Wildest Dream (Teach Me Book 1)

by RC Boldt

  “Good morning, Lawson,” Raine gave a little laugh at his attempt at a nod. She turned to the rest of them.

  “Thanks so much for coming down for this. Seriously. Thank you.” Crap. She was starting to get choked up.

  “The shirts definitely need a redesign for next year, though,” Mac told them with a wince.

  “Hush your mouth,” Tate scolded him. “These are stellar examples of the new business Laney and I are thinking of starting,” she teased.

  Foster swung his arm around to give Raine a hug. “You’re going to rock this race, girl.” He paused and looked around. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and scope out the best spot at the finish line so I can get some good photos of you guys.” He gestured to the camera bag on his other shoulder.

  Raine sighed with relief. “Oh, thank God. I was just telling Mac about that.”

  “Got it covered,” Foster winked at her and began walking toward the designated area for spectators near the race finish line.

  One by one, their friends wished them luck, giving Raine a hug and Mac a slap on the back, until Zach was the only one who remained. He startled her by wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug that lasted longer than she expected, the uncharacteristically warm embrace causing her throat to get tight.

  Releasing her from the hug but maintaining his hold on her shoulders, he finally spoke. “Run like a Kenyan, Raine. Run for you and your mom.”

  He pressed a kiss to her cheek before walking off to join the others. She couldn’t do anything but stare after him, her heart in her throat. It was confirmed: she had the most amazing group of friends.

  “Hey,” Mac’s gentle voice nudged her from her thoughts. “Ready to head over to the start line and get to stretching?”

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to shake off the somber mood. “Absolutely.”

  As they started walking over, his hand found hers, giving it a squeeze as if to say, “You’ve got this.” Raine figured it was a brief gesture and when she went to release his hand once they made it to the start line, she was surprised when he grasped her hand tighter and pulled her close to him.

  “A kiss for luck?” He lowered his head. “Please?”

  Raine didn’t answer, but merely pulled his head down to hers, finding herself pouring more emotion into the kiss than even she had expected.

  When they parted, he let out a stunned breath. “Wow. Remind me to sign us up for more of these races if that’s what we’re going to do at the beginning.”

  She laughed and they quieted down as the designated pastor got on the loudspeaker to say a prayer over all the runners before the race began.

  “WE’RE ALMOST THERE, Raine!” Raine swore Mac was barely breathing heavy as they neared the finish line marking their thirteen point one miles completed. Damn former SEAL. She was pretty certain she looked like complete ass, all sweaty with her tank top plastered to her. So much for it wicking the sweat away from her.

  Freaking false advertising.

  “COME ON, RAINE! COME ON MAC!” She heard the screams coming from the sidelines and recognized the voices of their friends cheering for them. She focused on the finish line with the large timer braced high above the timing strip on the pavement, watching it get closer.

  Suddenly, as she and Mac were about to cross it, his hand grasped hers and with a burst of extra speed, they both ran across the finish line together.

  As they went through the lane and got themselves out of the way for other runners coming through, she and Mac grabbed the water bottles being held out to them, letting the volunteers place the medals around their necks. The elation at finishing the race, at what it represented to her, made her nearly overlook the fact that Mac had apparently added a sticker to his own back at some point. It was when she was following him to go and meet their friends that she noticed it.

  Her heart lurched in her chest, nearly causing her to stumble as she read what he had written.

  It said “I’m running for Raine” with a heart beside it.

  MAC COULDN’T BELIEVE that they were already upon Spring Break. He was packing up some items in his classroom and gathering his planner to place it in his messenger bag he used when he didn’t take his Triumph to work. He had been picking up Raine for work the past few months since it made more sense as they lived so close to one another and normally left at the same time.

  He had been looking forward to the break not because he needed a breather from the students and parents -well, more from the parents than anything- but because he had finally decided to talk to Raine about making things . . . official. It was mid-April and they had been doing this secret fling crap since January. He was over it. He wanted to be able to be affectionate in public when they were out with their friends or just anytime, really. He didn’t want to hide it like it were something he was ashamed of.

  He was going to take the plunge.

  Callum Mackenzie was actually going to be in a relationship.

  First, he just had to get up the nerve to talk with Raine.

  MAC SEEMED UNUSUALLY quiet as he drove them home from school. She had filled the silence with her normal babbling about how nice it would be to not have to worry about prepping for testing, dealing with parents who instilled the entitlement viewpoint in their kids, and the bureaucracy of teaching.

  Thankfully, Mr. Pratt had kept his promise and told her that they had the funding to keep the Science Lab for the three grade levels but, of course, next year was already in question.

  Just when they were passing through Yulee on their way to Fernandina Beach, her phone rang. When she looked down at it, she hurried to answer it excitedly.

  “Adam! How the heck are you?”

  She and Adam had been friends forever, it seemed. They had met in high school and dated for a while, eventually ending their relationship but continuing their friendship over the years. Adam had been her first love, first real kiss, first, well . . . everything.

  Their communication and visiting had been spotty over the last few years since he had been in medical school and was now doing his residency, moving all over for different rotations.

  “I’m good, sweetie. I have a little surprise for you, though, that I’m hoping would be okay,” he sounded a little unsure.

