Mack’s huge frame moves further into the room while he keeps a grip on me.
“I’d love to,” he rasps. Not letting go of me as he kicks the door closed gently with the heel of his boot.
Both my hands end up flat on his chest once it’s clear this is the part where boy meets girl has nothing to do with stuck windows and everything to do with what comes naturally.
But I freeze up.
His hands over mine as he even starts to lean in a little closer.
Giving me all the time in the world to say yes or no. Giving me every chance to return the signal I know now he’s been broadcasting since we met.
But dammit. If I don’t just stand there like an idiot.
Mack’s brow eventually creases.
“Uhhh. I hope I’m not reading the wrong message here,” he murmurs, shifting his weight on his feet and moving his hands like he’s about to let go.
“No! No, you’re not. It’s just…,” I wheeze, feeling faint again.
Seeing spots dance before my eyes as I wonder just how much harder and faster my heart could actually beat before it explodes.
“Just what? Your mom?” Mack asks. His clear, dark eyes widening in a question. Talking so low I can’t help but feel myself standing up on the balls of my feet.
Yearning for more than just his words.
Needing his mouth over mine so I can know for sure that all this isn’t some incredible dream.
Neither of us hears the door swing open, and it takes a moment for it to register.
But it’s as if saying the word mom seems to summon her every time.
“Well! About time,” she exclaims as I feel myself pulled back from Mack.
His huge body blocking the view of him holding me long enough, so my mom doesn’t catch what was actually about to happen.
But as shocked as I am by her suddenly appearing, I’m also mad as hell.
I mean, really mad.
She’s interrupted the most magical moment of my life more than once today.
But Mack’s almost pleading look, mixed with the same crazy grin he’s been sporting tells me that there’s more than just one chance for us both to get to know each other this weekend.
And in a split second, he’s his usual, professional self.
Turning toward the door, it’s only when he moves I can see that mom’s not alone either.
“I ended up finding a real man to come help with the window,” Mom drawls sarcastically.
She reaches beside herself and hooks her arm into Ben’s. Making him gulp and then blush as he scans Mack’s huge frame from toe to tip.
“It’s an old house, and sometimes the windows get stuck when it’s wet out,” Mack says. He cheerfully ignores her comment and moves past me just long enough to lift the stuck window in one movement using only two of his fingers.
A splinter of wood and some old paint flutter in the gust of cold air that rushes into the room.
But we all shiver for very different reasons.
Me most of all.
Now I know.
Mack’s not just looking. He’s staking his claim.
And even though it should make me happier than I’ve ever felt, I can’t help being terrified at the same time.
Terrified because this stuff just never happens to me.
Men like Mack just don’t want to kiss me.
“I’ll see you bright and early,” he remarks to us all, leaving the room with the air of a boss that’s just showed people how shit really gets done.
And leaving me with more questions than answers.
Even though I don’t think he could’ve been clearer on what he actually wants. Not even if he tried.
CHAPTER SIX
Mack
I don’t expect to find Tina on her own in their room. And it wasn’t exactly my plan to try and fucking kiss her either.
Not exactly.
But something just seems to happen when the two of us get close.
Something I know now that neither of us could stop even if we both wanted to.
She didn’t scream or call for help.
She didn’t try to get out of my firm grip on her.
She didn’t call me old or ugly or any of the hundred other things I’d die from if they came out of her sweet mouth.
No.
She was going to kiss me back, and probably a whole lot more.
I know now more than ever that she’s going to be mine.
Whether her mom is here or not.
Plus, Rose looks like she’s found someone to occupy her time with pretty quickly too.
Ben’s the only other guest, and if it weren’t for almost getting my own way just now, I’d probably stay a while and introduce myself.
But once Rose slaughters the almost kiss moment, I know better than to try and force things.
Tomorrow’s another day, and if I’ve got the whole weekend to stake my claim on Tina, I’m going to have to pick and choose my moments a little better.