by Vivian Arend
She took off quickly down one of the long hallways.
Geraldine waited until Yvette was out of earshot, then twisted and caught Brooke’s hand. “I like that girl, but I think she’s lonely. She arrived in Heart Falls last week. I think she’s spent more time with us old folks than she has with anyone else.”
The old woman’s gaze shifted to Mack, and she eyed him with a narrowed gaze. He didn’t move, not sure what the old woman was up to.
She sniffed. “Since you’re already spoken for, do you know any other nice men we could introduce her to?”
He stifled a laugh. Grandmother matchmaking services had kicked into high gear. “I make it my business to keep out of women’s dating lives. The organizing of them, that is. I find it healthier.”
Brooke was trying hard to not snicker and completely failing. “Mrs. Wright. I plan to introduce Yvette to my friends, but you should probably let her figure out the whole finding-a-guy part on her own. I mean, if that’s what she’s interested in.”
“Oh, I know she likes boys,” Geraldine offered eagerly. “I told her when she was talking about coming to visit us that it was okay if she brought her special someone, boyfriend or girlfriend. We’re very progressive that way. Or at least I am, and Floyd is most of the time. When he remembers.”
Yvette had reappeared in the hallway and was closing in on what was a very awkward conversation.
“Perhaps we can just let that idea go for now, and you can take a look at the recipe and see if you can translate it for us,” Brooke suggested.
Notebook in hand, and prompting Geraldine firmly a few times to keep her on topic, they ended up with three different cookie recipes, a stew, and something that sounded like fruit porridge.
By this time, Floyd was nodding off.
Mack offered to take him back to his room. “If that’s okay with you,” he checked with Geraldine.
She hemmed hard a few times, obviously tempted by the opportunity to chat more. But she shook her head. “Not that I don’t trust you, but I should go have a rest as well. And Floyd gets upset if I’m not with him when he wakes up.” She glanced at Yvette. “If you could help us back to our room, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’d love to help.” Yvette gestured to Brooke’s notebook. “Let me give you my number so you can text me the information for your shop.”
It took a few minutes to leave the seniors lodge. Mack stopped to speak to the residents who recognized him. Brooke stayed at his side, fingers linked with his, and that strange sensation he’d felt earlier returned.
They were both quiet as they headed down the sidewalk toward their vehicles, caught up in their own heads. Still, he wasn’t ready to let the day end. He tugged her hand to get her attention. “Supper?”
Another unreadable expression crossed her face, but she nodded slowly. “Want to come to my place?”
Which is how they ended up climbing the stairs to her apartment.
There was a note on the table from her father.
Gone to Rough Cut with the guys for a burger and a game of pool. Don’t wait up.
Brooke hauled out the fixings for spaghetti. Mack dug in the fridge until he found what he needed to put together a salad.
They worked together, chatting about their most recent work activities. But when they settled at the table with full plates in front of them, he figured it was time to get the rest of the information he needed.
“Tell me again about your grandparents,” Mack invited. She looked up, confusion in her eyes, and he pushed forward. “You’ve told me parts before, and you’ve been talking about your holiday memories, but it’s been in bits and pieces. Put the whole story together so I have it all in my head as we do this thing.”
She chuckled. “You’re making me do a mission briefing, aren’t you?” But she nodded slowly, eyes going dreamy as she began. “My birth mother wasn’t thrilled at being a parent. She left when I was about two, and Dad ended up raising me by himself. Grandpa was a mechanic as well, and Gram was working in an accounting office. Dad moved home to reduce expenses and to get some extra help, but he didn’t just drop me on them. He did the hard work, and they were there as backup. Except they loved having both of us around—I remember that pretty clearly. But they were grandma and grandpa. For the real decisions about what went on in my life, Dad called the shots.”
“Makes sense that all three of them have big places in your memories.”
