"Did you throw a drink in his face? Make a big scene?"
"No. He looked up at me. And I turned around and walked away. I knew there was nothing for him to say." Val shook her head. "I went home and called my girlfriends. We packed his stuff and changed the locks."
"Good for you. You didn't deserve to be treated like that."
"They're married now. They have a real estate agency together. She tools around in that little VW Bug with the slogan "Casey Sells" on it. Have you seen it?"
"She cuts me off in traffic all the time. You should let the air out of the tires."
Val laughed and then shrugged. "So, that pretty much ruined Valentine's Day for me. I used to love it, when I was younger. My name and all. I thought it was a special day just for me. But now..."
"Hey, at least you're not stuck with the lying, cheating scumbag anymore, right?"
"That right. And I've sworn off men so I won't get stuck with any more." Val signed the last form with a flourish and handed the clipboard back to Mac. Their fingers brushed as she handed him the stylus and she looked up into his face, surprised at the intensity in his eyes.
"I bet I could get you to love Valentine's Day again."
At the enticing mental image that conjured, Val’s heartbeat sped up and heat crept up her face. "And give up my reputation as the Grinch of Valentine’s Day? But thanks.”
Twenty minutes after Mac left, Val headed over to meet her best friends, Kennedy, Claire, and Joy, for coffee. Usually their weekly after work meet-up happened over drinks of the alcoholic variety. Since the coffeeshop opened and Kennedy caught sight of Joe, they’d been meeting there. Val was just as glad of Kennedy's crush today. She'd be able to head back over to the store to put in a few more hours work after they met.
She walked to the sofas, near the blazing fire. Joy Baker stood chatting with Patrick near the counter, smiling and laughing in a way she never did with her fiancée. Val settled next to Claire O’Shaughnessy and held her hands out to warm by the fire. Kennedy watched Joe with a slightly glazed look in her eyes.
"Hey, Claire. How's it going?"
"New guy’s a piece of work." Claire answered, just the slightest hint of Ireland in her voice. Though she'd moved to America with her parents when she was younger than five, she'd never lost the lilt. Claire raked her hand through her coal dark hair and shook her head. "He's been here less than a minute and already trying to take over."
Val nodded. At least she didn't have to worry about office politics since she ran her own store. Val was pretty sure that Claire wouldn't have liked "the new guy" at her accounting firm no matter what, since she’d definitely wanted the Junior Partner position herself. When Val turned to face Claire, Kennedy shifted to see Joe better.
"Lord, Kennedy. Why don't you just ask him out?" Claire asked.
"I don't want to date him." Kennedy shook her head. "I'd like to do lots of other things with him."
Claire said. "Well, then, ask him to do other things."
“You two.” Val rolled her eyes.
"You needn't sound so disapproving, Val. Not all of us have taken a vow of celibacy."
"I haven't." Val said. "I just... I never know how you just get naked with someone you've barely met."
Claire and Kennedy exchanged smiles. "That's the fun part. Come on, Val. It's been almost a year since Jonathan. Surely, there's some man out there you find attractive?"
Val shook her head and then flushed as Mac rolled his cart into Cupid's Coffeeshop. She hastily tried to distract her friends by saying, "So Joy and Patrick, huh?" But they were both too quick for her and followed her gaze to Mac, now chatting amiably with Zooey Lockhart, Patrick’s younger sister and Joe’s cousin. She’d inherited the coffeeshop along with them and, at not yet twenty-one, had all the gorgeous gracefulness of youth. Val scowled when Mac grinned at Zooey. No doubt he flirted with all the attractive women on his route.
"Well, well, what was that you were saying the other day about how you're not attracted to him?" Kennedy teased.
"I'm not." Val protested weakly and then shrugged. "He's nice looking, that's all. But..."
"But nothing. You should climb back on the horse that threw ya." Claire said.
"And I bet he'd give you quite a nice ride." Kennedy put in wickedly.
Val flushed harder, heat surging to her cheeks. Thank goodness, Mac and Zooey were well out of earshot. She hoped her reddened face could be attributed to the merry fire.
"You needn't marry him, Val. Just take him out for a bit of a gallop." Claire said.
