by Susan Stoker
“What a moron.”
Dax just shook his head and smiled. Mack never said what he thought she would.
“I mean seriously. To give you up for her family? It’s not like her family would disown her or anything if she moved…wait…would they?”
“No, they wouldn’t have.”
“Right then, so she made you choose between her and your career. Sorry to say, but you made the right choice, Daxton. I know I’ve been a bitch to some of the men I’ve dated, but I never, not once, made them choose between their job and me. Besides, look where you are today. You’re a Ranger! I don’t know anything about anything, but I’ve heard how the newscasters talk about you guys and I don’t live in a hole, I know about Rangers. You’re amazing! There’s no way I’d choose my brothers over you, I mean, seriously. I love them and all, but why would I give up a hot guy and great sex for the rest of my life for my brothers? No freaking way! And another thing…”
Mackenzie was on a roll and didn’t even seem to notice how Dax’s body had gotten tight upon hearing her words.
“She couldn’t have loved you. Not really. Not a real true-to-the-marrow-of-your-bones love. If you had that kind of love, there’s no way she would’ve made that decision. Yeah, I get it. El Paso and Austin are far apart, but it’s not like they’re in different countries.”
Mackenzie’s voice softened for the first time since her tirade. “If she truly loved you and knew it was what you wanted and what was best for you, she would’ve moved with you in a heartbeat. It sucks to hear that, I’m sure, but I believe it. Shit, even though you aren’t married, I still think you made the right decision. What if you’d married her and tried to make it work and she pulled the same kind of thing later? You’d be stuck in a job knowing you could’ve had better and would regret not taking the Austin job. That would eat at you and you’d be miserable. So yeah, that sucks, but I think you’re better off.”
Mackenzie looked up at Daxton, startled because the car wasn’t moving anymore. They’d pulled into a parking lot and Daxton had cut off the engine. He was staring at her with a weird look on his face.
“Shit, I overstepped, didn’t I? Dammit, I told you I was like this.”
“No, Mack, you didn’t overstep. You’re right. It was probably for the best.”
“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you didn’t love her.”
“I know you didn’t.”
Mackenzie closed her eyes and put her forehead in the palm of her hand. “My family also says I have a tendency to talk too much.”
“You don’t talk too much, Mack. Promise.” Dax leaned over and pulled Mackenzie toward him with one hand behind her neck. He kissed her on the top of the head and leaned back. “Ready for some food?”
“Yes, please. Food sounds good. Anything at this point, other than me going on and on about your love life, sounds good.”
“Come on then. I hope you’ll like this place.” Dax had already thought all the things Mack had said at one time or another, but the fact that’d she’d immediately been able to sum up all the reasons why Kelly and he didn’t end up together was very insightful…especially for them just having met. It boded well for their budding relationship; at least what he hoped was a budding relationship.
Mackenzie looked up and saw they were at a restaurant on the south side of the city she’d never been to before. Mood lightening, embarrassing conversation forgotten, Mack exclaimed, “Oooh, I’ve always wanted to eat here!”
“Good. Today’s your chance.”
Dax exited his side of the car and started to walk around to help Mack out, but she met him before he’d gotten half way around the vehicle.
“I know, I was supposed to wait for you to come open my door, right? I can’t. Sorry, Daxton, but seriously, I don’t get that. I’m just supposed to sit there with my hands in my lap waiting for you? I feel stupid just sitting there like a helpless little woman. I have two hands. I can open the door just fine by myself.”
“It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”
“I know, I know, but I still think it’s weird. I mean, I know you’re a gentleman. Hell, the entire embarrassing episode at my apartment told me that.”
“How about we make a deal?”
“What kind of deal?”
“The kind of deal where if I tell you it’s important to me to come around and assist you out of the car so you don’t fall over or when I want to be a gentleman, you’ll agree. And if I don’t bring it up, you can get out on your own and meet me here, in front of the car, just like you did today.”
Mackenzie thought about it for a second and smiled, liking that Daxton thought there’d be times in the future they’d be driving somewhere together. She liked it a lot. “Okay, deal. If it’s important to you, tell me and I’ll wait. Otherwise I’ll do my own thing.”
“Good, let’s go.” Dax took Mackenzie’s hand and laced their fingers together, liking the feel of her hand in his. He had a good hunch about Mackenzie and dinner. He hoped this was the beginning of a long relationship.
Chapter Six
The car was silent on the way back to Mackenzie’s apartment after dinner. Dax had a great time, Mackenzie was a hoot, and he couldn’t remember when he’d enjoyed a date more. Granted, he hadn’t been on many dates in the recent past, but he still didn’t think any of them had been as fun as this one had been.
The restaurant was one of Dax’s favorites. It was a cross between a bar and grill and a diner. Around ten each night, the owners stopped serving food and the ambiance changed to more of a bar-type atmosphere.
Dax and Mackenzie had eaten, then sat talking until Mack suggested they play darts. The funniest part was that she’d never thrown a dart before in her life. She was awful at it, but she laughed at herself every time she missed the bull’s-eye by a mile.