Brooke nodded. “Gram and Grandpa spoiled me a little, and they had wild expectations of what they thought I should do with my life, but they never once told Dad that he needed to do anything different in the way he raised me.”
“You never had any other women involved in your life? Like women that your dad dated?” Mack watched as she shook her head. “Or did you just not know about him dating?”
“He might have, but I doubt it. I know he hasn’t in the last ten years when I would’ve been a lot more aware of that kind of thing. Seems as if we’ve always been enough. Me, Dad, Gram, and Grandpa. We didn’t need anybody else.”
Which wasn’t exactly what Mack had hoped to hear.
Brooke’s independence was something he found hugely attractive, but it made it tough to imagine she was waiting for him to come along and sweep her into a new, deeper relationship.
They cleaned up the table, and while Mack had the entire evening off, the something strange on the air sensation made it so he didn’t simply crowd her toward her bedroom.
He wanted her—absolutely. Always, and fervently. But tonight it didn’t seem right to focus on the physical pleasure between them. Or at least, not that type of physical pleasure.
“Come here,” he ordered before hauling her toward the couch and settling her between his knees so he could give her a back rub.
The groan that escaped as she leaned her neck to one side was dangerous on so many levels. “You have magic fingers.”
“The magic is all yours, but only if you promise not to make that noise again,” Mack warned. “No fair getting us riled up with nowhere to go.”
She tilted her head a little more, mischief in her eyes. “I can orgasm right here, you know.”
“Not from my hands on your neck. Not unless you’ve got some kink you’ve been holding back from me.”
Brooke twisted on the floor, resting her hands on his thighs. “We could go to my room. Your hands are welcome to venture other places.”
Temptation. Red-hot temptation.
Accompanied by a knock of reality. She’d said they were always in a hurry, and he knew why. They’d been stealing moments together for a long time, and it always felt as if they had to rush before they were interrupted.
That needed to change.
He leaned forward and kissed her nose, swaying away when she snickered. “You have a thing about my coworkers catching us fooling around. I have a thing about looking your dad in the eye after I’ve had my wicked way with you.”
She nodded as she knelt higher, hands running over his shoulders and pulling him against her for a tight squeeze. “Damn those inexplicable dredges of teenage guilt that linger hard enough to mess with our fun.”
Mack whirled through a series of ideas. He could plan a getaway. Book a fancy room at a big resort and, at some point, drop to one knee and pull out the ring.
Whether that should be before or after the first session of sex left them sated was still up for debate. He was leaning toward after—she’d be happy and relaxed after he’d worked her over from top to bottom and encouraged a lot more of those moans to escape her sexy lips.
A soft chuckle pulled him back to reality, and he stared into her bright eyes.
“You’re thinking sex thoughts,” she accused him. “Not fair to take action off the agenda then offer me sex eyes filled with sex thoughts.”
“What exactly do my sex eyes do?” he teased.
Her voice dropped lower. “Make me hot. All over.”
Mack shuddered, the ache inside him rock solid and pulsing
with need. “I need to go shovel the walk. Or maybe the entire parking lot. Without a coat.”
It was Brooke’s turn to laugh, cupping his cheek gently then rising to her feet and hauling him after her. “No sex, no sex eyes. No more planning for holiday madness. Come and let me beat you at cards.”
A couple hours later, they’d switched to watching a show together, curled up innocently on the couch. Brooke’s head rested on his chest and she felt so damn perfect in his arms he was on the verge of blurting out a proposal before he reined it in.
How lame would that have been? Watching Antiques Roadshow then proposing?
Making memories was a hell of a lot of work.
Just before eleven, she finally kicked him out. “I have an appointment dropping off their vehicle before six-thirty.”
After one final luscious kiss, Mack was making his way down the steps when the outside door opened and Gary stepped through. They stared at each other awkwardly for a moment, the stairs too narrow to pass each other safely.
Then Brooke’s father sighed heavily and turned aside to let Mack pass.
