A Place to Call Home (10 page)

“You know.” He lazily puffed the cigar sending plumes of white smoke slowly rising into the starry sky. “I never answered his question.”

“Oh? And that was?” Hannah’s gaze caught Mac’s, the deep blue enhanced in the moonlight. Crickets chirped, filling the silence, and fireflies hovered around the huge maple trees in the yard.

 “Call me crazy,” he said after a moment. “But I guess I’m finding out I do like stubbornness and temper in a woman. At least I like it in you.”

Her heart sped up, a delicious tingle crawled up her spine. “Why?” she said, her voice husky.

“I couldn’t tell you because you manage to drive me straight up a wall faster than anyone and you’ve met my kids. You can imagine that’s a tough title to walk away with.”

“Oh, and you don’t drive me crazy? You’re just as stubborn, Mac.”

His eyes widened, his jaw dropped. “The hell I am. I’m the most easy-going guy you’ll ever meet.”

“Yeah, if everyone agrees with you, that is,” she said, setting the wine glass on the table.

“That’s not true.” He blew smoke rings that circled above his head.

“Isn’t it? Since we met you’ve been telling me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.”

“So? Maybe someone should since I’ve had to continuously rescue your pretty little ass,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Oh, you think?” She sat up straight, the smoke tickling her nose. How dare he suggest she needed anyone? Hadn’t her heart already suffered enough pain and misery for one lifetime? “I’ve gotten this far on my own. I’m pretty damn successful, so don’t you think for one minute I need someone telling me what to do.”

His lips formed a grim line. “Yeah. God forbid you accept some help.”

“Excuse me?”

“No. You just keep plunging forward, Hannah, working, working, working. It’s like you’re still trying to escape a past you haven’t figured out yet you’ve already escaped.”

“You jerk.” Rising from the chair, she narrowed her eyes, anger welling low in her gut. “I confide in you and now you’re throwing it back in my face?”

“Hardly. I’m just stating my opinion.” He stood, too, placing his cigar in an ashtray.

“Well, your opinion sucks.”

“Is that so?” Folding his arms, he watched her.

“Yes. You don’t know one thing about me, so don’t think because I described a compact version of my past that you know me. You don’t.”

“You’re wrong. I was once you.”

“What are you talking about?” Had he ever been scared like she’d been growing up? Had his father battered him?

Mac stepped closer, his hands in his pockets. “I used to work myself into the ground because I thought I had to, just to prove to myself and everyone else that I was a good person.”

“That’s you, not me,” she said, her temper simmering.

“No.” He grasped her arms, his touch heating her skin. “That’s what happens to good people who get shit on. They try harder to prove they’re good. Look. I’m not trying to insult you.”

“Could’ve fooled me. Let go of me.” She tried to twist free, but he held fast, pulled her closer.

“I’m sorry, Hannah.”

Well, she had nothing to say to that, did she? Damn him. She wanted to keep arguing. It was easy to argue. Harder to just talk. His scent, the cigar smoke, the heat radiating off of him. Her mind became a jumble of thoughts.

“You should be,” she said.

He cracked a smile then laughed.

“It’s not funny,” she scolded.

“You are so friggin’ beautiful, Hannah. And then you open your mouth and fire comes out. It’s, well, just such an amazing package I can’t believe no one has scooped you up yet.” His hands slowly rubbed her arms, sending delicious shivers down her spine.

Worried about the boys upstairs, she kept her voice soft but her words stern. “Don’t you dare patronize me.”

“Think what you want, but I have no reason to fluff my words.”

He was too close. She lost her concentration. “Maybe it’s your way of getting into my pants like you want to.”

His eyes darkened, became serious. “Darling, when I want to get in your pants, I’ll seduce you like you’ve never been seduced before. I promise you. You’ll forget your name.”

God, she’d already all but forgotten it right now.

“You won’t get the chance,” she said with heat.

His grin was devilish. “Oh, I will. There’s no sense us fighting our attraction. It’s just a matter of when we end up in bed and who takes the lead.” His hands slid to her waist, his fingers kneading her skin ever so lightly. “Which, given both our personalities, should be quite interesting and something I must admit I’m looking forward to.”

