Her Homecoming Wish Page 13

  “Bedroom?”

  “Yes. Upstairs.”

  Hottest.

  She wasn’t sure how they got there. There was a vague recollection of hands and kisses and clothing coming off, and then they were in her room and on her bed. Not quite naked, but not exactly dressed, either. And thoroughly out of breath. Dan was kneeling over her, and she saw a flash of concern in his eyes.

  “Mack...are you sure...?”

  She arched one brow. “Seriously? You think we need the consent conversation after the way we just came up those stairs?” He started to answer, but she put her fingers on his mouth. “Kidding. It’s a good thing. And yes, I’m sure.” A thread of doubt went through her. “Are you sure? After your day...”

  He lowered his head and kissed her without a word. The kiss confirmed her suspicion—Dan was, at least to some extent, using sex to forget his terrible shift. After she’d asked how she could help. So they both knew what was what. She returned the kiss with enthusiasm. They both wanted this.

  What difference did the motives make? She was providing an escape. He was providing...hope. A glimpse at a new beginning for her that included a night of passionate sex with her high school crush. What could possibly go wrong?

  Dan’s hands slid up to cup her breasts over her bra. He squeezed, and she let out a groan, arching against him. He murmured something that sounded like “so beautiful” before his hand slid lower, slipping his fingers under the elastic of her panties. He sat up and slid the lacy hipsters down her legs. He removed his boxers and started looking around.

  “Son of a...where are my pants?”

  She huffed a laugh. “Leaving so soon?”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “Not likely. But the consent conversation goes hand in hand with the safe-sex conversation. My condom is in my wallet, which is in my pants. Which are somewhere between the dining table and your bed.” He started to move off the mattress, but Mack stopped him. “Nightstand. Top drawer.”

  “So you were prepared for tonight, eh? Naughty girl.” He crawled over her and pulled the drawer open.

  “Let’s be clear—if it’s okay for you to walk around with a condom in your pocket, then it’s okay for me to have some by my bed.”

  He pulled a strip of packets from the box. “Absolutely. Didn’t mean to sound judgy.” He winked at her. “We good?”

  “Nope.”

  His eyes went wide. “What? Why? Mack...”

  She started to giggle. “I just meant that you’re too far away.”

  “That’s easy to fix.” In the blink of an eye, he was settling between her thighs as he tore open a foil wrap. She pulled down her bra straps and shifted to reach behind her back, but he stopped her. “I can fix that, too.” His body pressed on hers, and his hands moved behind her back and made quick work of her bra, which was soon flying across the room to land by the dresser.

  They were both still laughing, and she loved that. The laughter was an expression of joy more than humor. As if neither of them could hold it in. Dan kissed her, his fingers twisting in her hair. She let out a low moan as he sank into her and began to move. He traced kisses from her mouth to her shoulder, where she felt his teeth pressing on her skin. Nipping her lightly, then moving to her breast, all the while moving inside her. She traced her fingers across the dragon tattoo on his shoulder—she hadn’t seen it since they were kids. It was...hot. Her moans were no longer low. She cried out and rose to meet his hips. Her fingers dug into his back.

  “Mackie...oh, Mack...” His face was against her neck now, his words growing more tangled as the pace increased. She curled her hand around the back of his head, whispering...something. They were her words, but she had no idea what they were anymore. All she knew was emotion and sound and sensation. So much sensation. She burned with it, and when it reached the point where she couldn’t take anymore, she begged him.

  “Please, Dan...please...”

  “Just go, Mackie. I’m right there with you, baby. I’m right there...”

  There was a burst of light behind her eyes, and she was pretty sure she screamed, but it was drowned out by Dan’s bellow as he joined her. There was a beat of silence, or at least silence other than their heavy breathing as they lay there. And then they were laughing again, softly, both shaking from it. Like a pair of shell-shocked teens who’d had no idea what was going to happen just then.

  “Mack...holy...” Dan spoke against her skin, as if unable to raise his head. She knew the feeling. Her heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of her chest.

