What are you going to do with that college education then? Toss it out the window?
Its what I want.
Well, its a bad idea.
Taylor stuffed her immediate defensive response, listened politely for another few moments while her mother went on and on about the high hopes shed had of Taylor joining her in politics someday-politics!-then found an excuse to hang up.
When she had, she buried her face in her hands. What had she been thinking, trying to open up? Trying to let someone in?
Must be difficult, having the citys most notorious tough lady as your mom.
Mac, the man-the only man-with the supreme talent of finding her at her worst. Hed seen her without makeup, with said makeup running down her face, hed seen her first thing in the morning and worst yet, crying.
Now this. Go away.
Yeah. Sometimes my family makes me bitchy, too.
She lifted her head at that, ready to snap his head off, but he wasnt laughing at her. He wasnt even smiling.
Instead he just stood there, his eyes filled with an understanding she wasnt ready to face. I am most definitely not bitchy.
When he just looked at her, she sighed. Okay, maybe just a little.
His lips slowly curved, but unlike what she might have expected, he didnt say a word.
He was good at that, shed noticed, not saying a word and yet conveying so much. Oh, leave me to my bad mood.
I have a better idea. He walked into her room like he owned the place, in his customary Levis and T-shirt, a pencil behind one ear and a set of plans rolled up in his hands, looking tall, leanly muscled and tough.
She wanted to be tough, but just looking at him made her feel soft. Feminine.
Come on.
Startling her, he set the plans on her bed, took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
He had her halfway out the door before she dug in her heels, not that that stopped him. She tried a hand to his back, but that only electrified her with the heat and strength of him. Where are we going?
Youll see.
Mac-
The look he shot her was pure male frustration. Look, you need a break, Ive got an errand to run, and if you come along like a good little girl, I promise to buy you a lunch that will make you sigh in bliss. His whiskey eyes and rugged features crinkled into an enticing smile. Okay?
Smiling. He was smiling at her. Her tummy fluttered. Whats the matter with you today?
Nothing.
Smiling. He was smiling at her. Her tummy fluttered. Whats the matter with you today?
Nothing.
Youve avoided talking to me about anything other than business, and youve avoided physical contact like the plague.
Not like the plague.
What then?
Maybe more likea good tall frosty beer at lunch.
That makes no sense.
Sure it does. You know the cool brew is going to go down like pure heaven, but afterwards, its going to impair your judgment.
She narrowed her eyes, not flattered. Hmm.
He laughed. Laughed. Look, maybe Im doing this because I dont like to see you sad.
Im not-
Arent you?
She stared at him, disconcerted that he could see right through her in a way no one else did.
You going to tell me whats up?
No, she said automatically, because he didnt really want to hear she was lonely and needed to be held. But just in case he was astute enough to see it, she examined the manicure shed given herself last night.
Ah. His eyes lit with pure trouble. You broke a nail.
I did not break a nail, nor would I fret over it if I had.
A big fat lie.
Then youre having a bad hair day, he decided with just enough bite that made her realize damn good and well he was just trying to goad her out of her mood.
Sweet of him, really, but she wanted to be grumpy at the world.
She wanted to be grumpy at him, too, for reasons that didnt bear examining too closely. Do I look like Im having a bad hair day? she asked.
He grinned, a stunning show of masculinity that made her mouth want to fall open.
She closed it tight.
Now that, Princess, is a trick question. Its like asking a man if your pants make you look fat. Damned from the get-go, no matter what I say.
Which proves my point, she said. Men are idiots. You could just say you look great, honey. End of discussion.
You look great, honey, he said, eyes hot, all teasing gone, just like that. End of discussion.
Mac-
Just give me an hour, he said softly, and ran a finger over her jaw.
Her heart sighed in a way it wasnt used to. Itd been a very long time since a man had made her heart want to. An hour, she repeated, and followed him downstairs and into his truck.
She had the uneasy feeling she would have followed the irresistible man anywhere.
11
MAC HAD NO IDEA what had made him do the Boy Scout rescue with Taylor, but here he was, driving along on his errand to South Villages town hall to check on permits, with her sitting beside him. His only defenseshed looked as if shed had the weight of the world on her shoulders, as if shed been unbearably lonely.
It had tugged good and hard on the heart hed thought dead.
Sap.
Whipping the truck into midday South Village traffic, he decided the next time she turned those expressive sea-green eyes on him, hed just turn around and walk away.