She poked his chest. “You listen to me, Austin MacDevin. I’m not some game you can play. I’m a busy woman and don’t need to put up with shit from you. So let go.” She pushed out of his embrace and walked away, fighting her desire.

“Hannah,” he quietly called after her.

She stopped, hesitated, and turned to face him, his voice tugging her heartstrings. The dreaminess in his eyes revealed pure lust and hunger, and her temper lost its bite. She couldn’t deny she wanted him any more than she could live without air.

He sauntered to her, his tall shadow cascading over the deck floor. The desire in his eyes mesmerized her. His gaze roamed her face then rested on her lips. Those long fingers skimmed her jaw while his arm wrapped around her waist and gently held her against him.

“Aw, hell,” he whispered. “I give in.”

Mac bent his head, his lips covering hers, the kiss as gentle as a butterfly’s wings brushing over her skin. His hesitation appeared obvious, the way his arms quivered while they circled her. Her own nerves electrified when her heartbeat quickened against her breastbone.

He smelled of soap and cigar, a wonderful mixture of clean and rugged. Her hands skimmed slowly over his chest, the ripples of muscles hard and firm under her touch. His heart thudded against her fingertips. When he pulled her up against him, lifting her until her toes barely touched the floor, his breathing deepened.

The kiss intensified, and his mouth moved harder over hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips, begging them to open. Giving in to her desires, she allowed him entry, his tongue darting into her mouth furiously. His hands slowly massaged her back, thrilling her all the way to her toes. Her mind went blank, her only interest on his exploration of her mouth. His tongue fiercely roamed the inside, teasing hers, brushing along her teeth to the roof of her mouth, and then started all over again, each time the pace becoming more frantic. He tasted of smoke, the bitter remnants of his cigar, but she didn’t care. She became dizzy with need. When he deepened the kiss further, he stole her breath away, the need to be taken erasing all rational thoughts.

When he finally removed his lips from hers, they both breathed heavily, her mouth gloriously swollen. His hands glided to her upper arms and slowly pulled her a few inches away from his chest, his gaze searching hers.

“Now that’s a fine thing you went and did,” she scolded, keeping her eyes locked on his. “My life is complicated enough without throwing sex into it.”

“It was a kiss, Hannah. Just a kiss,” he whispered.

“You know it was more. Much more.”

Even with the balmy temperatures outside, goose bumps covered her heated flesh. Her belly seemed to do flips, and her mind focused only on Mac.

“Really? Do tell,” he said, grinning wickedly.

“Let me go.” She struggled, but he held her firm.

“Can’t do that.”

“What do you mean you can’t? You will. Now let me go.” She should be frantic being held so tightly by a man. But she believed Mac would never hurt her. At least he had made her feel comfortable around him, a feat no other man had ever managed.

“Only if you explain what you meant. Don’t pretend we haven’t been flirting with each other since we met, or haven’t been using sexual overtones.” His furrowed brow removed the lust his face held a few minutes ago. “Tell me how that simple kiss, which I happened to enjoy immensely, was more than just a kiss, more than just a man and a woman exploring their sexual attraction to one another.”

“Because you held me.”

He stared at her with a confused expression.

“Damn it, Austin. You embraced me. You, you, well, you held back.”

“Okay. I’m sorry but you’ve lost me. Start over.”

She sighed, not knowing how to explain her thoughts, not having much practice at intimacy. “You kissed me. Without groping me. Without dragging me to the floor to screw me. You kissed me. No one has ever just wanted to kiss me.”

He laughed. “For the record, I want to do more than kiss you, darling. But I’d like to think I have a little more class than to take you here on my deck while my children sleep inside. And you deserve better from me.”

“Exactly. You could’ve tried, but you didn’t. No one has ever respected me like that. I can’t deal with this right now.” She tried to pull away again unsuccessfully. The sensation of being trapped threatened to overwhelm her, and she realized she didn’t know how to address the strange feelings swirling within her. God, all she wanted to do was run away.

“Hannah.” His knuckles skimmed her cheek. “You kissed me back.”

“Yes. So?” Her heart still pounded.

“So you enjoyed it too.”

“I never said I didn’t. I’m mad I enjoyed it.”