  “I know. That was...really something.”

  It had been more. More than sex. More than...anything.

  Dan shifted his weight from her and grabbed a tissue for the condom. Then he settled back at her side and threw his arm over her, burying his face in her hair. “I won’t spend the night. But God, I need to sleep. Just for a little while.”

  She didn’t bother answering, because she could tell from his breathing that he was already asleep. She listened to the steady rhythm, feeling her own pulse slowing to match it.

  There had been chemistry between them from that night when she’d swung a bat at his head in the store. As much as Dan had insisted he wasn’t that bad boy anymore, she’d tapped in to the thrill seeker somehow. She suppressed a laugh. She’d just had crazy wild sex with the local hero. She wondered how that would fly with all the folks in Gallant Lake who adored their Sheriff Dan and put all those expectations on him. His arm tightened around her waist, and he muttered something in his sleep.

  Too late to worry about that now.

  For tonight, Sheriff Dan was all hers.

  Chapter Twelve

  Dan was warm. Too warm. He went to toss off his covers, but there was only a light sheet over him. And a soft, warm body next to him. His eyes snapped open. It was dark, and he lifted his head to check the clock. Almost four. He should go. Mack shifted and murmured something, then settled back against him.

  There was just enough glow through the curtains from the lights in the parking lot to cast soft shadows on Mack’s face. He studied her, wondering what it was that made her completely irresistible to him. She was pretty, but he knew plenty of good-looking women. She was fun, and that was different, but then again... Gallant Lake was full of fun-loving people. But no woman made him laugh as easily as Mackenzie Wallace did. And for sure, no woman made him lose his head the way she did when they kissed.

  And the sex. The sex was incredible. The stuff of wet dreams, not reality. He frowned. He’d been in a bad spot when he got here last night. He probably shouldn’t have come up. But she’d ordered him to. He ran his finger down her arm. She twitched but didn’t wake. Big bad police officer taking orders from a woman he couldn’t shake. Not from his dreams. Not from his life. Not yet, anyway.

  He kissed the soft skin behind her ear, and she stirred again. She made a low sound, and her eyes swept open. She turned and smiled at him over her shoulder.

  “Hey, you.” Her voice was still thick with sleep.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  Tonight was great, but it wasn’t serious. He had to leave. He couldn’t sleep over. So many smart things he should say. He rolled her onto her back.

  “I want you.”

  Funny how the truth always came out when he was with her. Her eyes went dark, and her smile deepened.

  “You had to wake me to tell me that?”

  “Yup.” He kissed her, grinning against her mouth as her arms wrapped around him.

  “Good choice.”

  Mack whispered his name, and any scraps of doubt left his head completely.

  Their first time had been intense. Hard. Fast. Passionate. Fun. But this time was slower. Smoother. Softer. Quieter. And even better.

  Afterward, they stayed locked in an embrace. Mack quickly fell asleep, but Dan was wide-awake. He stared up into the dark. He h
adn’t exactly been celibate since his divorce, but it wasn’t easy doing the casual dating thing when you were the local law. He had to be careful about whom he socialized with in public. He didn’t need people seeing him partying or having a one-night stand with some woman or catching him sneaking out in a walk of shame afterward. His reputation wasn’t just important to him personally—it reflected on his job, his daughter, his ex, his whole Sheriff Dan shtick. He drew in a long breath. It was a lot to live up to.

  Right now, wrapped up in Mackenzie Wallace, all he could think was how much he wanted to stay. How much he wanted to make love to her again tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that. How much he didn’t think he’d ever have enough of her. How she made him laugh. How she made him relax. How she’d taken the blackness of a bad shift and erased it with her kisses, her smile, her body.

  But in the real world...his truck was parked out back, and everyone in town knew whose truck it was. Nora’s coffee shop opened at six for early birds. It was almost five now. A groan of disappointment escaped him, and Mack pulled her head back to look at him.

  “Are you in pain?”

