Messing With Mac

Not sure whether she was relieved or insulted-wasn’t he even going to try to talk his way into her bed?-she backed out of his arms.

What did she do now, thank him? The thought made her want to let out a laugh, but it would have been a slightly hysterical one, so she put her fingers to her mouth and swallowed hard. “I’m…I’m thinking that kiss might have been a bad idea.”

“Yeah.”

Now she did laugh. “You might have at least argued.”

“Taylor…was that a normal kind of kiss to you?”

Since her lips still tingled and her heart still pounded, she shook her head.

“No,” he agreed. “And that kind of connection is nothing to mess with.”

“You’ve been hurt, too,” she said quietly, surprised, and mad at herself for not seeing it sooner.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Then sighed. “I was married. A long time ago.”

“Do you…have kids?”

A spasm of pain crossed his face. “No. It didn’t work out. It didn’t work out so much that I never intend to get serious again.”

“Never?”

“Never. Ever. Do you follow me?”

“I follow you. I even agree with you.” Her lips quirked in a mirthless smile. “Imagine that.”

Then, with her body still humming with desire, she took a step away. “Good night, Mac.”

“Good night, Taylor.”

MAC WATCHED HER saunter off, cool as rain, head high, and let out a slow, shaky breath. Holy shit, that had been some kiss.

Kisses.

He took a careful, long wobbly breath to even be able to see straight. Another to relax his entire body, which was quite…tense now, thanks to Taylor’s hot, long, sleek bod that she’d plastered to his.

He’d lost himself in her, totally lost himself, when he’d promised himself he’d never do that again.

Well, he was going to have to be more careful than that next time she flashed those expressive, hurting eyes, wasn’t he?

Much more careful.

6

TAYLOR WAS GRATEFUL to have the entire weekend looming in front of her before the work of reframing and rewindowing began in earnest. Two days of no construction. No pounding, no people, no decisions to make, nothing.

And no Mac.

Two days in which to do as she pleased, which would include no thinking, no obsessing and no wasted regrets on what had happened between them on a dark night in the amazing gardens at the town hall.

On what hadn’t happened, and why.

Being a logical thinker most of the time-though that logic had deserted her in Mac’s arms-she had a stack of reasons. He was just too…strong. Strong-minded, strong-willed, strong everything. A good part of that strength came from a superb control.

But Taylor wanted to be the one in control. She liked that, a lot. When she chose to let a man in, she wanted to run the show.

She doubted anyone ran Mac’s show.

Then there was the fact that he’d seen her at her weakest. No one ever saw her weak and lived to tell the tale, so she figured she’d lay low for the rest of the time they had to be near each other.

Problem solved.

It was only…at least two more months. Damn, that was a long time.

He’d loved his wife. Loved her so much he couldn’t bear to ever love again. Funny how that gave her heart a hard tug, even though she’d sworn the same thing about herself after she’d lost Jeff. Still swore that same thing.

That such a big, fierce, independent man could be laid so low by such emotion that she understood so much… well, she was quite certain that shouldn’t make her want him all the more.

The sudden pounding on the front door of the building, which she’d locked, made her jump. It was a Saturday, an early Saturday. There was no reason for anyone to be here, so it was with a frown for her solitude that she went out of her apartment, down the stairs to the front door of the building, and looked out the peep hole.

Nicole and Suzanne stood on the other side holding up a tub of ice cream, three spoons and matching ear-to- ear grins.

With more joy than Taylor had felt all week she yanked the door open. “You guys read my mind.” She reached for the ice cream but Nicole held her off.

“Not so fast.” She eyed Taylor carefully. “Yep, you were right,” she said to Suzanne. “Something’s wrong.”

Now they both stared at Taylor, and she squirmed. “Don’t be silly, I’m fine.”

But despite the claim, she was immediately enveloped in a bear hug that brought tears to her eyes.

Again.

“Oh, honey.” The lush, redheaded Suzanne pulled back, handed Nicole the spoons and held Taylor’s face in her hands. “What is it?”

What, did the woman have radar? Taylor patted her hair, her clothes, but everything was in place. Everything was always in place. Her own little armor.

“Yeah, you look gorgeous as ever,” Nicole said in disgust. Nicole was an emergency room doctor who considered fashion and hairstyling a grievous waste of time. She was beautiful in spite of it. Now she looked Taylor over with that X-ray vision all doctors seemed to possess. “And let me tell you, it’s disgusting how good you can look surrounded by drywall dust and destruction. Now spill it. What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” Taylor forced a smile. “Allergies, that’s all.”

“Bullshit.” Nicole led the way up the stairs, back into Taylor’s apartment, where they all sat on the bed and took a spoon. “Let’s hear it. Long version please.”

Taylor dug into the double fudge chocolate, consuming a bazillion calories in one bite. “I told you, I’m fine.”

“You know, you never let Suzanne or I get away with telling you we’re fine when we’re not, so don’t give it to us.” Nicole waved her spoon. “Now. Who’s the asshole who put that look of misery on your pretty face?”

“There’s no-” She looked into their expectant, worried expressions and let out a slow, shaky breath. For courage she inhaled another hundred calories, maybe two hundred. “Mac. His name is Mac. He’s my contractor.”

“And?” Nicole lifted a brow. “I definitely hear an ‘and’ at the end of that sentence.”

“And…” What the hell. “He kisses like heaven.”

Suzanne sucked on her spoon and smiled. “Ah.”

“Ah what?” Taylor demanded.

“You’re falling for him.”

“Because I think he kisses like heaven?”

“Because you have stars in your eyes when you say it,” Suzanne said gently. “You’re falling hard, sweetie.”

“Lust or love?” Nicole wanted clarified in her usual blunt way.

“Lust,” Taylor said.

Nicole cocked her head. “You said that way too quickly.”

“I’m staying single, Nicole. No question.”

Suzanne reached for Taylor’s hand. “Tell us why love is such a bad thing. Who hurt you?”