“Now that’s one reaction I wasn’t looking for. Care to explain?” he said with a scowl.

“In case you’ve forgotten, Austin, I’m not staying in Charleston. I’m leaving as soon as my restaurant is completed.”

“What’s that have to do with me kissing you tonight, after we enjoyed a lovely evening together?”

“I don’t want to get attached. I’m not looking for a relationship,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

“Now there’s something we both agree on,” he said lightly. “It was a kiss, Hannah. Can we leave it at that? We’re attracted to each other. Nothing wrong with that.”

“No there isn’t but can you stop at that kiss, Austin?”

“For tonight I can.” His hands relaxed on her waist. “Do you know you drive me crazy when you call me by my real name?”

“Why don’t you use it? Austin is a nice name, you know.”

He shrugged. “People started calling me Mac. I guess it was easier. Would you like more wine?”

“No.” She sighed. “Austin, I have to get home.”

“Kiss me good night.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving in to the moment, defeated by the emotions swirling through her, and needing help to hold herself up on her trembling knees. Touching her lips to his, she lingered for a moment, desire racing through her body. When she broke the kiss, she said, “That’s all you get. More just wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“We’ll soon see about that,” he said with a smile while he followed her into the house.

She grabbed her purse and they walked quietly to her car. He opened her door, and she slid in, rolling down the window.

“Good night, Austin,” she said softly, taking one last look into those serious blue eyes before driving home.

Alone. Again.

Chapter Eleven

Hannah awoke early the next day even though she had nothing planned and could have slept in, a luxury in her busy life. The restless night she’d endured had been miserable. How many times had she rolled over in her bed reaching for Mac’s body after dreams of that sizzling kiss? How badly she’d wanted him to be there, to take her in his arms, kiss her mindless again, and take her hard and fast. Never had she wanted a man like she wanted Mac right now. The wetness between her legs proved useless without Mac here, so there was no sense lying in bed anymore, getting hornier, damper and not able to do a damn thing about it. And her vibrator just wouldn’t do. It couldn’t compare.

So she left her apartment and headed downstairs to the kitchen where she had jury-rigged a coffee pot the day before. Pausing at the foot of the stairs, she surveyed the large rooms. What a mess. She’d told Mac she would never live in filth again, yet here she stood, close to the squalor of all those earlier years. To top it off, she had little food in the house. Hardly had working plumbing. She couldn’t live like this.

Needing food and progress, she ran back upstairs and jumped in the shower. Afterwards, she dressed in pink shorts, a white T-shirt, and sandals—appropriately dressed to pay Mac a visit after getting food and seeing if he had a start date.

Hannah found Mac’s office address on his bid. The old brick building had three stories with a gravel driveway leading to a large lot in the rear. As she walked to the front steps, Hannah glimpsed the construction equipment in the back where a dump truck, backhoe, and bobcat, had all been parked in a straight line. Reaching for the doorknob, she noted the neatly painted words on the glass that read simply MacDevin General Contractor.

When she walked in, he looked up but didn’t smile.

“Long day?” she asked, sensing his bad mood by his scowl.

“Yeah. What do you want?” he snipped.

She raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s not a very nice greeting.”

Only a small, old black couch, file cabinets, a desk, and some chairs furnished the office. Some pictures of Mac’s kids dotted the room, but no wife. She waltzed around the office looking at the photos. “The boys’ mother, where is she?”

“None of your business,” he said curtly, continuing to write, not looking at her.

“I’m sorry. Is she deceased?”

“Hardly.”

“Okay. You don’t have to talk about it even if you know everything about me and I know nothing about you.” She leaned against a file cabinet.

He glanced up, those blue eyes dark. “There’s nothing you need to know. My kids have me. That’s all they need.”

Should she ask the question that had been burning her brain all night? She nibbled her lower lip, trying to decide. He’d kissed her and then he’d haunted her dreams all last night. Didn’t she have a right to know?

“Mac, do you have a girlfriend?” she blurted and held her breath, hoping to hear good news.

He raised his head and stared before answering. “Why? You looking to audition for the part? I’ll tell you now, sweetheart, it’ll involve a lot more than kissing, and we both know you couldn’t even get past that part.”