  “A surprise?” she asked excitedly.

  “They had a snafu with my residency assignment and I was supposed to be up in Montgomery. Well, when I got there, it had already been filled. So, after a lot of paper shuffling and phone calls, I managed to get assigned to Seaside Hospital in Jacksonville. Starting next week.”

  “What?! Are you serious?”

  Mac’s head turned to glance at her, probably wondering if she was going to go completely spastic in her excited squealing. She realized that Mac had already turned onto South Fletcher Avenue and was nearing her house.

  “Totally serious,” she could hear Adam laugh at her. “Would you be okay with me staying at your place?”

  “Of course! Where are you, now?” she asked.

  “Um, well, I’m actually-”

  Raine dropped the phone in her eagerness to get out of Mac’s truck as it pulled to a stop in her driveway. Right behind Adam’s car.

  Squealing happily, Raine ran up to her friend and jumped up into his arms, giving him a tight hug.

  “Whoa,” Adam’s voice sounded strained in her ear. “Who’s the handsome guy getting out of the truck looking like he’s about to cut me up into itty, bitty pieces and feed me to the sharks?”

  Oh, shit.

  MAC HAD FORCED himself to calm down when he’d heard the masculine voice on the other end of Raine’s call. He’d had to tell himself that it was cool, nothing to be worried about when she had sounded so thrilled at hearing from the guy.

  But when she nearly threw herself out of his truck barely before he put it into park and ran to jump into the guy’s arms? Yeah, that pretty much sent him over the edge.

  Trying to compose himself, slowly getting out of the truck, he t
ook his time walking up to where they stood.

  The guy looked like he shopped at one of those preppy clothing stores, his khaki shorts had holes in them that clearly weren’t there from doing hard labor. His polo shirt had a pony on it and his blonde hair—wait, were those highlights?—was styled to make it look like he had just rolled out of bed. Mac, however, would bet hard money the dude had used a buttload of gel on it.

  The guy was tall -not as tall as Mac, so probably just under six feet- and had a thin, lanky look to him. The worst fucking part? The guy’s collar was popped. A popped fucking collar. Was this guy for real? As he neared Raine and this . . . friend of hers, he heard her call out to him.

  “Mac! I want you to meet Adam.” Raine had her arm wrapped around Adam’s, looking up at him affectionately before returning her gaze to Mac.

  “Mac, this is Adam. We’ve been friends for . . .” she trailed off, looking to Adam for assistance.

  “For about fourteen years, now,” Adam answered for her, smiling down at her before turning to regard Mac.

  He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mac.”

  Mac gripped his hand with every intent of doing that guy thing of squeezing it. Hard. But he was completely caught off guard by the softness of Adam’s hand in his. Like really soft.

  Uh, that was just weird.

  “Nice to meet you, Adam,” he replied, slowly, his mind attempting to process the oddness happening.

  “I apologize for dropping in unexpectedly, but my residency got a bit screwed up and I got placed here, instead.” Adam turned to Raine. “It worked out well, since I haven’t seen this gorgeous girl in forever with the way my crazy schedule has been.”

  “I’m so excited! Laney and Tate will want to see you, too,” Raine told him, beaming with excitement. “When does your rotation start? Please say Monday?”

  Adam grinned down at her. “Monday.”

  Raine pumped her fists in the air. “Yessssss!” And then she did her goofy, yet adorable little happy dance in the driveway.

  Adam’s amused expression met Mac’s. “Clearly, our girl needs some work on her dancing skills.”

  Mac forced out a small laugh.

  Because while Raine’s happy dance did leave a lot to be desired, he sure as hell didn’t like the way Adam had said “our girl.”

  Not one bit.

  “SO THAT’S THE infamous Mac, huh?” Adam wiggled his brows suggestively as they sat out on the back porch catching up. “The few times I managed to make it on Facebook to see Laney’s pictures, I’ve seen him all but glued to your side.”

  “Stop,” she gave him a warning look. “We’re just having fun, that’s all.” She shrugged.

  Adam shot her a knowing look. “Trust me, Raine. You don’t get all possessive and give off “I’m highly considering murdering you” vibes to another guy when you don’t have serious feelings for someone.”

  She scoffed. “He was not giving off those vibes, Adam.”

  He raised a brow at her. “Trust me, Raine. He was most definitely giving off those vibes. I’m pretty sure he killed me a dozen times in his mind even before you introduced us.”

  Raine looked away and took a sip of the wine they had poured for their reunion celebration. “Whatever. We’re just having a little fling. Albeit a monogamous one. But it’s still temporary.” She nodded as if to punctuate the thought.

  Adam’s gaze narrowed on her. “So you’re good with that arrangement? Even though you love him?”

  She should have known he would cut right through it and see what she had tried to keep hidden from everyone. Even from herself.

  Raine was silent a moment before speaking slowly, trying to choose her words carefully. “If this is the only way I can have him . . . for a brief time . . . then I have to be good with it.” She looked down at her wine glass contemplatively.

  “Raine,” Adam spoke gently. “What if his feelings have changed? What if he wants more but he’s afraid to ask?”

