Page 99 of Here & There

I’m pissed at Richard, and to be honest, I’m pissed at Mac too. Because I can’t stop thinking about that kiss. The second one. And every time I do, I get this rush of hormones that makes me feel like I’ve been electrocuted.

My former roommate’s not supposed to make me feel like that.

I finally get focused on the duke and his dick, enough that I don’t even give more than a glance out the window when I hear noises. Ben’s doing some yard work in what looks like full sailor rain gear, hauling a wheelbarrow around. A vehicle pulls up at some point, but by then, I’m at the striptease scene, and damn. I expected to laugh at this book, but the duke throwing off a piece of clothing every time his darling says the word is extremely hot. They wore a lot of little items of clothing back then. The chapter ends with the duke fully naked, his dick quite literally slapping against the saddle of the horse as he gallops toward his darling, who somehow has made it across a field.

Okay, that part sounds painful.

I happen to glance outside, my temperature slightly raised.

I frown. Ben’s not alone anymore.

I stand up. I see Ben’s figure hunched over as he pushes the wheelbarrow toward a larger figure.

A hulking figure holding a giant boulder, which he lowers into the wheelbarrow as if it weighs nothing.

My stomach drops.

I know that hulking figure. I clung to that hulking figure only yesterday, while he kissed me with an intensity that felt as if he was touching every cell in my body, all at once.

Mac looks up, meeting my eye.

I tell myself to calm down. Maybe I forgot something at his place. I left in a hurry.

Or maybe he’s just here to help Ben. Maybe Diane called him over to help Ben, and Mac said yes because that’s what Mac does; he helps everyone all the time. Ceaselessly.

But when Mac lifts a hand up for me—a wave—I know none of that is true. I can see it in the way he’s holding himself. Rain pelts his face, dripping off his hair and onto his shoulders, and it looks like he doesn’t even notice. My whole body thrums so hard it aches.

He might as well have a stereo over his head.

It takes me under a minute to reach the lobby. Mac’s already inside, hat in hand, thick dark hair rumpled and too long.

“Mac,” I say, trying not to remember how it felt between my fingers. “What are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to say a few things to you.”

My heart beats a staccato rhythm in my chest. “Okay. I’m here.”

Mac runs his hand through his hair. It’s wet at the ends, curling where the hat didn’t cover it. “I wanted you to know,” he says, “that I never meant to make you feel unwanted.”

I swallow, the tears that have been threatening practically pulling a knife out now.

“You said you needed space, and I want to give that to you. If that’s what you want, I understand. But I want you to know that we—me and Nate—we want you with us if you want to come home.”

My eyes flood, and I blink, pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes. There’s that word again,home.

I laugh without humor as I press the tears away. “I’m sure Nate didn’t say any of that.”

“He did, actually. We talked about it. He got mad at me at dinner last night. Said I should have insisted you stay. He, uh, doesn’t know about the other stuff. What we talked about and that…well, what we did in my office.”

Heat flares in my stomach at the memory.

Mac shifts, clutching his hat in his hand, bunching and unbunching it with his big workman’s fingers.

He’s nervous. The thought that Mac is nervous around me is as astonishing now as it was the last time it happened.

“Oh,” I say softly. I’m scared to say much more.

“If you want to stay here, I hope you’ll come and visit. Even Tink…she sat outside your door last night. Glared at me like itwas all my fault you weren’t home. Which, well, she’s not wrong. We miss you, Shelby. So much.”

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