Her dark hair was windblown and the color was high on her cheeks. His gaze dropped to her lush lips and perfect white teeth. Her expression, though tense with anger, did nothing to diminish her natural beauty. In truth, he hadnt met anyone quite so beautiful in a very long time.
Mac grinned lazily and walked up to the counter. Which one of those questions would you like me to answer first? he asked, leaning closer to her.
Her scowl deepened. Wheres Buddy?
Hes in the hospital having his hip replaced.
The news seemed to take her by surprise and he detected a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. Oh, she murmured. He did tell me that. When is he going to be back?
About three weeks, he said. Maybe a month.
And who are you?
Luke MacKenzie, he said. They call me Mac. He wiped his hand on his jeans and held it out. To his surprise, she took and shook it firmly. Mac held on for a few moments longer, enjoying the feel of her slender fingers resting in his palm.
Mr. MacKenzie, I
Just Mac, he insisted, giving her hand another squeeze.
She straightened her spine and met his gaze, then slowly tugged her hand from his. Well, Mr. Just Mac, let me give you the 411 because obviously Buddy didnt fill you in before he left. The next time Charlie Clemmons shows up and wants you to haul that ridiculous Marry Me, Emma banner all over the sky, youre supposed to tell him no!
And your name is...
Emma, she murmured. Emma Bryant.
Well, Marry-Me Emma, Buddy might be able to turn down two hundred dollars for an airborne marriage proposal, but I dont have that luxury. As long as Charlies money is green, Im gonna take the job.
But you dont understand. This has become an obsession with Charlie. And Im not going to marry him. Not now. Not ever. So he can waste all the money he wants but Im not going to change my mind.
Maybe hes in love, Mac suggested.
And maybe hes completely insane, she countered.
Why dont you want to marry him?
Havent you been listening? Hes insane. He just wont let go. Its not healthy.
Is there another reason you dont want to marry him? Maybe theres someone else?
She gasped, then fixed him with a glare that could melt steel. That is none of your business! And if I were you, I wouldnt listen to town gossip.
Theres gossip? Im afraid Im out of the loop. Ive got a few minutes. Why dont you fill me in? Can I get you something cold to drink? Ive got a Yoo-hoo back in the fridge.
She looked at him as if hed just asked her to strip naked and join him in a round of The Hokey Pokey. Im sure you think youre charming, and Im sure that charm works on a certain element of society, but its not going to work on me.
You didnt answer my question, he said.
You didnt ask me a question, she said.
Sure I did. I asked if there was someone else. A boyfriend or a fiancé? I could see how a stray marriage proposal might be problematic in that situation.
She really was a beautiful woman, Mac mused. Her short dark hair curled gently around her pretty face, enhancing wide eyes and a lush mouth that had been made to be kissed. She also had thick lashes that ringed her brilliant green eyeseyes that seemed to see right into his soul.
Just dont fly any more of his banners, she warned. She spun on her heel and started for the door, but he called her name and she stopped and slowly faced him.
You know, the fastest way to get rid of the old guy is to take up with a new guy.
You think I dont know that? When you live in a small town like San Coronado, decent men are in short supply. Believe me, Ive been looking.
Maybe you havent been looking hard enough, Mac suggested.
She strode toward the door, but before she had a chance to pull it open, he spoke.
You could go out with me, Mac said. Im new in town, and I havent met many people. It would be nice to have someone show me around. Hed issued the request more as an experiment than an actual invitation. And as an excuse to keep her in the shop just a little bit longer.
He found her quite fascinating, this stunningly beautiful girl who couldnt seem to find a man. But now that hed made the invitation, he wanted her to accept. Let me get you that Yoo-hoo and we can talk over the particulars. Give me a chance to apologize for the whole banner problem.
She stared at him for a long moment. Youre asking me out? On a date?
Yes, he said.
We just met. And I dont think I like you.
Tis one thing to be tempted, he murmured. Another to fall.
Do you really believe a little Shakespeare is going to make me swoon for you?
Swoon? What does that mean?
Look it up, she said.
I left my dictionary in my other toolbox, he teased. Do you like Shakespeare?
Hes only the greatest writer who ever lived.
So where do you come down in the authorship issue? Are you a Stratfordian or an Oxfordian? Clearly his question had taken her by surprise. He also noticed a bit of interest in her expression. I just finished a new book on the subject.
The Weight of the Words? Emma asked. I loved that book.
We should get together and discuss it, he said.
Emma opened her mouth, then frowned, shaking her head. Just dont do it again, she warned. With that, she walked out of the hangar and into the bright sunshine of the October day.
Do what again? Mac shouted. Ask you out on a date? Or fly that banner?
