“None of us do, Mac. You’re not alone in that,” Rory responded, her voice tart. “So, the future of the Mavericks is all resting on your shoulders? Kade and Quinn have no part to play?”
“Yes—no... I’m the one who was injured,” Mac protested.
“Here’s a news flash, dude, hockey players get hurt. They sustain injuries all the time. Kade and Quinn, if I remember correctly, are both out of the game because of their injuries. You getting injured was just a matter of time. You couldn’t keep ducking that bullet forever! It’s part of the deal and you can’t whine about it.”
“I am not whining!” Mac protested, his eyes hot.
Rory smiled. “Okay, you weren’t whining. But your thinking is flawed. You are not a superhero and you are not invincible and you are not solely responsible for the future of the Mavericks. If you can’t play again, you will find something else to do, and I have no doubt you will be successful at it. You are not a crab and there is no bucket.”
Mac stared at her for a long time and eventually the smallest smile touched his lips, his eyes. He released a long sigh and sent her a frustrated look. “You might be perfectly gorgeous but you are also a perfect pain in my ass. Especially when you’re being wise.”
The mischievous grin that followed his words suggested their heart-to-heart was over. “Want to join the Mile High Club?”
Rory grinned. “What’s that word I’m looking for? No? No would be it.”
Mac turned in his seat and nuzzled her neck with his lips. “Bet I could change your mind.”
“You’re good, but not that good, McCaskill.” Rory tipped her head to allow him to kiss that sensitive spot under her ear. “But you’re welcome to try.”
Note to self: Mac McCaskill cannot walk away from a challenge.
* * *
Kade met them at the airport and kissed Rory’s cheek before pulling Mac into that handshake/half hug they did so well. “Sorry to pull you back from the island sooner than expected, but I need you here.”
Mac frowned. “What’s happened?”
Kade looked around, saw that they were garnering attention and shook his head. “Not here. We’ll get into it in the car. No, Rory, don’t worry about your luggage, I’ve sent an intern to pick it up.”
Nice, Rory thought. She could get used to this first-class life. She pulled her large tote bag over her shoulder, saw fans lifting their cell phones in their direction and wished she’d worn something other than a pair of faded jeans and a loose cotton shirt for the journey home. They’d both showered on the jet but Mac had changed from his cargo shorts and flip-flops into a pistachio-green jacket, a gray T-shirt and khaki pants. He looked like the celebrity he was and she looked like a backpacker.
Sigh.
Rory stepped away, distancing herself as fans approached Mac and Kade for their autographs. After signing a few, Mac jerked his head in her direction and the three of them started walking—Rory at a half jog. In the VIP parking lot, Kade finally stopped at a low silver sports car and opened the back door for Rory to slide in. Mac took the passenger seat next to Kade and within minutes they were on the highway heading back to the city.
“Talk.” Mac half twisted in his seat to look at Kade, pulling his designer cap off his head and running his hand through his hair. “What’s up? Why did we have to get home so quickly?”
Rory heard the note of irritation in Mac’s voice. Funny, she would’ve thought he’d be happy to be returning home, to be getting back into the swing of things. Yet she couldn’t deny they’d been enjoying the solitude of Cap de Mar, the long, lazy sun-and sea-filled days punctured by long, intense bouts of making love.
“How’s your arm?” Kade replied.
“Fine.”
Rory rolled her eyes. “Fine” was boy-speak for “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Improving,” Rory chimed in half a beat behind him. She ignored Mac’s narrowed eyes and continued to speak. “It’s a lot better but he’s definitely not ready to play yet. If that’s what you are thinking, then you can forget about it.”
“I could play,” Mac said, his tone resolute.
“Do it and die,” Rory stated in a flat, don’t-test-me voice. Hadn’t they had this argument? Had he heard anything she’d said?
Kade swore, ducked around a pickup truck and a station wagon and floored the accelerator. Rory prayed they would arrive at their destination—wherever that was—in one piece.
Where was her destination? Mavericks’ headquarters? Mac’s house? Her apartment? She and Mac had been living together, sleeping together, for a little more than a month. But now they were back to normal and island rules didn’t necessarily apply to Vancouver. Right, this was another reason why she avoided relationships; she hated walking through the minefield of what was socially acceptable.