Overall, the week had been successful. He’d managed to get the fence done at his mother’s, the eves cleaned out, and one of Jake’s contractors had given him a good quote on new windows.
He’d made it through his first game coaching the Crystal Lake Comets, and though his nephew’s attitude still needed adjustment—there was anger there and a healthy dose of confusion—Mackenzie was content to let him ride it out. Mac could take it, and if the kid needed a punching bag, it might as well be him.
The game had started out a little bumpy until Liam found his groove somewhere between the fourth and fifth inning. They came back from behind by five runs and managed to sneak out a win against the visiting team. Jake and Cain had taken the kids for ice cream afterward, and lo and behold, his nephew had even managed a few smiles.
So, all in all, a good week.
And it was about to get a whole lot better.
Mac pulled into Lily’s driveway and parked beside her BMW. He hadn’t spoken to Lily since Monday, but she’d sent him a text the night before. A text that had pretty much kept him awake most of the night.
Awake and horny as hell.
Pick me up at 5. I’ll be spending the night.
Mac cut the engine and glanced at his watch as he climbed out of the truck and started for the house—4:59, right on time. He was just about to knock when the door flew open and his eyes landed on a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Lily.
Barefoot, with hot pink toenails, the woman slowly smiled up at him. Mac couldn’t tell if she was older or younger because she looked a little ragged around the edges—the heavy, dark eye makeup didn’t help—but it had more to do with her attitude and the look in her eyes.
Skin tanned to a deep, almost unnatural shade of gold, she was dressed in skimpy shorts, boasted a stud and ring in her belly button, and her generous rack nearly spilled out of the bright fuchsia halter top. With long blond hair in disarray, a pouty mouth, and knowing eyes, the woman oozed sex and other, darker things.
He caught the sweet smell of rye whiskey and coupled with the stale scent of cigarettes, he figured the lady had been going hard for a good, long while now. She was bad news.
He didn’t have to take a wild guess to know that this was Lily’s notorious sister, Maddison St. Clare—reality-show sensation and not in the good way.
“Well, aren’t you just delicious,” she purred, leaning against the door frame. She was all kinds of sex kitten and hard edges. He knew the type and he wasn’t interested.
“You must be Maddison.”
“And you must be the man who’s got Lily’s panties all bunched up in knots.”
Mac shrugged, his tone light, but he was immediately on alert. The girl was fishing. “The name’s Mac.”
“I know.” She didn’t skip a beat. “I peeked at her cell when she was in the shower. Saw your text.” She licked her glossy mouth. “So tell me…does Mac have a brother?”
“Nope.” Mac didn’t like the predatory gleam in her eye. In fact, there wasn’t much about the woman that he liked. She was so far from who Lily was, it was hard to believe they belonged in the same gene pool.
She chewed on her bottom lip, eyebrows raised slightly as she studied him for a few more seconds before she must have decided that he wasn’t worth the bother. She moved to the side and motioned him in. “She’s never on time.”
Good to know. He’d have to file that one away.
Mac stepped inside the cottage and moved past Maddison into the kitchen. Music played softly somewhere down the hall, an old Stones song if he was hearing right.
Angie.
Ah, seems as if Lily’s ear was bent to the classics. He liked that.
Fresh flowers were in a glass bowl on the counter, big blue-purple things that reminded him of his mother’s lilacs, but they were round and much larger. Arranged to float on top of the water, they added a classy touch.
He liked that too.
“Maddison, have you seen my purse? I need my tickets—”
Mac’s head whipped up and he damn near choked when Lily came around the corner because she stopped him cold.
She was stunning. There was no other word for it.
Stunning and sexy and mine.
Her deep blue eyes glistened, enhanced by smoky gray liner and silver shadow, giving them a dramatic look. She must have put on a bit of mascara because her lashes went on for miles. Clear gloss made him want to lick her lips, and save for a pair of classic diamond studs in her ears, she wore no other jewelry.
Her hair was secured to the side, a loose golden knot that sat near her right shoulder—a shoulder that was bare. A shoulder that was creamy and soft and so damn mouthwatering, it was hard for Mac to tear his gaze away. He wanted to lick the spot where her neck met her collarbone and then he wanted to work his way up to that delicious indent just under her ear. And then he wanted to…
Mac took a step toward her.
He wanted to take her back to his place and rip the ice-blue dress from her. Inch by inch. With his teeth.
It clung to her curves, a soft sheen of silk that invited the eye to study…the hand to touch, and the mouth to taste. It was a hot, sexy piece of material that was meant to entice, and it had done the job. Holy hell had it done the job because he wanted Lily naked. God, he wanted her naked right now.
“Mackenzie,” she said softly. “I didn’t hear the doorbell.”
“Screw the gala. Let’s head straight to my place.” Nothing like getting right to the point, but it was all he had right now. He’d been waiting to see her again since Monday night, and now that he had her within his grasp, he sure as hell didn’t want to share her with anyone.
Surprise lit her eyes, but only for a moment. It was replaced with something that smoldered—he knew she was very much aware of the affect she had on him.
A soft smile touched her lips. “But then no one would see my dress.”
