When A Man Loves A Woman(54)

Mac followed her over the threshold. He placed her suitcases at the bottom of the steps.

“Would you like something to drink?” she asked, rubbing the back of her neck.

“No thank you. You look beat.” He reached out and ran a finger across her lips.

“I have to admit I am. I can’t believe tomorrow is a work day,” she said with a chuckle. “I might fall asleep at my desk.”

“I’m opening up the shop at seven in the morning. And I’m sure my family is going to be stopping by to get all the details on our trip.” Mac had a big-time grin on his face. “I better head home.”

Once they reached the door Mac dipped his head down and planted a heady kiss on her lips. It was a decisive kiss, one that took her a little by surprise. When the kiss ended Mac grazed his knuckles against her cheek. He stared deeply into her eyes. Something intense hovered in the air between them.

“I love you, Delilah. I’m head over heels crazy in love with you.” His voice was raspy and sweet and full of tenderness.

Shock roared through her at his announcement. Had she heard him right? She felt a bit light-headed. Noise roared in her ears. Panic ripped through her.

No! She wasn’t ready for this. Her vocal cords were frozen. She didn’t know what to say.

He reached for her hand. “I know this is all happening really fast, but I like to think that when the feelings are right things move a little faster.”

She swallowed hard. “Yes. They do.” She nodded her head.

Mac narrowed his gaze. “You look a little spooked. I hope I haven’t overstepped. I just wanted to give voice to my feelings. I wanted to let you know how I feel.”

“I appreciate that, Mac. I really do,” she murmured. Say it back to him, a little voice urged her. That’s what he’s waiting for with that expectant look in his eye. He wants you to acknowledge how he feels. To say something meaningful.

“Well…um…goodnight Delilah,” Mac finally said after an awkward pause.

“Goodnight,” she said, closing the door not long after he’d stepped outside. She sagged against the door and put her hands over her face. What in the world was wrong with her? Mac had said those three precious words to her that she had been longing to hear for weeks now. And she had acted like a complete and utter fool.

She tossed and turned throughout the night. Her reaction to Mac’s declaration of love had been awkward. She was really disappointed in herself. The stakes had been really high last night and she had choked. No doubt Mac thought she was a freak. Right about now she imagined he was regretting ever saying those three gigantic words to her.

As much as she wanted to call him up the next morning and apologize, she felt frozen. She didn’t really have a road map for this type of situation. Her heart belonged to Mac Donahue but she was frozen with fear. And she had no idea how to get past all her doubts and worries. This was the point in all her past relationships when things had gone wrong. Pouf. One day things had been great, then the very next day everything was exploding in her face.

She had been crushed before by romances that had gone sour. But she had never felt for a single one of them what she now felt for Mac. This was epic. It consumed her. And she knew her heart might never recover if it was broken by Mac. The very thought of it terrified her. Paralyzed her. It made her want to run for the hills and hide under her covers.

Delilah did what she always did when things in her personal life became too tough to handle. She buried herself in work. Over the next few days Mac reached out to her on several occasions, but she didn’t return his phone calls. She avoided Sarah too. She knew her sister could read her like a book and she didn’t want her weighing in on her relationship with Mac.

On the fourth day after they had returned from their trip, Mac showed up at her door after work. When she opened up her door her heart began bouncing around in celebration. It had only been a few days since she had last seen him, yet she’d missed him like crazy.

“Hey there. Haven’t seen you in a few days.” Although Mac tried to hide it, she could hear the hurt in his voice. It made her feel ashamed. And weak. Hurting this beautiful man was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

“Sorry, Mac. I have this crazy caseload at work that’s been occupying a great deal of my time. I need to make up for all the work I missed.”

Mac’s gaze was unnerving. He seemed to be staring a hole straight through her. “Too busy for a quick phone call? That’s not like you.”

“I really am sorry,” she apologized.

He folded his arms across his chest. “You’ve been avoiding me ever since the other night.”