“You’re crude,” she told him.

He stood to walk to a file cabinet. With her hands on her hips, Hannah mentally counted to ten to keep from tearing him a new asshole for his cool retort. Keeping her temper in check proved difficult but necessary.

“And you’re in my way,” he said bluntly.

With a huff, she stepped aside, and he filed some papers before returning to his desk to sit. As he moved past her, she smelled his woodsy cologne—a tease to her senses, it only reminded her of their stolen kisses last evening. How the hell was
that
fair in the midst of his attitude?

“And no, I’m not interested in auditioning for you,” she said, answering his boorish question. “Right now I don’t have time for a man in my life.”

“Really?” He shuffled papers around with no obvious purpose. “Explains why you’re so uptight half the time.”

“Go to hell.” Her temper appeared even after her best efforts to control it.

He wagged a finger, looked up with eyes glittering. “Uh uh. Watch that potty mouth. I have plenty of soap in the bathroom.”

She leaned over, palms flat on his desk, and leveled a stare at him. She smirked. “I dare you to even try.”

He grinned evilly. “Be careful, sweetheart. I actually like to be dared.”

“Boy, somebody sure got up on the wrong side of the bed today,” she teased and sauntered around to his side of the desk, perching on the edge of the cluttered workspace next to him.

He slowly raised his head. “Is there something wrong with the chairs over there?”

Her lips widened in a victorious grin, basking in the glory of getting to him. Triumph! Breaking through his stubbornness rewarded her with an adrenaline rush. Her gaze wandered to where he pointed and then looked back to him. “I’m more comfortable here.”

Even though he held a pen in his hand he hadn’t written a word, just flipped pages without looking at their content. “Suit yourself. Just say what you’re here for and leave.”

She toyed with the pens in his cup holder until he abruptly grabbed them, placing them out of her reach. She smiled and licked her lips, satisfaction threatening to distract her from her thoughts. “I was in town and wanted to say thanks for dinner last night. The boys are great.”

He didn’t respond, only kept writing.

“Fine. We can just talk business, then,” Hannah said, leaning over his shoulder a little to view what he worked on.

He shrugged her away, half concealing the appointment book he had opened. “What is there to talk about? I’ll have the plans drawn up by tomorrow to review with you.” He glared. “Get off my desk. I’m working here.”

She only crossed her legs, content to remain where she sat. The man from last night had closed down his emotions today. Had she hurt his feelings in questioning their attraction and what it could be? Was he just grumpy after a long, hard day, or was there more hidden under that steely exterior he used as a shield for his heart? In the short time since they’d met, she’d had plenty of time to witness his softer side and now knew how well he used his moods to conceal his feelings. Without a doubt, Mac interested Hannah on many levels—more so than any other man had ever done.

“I think you’re worried we’d work well together.”

He huffed his breath. “Hardly. More like oil and water.”

“Or fire and ice.” She caught his stare. “Of course, I’d be the fire,” she said sweetly.

“Anything else?” His face remained emotionless.

“Nope.”

“Then leave. I have work to do and a full night ahead of me with the boys. Goodbye.” He started writing again.

“Okay.” Scooting off the desk, she swayed her hips as seductively as possible. “Guess a kiss is out of the question.”

That got his attention.

“Offering kisses? That’s a big change from last night.”

At the door she turned to face him. Forcing sugar into her voice, she batted her lashes and said, “Well, what’s a girl to do when she enjoyed such a great kiss?”

He came around the desk, his long strides narrowing the distance between them, his arousal outlined in the front of his jeans. Hmmm. Maybe that was why he had fidgeted so much in his chair while she talked and he tried to ignore her.

She bit her bottom lip to keep from smirking since he looked so damn cute right at that moment.

“I’ll tell you what you can do,” he said when he stood in front of her. “Kiss me, then.”

Hands on her hips, her neck craned up, she said, “Maybe the moment has passed.”

“Didn’t know you were the type to be a tease, Hannah,” he said in a strangled voice.

Her finger jabbed him in the chest. “If I’m going to be your boss, then you need to have a better attitude.”

His blue eyes darkened, his jaw set. “Let’s get this settled now. I’ll do the work for you on one condition. I’m my own boss. My price is final. If it costs more then I’ll swallow the added expense since I should’ve been smart enough to get the bid right in the first place.”

