Page 41 of Seizing Mack
Mack tossed the phone on her bed (just to prove to herself she could) and pulled on some comfortable sleepwear. She’d barely finished when the light was blinking again.
Nick:Meet for coffee? My treat.
She smiled. He was persistent. And, if he was asking her for coffee, that meant hewasn’t with Dee. Was it possible that the good detective was one of the few men capable of seeing past the double-D’s and blatant come-ons? The thought shouldn’t have made her as happy as it did.
Mack:What is it with you and coffee?
The reply came back immediately.
Nick:I’m a cop. Do the math.
She laughed.
Mack:If I meet you for coffee, will that ease your guilty conscience?
Nick:Maybe...
They made plans to meet at Ground Zero in thirty minutes. Feeling oddly rejuvenated, Mack pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt. She gave her hair a quick brushing, telling herself not to make a big deal out of it. It was just a friendly cup of coffee, nothing more.
Unlike last time, Nick was already there when she arrived, waiting for her in the parking lot. His eyes lit on her the moment she pulled in, and he was there to open the door for her as soon as she’d turned the car off.
Thus far, she’d seen him in a suit and in workout gear, and he’d looked good in both. But in jeans and a white button down with the sleeves rolled back and some serious shadow gracing his strong jawline, he looked even better. When a light breeze teased locks of dark golden hair onto his forehead, she fought the urge to brush them back.
“Thanks for meeting me,” he said.
“You’re a persistent man.”
“I can be,” he agreed.
“And stubborn, too. I told you, you don’t need to do this.”
He exhaled. “Ever think that maybe I just want to?”
“Why?”
He opened the door to the coffee shop and stood back, allowing her to go in first. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
The words “make what easy?” almost crossed her lips before she stopped them and turned her attention to the menu board. He ordered a large black coffee and a jelly doughnut; she got an herbal tea.
At that hour, the place was only about half full and they were able to find an empty table easily enough. Mack was pleased when he selected a table in the corner where they could both sit with their backs to the wall near the back. She liked to see everyone coming and going and as a cop, he probably did, too.
“So,” she asked once they were settled. “How do you like Covendale? Is it everything you’d hoped for and more?”
