Page 9 of Mac's Vow

Mac nodded, clearly catching onto the train of Jimmy’s thoughts. “We bring him down, then Cameron falls with him.”

“Exactly,” Jimmy said. “And I don’t care about your needs, Mac. You’re staying here with my sister. Fucking glued to her side until this thing is over.”

Alyssa’s mind went straight to the gutter at Jimmy’s announcement. Mac will be in her home day and night. It could take weeks, even months to bring down Cameron and his father. A lot could happen in that span of time. A lot of delicious things.

Mac stalked across the room and threw open the front door. “Outside, Jimmy, now.”

Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up and for a second Alyssa thought her brother was going to refuse Mac. After a few tense seconds, Jimmy stepped toward her and cupped her cheek in his palm. “Go easy on him, little sis,” he whispered for her ears alone. “He’s feeling all kinds of protective shit towards you right now.”

Did her brother know how she felt about Mac? Could it be? When Jimmy only smiled and winked before walking away, Alyssa knew she had her answer. Not only did he know, but he was giving her the green light. Now, if only she could get Mac on board. A plan began to form. It was slightly underhanded, but a woman has to do what a woman has to do.

After both men left her apartment, Alyssa went to the kitchen. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. Lunch the night before maybe. Mac was probably hungry too. She searched through her refrigerator and found hamburger meat. She’d bought all the fixings for loaded nachos a few nights ago but hadn’t gotten around to making them with all the crap Cameron had put her through. Tonight was the perfect night for it.

She took out a skillet and started to brown the hamburger meat. Mac walked in and dumped a few bottles of what appeared to be cream and pills onto the kitchen table. He stopped dead when he saw her at the stove. His gaze went over her from head to toe. Alyssa could feel that heated stare as if it were his fingers touching her. She’d always been hyperaware of Mac. “How does loaded nachos sound?”

“Jimmy knows,” Mac said as he took one more step closer.

She quirked a brow and smiled over her shoulder at him. “You’ll have to be more specific, Mac.”

He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “About your virginity. And me.”

Alyssa dropped the spatula on the tile floor. It hit her big toe and she yelped. “Damn it,” she groaned. Suddenly Mac was there picking up the spatula and running it under water. He handed it back to her. She snatched it out of his hands and turned toward the stove. No way. She did not want to discuss ‘the incident’ with him.

“Did you hear me?”

He sounded closer. Like close enough to touch. Nope, not going to turn around. “Yes,” she bit out as she pounded at the hamburger with the spatula. Grease spattered, but she didn’t care. She reached into a cabinet next to the stove and took out a packet of Mexican seasoning mix. She ripped it open and dumped it onto the hamburger, then stirred.

They’d never talked about that night. Alyssa hadn’t wanted to be further humiliated by discussing how she’d all but begged Mac to deflower her. She also hadn’t wanted to be reminded of the fact he hadn’t gone all the way with her. He’d kept his jeans zipped the entire time. She’d realized later that if he’d actually been attracted to her he would’ve done more than just use his mouth and hands on her. That realization had set about a chain reaction that had taken her straight toward a depression like none other.

No, they hadn’t talked about that night. To hell if she’d discuss it now.

A strong, warm hand on her shoulder had her going still. Alyssa lifted her gaze from the sizzling meat and caught Mac staring at her with such concern it made her want to smack him. “Don’t, Mac,” she ground out.

He dropped his hand and stepped back a good foot. “Uh, don’t what exactly?”

“Don’t look at me as if I’m some fragile orchid. I hate that. Jimmy gives me that all the time. I’m not that fragile.”

Mac went to the refrigerator and took out a beer. He popped the top and drank half the bottle. His voice was soft, but firm when he finally said, “I never said you were fragile. Fuck, Alyssa, you took a beating that would have me in bed for a week and yet you’re in the kitchen cooking. I’d say you’re tough as shit.”

His estimate of her strength felt good. She relaxed as she finished the hamburger by adding salt and pepper, before turning on the oven to preheat. “Thank you. It’s always been an issue between Jimmy and me. After Mom and Dad were killed he sort of went a little overboard on the protective big brother routine. I understand it, but after a point it gets annoying.”

He came to lean on the counter next to the stove, beer in hand and legs crossed at the ankles. “I get it. I’m not Jimmy, Alyssa. Do I want to protect you from the big bad world? Fuck yes. But I don’t think you’re weak.”

She flipped the burner off, then went to a cupboard and took out a large baking sheet and a bag of tortilla chips. After placing both items on the counter, Alyssa took out the shredded cheese, sour cream, two small tomatoes, a jar of sliced jalapenos, and a jar of salsa. She covered the baking sheet with chips, then topped them with shredded cheese, hamburger meat and jalapenos. She slid it into the oven, then sliced the tomatoes and put them into a bowl.

“It’ll just be a few minutes for the cheese to melt,” she explained as the silence descended around them like an itchy blanket. She busied herself with getting plates out and setting the table for them.

“Back to Jimmy,” Mac said, not giving her a chance to retreat. “Did you know he’d figured it out?”

Damn him for bringing it up. “I’m sure my brother knows I’ve had sex,” she hedged. “I’m twenty-five years old, Mac.”

He didn’t respond as she went to the oven and checked on the nachos. The cheese bubbled and the aroma of Mexican spices filled the air. Her stomach rumbled. She grabbed a potholder and took the pan out and set it on the stove to let it cool a minute before she added the other ingredients. Alyssa turned around and found Mac watching her. A smile on his handsome face. “What’s that look for?”

“I kind of love watching you cook. The last time you made loaded nachos was the Ohio State game. Last year, remember?”

She did remember. It’d been at Jimmy’s house. Just the three of them. She frowned as the painful memory surfaced. “You left early. You didn’t even wait for the nachos. Jimmy said you probably had a hot date.” She’d barely watched the game that night because she kept imagining Mac with some nameless faceless hottie and it had left a sour taste in her mouth the rest of the evening.

Mac placed his beer on the counter and closed the distance between them. He lifted his hand and started to play with strands of her wet hair. God, she loved when he touched her. Just anywhere at all. It always turned her on. “No, I didn’t have a date. I went home and got drunk. Do you know why?”

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