Thankfully Mac hadn’t seen the inside of her car. She had diet soda cans in every holder and bits of paper on the floor.
“I live on the other side of Breezy Harbor. Limerick Road,” she explained.
“I know where you live,” he said with a quick look in her direction. “Sarah told us all about how you scrimped and saved for the down payment on your house as soon as you finished college.”
“My house is tiny, but I love it,” she said proudly. “It’s simple, but it’s mine.” She’d made a wonderful investment by buying her house when the market was conducive to buyers. Although finances were always a struggle, it helped that she had a low interest loan and a reasonable mortgage.
“Sarah beams with pride whenever she tells that story,” Mac said.
“Probably the same way I beam with pride when I tell people my sister is a rock star nurse. It doesn’t get much better than saving the human race.”
“That’s how I feel about Ryder and Tess also. What they do as Paramedics is amazing,” Mac gushed. “Although I always thought Ryder could leap tall buildings in a single bound since he was the oldest brother.”
It was sweet, she thought, how awestruck he sounded. “Ryder is a good man. Your parents raised a fantastic bunch.”
She turned to look at his profile. A hint of a smile played around his lips. “We hit the jackpot, didn’t we? Not a day has gone by since I became a Donahue that I didn’t know how very deeply I was loved. Not a single day.”
“I feel the same way about my parents. They’ve given Sarah and me so much, even though at times it was a struggle. After college I wanted to be completely independent so my parents didn’t have to worry about supporting me,” Delilah confided. “It was my way of showing them that I appreciated their sacrifices and I was ready to fly on my own.”
“That was brave of you,” Mac said. He turned toward her and their eyes locked. She wasn’t imagining the electric current that simmered between them in the truck. It was potent and vibrant. It shimmered and pulsed between them.
“That’s funny. I don’t feel brave most of the time,” she admitted. Delilah didn’t know why she’d just blurted that out. It wasn’t something she was proud of. Lacking courage was her secret shame. Most days she wished that she could just make bold choices without being afraid of falling on her face.
“Sometimes just putting one foot in front of the other is brave,” Mac said. “At least that’s what my Dad always tells me.”
“Your Dad is one of a kind,” Delilah raved. “And your parents together are so sweet. Just one look at them and you know they share an incredible love story.”
Mac let out a little sigh. “My father was a soldier on leave when he met my mother. They fell in love over the Christmas holidays. They endured separation and hardships and infertility. Their love story makes me a believer.”
A believer. How she yearned to believe again in happy endings and love that would withstand the test of time. Being in the midst of so many love stories was a double-edged sword, she imagined. Inspiring yet frustrating since he was still single. She could relate to the pressure being placed on him to find “the one.” And he had it coming at him from six brothers, numerous sisters-in-law and his parents.
As Mac drove down Limerick Road and pulled up in front of her cozy little blue bungalow, she found herself wishing the ride had lasted a bit longer. Mac was great company, and little by little she was finding out interesting tidbits about him.
After putting the truck in park, he jumped out on the driver’s side and made his way to the passenger side. He opened the truck’s door and held out his hand to help her down. Again Delilah felt a strange sensation flood her senses as Mac’s hand grasped her own. She shrugged it off, chiding herself for being so silly. He was being a gentleman. There was nothing further to it than that. Knowing Maggie Donahue, she had taught her seven boys to have polished manners. Judging by Mac’s behavior, Maggie and Alec had groomed him well.
She looked up at him, sucking in a huff of air at the sight of his finely chiseled features. The moon hanging high in the sky gently illuminated his face. For some strange reason her mind veered toward the idea of being kissed in the moonlight. It was a silly thought, one that brought to mind her teenage romantic fantasies. She was an adult now, one who shouldn’t be fantasizing about kisses in the moonlight.
“Thanks for the ride home. And the rescue,” she said, looking up at Mac. Because of his towering height, it made her feel more dainty and feminine by comparison. There was something about his steady presence that made her feel protected.