"Take who out for a gallop?" Joy asked as she joined them, taking the seat next to Kennedy on the opposite sofa.
"Mac Romano." Kennedy answered. “The delivery man. He delivers to all of us in the square. He’s quite nice.”
"He's nice looking." Joy said, sipping her coffee and eyeing Mac. "Nice body too."
"Not as nice looking as Patrick." Kennedy said slyly.
"I thought you liked Joe." Joy crinkled her brow at Kennedy.
"Joe is sex on legs. Patrick's got that broody quality, all introverted and intense." Kennedy said. “Don’t you think, Joy?”
"Like Mr. Darcy." Claire added and Val laughed as Joy’s cheeks pinked. What would she do without her friends?
Joy shrugged, sipping her coffee delicately. "I hadn't noticed."
"Gone blind then?" Claire laughed.
"He's a nice guy.” Joy said, “I like talking to him."
“You talk to him every time we’re in here.”
“I’ve just been making cookies for the shop, that’s all, to save up for my wedding. “ Joy spun her tiny engagement ring on her finger with her thumb. She'd worn it nearly five years now, with no wedding date set.
Val bit her lip as she and Claire exchanged a quick glance. Joy wouldn't hear a word against her useless fiancée, Chris, and Val wasn't up for an argument today. Claire said, "But we were talking of Mac and Val here."
"There is no Mac and Val." Val shook her head as she watched his firm biceps press against the sleeves of his navy shirt as he handed boxes over the counter to Patrick. There was no denying that Mac was good looking, even sexy. She enjoyed chatting with him every day. Unfailingly cheerful, Mac had a good sense of humor and was smart and witty.
Hurt beyond bearing at Jonathan’s cruel betrayal, Val crawled into her shell, losing herself in making the shop a success. She didn't want romance or anyone in her life. After everything came crashing down with Jonathan, she hadn't felt so much as a flicker of attraction to anyone. If she gave in to her blossoming interest in Mac, she would be taking the risk to be hurt again.
Mac turned and caught her staring at him. She flushed and he smiled, a slow, wicked grin, which made her toes curl in her boots, before giving her a casual wave and heading out of the shop. Maybe her friends were right. Maybe she should indulge herself for once. What damage could a harmless flirtation do?
Chapter Four
No singing greeted Mac the next time he arrived at Val's Cards and Gifts for a delivery. He struggled to wheel his dolly through the inch of snow they'd received so far. As he waited for Val to open the door, he brushed the accumulated snow off the top of the boxes. It was coming down hard and fast now. Though it was pretty and even peaceful, traffic snarled in all directions and it would take ages to return to the depot. Thank goodness Val was his last delivery this afternoon.
One of the high school aged employees opened the door for him and waved him inside. Though he didn't know her name, he'd seen the dark haired girl with Val before. In the fall, he'd arrived with a delivery and found Val consoling this slip of a girl over a Homecoming slight. Though she had a mound of paperwork on her desk, Val sat with her arm around the girl, tissue box in hand, listening to a convoluted story about a blue dress and the wrestler who asked someone else. The girl reminded him vividly of his sisters before they'd grown up, married, and had kids of their own. Val was always kind to her young staff, joking and laughing with them like a fun big sister,
as she trained them in what was often their first part-time job.
"Val not in today?" Mac asked the girl, in what he hoped sounded like a casual voice.
"She's here." The girl waved towards Val's desk and Mac turned to see her sitting very stiffly, a brightly patterned shawl draped over her shoulders. "She knocked out her back rearranging inventory back here by herself."
"Hey, big mouth. I'm not an invalid." Val rolled her eyes. "Thanks for getting the door. I've got it from here, Mallory."
The girl headed back out to the front of the store, muttering under her breath.
"Years ago, I twisted my back skiing. It flares up." Val smiled at him, as he stepped over to hand her the clipboard. Mac ignored the way his stomach swooped when she flashed that grin at him. She'd put her auburn hair up in a complicated looking twist today, though the mix of colors--from gold to russet--caught the light as she moved. A long tendril curled against her neck and Mac wanted to press his lips just there, for a quick taste. To distract himself, he rotated his left arm and rubbed his shoulder.
