“I’ll drive you.”
“Okay.” I shrug and lean my head on his shoulder.
“That was easy,” he says with a chuckle.
“I’m not going to turn down a ride home when I’m this tired,” I reply, and don’t bother to stifle a yawn. “That would be dumb.”
“All right, then.” He stands and easily pulls me to my feet. “Before you fall asleep on me, let’s go.”
“You know, I don’t know what it is about you that makes me so sleepy.”
“I’m boring?” he asks with a laugh.
“No, you’re definitely not boring. I’m just usually not this tired. I survive on three hours of sleep a night.”
“No one can survive on that,” he says as he leads me to his car and opens the passenger door for me. I lower myself into the seat and sink into the plush leather.
“I survive on it,” I reply when he settles behind the wheel. “I always have.”
“Well, you slept well in California,” he says with a smile.
“That’s my point.” I shrug and watch the streetlights as Mac drives.
“What’s your address?” he asks. I answer and Mac whips his gaze to mine. “No way.”
“Way.”
He shakes his head.
“What?” I demand.
“That’s my address as well.”
I turn to face him, frowning.
“You don’t live in my building.”
“It seems I do,” he replies. Rather than pull up to the curb to let me out, he parks in the parking garage, exits the car, and opens my door. “Welcome home.”
“Seriously, you don’t live in my building.”
“Kat. It’s three in the morning. Trust me when I say that I’m not inclined to lie about where I live at any time of day, but especially right now.”
I scowl as he stalks away from me, toward the elevator, punches the up button, and waits for me.
“But I know everyone in this building,” I reply, stumped. And then it hits me. “Unless you’re the new guy in the penthouse.”
He simply smiles and gestures for me to precede him into the open elevator.
We had a lot of fun in the elevator in California.
I bite my lip and stare at Mac’s hands. Damn, he’s good with his hands.
“Earth to Kat.”
“Yeah?” I glance up to find Mac grinning at me and I can’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
“Where did you go?”
“I’m here,” I reply immediately.
“What floor are you on?”
“Fifteen.”
“Just one floor below me,” he says, and punches the button for my floor. “Convenient.”
“Maybe,” I reply with a sigh, and shake my head when he raises an eyebrow, asking me to repeat myself. “So you just moved in.”
“Just a few weeks ago,” he confirms with a nod.
“What do you think so far?”
“I love it here,” he replies simply. “I’ve lived in Portland for most of my life. I’ve been wanting to move closer to the office for a while, and this place opened up.”
“She died,” I reply, and walk out ahead of him when we reach my floor.
“Who?”
“The woman who used to live in your condo.” I unlock my condo and turn back to Mac, not intending to ask him inside. “Do you want to come in?”
What the fuck, Kat?
I blame the lack of sleep.
His lips twitch. “You don’t have a poker face.”
“I don’t think I’m playing a game with you.”
He laughs now, his whole face lighting up in a smile, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from licking him.
Because seriously, does he have to be this hot? It’s ridiculous.
“To answer your question,” he says, lightly touching my cheek with his fingertips, “no. I can’t come in tonight.”
“Okay. See ya.” I turn to walk into my place, but he catches my arm and pulls me back to him.
“If I come in tonight, I won’t leave until tomorrow, and I promised myself that I’d take it slower with you.”
“Mac,” I reply with a sigh, “it’s fine. You don’t have to come in. I’m tired, and you’re tired, and it’s all fine. Honest.”
He searches my face for a moment, looking for what I’m not sure, then nods. But before I can turn away again, he pins me against my door and kisses me with the heat of a thousand suns. It’s not hard. It’s not long. But oh, sweet God in heaven, it’s hot.
And then he’s backing away.
“Sleep well, Kat.”
I just nod and walk into my condo, shutting the door behind me.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, and immediately step out of my heels, leaving them by the door. “What a day.”
I shake my head and immediately start stripping out of my work clothes, leaving a path of fashion behind me on the way to my bedroom.
I’ve been in Mac’s loft because I used to help the lady who lived there with her e-mail. I think she was secretly fine with electronics; she was just lonely. That loft is much more open than mine. I opted to have my bedroom closed in, with a nice big closet and en suite bathroom. But his living and kitchen areas are similar to mine; wide-open space with the urban look of an old warehouse. I love this place. I bought it when the building was going up a few years ago. It’s the best thing I ever did.
“And now the hottest man I’ve ever met is on top of me.”
I stop and cover my hands over my mouth, trying to hold in my giggle.
“That’s what she said.” I smirk, not concerned in the least that I’m talking to myself. “Having a conversation with yourself is perfectly healthy. Besides, I’m the only one here. Who else would I speak to?”
I pull on some yoga pants and a tank top, sans bra, pull all the pins out of my hair and brush it, then pull it into a ponytail so I can scrub my face.
“The fact that Mac lives in my building could be an issue,” I say to my reflection in the mirror as I wash my hands and get ready to wash my face. “I mean, what if whatever it is we’re doing doesn’t work out? What if it ends badly and we can’t stand the sight of each other? I’ll have to move!” I scrub the makeup off my face. “I don’t want to move. I love my place, and I finally have a good amount of equity in it. It just doesn’t make financial sense to sell right now.”
