His Leading Lady by Jean Joachim Page A

easy for you,” Mark said, stepping aside so Harley could
enter.
    “Where’s Megan?” he asked after nodding a
greeting to Penny.
    The bedroom door opened, and Mark almost
dropped his teeth when his sister emerged. She was wearing a dark
pink blouse with a plunging neckline. Short sleeves and a bodice
that hugged her slim shape led down to a black, cotton, full skirt.
She wore a black onyx choker and matching earrings. A push-up bra
provided a view of her abundant cleavage.
    Meg pulled on the blouse, trying to raise the
neckline, but to no avail. Harley stared at her as if she was a
giant hot fudge sundae, and he was starving. He licked his
lips.
    “This is your sister? Shit,” he muttered.
    “Meg, Harley, Harley, Meg.”
    “She’s gorgeous,” Harley said, as if she
weren’t standing right there. Megan blushed almost as pink as her
shirt.
    Mark glanced at Penny. “She’s almost naked on
top.”
    “That’s what they’re wearing now, Mark. Don’t
go archaic. Let’s go.”
    Mark took Penny’s hand while Harley offered
his arm to Meg. They followed Mark’s car to the bowling alley. The
foursome ate burgers in the café there then claimed an alley in the
center. From time to time, people drifted over to ask Penny for her
autograph. She smiled sweetly and signed. Mark scowled every time
someone interrupted their game.
    “Your turn’ll come. Someday people’ll be all
over you for your autograph, Mark.”
    “In your dreams,” he said.
    She patted his shoulder, and he turned a
critical eye to his sister.
    “When she bends over to roll the ball, the
pins aren’t going to be the only things falling down,” Mark
whispered to Penny.
    “Shh. You’ll make her self-conscious. She’s
nicely…built. Harley doesn’t seem to mind.”
    Mark sensed heat in his cheeks. “If he lays
one hand on her, I’ll take him out.”
    “Mark, back off. Meg’s an adult. You’re the
one who fixed her up.”
    “That’s because Harley was begging me. Now,
look at him. He’s all over her.” Mark’s blood pressure rose.
    “Calm down. He’s your friend, right?”
    “I don’t care. I don’t trust him. He’s
practically drooling.”
    “Megan looks like a woman who can take care
of herself,” Penny said, tugging on his arm. “You’ll spoil her
evening. She’s having a good time.”
    Mark saw his sister laughing and punching
Harley playfully. Penny’s right, they look happy. “Okay,
okay. I’ll back off. But if he puts one finger on her in the wrong
place…” He fisted his hand. “Pow!”
    “What’s eating you?” Harley asked when Meg
excused herself to go to the ladies room and dragged Penny with
her.
    “Don’t get any ideas about seducing my
sister,” Mark growled.
    “Hell, she’s seducing me. She’s great! Why
didn’t you tell me about her before?”
    “Because I know what a mover you are.”
    “She’s of age, Mark. Back off.” Harley’s
smile slipped off his face.
    The bowling got competitive as Mark and
Harley faced off. The women chatted and tried to ignore the rivalry
between the men. Mark and Penny beat Harley and Megan. Miffed,
Harley took his date’s arm and headed for his car. They drove off,
leaving Mark hollering after them.
    “I don’t know where she’s going. And with
him!”
    “Calm down, Mark. Meg can handle herself.
Harley wouldn’t hurt her. I don’t think you have to worry,” Penny
said. “Let’s go back to your place. Maybe they’re headed
there.”
    Mark sat behind the wheel and took a deep
breath. His gaze scanned the scenery. “You don’t know what it’s
like. Being responsible. I’ve been taking care of Meg and my mom
since I was fifteen. It gets heavy sometimes. Meg is all I have. If
something happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do.” His voice was
weary.
    “Nothing’s going to happen to her. And I do
know exactly how you feel. I took over keeping house for my dad
when my mother died.”
    “On top of modeling and high school?” He
turned to face