He strolled over to the door and stared out, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her. But shed already hopped in her car and started to race the battered Volvo station wagon down the airstrip road, a cloud of dust trailing behind it.
J. J. Jones, Buddys mechanic, strolled around the corner of the hangar wall and handed an old hydraulic pump to Mac. Was that Emma Bryant?
Yeah, Mac said.
I told you not to fly that banner, J.J. said.
What do you know about her? he asked.
Know about her? He grabbed the pump from Macs hand. We went to school together. Shes the same age as I am. Twenty-seven. Shes the town librarian. Her dad died when she was young and her mom passed away about three years ago after a long illness. Emma was devoted to her. Cared for her at home for almost four years.
If shes such a saint, why do people gossip about her? he asked.
J.J. gave him an uneasy look. What do you mean?
She asked if Id heard the gossip around town about her. What gossip?
Listen, I dont like tellin tales. My mama said if I keep my mouth shut and my hands clean Id go far in life. I always follow my mamas advice.
Come on. If its something everyone around town knows, why cant you spill? Mac prodded. Is she crazy? Like bunny-boiler crazy?
J.J. shook his head. Shes real nice. Shes one of the nicest people Ive ever met. Always very generous with her time. Everyone loves her. Everyone.
So shes perfect?
He nodded. As close to perfect as youre going to get, J.J. said. You wont catch me saying anything bad about her.
Mac sighed. You think shed go out with me? he asked.
I doubt youd be her type, J.J. said.
Shes picky, then, he said.
Shes careful, J.J. countered.
Mac frowned. What did that mean? Careful? She was a twenty-seven-year-old single woman. If she was looking for love, shed have to take some risks to find it. So she hangs out at the library?
J.J. grabbed the pump. I gotta get back to work. That pump on your plane is shot. We should probably replace both of them while were at it. Want me to order two?
No, just get me one, Mac murmured. And find me a decent price.
I will, J.J. said.
Macs gaze was drawn back to the road where Emma Bryant had disappeared. This was a strange feeling, Mac mused. It wasnt often that he found himself genuinely intrigued by a woman. His reactions to the female gender came in one of two varietiesshes hot and Id like to take her to bed...or, no, thank you. But this was something very different.
Emma Bryant, he murmured to himself as he walked back inside. Marry-Me Emma. If he took the proposal sign up again tomorrow morning, he could be assured that shed stop by again and register her opinion.
* * *
I THINK HE asked me out. Emma paused, then shook her head. Or maybe I just imagined it. Everything just happened so quickly. The conversation jumped around so much I could barely keep up. But Im pretty sure there was an invitation in there.
Emma Bryant, he murmured to himself as he walked back inside. Marry-Me Emma. If he took the proposal sign up again tomorrow morning, he could be assured that shed stop by again and register her opinion.
* * *
I THINK HE asked me out. Emma paused, then shook her head. Or maybe I just imagined it. Everything just happened so quickly. The conversation jumped around so much I could barely keep up. But Im pretty sure there was an invitation in there.
What did you say?
I cant remember. Emma turned to her best friend, Trisha Kelling, and shrugged. I wish I could rewind the whole thing and listen to it again.
Wait, Trisha said. Pull over.
What?
Just pull over. We need your full concentration.
Emma did as she was instructed, steering the station wagon to the edge of the dusty road. She threw it into Park and faced her friend, taking a deep breath.
What did he look like? Trish asked.
Cute. No, handsome. Really sexy. Dark hair, pale blue eyes. You know like blue denim that has been faded by the sun.
Oh, God, I love that kind of blue, Trisha said. What else?
Straight nose. Not too big. Just right. Nice teeth. And a really nice body, at least, what I was able to see of it.
What about the goods? she said. Did you check that out?
No! Why would I check out his...crotch?
All right. Was he charming or just kind of full of himself?
A little bit of both. But I think he might have been teasing me. He was clever. He seemed really smart. He quoted Shakespeare at me.
Really? What did he say?
Trish was an English teacher at the high school and knew her Shakespeare. Emma searched her memory for the phrase, but she couldnt recall the exact wordsa sign that Luke MacKenzie had really flustered her. Something about being tempted and then falling.
Tis one thing to be tempted? Another thing to fall?
Yes! Thats it. As You Like It?
I should remember where it comes from and dont you dare tell anyone that I dont. Trish pulled out her phone and punched in the quote. Measure For Measure. What do you think he meant?
Im not sure. Emma rubbed her face with her hands. After that he started talking about the authorship controversy, the Oxfordians versus the Stratfordians. It was as if he knew I was fascinated with the subject and he was tempting me.