I rinse my face, then pat it dry with a towel.
“But why should I have to be the one to move?” I ask my reflection as I lather on my night cream. “I mean, I was here first. If he’s uncomfortable, he should be the one to leave.”
I nod once and then stop, staring at myself. “Geez, this whole patient and counselor thing probably isn’t great when it’s for yourself.”
I sigh and shake my head. “You should just call one of the girls. Maybe you just need to talk.”
I nod again and walk out of the bathroom to my kitchen.
“Addie used to always be up this late, but she’s probably in bed by now, since she’s a hundred months pregnant and all.” I reach for the wine in the fridge. “Maybe I should pour two glasses: one for me and one for me.” I laugh at myself, pouring just one glass.
“Cami and Landon are probably in bed, so she’s out.” I walk across the room and sit in my favorite chair. It looks out my floor-to-ceiling windows, so I can sit and stare at my view. “Riley’s not a night person, so she’s asleep. I can only hope that Mia’s in bed too, because if anyone needs a good night’s sleep, it’s her.”
I take a long sip of wine.
“If the roles were reversed, what would I tell one of them?” I wonder. “I would tell me to stop overthinking it all. I overthink everything, and frankly, it’s a pain in the ass. It’s probably why I can’t sleep most of the time, because I never let myself stop thinking.
“But now that I’m not with Mac, I’m wide-awake again.” I set my glass aside and reach for my e-reader. “Hello, friend.”
I wrinkle my nose.
“That’s a little pathetic. Well, maybe not pathetic, but weird. Your e-reader is one of your best friends.”
I pet the leather cover and smile. “But I have lots of friends in this thing. Reading is what I do when I can’t sleep.”
I open it up, turn it on, and open my reading app. “And I definitely can’t sleep now, so I’ll read.”
The book I’m currently reading is about a man who owns a ship-building company in New Orleans. He falls in love with a psychic woman, and, man, is she funny. Romance novels are my favorite, but I’ll read anything I can get my hands on. Even cookbooks and biographies.
But no horror. I can’t read those. Too scary.
Only planning to read for a little while, I get swept up in broken waterlines and sexy banter, and the next thing I know, I look up and the sky is a light gray. The sun is going to be up in less than an hour.
And I haven’t been to bed yet. Which is normal for me, but if I’m going to survive Saturday night at work, I’d better get a nap in.
But rather than make the journey to the bedroom, I curl up in the chair and close my eyes, hoping that sleep will take over.
I have the mother of all kinked-up necks in the history of the world. Not only did I sleep, but I slept in the same position on the chair for a whopping five hours.
I’m going to pay for it for the rest of the day.
Damn.
Not to mention, I’m running later than I would like to getting to work. It’s still early afternoon, but it’s also Saturday, which means we’ll be busy tonight.
I consider taking my car to work today, and then shake my head. It’s a short walk, and by the time I find parking near the restaurant, I’ll have been better off walking anyway.
But just as I step off the elevator into the foyer of the building, I almost run smack-dab into Mac.
“Whoa,” he says, gripping my shoulders and steadying me.
“Sorry.” I look up and feel my mouth go dry. He’s been running, or biking or something, because he’s dripping in sweat.
And holy hell, the pheromones coming off of him are ridiculous.
“Kat?”
“Hmm?” Did he say something? I’m too busy staring at his naked chest.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.” I blink and shake my head, making myself come out of this embarrassing fog. “I’m fine. I’m just a little late.”
“It’s not even two,” he replies, checking his phone for the time.
“I like to get there early. We’ll be busy.”
“What’s wrong with your neck?”
I look up in surprise. “My neck?”
“Yes.”
“Slept wrong,” I reply, and rub the sore muscle on the right side of my neck. But suddenly he brushes my hand out of the way and begins to massage my neck, right here, in the lobby, for all of the world to see. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind,” he says, and I almost purr in relief.
“It’s a bitch of a knot,” I reply, and lean into his touch. “I tried heat, arnica, you name it. Won’t go away.”
“Ibuprofen?” he asks.
“That too.” I sigh when he stops and turn to offer him a smile. “Thanks.”
But don’t touch me again, because if you do, I’ll drag you back up to my place.
Or his place.
Anyplace, really.
He nods. “You’re welcome. Are we still on for dinner tomorrow?”
“Yes,” I reply with a smile. “Six thirty. Be there.”
“Oh, I’ll be there.”
“Maybe wear a shirt,” I say, not embarrassed in the least.
“You don’t like me without my shirt?”
I take a moment to examine him from head to toe, then shrug my good shoulder. “You’re not bad.”
He cocks a brow. “Not bad?”
I can’t hold my smile back any longer. “I don’t want dinner to burn because all I can do is stare at you.”
“I’m not a fan of burned food,” he says, nodding as if this is a grave problem. “Shirt it is, then.”
“Great.” I give him a big smile. “See you tomorrow.”