"Old injuries can do that to you. My shoulder still aches in the cold."
"Well, it's awful cold today. Why don't you sit down while I'm checking these in?" She stood slowly, her usually graceful movements stiff, and waved him into her desk chair. "Here try this."
She shrugged off what he'd thought was a shawl. Up close, it looked heavy and lumpy but smelled of lavender and rose petals. She settled the heavy pad over his shoulder, brushing her fingers over his neck as she shifted it, sending awareness sparking over his skin. Instantly, heat soaked into his aching muscles and he sighed in pleasure. "What is it?"
"It's a heated rice pad. My mom gave it to me for Christmas." Val picked up the clipboard. "Though I feel like a geriatric when I use it, it works wonders. I ordered some to sell here."
"It's wonderful. Can you set one aside for me? My shoulder gives me fits this time of year."
"Did you injure it in a game?"
"A game?" Mac shifted back so he could admire Val as she worked. Today, she wore a short red plaid skirt with dark tights topped by a gray sweater. He tried not to admire the way the plaid shifted over her bottom as she bent over boxes.
"When you were a baseball player?"
"How'd you know I was a baseball player?"
"Hmm?" Val checked in boxes against the clipboard in her hand, her whiskey colored eyes intent on the paper in front of her.
"I didn't tell you that.” Mac watched her. He rarely spoke of his all too brief former glory days anymore. That part of his life was behind him.
"I saw your tattoo on your calf. You wear a Yankees cap backwards most of the time. And you're built like a baseball player. All broad shoulders and strong muscles." Mac gaped at her, surprised to discover she'd been watching him so closely. She smiled at him impishly. "Plus, Patrick mentioned that you'd played for the Yankees."
"Patrick from the Coffeeshop?" Mac stamped down on the instant hot surge of jealousy.
"I get stuck chatting with Patrick while Kennedy moons over Joe." Mac calmed down his internal green-eyed monster. Didn't sound like Val had any interest in Patrick. He hoped. Val opened another box, bending slowly to check the contents. Mac carefully stared at her desk calendar instead of her perfect round bottom. She'd drawn black "X"s over all the hearts surrounding Snoopy.
Then, he paused as another thought struck him. "When?"
"When what?" Val's voice was muffled as she counted a shipment of plush white bunnies.
"When did you see my tattoo?"
"Oh... whenever you were wearing shorts." Val stood up, a tuft of white fur plush stuck in her bangs. Mac grinned at her but didn't point it out. She looked cute. Adorable actually.
"Over the summer?" Mac blinked and then smiled. "You were checking me out over the summer?"
"I bet every woman on your route checks you out in those adorable little shorts." Over her shoulder she shot him a blinding smile. Was she flirting with him or was he just imagining it because he wanted it so badly? "So did you injure your shoulder in a game?"
"No, a stupid car accident. Driving too fast in my shiny new sports car on wet roads. Met up with a tree."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. I don't remember the crash too well. I just remember waking up in the hospital and the doctors telling me about all the pins holding my shoulder together. Ended my career in the majors right quick."
"Is that how you became a driver?"
"Pretty much. I went home to recuperate but my mom and my sisters drove me crazy with their fussing. Once I could get out of the house, I wanted a job."
"Where's home?"
"Brooklyn. And I gained about twenty pounds since they cooked so much for me. Mom learned all these wonderful Italian recipes from her grandma and made them all for me. I've got four older sisters and they made all grandma’s recipes for me too. So you can see the problem."
She slowly skimmed her gazed down his body and then met his eyes again. "Doesn't seem to have done you any lasting harm."
Heat surged to his cheeks at her open appraisal. Maybe he wasn’t imagining things.
"So then what happened?"
"I couldn't play anymore. My buddy, Pete, worked as a delivery guy, got me an interview, here I am." Mac tapped his fingers on her desk, chewing on his lower lip. "They want me to go into management."
Val glanced up at him before signing the clipboard with a flourish. "You don't want to?"
"I'm not sure I want to give up my truck. I'd miss seeing... people."