Mack was so close to simply demanding to know what the hell was wrong, but he couldn’t bring himself to be that rude. Not now. Not after hearing over and over this evening how much this man had sacrificed and given for Brooke. How much he’d loved her.
Instead Mack forced a smile into his voice. “Good evening with the guys?”
“Won ten bucks.”
“Better than the alternative.” Mack adjusted his coat before nodding firmly. “I’ll see you around.”
He headed out the door and all the way into his truck without looking back once, but he could feel it; Gary’s gaze was pinned between his shoulders.
Mack started his engine and backed away from the garage, glancing over to discover the blind on the window closing and the lights turning out as if Brooke’s father had just stepped away.
Anticipation. Hesitation. Something unknown hovering on the wind. Whatever was waiting, Mack was getting antsy for it to hurry up and arrive.
4
The house at Lone Pine ranch was decorated from the front door to the tip of the roof with brightly coloured lights and swooping evergreen branches.
Inside, the scent of cinnamon and sugar was strong enough to send anyone into a Christmasy mood. Add in the delighted laughter of two little girls, and it was clear that holiday joy was alive and well in the warm family home her friend Hanna had created with Brad Ford.
Hanna’s little girl, Crissy, darted underfoot, and Brooke pulled to a stop to keep from stepping on her or the other small participant joining in to help fulfill her first old-fashioned Christmas assignment. Talia Zhao was only slightly taller than Hanna, but just as eager to chatter, and the sound of little-girl voices filled the warm country kitchen.
“Okay, girls. Time to get baking if we want to be finished before Talia’s daddy comes to pick her up.” Hanna looped an apron over her head and pointed to the pile on the table. “Get yourself into one and I’ll show you where to scoop up your ingredients.”
It took a little longer to get started than just tying on aprons because Crissy and Talia had to decide what type of cookies they were going to make. Brooke already had her grandmother’s recipe lined up and waiting, but first it was time for the excitement of choosing between gingersnaps and sugar cookies.
Eventually Hanna pulled Brooke aside, leaving the girls to deal with the ingredients alone, to Brooke’s horror.
“They’re going to have flour everywhere,” Brooke warned.
Hanna’s eyes shone as she nodded. “I imagine they will, but they’ll have a wonderful time doing it.”
Brooke shrugged. “Your home. Your disaster area.”
“Trust me, I plan to stay close to the person who could cause the most damage.” Hanna grinned, mischief in her eyes. “Neither of the girls have a reputation for burning things.”
“I’m devastated.” Brooke pressed a hand to her chest before offering her own smile in return. “Face it. I’ve been messing around in the kitchen for a lot longer than them. That’s why my reputation is so impressive.”
“It’s a good thing you’re dating a firefighter, that’s all I’m saying.”
An hour later there were cookies on every surface in the kitchen. The girls had flour on their faces and cookie crumbs at the corners of their mouths, but their eyes were wide with happiness as they rolled out the final batch.
Hanna and Brooke had finished assembling her Gram’s cookies. It hadn’t been as easy as Brooke remembered, but with Hanna’s patient guidance, there was a cookie sheet in the oven that smelled heavenly.
Hanna paused to help Crissy pour glasses of milk for herself and Talia. When she returned, she leaned in and lowered her voice. “How are things between you and Mack?”
“Great,” Brooke said eagerly. “He’s helping me with some Christmas plans.”
“Oh, really?” Hanna asked.
“Nothing nearly as shiny as what you’ve got set up,” Brooke offered with a wink. “We’ve got these cookies to figure out, and some music and decorations, but otherwise it’ll just be Christmas as usual with Dad. Mack will be there. Pretty quiet, really.”
Hanna looked as if she was fighting to keep from saying something.
“What?”
There was a bit of headshaking that went on, and a quick moment of helping wipe up a spill from the girls before Hanna returned and looked Brooke squarely in the eye. “Do you like him?”
“Mack?”
Hanna nodded.
