life. She reminded me that there’s more to life than just business deals and boardrooms.”

Kendra stared at him for a moment. She wanted to believe him. But something about all of this still felt surreal.

Before she could say anything else, the waiter returned with their food, placing their plates in front of them.

Mark picked up his fork and knife, but before taking a bite, he looked at Kendra, his gaze intense. “I get it, Kendra. This is a lot to take in. But I promise you, I have no hidden agenda when it comes to your mother.”

Kendra studied him, trying to ignore the way his deep voice sent a shiver down her spine.

She picked up her fork. “If you say so.”

They ate in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. But the tension between them refused to dissipate.

Every now and then, their eyes would meet, lingering just a second too long.

Kendra told herself it was just the shock of the situation. That this unsettling pull she felt toward Mark would fade once the reality of who he was sank in.

But as she watched him—his strong hands, the way he carried himself, the way his sharp eyes seemed to see right through her—she had a sinking feeling that staying away from him was going to be much harder than she thought.

Mark finished the last bite of his steak, setting his utensils down neatly on the plate. He leaned back, watching Kendra as she absentmindedly swirled her fork through the remnants of her salad. She had barely eaten, too lost in her own thoughts—or maybe, just like him, too aware of the thick tension sitting between them.

“You don’t believe me, do you?” he asked, his voice smooth but edged with something deeper.

Kendra blinked, looking up at him. “Believe what?”

“That I care about your mother.”

Kendra sighed, setting her fork down. “It’s not that I think you’re lying, exactly. It’s just…” She exhaled, gathering her words. “My mom hasn’t dated since my dad. And I know she wants to believe this is it, that she finally found something real again. But you just don’t seem like the type to fall so fast.”

Mark smirked slightly. “Maybe your mother is an exception.”

Kendra studied him carefully, her dark brown eyes narrowing slightly, trying to read the truth in his face. “Or maybe you’re just convincing yourself she is.”

His smirk faded. She had hit closer to home than she realized.

Before he could respond, the waiter returned, offering dessert menus. Kendra waved hers off, eager to get out of this conversation before it twisted into something she wasn’t prepared for.

“No dessert,” Mark told the waiter. “Just the check.”

The waiter nodded and walked away, leaving them alone again.

Kendra shifted in her seat, crossing her legs under the table, and again, her foot brushed against his. It was light, accidental, but Mark felt it like an electric jolt through his system.

His jaw tightened as he inhaled slowly.

Kendra, however, pretended not to notice. Or maybe she really hadn’t. Either way, Mark knew he was playing a dangerous game by even being here with her.

Finally, the check arrived, and Mark slid his card into the billfold without even glancing at the total. Kendra tapped her nails on the table, waiting, wanting to get out of there but also dreading the car ride back.

Once the transaction was done, Mark stood up, buttoning his jacket. “Let’s go.”

Kendra followed him out, walking side by side, careful to keep a respectable distance.

The car was already waiting, the driver stepping out to open the door for them.

Mark gestured for Kendra to get in first. She hesitated for a second before slipping inside, feeling the heat of his presence when he settled next to her.

As the car pulled away from the curb, silence filled the space between them again.

Kendra turned to the window, watching the city blur past, trying to steady herself.

But out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mark sitting there, his hands clasped together, his body tense.

And she knew, without a doubt, that no matter how much they both tried to fight it—this wasn’t over.

Not even close.