Shine Not Burn(82)

We made our way to the front of the store through the refrigerated aisle and paid for the groceries. Maeve refused to let me contribute, saying, “You’re our guest, and guests don’t pay,” even though I was already at least two meals into her hospitality and would probably have one more before leaving.

The happiness over her generosity only lasted about five seconds. As we were walking out the door, I noticed a familiar figure striding towards the front of the store. His swagger was impossible to miss.

“There he is.” Maeve waved him down. “Mack!”

The man in the cowboy hat turned his head and smiled. Then he caught sight of me and the smile disappeared.

My god, he is so gorgeous it should be illegal. Ten thousand butterflies took up residence in my stomach and started a little rodeo when the memories of what we’d done last night came rushing back to greet me.





Chapter Thirty-One





“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” asked Maeve, giving her son a hug.

He glanced at me as he answered. “I had to do some packing and shopping. What are you doing here?”

“Picnic supplies. But didn’t you have plans to talk to Andie this morning about her project?”

Mack hid his surprise well. “Um, yeah. But I had to do this other thing first.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what … why don’t you bring her back with you so I can run by the party supply place and then the dry cleaner? She’ll get bored being with me all morning, and I think she said she needs to get back to work. Best get your business together worked out as soon as possible, right?” She patted him on the cheek and then put her hand on my upper arm. “See you back at the ranch, sweetie.”

I smiled. “Back at the ranch. I’ve always wanted to say that.”

“Go ahead then.” She stood there waiting.

“Okay. See you back at the ranch, Maeve.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

“Hope to shout.” She walked off and left us standing there, Mack’s expression telling me nothing.

“What’d she just say?” I asked.

“Hope to shout.” He turned away from the store. “Come on with me, then. I’ll get you back to the ranch.”

“What does hope to shout mean?” I shuffled along behind him in my sexy moccasins.

He walked up to another truck, this one red and brand new, pressing the button on his keychain to open the locks. “It means I sure hope so or something close to that.”

“Huh. I’ve never heard that before.”

“It’s pretty country. Probably not your cup of tea.”

I climbed up into the truck with the help of a step that was attached to the side. “I wouldn’t say that.” I had to go back down when one of my shoes fell off. I grabbed it with my hand and just carried it in. Buckling up, I watched him get into the truck, waiting for him to look at me.

He studiously avoided looking in my direction, acting like he was very busy with adjusting mirrors and checking for traffic. He didn’t respond either.

I had my work cut out for me. Mack was my captive audience, unable to avoid me whether he liked it or not. Now I just had to get him to talk. My heart was pounding and the adrenaline was rushing into my blood stream. Everything in me was telling me to run back home and forget this ever happened, except that one little part of my brain that said we needed to get this over with. Before Bradley showed up. Before my life completely imploded. I was already looking at the nightmare of canceling a wedding and sending back a pile of gifts. Luckily, I had a feeling Ruby wouldn’t mind helping me clean up that part of my mess. She’d probably throw a break-up party in Bradley’s honor. The question I still hadn’t even begun to answer was what I was going to do with myself after it was all over. Something told me life according to Andie’s Lifeplan wasn’t going to be enough anymore.

I did a fake cough to get the ball rolling. “So … we were supposed to meet this morning at nine to talk. I get the feeling you’re avoiding me.” Oh good! Right out of the gate just confront him like that! Smooth move, Ex-Lax Andie. I wanted to slap myself in the forehead for being so confrontational. This was no way to get anywhere with Mack. He was too proud for that. The only reason I was sitting in his truck was because his mother had made him take me.

He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main street. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m actually doing the opposite, but since you can’t read my mind, I’m not surprised you misunderstood.”

“You could have said something.” I had to hold back the pout that wanted to take over my face. Mack always seemed to have this effect on me where I forgot I was a professional businesswoman who should have been above the sillier emotions like disappointment and bruised feelings.