  He kissed her pillow-soft lips. “Yes. I’m in pain at the thought of leaving this bed. But I have to.”

  “Why? The sun isn’t even up yet.” She burrowed closer. “And you must be exhausted after all that sexing.”

  He huffed a soft laugh, lowering his head to press his face against her neck. “That was some pretty amazing sexing, that’s for sure. But people will recognize my truck. The café opens at six. I don’t want people thinking...you know.”

  “That two grown-ups spent the night together? Has Gallant Lake grown so provincial since I left that consenting adults can’t have sex?”

  He lifted his head, serious now. “Mack, it’s a small town. Small towns talk. And I’m Sheriff Dan, remember? That name carries a ton of baggage and expectations. Not to mention I have a daughter and an ex-wife living here.”

  Now it was her turn to groan. She threw her arm over her face. “Okay, okay. I get it. I wouldn’t want Chloe hearing about us from anyone but you. If there is an us.” She sat up, not bothering to cover herself with the twisted sheet. “I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks or knows. I spent twelve years worrying about what people thought of me, and I’m over it.” She stood, her body bathed in the soft gray light. “But you do you, Danny. I’ll just remind you that it’s Sunday, and Nora doesn’t open until eight on Sundays, so you have time for a very early breakfast before you sneak out of here and make me feel like a scarlet woman.” She yanked on a long robe and tied the belt snugly. “Omelets okay?”

  Once again, he was stuck between what he should say—no, thanks—and what he was going to say. The internal debate wasn’t even worth the time it would take.

  “Sounds great.”

  They gathered up their discarded clothing on their way downstairs without saying a word. Dan made the coffee while Mack chopped up mushrooms and spinach and whipped the eggs. The sun was just turning the sky a peachy pink when they sat at the table where this had all started a few hours ago. When a kiss turned into a race up the stairs and into her bed. Mack must have been thinking about that, too. She reached over and put her hand on his arm.

  “I know you didn’t want to talk about it last night, but if you ever do want to get a bad shift off your chest, I’m here to listen. I know you used to unwind with Asher some nights, and...”

  Dan couldn’t stop his grin. “Asher and I never unwound like that, believe me.”

  She barked out a bright, sharp laugh. “I’m sure you didn’t, but you know what I’m saying.”

  He frowned at his plate. “I appreciate it, Mack, but it’s hard to talk to civilians. Susanne used to get mad that I didn’t share stuff, and then she’d get upset if I did share. And frankly, her anger was easier to handle than her tears and the way she’d worry. So me not talking is really just me protecting you. No one needs the gory details.” He took her hand. “But having you waiting up for me helped. Having someone to just sit with. To help me reenter the regular world again. And I gotta say, all that sex was the icing on the cake.”

  Mack smiled. “Glad to be of service, Sheriff Dan.” He winced, and she rushed on. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like that, although I’m not sure I understand why. The more I talk to people here, the more I can see how much they love you. There’s even talk about a push to start the police department up again, and your name is on everyone’s lips as the future police chief.”

  Dan had spoken with Mayor Malone a few times about that possibility, but the plan was supposed to be hush-hush while the mayor lined up both support and funding. “At the moment, there is no Gallant Lake Police Department, so the talk is just talk.” He leaned toward her. “And the only lips I want my name on are yours.” He gave her a soft kiss, but the embers were right under the surface, ready to flare out of control all over again. It wasn’t easy to pull away. “I gotta go. I need to grab some shut-eye before I’m back out with the task force and then my regular shift.”

  She followed him to the back door, still in her robe, which was falling open just enough to tease. She followed his gaze, then leaned back against the hallway wall in a movie-perfect pose, one arm over her head, the other hand tugging at her bottom lip. Marilyn had nothing on Mack. She gave him a sultry smile, half in jest, but there was a very real heat in her chocolate-colored eyes.

  “Will I see you tonight, Officer?”