“Good.”
Her eyes darkened and that delectable tongue darted out to lick lips that he needed to kiss.
He took another step toward her.
“I bought this dress specifically for the gala.”
“No you didn’t.”
He took two more strides until he was close enough to smell that fresh, exotic scent of hers. His eyes pinned her and he knew that she saw his need because he saw the same thing reflected in her eyes. It was some kind of power.
“You’re so sure of yourself,” she said throatily, her voice a sexy whisper.
“You bought the dress for me.”
“And why would I do that?”
“You knew it would drive me crazy.”
She laughed, a soft, sexy sound. “That wouldn’t be very nice of me now, would it?”
“I don’t think you’re a very nice lady.”
She pouted. “I’m hurt, Mackenzie.”
“Don’t be hurt.” His mouth was close to hers now. “I’m good with you not being nice.” He breathed in her scent. “In fact I’m more than good with it.”
Mac brushed his lips across Lily’s mouth and smiled when she shuddered.
So. Goddamn. Hot.
The way she reacted to him.
He rested his forehead against hers and took a moment to collect himself. How the hell were they going to make it through this night? Already his dick was hard and the visuals in his mind weren’t exactly making things easy.
“I’m still here in case either of you cared.” Maddison’s voice came from somewhere behind them, but Mac didn’t give a flying fuck about her sister.
“I see you’ve met Maddison,” Lily said, her hands against his chest, the tips of her fingers pushing into him. He didn’t move at first, and when she applied a bit more pressure, Mac reluctantly let her go.
“She’s staying with me.” Lily’s eyes moved behind him, settling o
n her sister. “For the next little while.”
He could tell there was stuff going on—saw it in Lily’s eyes. Maddison St. Clare was a mess, and it looked as if her sister was on cleanup duty.
“We should go,” Lily said. She grabbed her purse off the counter and pulled out two cream-colored tickets, embossed with heavy gold script. “Can you hold on to these?”
Mac tucked the tickets into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, and then pointed to the overnight bag that was set on the chair. He raised his eyebrows in question, and when she gave him a small nod, he grabbed it.
“So you’re really not coming back?” Maddison asked, her expression sullen.
Lily shook her head and started for the front door. “No. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I doubt I’ll be here,” Maddison shot back.
Lily paused and the look she shot her sister was somewhere north of frosty. “The closest house is nearly three miles away, and I’ve got the keys to the car. So, unless you’re feeling energetic or stupid, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Whatever,” Maddison muttered.
“And no smoking in the house. I mean it, Maddison. If I so much as smell a wisp of cigarette—”
“Who says I’d be smoking cigarettes?”
“—or anything illegal, you are done. And don’t for one second think that I’ll do anything to stop Dad from sending you away for six months if you don’t behave and follow my rules. Not this time.”
She took a deep breath and glanced at Mac. “Let’s go.”
He tossed her bag into the backseat and helped her up into the truck. He supposed her BMW was more in line with his tux and her dress, but Lily didn’t seem to mind.
“Sorry about that,” she said.
Mac shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to family drama.” He nodded out into the night. “So we’re really going to go to this thing?” he asked. “Go to the gala?”
“We’re really going to go to this thing,” she repeated softly. “A lot of people will be disappointed if I don’t show. I can’t do that to them.”
“You mean, Hubber.”
“He’s just a friend, Mackenzie, and I promised him I’d be there.”
He didn’t like it, but he sure as hell respected the fact that she needed to see this thing out to the end. He reversed out of the driveway and headed toward town.
Mac shot a quick glance her way and swallowed hard when he found her eyes on him. They were soft and glittery, as if a fever lit her up from inside. Her mouth was parted and damn if her nipples weren’t visible through the thin material of her dress.
He stifled a groan and tore his gaze away because it would be real inconvenient for them to get into an accident.
“How long?” he asked roughly, maneuvering the truck onto the main highway that led back toward town. The mayor’s gala was being held in one of the banquet rooms at the new sports complex on the outskirts of town.
“Dinner runs until around eight, and before the band hits the stage, there’s a live auction I need to help out with.”
Mackenzie didn’t know if he could wait that long to get her alone.
“How long?” he asked again, fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. He tossed her a dark look.
“Midnight? Maybe?”
No. Fucking. Way.
Mackenzie signaled his turn and shook his head. There were things he was willing to compromise on—letting her cozy up to Hubber was one of them—but damn if he was going to wait until midnight to get her alone.
“Too late.”
“But—”
He shot her a look that stopped her cold. “Try again.”
She licked her lips and cleared her throat. “Eleven? I can’t leave earlier than that. I promised Blair that I’d make sure the silent auction was wrapped up and—”
“Blair Hubber can find someone else to help him out. Ten o’clock and we’re out of there.”
“Ten? But—”
He nailed her with a hot look as they pulled into the large sports complex. “Ten.”
He pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine.
“But what will people think?”
“Do you think I give a shit what anyone thinks?”
Mackenzie tugged off his seat belt and slid across the seat until he was close enough to reach down and press his mouth against hers. God, she was so soft and warm and feminine.