  She laughed humorlessly and shook her head. “You don’t know Mac. That’s not him.”

  Exhaling loudly, Adam reached for her hand. “Raine, I may not be a bonafide guy by most people’s standards, but I recognize the look of wanting more. I recognize the possessive gestures and posturing.”

  He paused, waiting for her eyes to meet his. “And he has the look.”

  Raine felt her throat get tight with emotion. “But what if you’re wrong? I’ll look like a fool.”

  “Sweetie, I would bet money that if you tell him how you feel, he’d welcome it with open arms.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze. “I once read that one of the greatest risks one can take is to be seen as you truly are.”

  Raine looked over at him before asking gently, “And how’s that working out for you so far?”

  Adam let out a long, wistful sigh. “Point taken, Raine.”

  Staring out at the waves crashing on the shore, he repeated quietly, “Point taken.”

  EARLY THE NEXT morning, Mac made his way over to Raine’s for their usual morning run and knocked on the back door. She answered it looking frazzled.

  “Sorry, but I’m running a bit behind. I have to fill up my water real quick and put my shoes on and I’ll be ready to roll,” she told him in rush.

  “No worries,” he told her. “Did you guys have a good night?” he asked, looking toward the empty wine bottle sitting on the kitchen counter.

  She laughed. “I may be dragging today because of it, but it was worth it.”

  With a wistful smile, she added, “We haven’t been able to catch up like that in forever, so it was beyond nice.”

  Just as Mac was about to respond, Adam came sauntering out toward the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of low slung pajama pants, hair mussed from sleep, yawning as he scratched his chest.

  “Morning,” he greeted them before another yawn took over. He began prepping the coffee maker and then leaned against it, stretching tiredly.

  “You guys going running, huh?”

  “Yeah and I’m probably going to pass out halfway through, thanks to you,” Raine complained.

  Adam looked amused. “Good morning to you, too, Sunshine.” Then he turned and opened the refrigerator, getting creamer for his coffee.

  “Have fun, you two,” he called over his shoulder.

  Raine groaned as she finished lacing up her shoes and she and Mac left the house.

  Once Mac had pulled the door closed behind him, he asked her quietly, “Where did Adam sleep last night?”

  She looked over at him curiously from where she was stretching, braced against the porch railing. “In my room. Why?”

  “In your bed?”

  Raine looked puzzled. “It’s the only room with a bed in it, so the answer would be yes.”

  Mac moved over to her, backing her up against the railing. “You mean to tell me you had another man in your bed last night?” His voice was dangerously low.

  “Seriously? Could you be more melodramatic right now? He’s one of my oldest friends. Not just some guy I’m hooking up with.” Her expression was one of irritation.

  As if taking note of something in his expression, she softened her tone, adding, “It isn’t like that between us, Mac.”

  “Yeah? So what’s it like, then?” His eyes held hers as if they, too, were demanding answers.

  Raine’s eyes focused on his lips, then moistened her own before raising her gaze back to his. “It’s not like us,” her voice was gentle.

  Us.

  That one, simple word made his heart nearly beat out of his chest.

  RAINE AND ADAM were fighting for the mirror in her small bathroom as they were getting ready to head out and meet everyone for karaoke.

  “Seriously, Adam. Must you use a cup of gel in your hair?” she teased him, watching him meticulously style his hair.

  “Hush, woman. Such blasphemy.” The corners of his lips turned up. “Besides, who knows who I might meet tonight?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows a
t her suggestively. “Speaking of getting lucky, are you coming home tonight?”

  Her brow furrowed, she looked at him confused. “Why wouldn’t I come home tonight?

  Adam’s head tilted to the side and he looked at her as if she were slow. “Um, maybe because you have a delicious morsel of manliness who’s probably going out of his mind right now?”

  Raine shook her head with a laugh. “Did you really just call Mac a morsel of manliness?”

  “Don’t you mean Callum?” Adam asked with an exaggerated wink.

  She looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I knew I’d regret telling you that last night.”

  He gave her an evil grin. “Maybe you should be extra kind to me tonight.” Adam wiggled his brows suggestively.

  “Otherwise,” he sang the word, “I might slip up and say something like, Oh Callummmmm.” He mimicked a high pitched voice.

  She looked at him straight-faced. “I’ve killed people for less than that.”

  His laughter mocked her as she turned and left the room.

  MAC TOOK BETSY for a ride through the streets of Fernandina Beach that Saturday evening on his way to meet everyone at Shenanigans for karaoke. He wasn’t looking forward to sharing Raine with Adam. The mere thought of it made his hands clench the handle bars tighter as he maneuvered the motorcycle through the historic downtown area and into a parking spot.

  He walked into the bar and found everyone at their usual table in the back. Everyone except for Raine and Adam.

  Sliding into a chair next to Foster, he greeted his friends. “Where’s Raine and Adam?”

  “Not here yet,” Tate answered, looking through one of the song books.

  “Probably still doing his hair,” Foster snorted. “Dude always has the most perfect hair.”

  Mac agreed, shaking his head. “It’s just not normal.”

  He leaned closer to Foster. “But neither is letting the dude sleep in her bed.”