This close she could smell his soap from his shower and the hint of coffee. “Fair enough,” she agreed.

He grinned. “Deal.”

Mac offered Hannah his hand. She shook it, the connection stunning her when those strong fingers pressed against her skin. The memory of how they had massaged her bottom while lifting her out of the hole caused her cheeks to warm.

“I can start in ten days. I’ll start at seven and work until evening. I’ll have a crew there with me so make sure you walk around decent.”

She didn’t miss his lazy perusal of her body. This could be fun. “So I guess I shouldn’t walk around in my red lace nightie?”

He cleared his throat, his mouth twitching. “Not if you want to make it out of the room.”

“Are you talking about your men or you, Mac?”

A dangerous glint highlighted his eyes. “Strictly about me. I’ll let my men know ahead of time that if they drool after you they can hit the road.”

Her hand rested on his shirtfront, the muscular chest beneath beckoning for her to massage. “Now see you’ll take all my fun away.”

“Not really. I usually get to the site first. If you insist on modeling your lingerie for me,” he said and shrugged, “who am I to stop you?”

“Have I told you yet that you’re a great kisser, Mac?”

He smiled slightly, his eyes dancing. “No, but it may be worth mentioning. I like to get positive feedback on my work.”

She laughed.

He moved closer and placed his hand above her head on the doorframe. Boxing her in, he effectively held her captive. “Does that mean you really plan on kissing me again, Hannah?”

“Maybe,” she said quietly.

“Yeah. Well, maybe you won’t have a choice. I can be pretty convincing. I can tell you now, darling, that I plan on kissing you again.” His knuckles skimmed her cheek, raising the heat level in her body. “Head to toe.”

With her heart pounding, she swallowed hard. The image of his mouth slowly roaming her inch-by-inch made her want to beg for his touch. “Now I’ll admit that sounds interesting,” she purred.

Before she realized it, he tugged her into his arms. He tilted her head back with a tug on her ponytail, and his mouth slammed against hers, hot and furious. She matched his power, meeting his tongue’s fury, and devouring his mouth. Oh, how she had missed the taste of him. The flavor of coffee, the smell of dirt and dust—downright sexy in her book, and a little combination of good boy, bad boy. But right now, she wanted to play with the bad boy. Her hands had a mind of their own, traveling wildly over his chest, shoulders, back, and daring to rest at the top of his ass.

“Someone’s getting frisky,” he said against her lips.

“Have I told you yet that you’ve got a great ass, Mac?”

He laughed and pulled away from her. “It looks a hell of a lot better naked.”

“I bet it does.” She slid her hands over the arch of his hard ass, happy that she’d decided on stopping by here. However, admitting how much she enjoyed his flirting and attention could get her into trouble. How smart would it be to crave the touch of a man who infuriated her one minute and aroused her the next?

His head bent to kiss her again, but his cell phone rang from inside his front pocket. Instead of answering, he pressed his mouth against hers, his tongue diving in and out of her mesmerized mouth, his hands holding firm on her sides.

The cell continued its incessant ringing.

“Damn it,” he yelled, breaking their connection. “Hello,” he growled. Seconds later he grabbed his temple and massaged. “Aidan, I’m finishing up here and will be home shortly. Tell Ryan and Luke I said to stop fighting and get their chores done or no fishing tonight.” Mac’s face grew disconcerted. “Are you listening to me? Tell Ryan I can hear his smart mouth answer and don’t like it.” Mac remained silent for a minute then continued. “Ryan, who do you think you’re talking to? Yeah, well, when Aidan tells you I said to do something, then you do it without question. Understood? You better. Where’s Luke? Why is it so quiet there now? Put your brother on the phone. I want proof of life. That’s right, smart ass, I want proof you didn’t kill him.” Another moment passed. “Luke, you shouldn’t have given Ryan a wedgie when you know, number one you can’t, and number two I’m not there to protect you. Now listen carefully, if I come home and you three are at each other’s throats and chores are undone then you’ll find yourselves in bed right after dinner. I mean it. Pass the message on to your brothers and tell them I’m on the way.”