Here they went again. The impossible-to-answer questions all hinting at the same thing. What tack should she take this time?
“Yes,” Brooke drawled. “Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”
Hanna looked horrified. “No, of course not. He’s wonderful. I mean he seems wonderful, and it seems as if he’s wonderful to you. And Brad thinks the world of him.”
Rambling. Definitely rambling. Brooke lifted a brow and stared at her friend.
Hanna rolled her eyes in great imitation of her daughter. “I can’t believe you’re not picking up on all my subtle hints,” she complained.
“I can’t believe you’re trying for subtle when I just ate my weight in sugar.”
Her friend laughed. “Okay, pretend I never asked because it’s clear you want me to mind my own business.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I have no intention of breaking up with him. He’s a good guy, Hanna. He makes me happy. Helping me plan some fun stuff so that this Christmas rocks for my dad is pretty sweet.”
“That’s great, and I’m glad about all of that, but don’t you want…”
That’s when Hanna had to go to rescue the girls before the spritz cookies ended up squirted over the counter instead of onto the cookie sheet.
Brooke hurried over to help as well, and for a moment, wrangling sweet buttery goodness into the oven was a big enough distraction she didn’t have to say anything else to her friend.
Because she did want more. Mack had stepped into her life and become such a solid part of it on a when we can get together kind of basis that the thought of not having him around seemed wrong.
When they’d first started seeing each other, she’d wondered if he was only going to be in town temporarily, but there’d been no talk of him leaving recently. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time he said anything about possibly having to move.
He was just…hers.
“Hello, the house.”
A racket sounded from the front door. Masculine voices followed by Talia’s and Crissy’s cheers as they raced to greet their fathers.
“Look at the pretty cooks we found,” Brad announced, tangling a hand around Crissy and marching forward until he could include Hanna in his hug. “The place smells wonderful.”
“We made lots of cookies, Daddy,” Talia informed her father as Ryan stepped into the room, Mack right behind him.
“It looks
as if we’re going to need lots of cookies,” Brooke teased. “Good to see you again, Ryan. How are things down at the pub?”
“Not bad. I’m selling warm winter drinks faster than the beer these days.” He picked up Talia and held her close, rubbing their noses together. “Have you been a good little chef for Hanna?”
She insisted she had then gestured toward the oven. “They’re nearly done. We can have warm cookies soon.”
Mack crossed the floor and stood beside Brooke. “Do you have warm cookies for me as well?” He waggled his brows and turned the question into something completely different.
Brooke wasn’t the only one who offered a snort of amusement.
“Keep it PG,” Brad warned softly.
“Just looking forward to nibbling on Brooke’s sweet things in a bit,” Mack said innocently, his hand sliding over her hip and pulling her against his body. “Hey, babe. How’s Operation Old-Fashioned coming?”
“First attempt is in the oven, Captain,” she told him, tugging his hand from where it had snuck under her shirt because his fingers against her bare belly were doing dangerous things to her insides. If they had any hopes of keeping things child-friendly, she couldn’t have Mack teasing her to combustion.
He rumbled a complaint but eased away, and her heart rate slowed to nearly normal. They all moved around the kitchen, getting oven mitts ready. Ryan helped Brad gather more glasses of milk for the upcoming taste test.
Mentally, Brooke added a new item on her think-about list. She was working to make this a special Christmas for her father, but it felt very important to include Mack in that as well, beyond the part where she got his help and him being present for the actual day of celebration.
What would he truly want? Dare she try to set up something like a getaway without checking with him first?
They didn’t get to spend nearly enough time together, especially not private time. And while getting naked with the man was high on her priority list, she also wanted to sit and talk without one or the other of them being pulled away. Without interruptions.
Only, the holidays were so full as it was, secretly planning to steal him away seemed impossible. The best she could hope for was to get Brad to pack a bag for his friend on the sly so she could tuck it away in case the opportunity arose.