Page 20 of Hero Hair

“Mom, you can’t stay locked away forever. Dad has moved on. You deserve to be happy. I’m not a little girl anymore. It’s a shame no one is enjoying your sugar loaf.”

People enter, their hot bodies secreting warmth into the air in this small space. I called her to calm my nerves, but somehow it’s made me even more anxious about everything. I slide by sweaty bodies in the hallway, grab my sweater and purse from under the desk, and wave to the desk girl on my way out into the parking lot. As I go I tell my mom all the reasons she’s such a fabulous catch.

“You’re doing the single men a disservice,” I say, finishing my lecture. I’m surprised she’s humored me this long.

Mom ignores my sentiments. “I’ll bring a loaf when I drive down. Can I meet him then?”

Him. Him. My heart thumps out a staccato, thinking of him. His body. His dimples. His dark rimmed lashes. The way his neck works when he swallows, the way his fingers brush my skin and light a fire from the outside in. A him that will never be mine completely.

Will she call my bluff if she meets him? Can she tell it’s just wild, lying chemistry? Macs said he would meet her. “I’ll ask him, okay?” I tell her I have to meet up with Jasmine. “I’ll call you in the morning and let you know how it goes. Love you.”

“Be yourself, honey. The weird, lovable, honest self you hide from,” she whispers. “I love you, too,” she tacks on quickly so I don’t have to respond.

I’m always myself. Unfortunately, this time it doesn’t matter who I am. This isn’t a game I can win.

****

Even though it’s summer, the air is always cool at night. It’s a San Diego kind of thing you can’t explain unless you’ve been here. Macs told me to wear my workout clothing. After my boot camp workout, I showered and put a clean outfit back on. That’s not a rare occurrence, actually. It’s my lifestyle.

I see Macs immediately as I cross the large field of grass leading to the gas lamp lit playground. Only a few of my friends have kids, so I’m not around them or their haunts very often. Did I think it odd this is where he wanted to meet? I’ve been subjected to weirder things in my twenty-eight years of life. He’s doing pull-ups on a set of monkey bars that look too high to be considered safe for children. With him on them, they look like anything except an obstacle for a child. He’s a playground for every grown ass woman on planet Earth.

Macs is shirtless. Sweat is trickling down his chest, rippling over his abs and disappearing into the waistband of his black workout shorts. I tighten my slinky sweater around my shoulders and shiver. With a sigh and my resolve steeled, I approach him. He watches me carefully as I near, his eyes on me as he lifts and lowers himself over and over. It’s automatic for him. The movement of hoisting his body weight is as effortless as walking is to a normal person.

He blinks sweat out of his eyes a few times. When I’m standing in front of him, so close that I could reach out and touch the most obvious bulge hanging in front of my face, I stop. The scent of sweat and bodywash and unadulterated male mingle in the night air.

“Like the view?” Macs asks, his voice labored. Sort of how it probably sounds while he’s fucking.

I have to tear my gaze from his body to focus on his face. My heart races with the promise of lust. Maybe I’m sick—something’s wrong with me for not feeling anything except desire. There are no emotions attached to the present, just the need to have my way with him in any way I see fit.

“I love the view. I feel a little overdressed, though,” I reply.

He bites his tongue in this carnal smile that sends shockwaves to my core. I take a step back.

He drops down from the bar and lands right in front of me with a slight thud. A gust of Macs hits me and I suck in a breath and hold it. I can’t be this near. His face. The sleek, stunning features are prominent under the lights overhead.

“We could fix that,” Macs says, stepping toward me, his eyes roving my body.

His chest is heaving, and his muscles are fucking perfect. Not that I’m an expert in this field, but I’ve seen quite a few fit men in my fitness journey, and Macs Newstead takes the golden trophy in every single way.

Ignoring his sentiment to take my clothes off, I reply, “Your symmetry is flawless.” The compliment comes out of my mouth before I realize what I’ve done. Never compliment a man like Macs. It will go straight to his already enlarged head.

“You think?” He smiles. Dimples pop.

Well, I’ve already destroyed any hope of playing it cool. “I know. You work hard,” I state. “You…your body…it’s insane. In a good way. The best way.” I cock my head to the side to angle for a better few of his shoulders. The desire to trace his every perfect curve emerges, and I have to take another step away from him. He notices.

“Thanks for noticing. You work hard as well.” In a small movement, he steps toward me and slides the sweater off my shoulders. It hits the white sand beneath us. He manages this without touching my skin. “You’re stunning. What does perfection taste like?”

My breath catches. Taste it. Taste me. Right now. I swallow. “What is our date going to consist of? I could make up details for my friends, but we should do some normal date-like things.” My voice isn’t at all confident. It’s embarrassed and reeks of melancholy.

“Maybe take our perfect, symmetrical bodies, put them together, and fuck right here?” He points a finger down.

Yes. Right here. In the sand, under the lights. Your dick deep inside of me. Your beautiful mouth on my skin. Yes.

“I’m joking, Teala,” Macs whispers, his smile still in place. He shakes his head. “Ninja Warrior, of course.” He raises his arm behind him to the sprawling play structure. “For time. Because we’re both badasses like that.”

I quirk a brow. “We’re going to work out? I’ve kind of reached my quota for the day. I’ll watch you, though.” My arms feel like lead and my legs are already sore. I roll my neck. “One of my teachers called out sick today, so I taught a million classes and then went to the gym. It sounds like I’m whining, but I’m really not. That’s not a normal day for me.”

Macs laughs and shows me where he’s set up a picnic on a table in a dark corner of the park. “I thought we could work up an appetite first.”

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