He waves and watches me as I leave the building, walking faster than usual. I need to get to work, and I need to get away from him.
He oozes sex.
It’s seriously not fair.
“I like him,” Addie says.
“He’s fine,” I reply, making sure my kegs are all full and ready for this evening. My expertise is in wine, but we serve a lot of beer as well, and I prefer local brews.
“I can’t believe I keep missing him,” Cami says with a frown.
“He was only here twice,” I remind her.
“In one day,” she says, and then smiles. “He likes you.”
“Of course he does.” I smirk and look around to make sure no customers are within earshot. “I give one hell of a blow job.”
“Atta girl,” Addie says, raising her glass of lemonade in salute.
“Not just that,” Cami says, rolling her eyes. “When do you see him again?”
“Tomorrow. I’m making dinner.”
I try to ignore the look that passes between my friends.
“Kat?” Addie says at last.
“That’s me,” I reply.
“Honey, you don’t cook.”
I glare at her. “That doesn’t mean that I can’t cook.”
“Can you?” Cami asks with sincere interest.
“Of course.”
Addie smirks. “Right.”
“I don’t because we have Mia, and no one cooks like Mia.” I set out some fresh Seduction coasters, trying to keep busy. “I will not kill the man.”
“What are you making?” Cami asks.
“I don’t know.” I sigh and hold my head in my hands. “Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer to take me out to dinner. But I panicked and offered to cook for him. And I can cook, but I haven’t in a long time because I’m always here.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Addie says, reaching for a maraschino cherry. I slap her hand out of the way.
“Those are not for you.”
“You can’t come between a pregnant woman and food,” she says, malice glinting in her eyes. “If I want that cherry, I’ll have that cherry.”
“That’s what he said,” Riley says as she joins us. “What’s up? Why can’t Addie have a cherry?”
“She’s had sixteen already,” I reply, sliding the cherries out of Addie’s reach. “It’ll make you sick.”
“They would be better on a sundae,” Addie says. “I’m going to go see what Mia baked this morning.”
She slips off her stool and waddles into the kitchen.
“Is it me, or did she get bigger overnight?” Cami asks, watching the door Addie just went through thoughtfully.
“She gets bigger by the hour,” I reply with a smile. “It’s pretty great.”
“It’s pretty great that it’s not me,” Riley says, then slaps her hand over her mouth and turns to Cami. “I’m so sorry. I would never say something to hurt your feelings.”
Cami shakes her head and pats Riley on the shoulder. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”
Cami lost her and Landon’s baby earlier this year, just before they got married.
“You should hear about Mac anyway,” Cami says.
“Did you do Mac again already?” Riley practically shrieks.
“Careful, I don’t think the customers across the restaurant could hear you,” I say, and roll my eyes. “But no, I didn’t.”
“But she saw him twice yesterday, once today, and she’s making him dinner tomorrow night.”
“You’re cooking?” Riley asks with surprise.
“Why can no one believe that I can cook?” I ask, throwing my hands in the air. “I have an IQ of a hundred and fifty.”
“That means you’re smart.” Cami shrugs.
“I can read a r
ecipe, for God sake.”
“What are you making?” Riley asks.
“I don’t know.”
“Do something simple, like Caesar salads or something,” Cami says.
“Good idea,” Riley adds.
But now my competitive side is screaming and I want to try something more challenging.
“Maybe I’ll grill steaks.”
“You don’t own a grill.”
“Maybe I’ll make chicken Parm.”
“Just order something from Mia.”
I glare at my best friends. “No. I’m going to make it.”
They both look at each other, and then shrug.
“Good luck,” Riley says.
“You’ll be great,” Cami says with a supportive smile. “And if it’s a disaster, you can always order pizza.”
“You’re both so encouraging,” I grumble, but they just laugh.
Maybe pizza doesn’t sound so bad.
Chapter Eight
~Mac~
I’ve seen her three times in the past twenty-four hours. None of them was on purpose.
It’s almost as bad as torture.
We’re having dinner tonight, only six more hours, and I’m going mad with want. I want her, plain and simple. I’m itching to touch her, to explore her little body, rediscovering her.
And running into her in our building throughout the day is painful.
I’ve decided to get out for the afternoon and meet Chase to shoot some hoops.
Maybe I can sweat her out of my system. Not that sweating helped yesterday when I went for an eight-mile run.
Dressed in workout gear, I grab my wallet and keys and head out. Once I get to the lobby, it shouldn’t surprise me to find Kat waiting for the elevator as I get out.
She’s everywhere. And yet, not once before Friday did I ever run into her. Is the universe just trying to torture me?
“Hi,” she says with a smile. “We meet like this a lot.”
“Seems to be that way,” I reply, and have to make myself not reach out and touch her. “You’re a busy woman.”
“I just went to the store so I can cook you dinner.” She grins, and just like that, I’m hard as a rock.
I have to get this under control before I meet up with Chase, or I’ll never live it down.
“Do you need any help?”
“Oh no.” She shakes her head and walks past me into the waiting elevator. “I’ve got this. I’ll see you later.”
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