“But?” he prompted.
“But I wouldn’t be opposed to having you dog-sit.”
Mac grimaced, perplexed. “Dog-sit?”
Cassidy shrugged, stabbing at a piece of egg. “Better for him than being stuck in an office while I’m working. And sinceyouhave the time, being relieved of such responsibilities…”
Mac sat back in his chair. “Second time you’ve referenced my lack of employment.”
Her gaze dropped to his side, as though she could see around to his back, and then away.
“Think I’m living off the government?” he asked.
Heat infused her cheeks; she heard the defensiveness in his question. “I don’t know anything about you.”
“You’re right, you don’t,” he said firmly.
A look at his face let her know the playfulness was gone. Damn, that was short-lived, and it was all her fault. But her head hurt too much to put up with it. She pressed, “So tell me, you idiot.”
His dark eyes lifted to hers in surprise at her insult.
“Enlighten me instead of getting mad at me.” As he continued to stare, she asked, “Are you with the CIA? Is this a safe house? Because this…” She indicated the structure. “This is not safe.”
He frowned at her as though she was a specimen he was trying to figure out.
“You have a job, then. What is it? Set me straight.”
Mac looked away, returning to consuming his bacon and eggs. After a few tense, silent mouthfuls, he said, “I’m a software developer.”
It took all of her control not to turn and look around the small cabin for a computer. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him, but she wasn’t sure the place was even wired for the Internet. She ventured, “I thought you worked with dogs in the military.”
“That was then.”
She’d won a small victory, getting this out of him. “I know so little about computers. The basics, obviously. I have an iPad.”
That earned her a twitch of his lips, but she wasn’t sure if it was amusement or derision.
“Elijah, of course, has his computer.” She made a face. “I mean, there’s still his computer I use every once in a while.” She invited, “If you would have any use for it, you’re welcome to it. I rarely power it up anymore.”
“I can take a look at it, make sure it has its updates,” he responded noncommittally.
Still feeling warm and fuzzy over getting something out of him when he’d tried to shut her down, she asked, “So I’ll leave Fred with you when I go to the bar?” Before he could respond, she blurted out loud, “But that’ll curtail your extracurricular activities. Isn’t it supposed to work in reverse, you leaving the kid with me while you step out?”
His fork paused mid-air as his brown eyes snapped to hers, startled.
When she realized what she’d said, she slapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks blazing red. “I didn’t mean to imply…”
He completed the path of food to his mouth. Brows lifting, he looked away, chewing thoughtfully.
Cassidy groaned mentally. She offered a half-shrug, accusing, “You started it.”
Another twitch of his lips accompanied a brief downward dive of his brows. He asked, “You always this much fun after you’ve tied one on?”
“I’m going to stop talking.” She shifted in her chair, facing her plate, and concentrated on the food, pretending she didn’t hear his chuckle.
“Tell you what,” he said. “Your afternoon shifts? Drop him by. But he goes with you for your night shifts.”
She bit her lower lip to keep her comments to herself. Like, he didn’t want to be bothered at night, so…