Pushing open the front doors, the smell of eggs and bacon and the sounds of Mac singing greeted me. I couldn’t help but grin.
He slid a platter onto the long bar and then came around, pulling me into his arms and dancing with me as he sang. Mac twirled and then dipped me. “Good morning, darlin’.”
I patted his broad chest as he released me. “You certainly know how to greet a girl.”
“He’s cheating,” McNally called from one of the sofas. “It’s not fair that he can singandcook.”
“You gotta work on your talents,” Mac shot back.
I had to admit it surprised me that Mac didn’t have a girlfriend. Never had in the years I’d known him. He was a hopeless flirt but never took it further than that. More than a few hook and ladder chasers had tried to snag him, but he’d never taken the bait.
I batted my eyelashes at Mac. “Did you make me English muffins?”
He shot me a wink. “You know I take care of my girl.”
Calder shot Mac a glare as he entered the kitchen. “You sound like a douchebag when you talk like that.”
Mac rolled his eyes. “No need to be jealous. I made you some, too.”
I shuffled my feet, still feeling unsure of where we stood. The awkwardness practically clawed at my insides. I looked anywhere but at Calder. The platter of eggs and bacon. The pitcher of orange juice. Down the counter, where an array of gift baskets sat. “Who are those from?”
“The guy we pulled from the car last week,” Calder said, his voice closer than it had been a few seconds ago.
“He had something for you, too, Hadley. Said he’d come back today when you were on duty,” Mac added.
I grimaced. Not because I didn’t appreciate the sentiment, but that kind of gratitude always made me uncomfortable. If Cap told us someone was coming by, I usually hid out in one of the bunk rooms.
Calder tugged my long braid. “It won’t kill you to let him thank you.”
“That’s what you think. The flood of awkwardness might give me a heart attack.”
“Don’t worry. Jones can always grab the defibrillator.”
I snorted. “I am in the right place for a near-death experience.”
Mac crossed back into the kitchen, testing the temperature of some English muffins on a cooling rack. “These are ready. Come and get ‘em, you hooligans.”
There was a rush of activity. This crew turned into heathens when food was around. But Mac had my back and tossed me a muffin before the guys snatched them all up. I created my favorite concoction: an egg sandwich with cheese and bacon.
I moaned as I took a bite. “Marry me, Mac. I’m begging you.”
“I’ll take you to the courthouse tomorrow,” he called as he took another batch out of the oven.
Calder slid onto the stool next to me. “Should I break out my tux?”
“Definitely. You can be my best man.”
He chuckled and shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
I shifted on my stool. I wasn’t used to this much closeness with Calder. He didn’t usually ignore me exactly, but there was always distance. He normally opted for a stool a few down from mine. He never sat on the same couch if we were all watching TV. He didn’t seek me out for one-on-one conversation unless it was about Birdie and Sage. I wasn’t sure what to do with this new version of the man who used to be my best friend.
“You going to dinner at your parents’ tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. My dad and Hayes told me that this is a command performance.”
Calder studied me for a minute as if trying to see the thoughts running through my mind. “It’s gonna be a big group. You’ll have cover.”
“You and the girls coming?”