The late August heat was unbearable and served only to worsen Kimber's sour mood. Her father had kept her and Mark apart by being a watchdog or overloading them with chores since they got back from California. Bless Mark he had done everything that was asked of him even though his beautiful home was waiting for him and it was all for her. Gardening used to cheer her up but the 90� plus weather made it brutal, there wasn't even a breeze from the ocean.
"That's it, I need a break" she decided as she crawled under her magnolia tree and used her straw hat for a fan.
She hadn't appreciated the dry heat and all her midnight swims with Mark when she had them and she willed herself to think cool. Feather soft kisses caressed her cheek and she opened one eye to find she wasn't dreaming anymore. Mark was looking back at her with a gleam in his gorgeous eyes, "I escaped from the warden" and Kimber dove into his arms.
"I have missed you so much, just hold me."
He shifted so that she was between his legs and cuddled against his chest. "He has been on my arse today, I don't know what more I can do."
"You are just wonderful as you are. He may seem like a tyrant but he's just afraid to let me go."
Mark tipped her chin back and looked deeply into her eyes, "Can't he see I just want to love and protect you? I would die before I let anything happen to you." and he kissed her with a long surpressed passion.
"Just what do you think you're doing with my daughter!" Mr. Mahaffey roared spotting the young couple entwined.
"Kissing her, that's how we show affection where I'm from." Mark said standing up to him both literally and physically.
"Here we treat our women with respect and show affection in a proper manner." he shot back and Kimber screamed,"Enough!"
They both turned to her shocked, she never raised her voice and most certainly not to her father. "Kimberly" he said but she ignored him as Mark pulled her up.
"Mark has done everything but walk on water for you and it's never enough. We love each other and just want to be happy. I'm a grown woman, could you treat me that way?" and she started wearily back towards the house. She heard their voices but it was far away as she gave into the peaceful darkness that overtook her, Mark just catching her before she hit the ground. Moving like a man possessed he swept her into his arms and carried her in the house.
Emma Mahaffey gasped at the sight of him lying her limp body on the chaise lounge, "What happened to my baby?"
Mark ran back with well water and a cloth, gentle talking to Kimber as he
bathed her face. "Wake up love, it'll be alright. Please open your
beautiful eyes and smile at me, I need you so much, me girl." Snapping into
action she told him to carry Kimber to her room and sent Robert for the doctor.
Mark paced the hallway outside of Kimber's room as the doctor examined her, she
had to be alright. "You can go in now young man but please let her rest.
She has a minor case of heat exhaustion and was dehydrated, liquids and a couple
days relaxation will have her right again."
Mark thanked him and sat next to Emma, squeezing her hand reassuringly. Robert sat in the darkened corner, beside himself with guilt. "I pushed you both too hard, and for that I can't apologize enough." he said weakly, making eye contact with Mark.
"I know you'd never intentionally hurt Kimberly, we both do. You just want the best for her." Tears filled her parents eyes as they watched Mark lovingly stroke Kimber's hair, any reservations about his intentions gone. Kimber's eyes fluttered and she smiled at Mark, there wasn't any face she'd rather wake up to in the world. "Well hello darling, you gave us quite a fright. Talk about drama!" he said kissing her forehead and she giggled.
Robert walked to her other side and took her hand, "Baby doll, please forgive me. I've been so cruel to keep you apart, today Mark showed us that he is a man worthy of your love. It'll break our heart but you have my blessing to move to Ireland."
Tears flowed freely down her face as she hugged her father, "Thank you
Daddy. No matter where I am I'll always be your little girl."