Im serious, Mac.
Im going to live.
Yes, but She looked at him. Looked at the sky. Then back at him. Mac
A disparaging sound escaped her. Im trying to say Im
Mac cocked his head, studying the uncomfortable Taylor with curiosity. Youre trying to saywhat?
I just wanted to She held her breath, then let out a huff and turned in a slow circle while Mac waited.
Something was sticking in her craw, but what, he had no idea. Unlessoh yeah. She was trying to apologize. What was so interesting about that was that she looked as if she might choke over it. Problem? he asked, suddenly feeling like smiling.
No. I just wanted to say
Yes?
Im sorry. She glared at him as if this was all his fault. Im sorry if Liza came onto you and made you uncomfortable. Im sorry you had to deal with her on the job. It was unfair andand
No. I just wanted to say
Yes?
Im sorry. She glared at him as if this was all his fault. Im sorry if Liza came onto you and made you uncomfortable. Im sorry you had to deal with her on the job. It was unfair andand
And youre sorry. He grinned now, because who would have known she could look adorable. That was pretty tough, huh? Using the s-word?
Its even harder with you laughing at me, she said, adding a look of daggers.
Oh, no, Im not laughing at you, Im laughing with you. But he kept on grinning, which pretty much made smoke come out her ears.
Her eyes were twin pools of fire. And her body language, hands fisted on her hips, shoulders back, head up Battle ready, she was, no doubt.
Call him sick, but he liked it, he liked to see her temper flare, though he was quite certain hed be risking certain death to admit such a thing to her. I dont suppose youd try to say it again, so I can watch you squirm some more?
Youre a bastard, you know that?
Yep, he told her back as she stalked off. Ive definitely heard that one before.
Stopping, Taylor slowly turned back to face him.
Shed barely been able to resist the urge to put her hands on her hips and stomp her feet like a child at the sight of Liza snuggled up to him, but that would be churlish, even childish.
And certainly she had amused him enough al ready.
But nobody laughed at her, nobody.
And yet there he stood, hair blowing in the breeze, eyes lit with good humor-at her expense-his long, lean, rangy body relaxed as can be.
That even now she could look at him and feel a spark, feel a need to launch herself against him and hold on tight, really burned.
Watch your pretty sandals there, Princess, he said, pointing to where she stood, which was next to his hose. The water had started to pool.
That it was still morning didnt matter in the summertime heat of Southern California. She hadnt even realized how hot she was until the chilled water lapped over her toes.
She eyed the hose. Eyed Mac.
Dont even think about it, he said in a warning tone that cooked her goose all the way to finish.
Oh, Im thinking about it. Shed do more than think. Very carefully she set her hat down on the grass. She loved that hat and didnt want it to get wet like Mac was going to. He was going to get very wet.
Taylor, he said in that low, gruff, thrillingly sexy voice.
But not only did no one laugh at her, no one told her what to do.
Ever.
Before she knew it, shed picked up the hose and turned it on him, hitting him full in the chest.
The water was cold, which, she supposed, explained his yelp. Or it might have to do with the fact she lowered her aim just a bit.
The sound that escaped him now was a definite growl, a growl that signified an upcoming battle.
Half horrified, half exhilarated, she continued to hold the hose on him and stepped closer.
It knocked him back a step, and a group of people whod come out of the ice-cream shop across the street whooped and hollered.
Mac ignored them, grinning a wholly evil grin at her that made her hesitate a moment.
Which is how he tackled her to the patch of grass behind her, holding her down with his big, warm, strong body sprawled over hers.
She couldnt believe it, but hed gotten the best of her. Her, Taylor Wellington, a woman no one got the better of, ever.
Thankfully the wood fence across the front of her property, while mostly decoration, was high enough to now block them from view of pedestrian traffic, so she didnt have to think about that humiliation.
Lifting his face, Mac smiled a little wickedly down into hers, water raining off him onto her skin. Then he gathered her hands in one of his and yanked them above her head. One strong thigh insinuated its way between hers, pegging her between the soft, cool grass and the not even close to soft, definitely not cool body of Mac.
Get off me, she hissed, wriggling, trying to free herself. Were right out front, anyone could-
Could what? Could see this? Good.
And eyes burning with intent, he dipped his head, covering her mouth with his.
8
TAYLOR GAVE one startled squeak, but then as sensations bombarded her-his hands on hers, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, his deliciously big, hard, wet body holding hers down, his powerful thigh holding hers open-she melted against him like lava. Her fingers curled against his, her body arching up to meld to every inch of his. And his mouth Oh, his mouth.