He slid his mouth over hers, his tongue delving inside to tease and taste while his hands cupped her face to hold her steady. He kissed her gently, his mouth coaxing and soft, but when she whimpered and leaned into him, he went deeper. Harder. He branded her with his mouth and tongue, and when he finally let her go, Lily’s face was flushed and her lips were swollen.
Good. Every guy that looked her way would know she was taken.
He pulled away, his eyes eating her up, his thumb rubbing the mouth that he’d just tasted.
“Ten o’clock,” he said again. “Not one minute later.”
Lily closed her eyes, and he knew she was struggling with her need and desire and want, as badly as he was.
She nodded, a quick, jerky movement, and whispered against his finger.
“Let’s make it nine thirty.”
Mac was good with that, and she didn’t have to ask twice.
Chapter 15
By nine o’clock, Lily knew the evening was a bona fide success. Heck, it was going down in history as the single greatest fundraiser the town had ever seen, and it made her feel wonderful to know she’d been such a big part of it all. The money was earmarked for social services that helped out the elderly and would fund programs like Meals on Wheels, taxis for appointments, and anything else that was needed.
The meal had been to die for—succulent steak and lobster, roasted potatoes, fresh grilled vegetables, and a strawberry delight for dessert. The live auction had also been a rousing success, with many businesses and local citizens donating generous items—and some of them had caused rollicking bidding wars.
The fishing trip to Alaska had gone to four women from the neighboring county who’d outbid their spouses in a nitty-gritty battle of dollars and cents. There had been golf weekend getaways, time-shares in Hawaii and Costa Rica, a year’s worth of haircuts from A Cut Above, and the chance to appear with Cain Black in BlackRock’s next music video.
The Vegas-type acts who’d entertained between courses were fabulous and Cain had come through—he’d managed to get a couple of his bandmates to fly in and they were hitting the stage for an acoustical set in a half hour.
She chuckled to herself. Dax, the eccentric British guy who played bass guitar in Cain’s band, was an outrageous flirt who had charmed half of Crystal Lake—the female half—and had managed to piss off most of the men. He was a sexy-as-hell smooth operator with a quick wit, a keen eye for the ladies, and, well, he did have the whole rock-star thing going for him.
Lily was pleased—hell, she was more than pleased—but it was hard to take pleasure in her accomplishment when the sexual buzz burning through her blood was making her crazy. She blew out a long breath, seeking the shadows near the margarita bar at the back of the room. It was cooler there, and she needed to focus.
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Never had she felt so alive, so hot and electric—as if every single cell in her body was on fire. It was an exhilarating feeling.
But it was also scary as hell. This was new territory for her, and she wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.
“Great job,” Raine Edwards said as she sidled up alongside Lily.
Startled, Lily took a few seconds, and when she thought that maybe she could talk without sounding like a bumbling idiot, she opened her eyes and smiled.
“Thanks, though I can’t take all the credit. Blair’s staff did a great job pulling everything tog
ether considering he decided to change things up about five weeks ago.”
Raine’s eyebrows shot up. “Hon, parties aren’t exactly Blair’s strong suit. He might be the mayor, but he’s no different from Jake or Cain or even Mac for that matter. Like the rest of them, he thinks a couple cases of beer and chicken wings will do the job. Trust me, the gala would have been a dud if you hadn’t taken charge and ran with it, especially after last year.”
“Last year?” Lily was almost afraid to ask.
“Blair didn’t tell you?”
Lily shook her head. “No.”
“Last year’s big fundraiser or gala, or whatever the heck you want to call it, was a rodeo-themed event held at the fairgrounds. It was hot and smelly, and there were way too many animals which meant there was a lot of…cleanup if you know what I mean.”
“Oh,” Lily said, trying to hide her disgust.
“I know, right? And then there was the pig thing.”
“The pig thing?”
“Yep. Someone thought it would be a great idea to have a pig riding race. Can you imagine?”
“A pig riding race.” Lily couldn’t help but smile.
Raine shook her head enthusiastically. “Pigs don’t like to be ridden, at least the ones Mr. Fisher brought, so it got real messy, real quick.”
“Wow.” Lily didn’t quite know what to say.
“And when old man Lawrence’s pig crashed into the bingo tables—”
Lily’s mouth dropped open. “Mr. Lawrence rode a pig? Isn’t he pushing ninety?”
“Uh-huh.” Raine drained her wineglass. “And then Mrs. Shelton chased them both all the way to the river. She was pissed because she was just about to call bingo and the pot was something like two grand.”
Raine tucked an errant strand of silky dark hair behind her ear and leaned against the wall beside Lily, giggling so badly that it took a few moments for her to recover. After a while, Raine nudged Lily.
“So you and Mac seem to be getting along really well.”
Just the sound of Mac’s name was enough to get those damn butterflies in Lily’s stomach moving like crazy. And she couldn’t help herself—her gaze found him immediately. He was at the blackjack tables along the other side of the room with Jake and his father, Steven. He’d undone the top buttons of his dress shirt, loosened his tie, and shucked his tux jacket.
The Day He Kissed Her Page 12