“There’s the trail hike to the cabin, fishing by the lake…,” she muses aloud, listing off all the things I could be doing today. “…They have horseback riding, but I know you wouldn’t want to do that. But would it kill you to get off your ass and actually try and enjoy yourself for once, Tina?” she practically whines.
Tempted to pull the pillow over my ears, I settle for hugging it instead.
Wishing she’d just hurry and leave so I can die from misery in peace.
But the sound of a man clearing his throat makes my entire body freeze up. My broken heart is suddenly in my throat.
Without even having to look, I know it’s Mack.
“Oh. You again…,” my mom groans. Making me cringe inside hearing her be so rude.
“I… I just came to check on the window,” he says, trying to sound offhand about it but I can feel as well as hear the edge to his voice.
“Well. It’s still there,” Mom chimes with an extra helping of sarcasm. “And remember, the flaking paint and splintered wood was your doing. Not ours,” she clips. “Don’t let me see a bill for damages or anything sneaky like that,” she cautions him.
And that’s when I have to say something.
“Mom. Can you just stop acting like such an asshole?” I growl at her, feeling at least some of my hurt and anger channeled in a better direction.
She goes silent and I can feel her eyes on my back.
I know I’m going to have to pay for that one later, but right now, I just wish she’d disappear.
“I just came to see if it was still working,” Mack says in a calmer tone.
Professional.
“And to let you know there’s a hike to the cabin for tonight’s program. We leave in an hour, so…,” he adds, trailing off.
But Mom’s not interested.
“I’m doing some hiking of my own today,” she sighs. “Ben and I are going to the lake for a picnic. I already had this conversation with Mrs. Corbett earlier,” she adds with annoyance.
“Now. If I can get through…. Thank you!” she exclaims, making me realize just where I get all my own brattiness from.
But she goes, and then it’s just Mack and me.
Alone in this room again.
My hurt and embarrassment slowly give way to those butterflies in my belly I get when I think about him, or whenever he’s close by.
He waits long enough to hear mom’s steps disappear, the strong scent of her perfume lingering long after her. And I swallow hard once I hear him close the door gently.
I give a tiny gasp, and dammit. If I don’t feel anything but sorry for acting the way I did earlier.
Already feeling the warm rush of heat to my groin before he even says a word.
“Old Mrs. Corbett thinks I have a thing for your mom,” he rumbles with irritation.
I feel my eyes tense and my nose bunch up. Forgetting all about how horrible I must look, I roll over and prop myself up on my elbow.
My whole face a puzzle.
Mack’s own features soften once our eyes meet.
And I can see that although his voice is as deep and strong as ever, something’s bugging him.
“I only said what I said before…,” he starts. “I mean, last night….”
He makes a sudden pained expression and looks away, then down at his feet.
“Sounds like my mom is more interested in Ben,” I sniff. Feeling like I might get out of this yet.
Sure, hearing what Mack said hurt me, but only because I don’t know the full story yet.
Mack goes quiet.
“You’re not actually interested in her, are you?” I ask, hearing my voice crack.
Relieved more than I thought possible when he makes such a strange, twisted face that I can’t help but laugh out loud.
“No. No, I’m not interested in your mom,” he assures me, but his eyes look like they’re filled with a million other things he’s trying to say.
I wait for him to make the next move. Not daring to even hint about how he might feel about me.
And I definitely don’t want to jinx it by bringing up last night.
After some thought, Mack finally finds the words.
“It would be just you and me if we went hiking to the cabin,” he finally says in a husky tone.
His lip curling into a knowing grin.
His eyes burning with the same intensity they did right before we almost kissed last night.
“Just…just us?” I stammer. Wondering if mom would even notice I went, let alone care.
I’ve never seen her so interested in anything since she laid eyes on Ben.
“Just us,” Mack echoes, letting his eyes run over me as he takes a slow breath in.
I feel myself redden, but not from embarrassment or hurt anymore.
“I’d love that,” I hear myself murmur. Almost purring the words as I feel a fresh wave of damp warmth flood my pussy as I let my own eyes move over his body.