She hadnt been able to think the first time theyd kissed, could barely think now, but he tasted like heaven. And now that she was thinking it, fully appreciating it, she realized something else. He knew just what to do with that mouth, knew how to nibble the corners of hers until she wanted to moan for more, knew to start out with little coaxing strokes of his tongue, then nip at her bottom lip with his teeth, soothing it over with a soft, sucking motion that whipped her into a desperate, impatient, wild thing, a wild thing with absolutely no shame, not to mention thoughts of rules or propriety.
Needing to put her hands on him, she flexed hers beneath his, and he let her go. Oh yes, she thought, mindlessly arching up to him, running her now free hands over his wet shoulders, down his wet spine, oh yes, this is what shed needed this morning when shed woken up so inexplicablysad.
This. Him. Now.
With a little sigh of pure unadulterated pleasure, she hugged him even closer, and wanting to give back as good as she was getting, she sucked his tongue into her mouth.
She was rewarded by a ragged groan ripped from deep in his chest, and felt his hands slip beneath her, cupping her bottom in his hands so that he could more fully seat himself between her thighs. At the feel of his erection, she whimpered in helpless delight, and squirmed, trying to get more of it.
Then he slowly lifted his head, her lips clinging as they parted because she didnt want it to end.
Taylor. His voice was satisfactorily thick. Raspy. And looking down into her pouting face, he let out a soft sound of desire and stroked her jaw. God, youre beautiful.
The grass beneath her was cool, and damp. Above them the sun was warm and dry, chasing the chill away from their wet clothes. But now, without Macs mouth on hers, she could think again. Thoughts like her mascara was probably smeared, and that hed eaten off all her gloss. That she was wrinkling, and probably staining one of her favorite skirts.
Or that she lay on her back, legs spread, heart wide open and vulnerable, to a man.
It was that last that made her close her eyes.
With a sigh, Mac rolled off her. On his back, staring up at the sky, he reached for her hand.
What was that? she whispered, eyes still closed, her breathing not even close to normal. But she let him entwine his fingers with hers, and gripped them back. What the hell was that?
Whatever it was, it was damn good.
Yeah. Turning her head, she found him studying the clouds floating overhead.
Theres Bambi, he said, and with his free hand pointed to a cloud.
Taylor had to laugh. Bambi?
Yeah. There. And see that one? That long, sleek one to the right? A sailboat.
Mmm. She was lying here with a rough and tumble man who saw shapes in clouds. You always find things in the sky?
Mmm. She was lying here with a rough and tumble man who saw shapes in clouds. You always find things in the sky?
Its relaxing, dont you think?
Well, its not a relaxation technique Ive used much.
He let out a soft laugh. Tell me, Princess, when was the last time you laid in the grass like this and relaxed period?
Okay so its not a relaxation technique Ive used ever, she admitted.
He tipped his head back, trying to catch as much of the view as possible. Its always been cheap therapy for me.
She rolled to her side and came up on her elbow so that she could look at him lying there, all sprawled out, looking so perfectly at home. He was long, lean. Wet. His clothes clung to his sinewy strength but that strength was far more than purely physical, because he had an inner strength as well. What does a man like you need therapy for?
A man like me? He turned his head toward her, smiling as he reached up and pulled a piece of grass out of her hair. What does that mean, a man like me?
A man like you, she repeated, her voice a little breathy at the way he was looking at her. Strong. Intelligent. Your own boss. You run your own life the way you want, the hell with anyone else, so yeah, what does a man like you need from cheap therapy?
Youd be surprised. He pierced her with a look she couldnt quite read. Do you remember that night at Town Hall?
How could she forget? Yes.
The kiss. Do you remember the kiss?
Only every living second.
Yeah, he said to her silence. I thought so. Look, we both walked away that night telling ourselves that that was as far as this would go.
I know. He was lying there, prone and wet, soaking up the sun, so close and yet so far, and for some reason she didnt want to think about too hard, she needed to touch him. She ran her finger over his shoulder, down his arm.
His eyes heated. This wasnt going to happen again, we decided. Did something change for you?
Good question. Beneath her finger his muscles leaped. WellI liked that water fight.
Fight? That was a massacre.
Yeah. She smiled. And it was so cathartic, I guess Im feelingreckless. I want to know more about you, Mac. She was shocked, shocked to the core, to hear the words come out of her mouth and find that she meant them.