Page 65 of Blindsided
I eye him harshly. “I am attracted to her.”
“And you like her.”
“Of course I like her. She’s my friend.”
“You like her more than Cami.”
I jerk away. “I didn’t like Cami.”
“Cami messed with your head more than you’d care to admit. She messed with your game, and that’s the one thing you want to protect at all costs. So the fact that you’re risking all of that again for Freya means you care about her, man, so just admit it.”
“I care about her as a friend,” I growl back, gripping my tumbler in my hand a bit too hard.
“Total bullshit, man,” Roan says, sitting back in his chair and downing his second whisky in one gulp. “I saw the way you watched her on the plane today. You were worried.”
I scowl and shake my head. “I was worried because she seemed off. She’s fine now.”
“You were worried because you care about her…as more than a friend. And you don’t want to lose her.”
“I won’t lose her,” I snap angrily. “Freya and I are honest with each other. We know what we’re doing. We’ll finish our one month of whatever it is you call our situation and go right back to being Mac and Freya. Just like always.”
And with that, I push up out of my seat and leave my friend in the kitchen to go for a walk and clear my damn head before dinner.
Last night was a lovely evening. The girls all ended up sitting at one table and the guys were at another. I was grateful for the space because my heart needed time to calm down after the wonderful surprise Mac gave me with those horses. Just when I want to pull away from him, he somehow finds a way to reel me back in. He really is a sweet arsehole when he wants to be.
And dinner was such a laugh, as all the ladies gave Allie marriage advice:
Have sex at least three times a week because it keeps the poison out and helps the man’s disposition.
Get drunk together at least once a week because that’s when the best deep conversations happen.
Shower together at least once a week so you can see all body parts in full lighting and keep an eye on each other’s strange moles.
Once you have kids, have a nanny on call so you can leave the house whenever you need to scream.
Train your man into knowing that his lady is always right. Use sexual threats if necessary.
Take the man’s last name because it makes their caveman heart thump with pride, and let’s face it, guys just need a win sometimes.
Never stop giving blow jobs. Your husband looking at you like a hero afterwards is always fantastic.
I have to admit, I could relate to several of those after only being with Mac for a couple of weeks, so I didn’t feel as out of touch as I thought I might.
We called it an early night because apparently the Dundonald Highland Games start at dawn, so the men had a car set to pick them up early. The women were to come around noon when the real festivities began.
When I nipped into the loo to change for bed last night, I came out to find that Mac had pulled both of our mattresses down onto the floor and was laid out waiting for me. Shirtless, tattooed, and so perfectly Mac.
I’m going to miss this when it’s over, I thought to myself as we made love for the second time that day.
No lesson. No talking. Just two people connecting in the dark with the faint sounds of the sea as our background music.
I wake the next day to the sounds of the girls laughing downstairs. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s after ten, and Mac has left already so I tiptoe downstairs in my kitten sleeper to find the ladies all in the formal dining room with mimosas and pastries.
“Morning,” I say, and all seven of the ladies turn their wide smiles to me. “I can’t believe how late I slept.”
“Morning, Freya!” Allie says excitedly and then pats the open seat beside her. “Let me make you a mimosa.”
She grabs the bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket and begins pouring me a flute, then takes the orange juice and adds just a splash on top. She hands the glass over to me with a smile.