The hell with walking, hed run.
Look at all these people. Her face was turned to the passenger window as they passed a bookstore, a theater and two packed sidewalk cafes The sidewalks themselves were lined with the lunch crowd. People were walking, in-line skating, jogging. Everyone seems sofocused.
She seemed wistful, a little envious even, which surprised him. Youre focused, he said.
Turning her head, she looked at him. You think so?
Youre renovating a historical building. That takes focus.
No, youre renovating a historical building. Im just funding it.
By buying and selling antiques. He shook his head. Your talent for such things is amazing.
Really?
She seemed so genuinely blown away by his statement that he looked at her, then wished he hadnt. It was the vulnerable Taylor again, the woman who had fears and doubts, and was so human he wanted to haul her close and never let go.
That was the Taylor he needed to stay away from.
But she leaned in close, giving him an up-front and personal view of her with that very private expression. She had a smattering of light freckles across her nose. Hed never noticed them before. In her ears twinkled tiny twin diamond studs.
Sweet sophistication.
Sexy as hell.
And the most determined person hed ever met.
Hed never met a woman like her.
You dont have to baby-sit me, she said. Im really fine.
Youre a good liar, is what you are.
She leaned back in her seat and turned straight ahead, making guilt swamp him. What right did he have to pry when he didnt want her to do the same back? Im sorry.
Yeah. Sorry Im in your truck.
Taylor-
You want to know whats wrong with me? she asked, her voice suddenly low and sultry, her eyes suddenly hot, hot, hot. You want to know what would make me feel all better? She leaned toward him again, and ran her tongue over her lush, glossed lower lip. Do you?
He could only shake his head. Umno-
Sex, she whispered. Wild, screaming, sweaty sex. Thats what would make me feel better.
He tried to speak, but found he didnt have a voice, and had to clear his throat. Taylor-
Just in case you wanted to know.
Just in case he wanted to know. Wild, screaming, sweaty sex. Images flitted in and out of his head. He was hard as a rock. Lets try this instead, he suggested, and pulled up in front of the town hall.
The last time theyd been here together hadnt exactly been a calm experience, but Mac tried to forget about that as he led her up the front steps. They took an elevator to the third floor, which housed the building department.
Taylor was silent until the elevator doors slid closed. Mac had never had this elevator all to himself, not once. He figured the fates were having a good laugh at his expense that he was alone with her now. A woman who wanted-
Ive never been turned down for wild, screaming, sweaty sex before, she said.
Mac stared at the control panel, gritting his teeth.
Yeah. Its a first for me, too.
She waited until the elevator dipped a little as it came to their floor. Why?
For a brief second he closed his eyes to the bafflement and hurt in her voice. Because with you, Taylor, it wouldnt just be wild, screaming, sweaty sex.
With you, it would be different. And God help me, but I cant handle it.
She stared at him, then slowly, as the doors opened and people waited politely to get on, she sighed. Yeah.
He had no idea if that was an admission that it would be more for her, too, or if she was just agreeing that he couldnt handle it.
He practically ran out of the elevator.
What are we doing here? she asked as she followed him down the hall.
Checking on permits. They came to the right office. Without thinking, he put his hand low on her spine, leaning past her to open and hold the office door for her.
At the feel of her, he jolted, and so did she.
Looking at him from accusing eyes, she whispered, See? Putting her mouth to his ear, she let her lips brush against his sensitive skin. Twitchy. Were twitchy for S-E-X.
Oh yeah, she was killing him. Hed been sporting an erection since shed gotten in his truck, and there was no relief in sight.
They waited in line for three minutes and thirty-three seconds-not that he was counting-standing close, breathing each others air, arms brushing, until Mac was in such a state he couldnt remember why the hell hed thought being with her today would be a good idea.
It was a dumb idea. A really, really dumb idea.
Made even dumber when exiting the elevator on their way out of the building five minutes later-thankfully with a handful of other people this time-they ran into an older couple he knew well.
Mac! The woman, dressed to the hilt in a black suit and sensible heels, reached for him. Oh, Mac!
Taylor watched with interest as the very elegant woman hugged Mac, then pulled back to smile into his face. What a pleasant surprise.
The man hugged him too, complete with manly back slapping. Hey, I was on the green yesterday, he said. Hit an 82, three under par. When are you going to join me?
Mac winced. I dont play anymore. You know that. I havent played in years.