Making a beeline for the pots of fresh coffee she’s already brewed too.
“You didn’t get any sleep, Mack. Something on your mind?” she asks wistfully.
Not even trying to hide the rare but warm smile she flashes me. Making my cheeks redden.
“There’s no fooling you, is there?” I quip. Pouring a mug of coffee into my favorite tin cup.
Not even minding when it nearly scalds my mouth because if Mrs. Corbett’s in a good mood, then it’s always a good omen.
“Thinking about something or someone keep you up?” she asks boldly. But I can’t say I’m surprised.
She knows me well enough, and I give a sheepish look in reply. Telling her at least a part of what I thought was my only secret.
“Well, you’ve got competition if that’s what you’re thinking about,” she says in a sterner tone, crimping her mouth and shaking her head.
“What do you mean?” I snap. Not fooling anymore. Feeling a jolt of panic at the thought of Tina with anyone else.
Feeling more than just a little overprotective at the idea that anyone else would even dare think about what I’ve already decided is mine.
“Aw, C’mon, Mack,” she exclaims, putting her hands on her hips.
“You think I’m some stupid old woman, do ye? I saw the way you were looking at her. Then all that guff about her room’s window being stuck,” she adds before holding up a finger of caution.
“Just you mind how ye go, Mack. She’s here with her only daughter. Not here for any funny business,” she says in her thickest accent for emphasis.
But my mind’s already struggling to keep up with what she’s talking about. With no sleep and no more than a sip of coffee, I tell myself I must’ve misheard what she just said.
“Plus, I think your ship’s sailed,” she continues. Not even noticing my puzzled expression.
“Rose and Ben have gone out for a walk this morning…Alone. I’m surprised ye didn’t see them on your way back,” she chimes.
Suddenly cheerful again. Almost content that Rose has an interest in someone other than….
Than me?
What the actual fuck?
“Mrs. Corbett. What the hell are you talking about?” I ask her firmly, needing her to repeat what she’s just said.
She thinks I’m hot for Rose. But it looks like Rose is hot for Ben.
“I know ye get lonely out here, Mack. But I only thought it fair to warn ye,” Mrs. Corbett says in a hushed tone, even glancing over her shoulder for effect.
“I think once this weekend’s over and you get a proper sleep, you’ll forget all about her,” she adds in a sympathetic tone.
“But I mean…,” I stammer.
Torn between telling her the truth and just letting her believe what she likes.
But I know the old woman as well as she knows me, and as much as I trust her with the running of the house, I also know she loves to gossip.
I can’t have Rose thinking I’m remotely interested in her.
And worse than that, I can’t have Tina hearing the old woman talking nonsense like this.
“Uhhh, Mrs. Corbett?” I remind her tactfully, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, and it’s probably best if you keep things like that to yourself,” I tell her, crimping a smile.
Making a joke after the long silence that follows. “Maybe you’ve been reading too many of those romance novels, eh?” I quip.
But she only shakes her head like someone who knows everything.
I mean, she’s half right.
She just thinks I’m crazy about Tina’s mom when that’s got to be the furthest thing from my mind.
If anything, I feel like sending Ben a ‘with my deepest sympathy’ card.
My fatigue vanishes, and I’m part way through repeating myself to Mrs. Corbett, spelling it out to her loud and clear that I have no romantic interest in Rose Tanner, “or any other guests for that matter,” I add, raising my voice even more.
But it’s too late.
We both turn to see Tina standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
She’s heard everything I said just now.
Her eyes glisten with tears and before I can say or do anything, she’s gone again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tina
I don’t think I slept. And if I did it was only for a few minutes before I heard mom up and about when it was still dark out.
Checking my phone and noticing the time, I guess I must’ve dozed until the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon rouses me.
Plus, the familiar, deep voice of a certain man I was up all night thinking about filling my ears.
I’m like iron filings on a magnet. Dressed and wide-eyed, practically skipping downstairs.
Forgetting all about mom and only reliving last night over and over again in my mind.
An almost kiss with Mack.
I’m walking on a cloud by the time I’m sure it’s his voice I can hear, and maybe being a little too familiar, I let myself through to the doorway of the kitchen downstairs.