Page 64 of Jumping In

“That’s not . . .” I pause for a second. Did Mac want me to have a key to his place permanently?

She smiles and joins me back at the table. No one will be coming into the coffee shop in this weather, so I enjoy her company for a while. She fills me in on Sophie’s pregnancy, reminding me of the baby shower she’s planning for her. I offer to help out and she gives me a knowing look realizing it meant I’d be staying in town since the shower isn’t until September.

When the rain lets up, I thank her again for the girl time, tea, and key before jogging across the street to unload. It only takes me a few minutes to bring everything in, and then I start putting snacks and drinks away in either the mini fridge or the cute little basket I picked up at the market. I inspect theloft and realize it’s very much a bachelor pad. Mac told me his dad used to sleep up here when he worked too late into the night, and now Mac is doing the same thing. It brings a smile to my face as I hum and tidy up the space.

I’m halfway up the stairs dragging the shop vac behind me when my phone rings in my pocket. Hoping it’s Mac, I lean the shop vac against the stair rail and hold it in place with my knee, digging my phone out of my pocket. Mac’s face fills the screen, and I’m happy to see—despite still looking tired—he’s wearing a smile.

“Hi, honey!”

“Hey, babe. Where—what are you doing?” He instantly questions, noticing the surroundings behind me.

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and wipe the sweat off my face. “Oh, nothing. Just hanging out here at the shop.”

“Why are you halfway up the stairs?” Man, he’s observant.

“Don’t worry about it,” I tease. “What’s up? How’re things with Jake?”

He smiles and I sigh in relief.

“I think we’re good. It took some work, but he’s keeping his job. I’ve been helping him get settled at the hotel here, since the halfway house got inundated with new tenants, and they couldn’t accept him back even though it was their mess up. Luckily, we worked out a deal with the hotel to let him stay there on a monthly basis. We just moved his stuff into his room, but I want to get him more settled.” He sighs but I smile back at him reassuringly. While I miss him, I’m relieved I’ll have more time to finish what I’m working on.

“Okay, no worries. Be home tomorrow?” Iask cheerfully.

Surprise washes over his face. “Yeah, is that okay?”

“Of course. Take your time.” He raises an eyebrow, and I quickly recover. “I miss you. But helping your brother is important. Text me later?” The shop vac shifts against my knee, and I adjust my body to keep it from clattering down the stairs.

“Okay. I love you. And I don’t know what you’re doing, but I love knowing you’re comfortable at the shop and in my space,” he says with a chuckle. My cheeks heat and the butterflies in my stomach awaken with soft flutters.

“I love you too!”

We end the call, and I grab the shop vac by the handles and then proceed up the stairs to finish what I started. The butterflies in my stomach explode with nervous energy. I hope he’ll be okay with what I’ve done. He says he loves knowing I’m comfortable here, but he doesn't know just how comfortable I’ve gotten.

Chapter 24

Mac

July 21

Istumble through the door of the loft, excited to see my girl even though it’s two in the morning and she’s fast asleep. The room is dark, and I can barely make out MJ’s gorgeous curves in my bed. I press my hand against the wall and kick my shoes off. Pulling my wallet, phone, and keys out of my pockets, I toss them onto the dresser next to the door. Instead of hitting the dresser, though, they hit the ground?What the fuck?

I put my hand out to feel around for the dresser that is very much not there anymore. Squinting, I look around the space, trying to make out familiar shapes in the room and find the dresser across the room where I definitely did not have it last. Looks like MJ was busy while I was away.

Smiling to myself, I inhale deeply, taking in the scent of strawberry and vanilla mixing with the more masculine scents that usually fill the space. I stifle my groan and unbutton my pants, kicking them off to the side. Pulling my T-shirt over my head as I walk toward the bed, I toss it to the side too before sliding under the covers behind MJ, making her my little spoon. I wrap my arm around her waist, and she slides hers over mine, pulling me closer to her. Kissing her hair, I sigh and sink into the pillows, allowing my exhausted body to pass out.

A groan escapes my lips as MJ peppers kisses across my chest. She’s been touching me and kissing me for a while now and, like the asshole I am, I’ve been pretending to sleep through it, enjoying every second. She giggles and nips at my nipple with her teeth, which causes me to yelp.

“I know you haven’t been sleeping,” her tone is teasing and light. I smile, opening my eyes.

“You caught me.” I slide my hand down her waist to her thigh, pulling her onto me. She’s got on one of my T-shirts with just her panties underneath, and my cock instantly grows hard. I raise my eyebrow at her when I feel the dampness of her panties. She says nothing but slowly rocks her hips. Her breath comes out in pants as she grinds against my now rock-solid cock.

“Fuck, baby, is this how you wake up every morning?” I groan.

She giggles. “I’ve missed you,” she says, continuing to grind against me. She smiles provocatively as I slide my hands up and down her thighs, gripping them tightly, and lift my hips to give her more pressure.

“How bad do you want me?”

“Mac,” she says, her voice breathy and sexy as fuck. I slide my fingers along the edge of her panties and then slip one into her wetness, eliciting a moan from her lips.

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