  She squeaked in surprise when he moved against her, holding both hands over her head and pressing her against the wall with his body. Turned out two could play this movie-scene game, and she knew all the shades of what happened in that infamous elevator kiss. Her mouth fell open, and he took her chin in his hand, holding there as he kissed her. Hard. Deep. Hot. Then he stepped back, trying his damnedest to look cool and detached—and knowing he’d probably failed.

  “My shift won’t be over until after midnight.”

  She straightened with a sassy wink.

  “I’ll wait up.”

  He didn’t bother answering before he walked out the door. They both knew he’d be there.

  * * *

  Nora couldn’t take her eyes off Mack as they sat in the coffee shop later that morning. Finally, Mack couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Do I have spinach in my teeth or something? What are you staring at?” Naturally, her outburst brought the other women’s attention to her, so now all three cousins were staring.

  “I don’t know,” Nora said. “There’s something...” She gestured in Mack’s general direction. “...different this morning. Your hair’s a little messy. Your eyes look sleepy, but your face is freakin’ glowing for some reason. And your mouth...”

  Mel raised a manicured eyebrow as she sipped her herbal tea. “Oh, yeah...those lips look like you’ve either used a good volumizer or you’ve been kissing somebody. A lot. And recently.”

  Nora nodded in agreement with her cousin. “That’s what I was thinking. She did not have this sexy, satisfied look Friday night when we left the wine tasting. Which makes me wonder what happened on Saturday night?”

  “And with whom?” Mel asked.

  Amanda snorted. “Please, we all know that answer. Paul Cooper told Blake that Dan got caught on camera making out with some blonde up at his maple stand this week. Paul was teasing that he might put it on Facebook, but Blake talked him out of it.”

  Nora reached for a croissant. “That must have been Thursday. My daughter Becky lives over by Dan’s place, and her husband...” She glanced at Mack. “Who happens to be Asher’s son...long story. Anyway, Michael saw Dan and a woman leave the house together Thursday night and get in Dan’s truck.”

  Mack’s cheeks were burning. First from embarrassment, but then anger took over. “Wow. Dan wasn’t kidding about how bad the small-town gossip is around here.”

  All three w
omen sat back a bit. Nora spoke first.

  “Mack, just because we share with each other doesn’t mean we share it with the world. I’m sorry...”

  Mack waved her hand, freshly embarrassed. The whole gossip thing reminded her too much of Greenwich, but that wasn’t fair. “No, it’s okay. I know you all can be trusted. I just didn’t believe Dan when he said how careful we’d have to be. How much people would care.” He was well-known and much loved. There was nothing some people enjoyed more than bringing down a hero. And wouldn’t they love it if the ice queen Mackenzie Wallace was the one to ruin their precious Sheriff Dan? She shuddered at the thought.

  Amanda’s blue eyes went round. “Excuse me, but did you just say you and Dan are a ‘we’? It’s not gossip if it comes straight from the source, so spill, girl.”

  She’d come home to Gallant Lake to find some peace and quiet. Help her dad for a while. Lick her wounds in solitude while figuring out her next move. And here she was, thinking about taking over the liquor store for good, falling for the local lawman and making friends who wanted to know all about it.

  Mack was exhausted from very little sleep and very much activity last night. Her feelings were all over the place, and she was having a hard time putting them in any order that made sense. She glanced around the café, but it was quiet at the moment, in the lull between the before-church crowd and the after-church crowd. Cathy was behind the counter, keeping her distance from the younger women today. Probably because of Mack. And because Mack’s father was now living with Cathy and they hadn’t had a real discussion about it since he left the rehab center Thursday.

  “Dan spent the night,” she blurted out. “Or...most of it, anyway. He stopped for a drink after work, and we were at the kitchen table and...”

  “And one thing led to another until you were in bed together?” Mel smiled. Her smile was warm. Even a little dreamy. “I love when that happens. Shane and I started in the kitchen the first time.”

  Amanda nodded. “Our first time started in the living room before we headed upstairs.” She winked at Mack. “But our first kiss was in the kitchen.”