"I'd miss seeing you too." Val smiled at him, walking over to set the clipboard on the desk. This close, he caught the sweet scent of apples, making his heart race. "So, are you all set for Valentine's Day? You don't want to be stuck giving your girlfriend a giant card or cheap teddy bear that screams last minute gift."
"I don't have a girlfriend." Mac said, standing up and catching the heavy rice wrap in his hands. He laid it gently on her desk. She didn't move back, their bodies were only inches apart, her warmth sending awareness spiraling through him. She titled her head up, her sunlight through whiskey eyes watchful.
"I find that hard to believe."
"What?" Mac asked, dizzy with being so close to her.
"That someone as flat out gorgeous as you doesn't have a girlfriend." Val leaned closer, her eyes sultry and her perfect pink bow of a mouth glossy and tempting. Mac tilted toward her, intent on capturing that enticing mouth when the door to the front banged against the storeroom wall and Mallory called, "Val! I need help finding a Willow Tree figurine."
Val jumped back and winced, clutching her lower back. She ran a hand through her hair, her eyes never leaving Mac's, the knowledge of their near kiss flowing between them. She bit her lip, her gaze dropping to Mac's mouth before disappearing around the rows of shelving to help Mallory. Mac scooped up his clipboard and his dolly and headed out to the truck, his breathing still ragged, and the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind.
Chapter Five
On Valentine's Eve, Val's Cards and Gifts enjoyed a steady flow of business, rising to a near crush around lunchtime. When the back doorbell rang, Val rushed to the back to find Mac standing there, as snow fell softly onto his dark curls. When he saw her, his lips curved into a crooked smile that made Val hot all over. She hadn't seen him since their near kiss just a few days before, which she’d thought about more than once. If only Mallory hadn’t interrupted…
Maybe Claire and Kennedy were right. Maybe she should indulge herself. With a quick smile, she stepped back to let him into the stockroom.
"Looks like you're swamped out front." Mac maneuvered the box-laden dolly into position and shifted his load of boxes easily. Val looked away from the enticing view of him bending over.
"We'll be even busier tomorrow." She swallowed hard and brushed her shaking fingers over her skirt. For so long after Jonathan, she'd felt empty and cold inside. Now, Mac's smile awakened things in her that she hadn't considered for a very long time. Should
she pursue it? She turned toward the boxes to give herself a second to think.
Val counted the boxes quickly, as Mac shuffled from foot to foot. She re-counted a set of "World's Best Dad" tchotchkes to avoid looking at him, wondering what he thought of their near kiss last week. And if he’d replayed it every ten seconds since then, like she had.
When she could delay no longer, she handed him the clipboard, their fingers brushing. That simple touch reverberated through her. She looked up into his velvety brown eyes and drew breath to ask him to get a cup of coffee with her sometime. He pulled a crumpled red envelope from his breast pocket and held it out, pink staining his cheekbones.
"What's this?" Val took the envelope, still warm from his body heat.
"I probably won't see you tomorrow, since Valentine's falls on the weekend so..." He clutched the clipboard like a lifeline, his cheeks nearly matching the crimson envelope.
"You got me a Valentine?"
Mac nodded and, before she could think better of it, Val flung her arms around his neck, hugging him close. He settled his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against his hard, muscled body, warm even though the thick jacket he wore. Val tilted back to look at him, his eyes dark with desire and his cheeks flushed. Their eyes met as she leaned close, brushing her mouth over his, just for a quick, sinful taste.
Mac groaned, his hands fisting at her waist as he pulled her impossibly closer to his hard warmth. He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth, claiming her. She slid her hands over his broad shoulders, up into his silky dark curls, pulling him closer, kissing him back. Pent-up passion swept through her as she arched against him. They fit together, right and real and true.
She pressed his back into the wall next to the boxes he'd just brought. Were first kisses supposed to contain this burning intensity, this incredible need, this wildfire? Mac kissed her like he was just as starved for a taste of her as she was for him. She rocked against him, gratified to feel his hardness pressing against her belly, licking into his delicious mouth, tasting of mint and cinnamon.
Cupid's Coffeeshop Set One: Boxed Set: Books 1-4 Page 8