Page 145 of Rough and Rugged

“Yeah, that fat guy over in the corner.”

She looked toward where he was pointing, and noticed a pet bed on a perch near the window, occupied by the biggest cat she’d ever seen. She walked over to get a closer look, reaching out a hand to pet him. He immediately started purring like a well-oiled engine, even though he reminded her of the famous grumpy cat. Mac was a cat daddy? She burst out laughing, and was a bit surprised when Mac began laughing with her. It certainly lightened the atmosphere in the room, and took the pressure off momentarily.

“Wow. That’s some cat.”

Mac shrugged his massive shoulders. “He’d been abandoned in the parking lot of Rogers’ hardware store as a kitten. I couldn’t just leave him there. So he came home with me.”

Awkward silence ensued.What else was there to talk about?

“Would you, uh, like something to drink?”

“Umm, sure.”

“Sorry I don’t have any diet coke.”

And why would he? He never drank it before. Diet coke had always been her beverage of choice. “Water’s fine.”

“Comin’ right up. Why don’t you have a seat?” He gestured toward the high top table and chairs in the kitchen area as he turned toward the refrigerator, grabbing two chilled bottles. He offered her one.

“Thanks.”

As they sat at the table, silently drinking from the bottles, she heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Since she couldn’t think of anything else to say, they could always talk about the weather. Mac beat her to it.

“Sounds like a storm is rollin’ in. I didn’t know the forecast was calling for rain today.”

“Crap. I didn’t think to bring a rain jacket or umbrella with me.”

“Hopefully, it will pass over quickly. But I need to go out and check on some things outside that I don’t want to get wet.”

“Can I help?”

“No. You stay here,” he ordered.

Chapter Five

Mac

Macracedoutsidetohis structure. In no time, the wind had picked up force and the rain was pelting him like multiple bee stings. The area around the workshop was already so muddy, his boots were squishing into the ground. Fortunately, he’d had the foresight earlier to wheel into the enclosure the large piece he’d been working on outdoors. The wood he used was just as delicate as a precious metal, and water damage would render it useless.

As he was unfurling the large tarps on all sides of the structure to keep the wind and rain from blowing in sideways, he heard Marissa approach, slogging through the mud, calling his name.

“Mac! Mac! What do you need me to do?”

Yelling at her over the wind, he shouted “Nothing! I told you to stay inside. You’ll ruin your clothes and shoes out here.” Apparently, she still didn’t know how to listen.

Marissa planted her feet in the mud and raised her arms and face to the sky. “As you can see, it’s too late.” Yes, he could see. And she never looked more beautiful to him with her soaked hair, mud streaked face and clothes, and wet shirt that clung to her upper body, outlining her nipples, and leaving nothing to the imagination.

“Come on, then.” He waved her over to help with the last section of tarp, then grabbed her hand and rushed them inside.

As she shook her hair of excess water, she asked “what’s all this?”

Mac rubbed the back of his neck, wondering if she noticed the sweat popping up on his brow. There was no hiding it any longer. “This is what I do now. I work with wood.”

As she looked around the area, he could see that she noticed the large sign with a logo on the wall.

“Wait. You’re the mountain man ofMountain Man Models? Your pieces are on display in the same gallery space I use. They’re fantastic!”

“Uh, yeah,” he grunted in embarrassment. He needed to change the subject. “Guess you put that art degree to use yourself if you’re in a gallery.”

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