"I'm doing this for my family."

He smiles softly against her lips, kissing back and nuzzling her. “Thank you, beautiful. You really didn’t have to.” 

She squeezes his hand, embarrassed by her minor freak out. However his words of comfort are enough and she smiles back at him. “Yeah, thanks. I just…..remembered something from my past that freaked me out a little. You’re good.”

“Thanks. I’m all strapped in and ready to go.” Eye glance down before returning to meet his. “You’re a really sweet guy, Mark. I’m happy we ran into each other again.”

He brings her hand up to his lips and presses a soft kiss, squeezing reassuringly once more before letting go, and not breaking eye contact the whole time. There’s always a soft smile in his face when he looks at Neff, and it just widens after hearing what she has to say.

“Oh why thank you~”

Getting in someone else’s car was always a strange feeling. She’d only ever been driving with Fenn for the longest now. His comment to adjust her seatbelt, however, sent her into a short state of panic. The train of thought snuck up on her….the thought what could happen and what happened to her father. Fingers gripped onto the seat belt a bit too tightly, bringing herself back to reality when her own gasp was a bit too loud.

“Ah, sorry. I’m set. Don’t worry. Let’s uh…let’s get going.”

After closing her door, he got in his car as well, on the driver’s seat of course. It took only a quick look at her face to notice her sudden discomfort. Mark didn’t know about Neff’s father’s passing and the circumstances that led to it. He wouldn’t know until some time later, but he could still tell something was wrong. Taking her hand and holding it fondly with both of his own, he gives her a tender and reassuring smile.

When he takes her hand back she feels the warmth shoot up her arm to her chest and cheeks. There’s a safety in his touch that she can’t quite explain. It wasn’t because of his profession…no it was something more personal than that. More private, intimate…something she can’t say she’s ever felt with someone before. 

And then his words, words so sweet and genuine that she was sure even had she not had feelings for this man her heart would have stuttered. Neff returns the smile, nodding again. “Aww. Well not you can not only make the most of your time for me, but also make more time for me~ Now let’s go eat. You can tell me how work is like when we finally have something to shove in our stomachs in front of our faces, yeah?”

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan.” He smiles once more, leading her to where his car is so they can go get their food. He opens the door for her. He would do it for anyone because he was raised to be a gentleman, but that’s not to say he isn’t feeling something special while doing it for her. It will probably sound stupid if he says it out loud, but for a second he thinks that he wants to spend the rest of his life opening the doors for her. It makes him laugh softly to himself. Such a silly thought.... No wonder he’s absolutely smitten with this lady.

“Okay. Yeah…good.” She chuckles nervously, shrugging one shoulder shyly in response. She was glad he got it, cause she honestly had no other way of explaining it. Her nerves calm, however, when she sees his smile. She wonders to herself how a man could have that soft and gentle of a smile. How a man who’d seen as many horrors as he did, and been through what he has…..could still smile the way he does.

And like him, she finds herself staring for longer than intended, enamored at how bright he was in her eyes. She snaps out of it rather quick, clearing her throat and giving his hand an extra squeeze before letting go.

“We REALLY should get going, don’t you think?” She wondered if it would always be like this. If they’d stand around and talk, losing track of time…..but time together was so short….wasn’t it? “And uh…..hey…..if you could do me one favor?” Purple eyes lined with blue glance back at him, shy and sweet. “Whenever you feel up to it…..let me know when you’re on break. I really would love to see you more often. I don’t mind just hanging with you for lunch.”

It’s probably an over-reaction, but he finds himself pouting softly when her hand lets go of his. He shakes it off rather quickly, however, before she could notice, as he does not wish to embarrass himself, or to come off as too needy on the first date. Ah..... wait, no. It isn’t even a date, is it? Not at all, it’s just two ‘friends’ meeting for lunch. Taking her on a proper romantic date is now on his to-do list. Probably later on, when he’s less busy and they’ve known each other a bit better. 

They don’t know it, but their thoughts are in sync. He is also wondering if it’ll always be like this, if he’ll always feel his knees tremble from nervousness in her presence, if he’ll always find himself getting lost in her eyes. With how much he admires her and adores her already, chances are that will never change. 

“I actually had no idea… But you’re not wrong.”

Suddenly her cheeks are pink again, pouting softly while also nibbling on the corner of her lips.

“But I don’t want to make you late for anything. You need to eat so you have energy to work…..and then you need to get back to work so you don’t get in trouble.” She sighs, taking a deep breath after to collect her thoughts. “Listen, I REALLY like seeing you. Like a lot. More than anyone else really….” Yeah, her cheeks are just red now. “But I also don’t want to be the reason for anything that could get you in trouble. I’m honored! Really I am! That you’d think things like that of me….and I DO think the same….”

Wow, has she ever been this shy trying to talk to someone before? She was having trouble getting her point across and she felt more flustered than anything. This was gonna get her nowhere. She waves it all off, sighing again and looking up to smile at him.

“Never mind. Forgeet it, don’t…don’t worry about it. Hopefully you understand what I was trying to say. I just….” Oh my god did she just take his hands? Yes she did. “I enjoy your company very much, and I’d love to spend as much time with you as possible without interfering with anything else. That’s all.” Well yeesh that’s all you had to say in the first place, silly woman. Now you’re both just blushing nerds standing outside a car. 

Seeing her get so flustered because of him draws a wide smile on his lips. It’s certainly good to know that he has a similar effect on her than she does on him, not to mention she looks absolutely adorable with that pink hue adorning her cheeks. 

He doesn’t mean to, but he finds himself staring for way longer than he should. He can only hope it doesn’t make her uncomfortable, but it’s hard not to stare when faced with such beauty. (Yes, he’ll say it without hesitation if necessary. Neff is by far the most beautiful woman he knows.)

“Please do. It’ll be nice to hear another voice other than Fenn’s and my own. I’m also like…..always up late. So don’t be afraid to call me pass midnight, either. I’m in my room by then so I won’t bother my roommate.”

Now his mention of their meeting at the bar makes her laugh and blush at the same time. It was rather cute how he was too busy being charmed by her to remember to order his drink. Truth be told, had it been any other creeper looking her up and down she’d have thrown her drink in their face, but he had just looked more…..in awe? Whatever, it was cute and seemed more pure than anything, so she didn’t mind.

“It’ll be less you forgot to order and more you didn’t have time. Now let’s go!”

“Hmmm... I’ll keep it in mind, but knowing me I’ll probably still feel like I’m keeping you up and will not call you too late at night.” 

Still, knowing that she’s willing to talk with him even pass sleeping hours does indeed make him happy. It’s not hard to tell he’s very into her, so whatever little action of her that might seem to indicate she feels the same way automatically makes his day.