And Mackenzie was clumsy. She hadn’t been lying. At one point, she’d reached across the table and knocked over his water glass. She’d apologized profusely, but Dax had waved it off. Since the seat on his side of the booth had been wet, it’d given him an excuse to move over to sit next to her, so it had all worked out in his favor anyway.
Then when they were playing darts, she’d dropped one and it barely missed landing on her foot. One throw also went way wide and luckily had bounced off the wall and landed on the floor, instead of about a foot to the left, to the man standing next to the wall drinking a beer. Mackenzie decided she’d had enough darts at that point.
They’d laughed and Mack had giggled as their date continued. She hadn’t been pissed or thrown a hissy fit when a woman, out having drinks with friends, came up to him and gave him her business card and said, “Call me.” Mackenzie had thought it hilarious instead.
It was a refreshing change from the last woman Dax had dated, who’d been pissed when another woman had slipped him her phone number while they were out on a date one night. Even though he hadn’t done anything to encourage the waitress in any way shape or form, his date got upset at him and insisted that he must’ve done something to make her think he was into her. It was the last time Dax had asked her out.
Now Dax was taking Mackenzie back to her apartment. He didn’t want the night to end, but it was late and Mack was yawning in the seat next to him. He pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. Dax waited until Mackenzie turned to look at him.
“Wait there, I’ll come around.” He paused until Mack smiled and nodded at him.
Dax went around the car, opened the passenger door, and held out his hand. Mack put her hand in his and allowed him to help her up and out. Dax held Mack against him as he shuffled them out of the way so he could shut the door. He could feel her heat through the light jacket she wore.
“Thanks for letting me help you. It’s dark. It makes me feel better to have my hands on you as we head for your apartment. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
Mackenzi
e smiled as Daxton led her across the parking lot to her door. She’d had a great night. “I almost ditched you, you know,” she told Daxton out of the blue.
Dax smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I was going to call you and let you know I’d changed my mind, but I didn’t have your number, you had it blocked.”
“Yeah, I don’t like my number out there, especially when I’m following leads on cases.”
“I get that. Anyway, then I thought I’d get out of my apartment and wait for six o’clock to pass, then go back home, but I knew that’d be rude and Laine would’ve kicked my butt. So I decided I’d just tell you when you arrived that I didn’t want to go, but I couldn’t do that either. So I took a chance. I’ve only been on one other blind date in my life, and Laine set us up, so I felt pretty safe. The only other time in my life I took a chance that huge was when I moved here to San Antonio. I was living in Houston and got the job offer here. It’s not like I make a ton of money, but I knew it’d bring me closer to my family, so I did it. It scared the hell out of me at first, to have to move and make new friends and stuff, but in the end, it turned out all right. Then luckily Laine decided she missed me too much and she moved here, too.”
Dax knew he’d never tire of Mack’s rambling way of talking to him. It was cute as hell. She had no idea how much information she gave him with her seemingly unrelated ramblings. He loved it. “So, I take it you’re not sorry you took the chance on me?”
“Uh, no.” Mack said it as if she was saying “duh”. “I was a bit freaked that I didn’t even really know you. I mean, I saw you at the charity event and thought you were hot as hell, but I didn’t know you. I’ve only been on one blind date before, and it was a disaster. And you know, some cops are assholes. I would’ve been so disappointed if you were one of those, but so far, you’ve been cool. I’ve never really liked the whole cowboy-hat thing; I mean a cowboy hat is just funny looking. A lot of men can’t pull it off, but on you? I’ll just say, you can pull it off just fine. And you’re in shape. I’m sure you know that, I mean, you see yourself naked all the time, and I haven’t, but seriously, I can tell you’re muscular as hell and don’t have a beer belly. Why don’t you? I mean, you drink beer, you had one tonight, but you’re not fat at all.”
Dax’s lips twitched as he tried to keep his laughter inside. They’d arrived at Mackenzie’s door. He turned her so her back was to the door and he was towering over her. He caught Mack’s hands in his and brought them up to his chest. He placed her palms flat on his shirt and pressed, indicating she should keep them there. He then framed her face with his hands and tilted her head up.
“You approve of my body, Mack?” He was amused to note that she seemed speechless for the first time tonight. “Because I sure as hell approve of yours.”
At the roll of her eyes, Dax continued.
“You fit me perfectly. You’re a little thing next to me, and all I can think about is caging you in my arms and having my way with you.” He watched Mack swallow.
“Uh…”
“And your curves have been driving me crazy all night. There’s nothing sexier than a woman with curves. When I stood behind you tonight and helped with your form as you tried to throw that damn dart, you have no idea how hard it was for me not to push myself up against you to show you how I felt about your hips, and legs, and tits.”
“Uh, seriously, Daxton…”
“And your mouth. Hell, woman. Watching you talk to me tonight, watching you lick your lips when they were dry…it took all my willpower not to haul you over the table and into my lap and lick your lips myself.”
Dax paused, enjoying the flush that came over Mack’s face and her shifting movements against him, before continuing.
“I’ve had a wonderful time. Not only do I like your delectable little body, I like what’s inside it. I’ve enjoyed talking to you. You’re refreshing, especially compared to my friends and the criminals I talk to day in and day out. Don’t ever change.”
“Uh. Okay.”
“And I want to see you again. I’m going to give you my number so you can call me—not to blow me off, but because you want to talk to me. Because you want to know when I’m taking you out again. Because that’s what you do with the man you’re dating. You good with that?”
“We’re dating?”
“Yeah, we’re dating.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Good. So first things first. I’m going to kiss you. I’m going to taste those lips again. That one taste I got before we left wasn’t enough, and I’m going to make it the best kiss you’ve ever received. After that, I’m going to let you go, because I know if I don’t, I’ll haul you inside and take you in your hallway until I empty myself inside you and can’t stand up anymore. You good with that?”
Mackenzie stared up at the man in front of her in bewilderment. He’d been fairly easygoing all night. He was certainly an alpha man, but he hadn’t really let it show until just now. Mack flexed her hands until her fingernails were digging into the shirt over his rock-hard chest.
“I’m not sure why you see all that in me, but I’d be an idiot to disagree with you. I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t want the same thing. Please, Daxton. Kiss me before I have to tackle you to the ground and have my wicked way with you.”
Dax smiled. “You’ve managed to keep me on my toes all night tonight, Mack. Hold on to me.”
He leaned down, tilting Mack’s head back even more as she tried to keep eye contact. She really was tiny compared to him. Liking the power he had over her, just because of his height, Dax swooped down and took her lips with his, without any preliminaries. He plunged his tongue inside her mouth and loved it when Mack immediately countered his thrust with her own. There was no way she’d ever just lie under him and take whatever he wanted to give her. She’d fight to give it right back.
Dax moved one hand from the side of her head to the small of her back and hefted her up against him until her feet left the ground and they were touching from groin to chest. He felt her wrap both hands around his neck to help hold herself up. She tilted her head to the side to give him greater access as he continued his onslaught on her mouth.
He sucked her tongue into his mouth and bit down gently. Dax could feel Mack shift against him restlessly and one of her legs came up hesitantly beside his hip. She couldn’t hold it there, but tightened her hold on his neck.
Dax thrust his tongue back into Mack’s mouth and took his time learning each and every contour and memorizing the taste and feel of her. Finally, knowing he had to stop, or he wouldn’t be able to stop, Dax drew back and leaned over to put Mack back on her feet. He moved to lick at the corner of her mouth, he nipped at the side of her jaw, then sucked on her earlobe before moving down to her sensitive neck. Dax felt goose bumps rise against her skin as he licked and nibbled at a sensitive spot.
“Uh, Daxton, I’ve never had a one-night stand in my life, I’m just not the kind of girl who can imagine something so intimate with someone I don’t really even know. But I think you should be aware; I’m seriously reconsidering the type of girl I am right now.” Mackenzie’s voice quivered with the intensity of her lust.
Dax smiled against Mackenzie’s skin, running his hands up and down her spine and backside. He finally lifted his head to look down into Mack’s eyes. “We aren’t rushing this, Mack. There’s no need for a one-night stand. This is gonna last a hell of a lot longer than one night anyway. Let go of me and let me give you my number.”
Mackenzie realized she hadn’t let go of him since he’d put her on her feet and she reluctantly forced her fingers to unclench at the back of his shirt, and to lower her arms. She licked her lips, liking how Daxton’s eyes followed her movements.
“Give me your phone, Mack.”
Mackenzie reached into her purse and pulled out her cell. She entered the password and put it into Daxton’s hand. She watched as he clicked buttons as he added his contact information.
“Wow. Okay, but I’m not the kind of woman who needs to call if she runs out of milk or something, Daxton. I can go and get the damn milk myself. You should get that about me.”
“And I’m not the kind of man who expects or wants you to call me if you’ve lost your purse. But I do expect if you truly need me, that you’ll call. I won’t be happy to find out you’ve driven yourself to the emergency room or clinic if you fell and broke something.”
“Really? That’s the example you have to give me?”
Dax liked her spunk. “Yeah. You were the one who told me you were clumsy, remember?”
“Okay, okay, you’re right.”
“Good. So you’ll call.”
“Yeah. I’ll call if I need something. But, Daxton, you should know something.”
“What’s that?” Dax fingered the hair by Mack’s ear that had come loose from her clip and was wisping around her face.
“I’m a text kinda girl. I have the unlimited package. I like texting, sending and receiving. Is that a problem?”
Dax smiled and leaned down and kissed her hard, and way too briefly, before pulling back. “It’s not a problem. I’ll get used to it.”
The smile he got in return was worth his response. Dax knew he’d do what he could to see it again and again. “Okay, I’m really going now. Lock your door and stay safe.”
“You’ll…” She paused, not sure if she’d sound too needy if she asked what she was thinking.
“What, Mack?”
“You’ll call? We’ll go out again?”
“Fuck yeah. I said we were dating, I didn’t lie. We’re going out again.”
When he didn’t say when, Mackenzie mentally shrugged. “Okay.”