A Place to Call Home (30 page)

Aidan was pale, his expression serious. “Almost the whole time you have. I waited on the stairs in case you needed me. I heard everything. I even contemplated pushing the drunken fool down the stairs when he stomped out of here.”

“I told you to stay downstairs and call the sheriff.”

“I did. The sheriff arrived. Needs to talk to you about whether charges need to be pressed or not. I pointed out her father, and they’re going to drive him to the town line and dump him off.”

“You should’ve stayed downstairs,” Mac said, his voice filled with concern. “You could’ve been hurt.”

Aidan stood tall, his gaze on his father’s. “I had your back, Dad. Even if you didn’t need it, I wanted to be here. For Hannah too.” Aidan turned and stared at Hannah. “I’m really sorry you have such a horrible dad, Hannah.”

She offered a weak smile and continued to hug Mac, her cheek resting against his tear-soaked T-shirt. “And I’m glad I have such a great one,” Aidan said giving his attention back to Mac. “I’ll never tell you you’re mean again, Dad. Not after seeing and hearing what mean really is. I’ll be downstairs.”

“Aidan,” Mac called and waited for his son to face him, keeping Hannah in his arms. “Good job, son. You made me real proud the way you helped Hannah today. You’ve grown into a fine young man. Now go down and tell the sheriff to get her father the hell out of here then tell the guys it’s a wrap for today.”

Aidan beamed, pride bursting from his eyes. “No problem. I’ll take care of the clean up. You just take care of Hannah.”

“Christ, when did he get so mature?” Mac mumbled into Hannah’s hair while he held her, rubbing her back.

“He’s a great kid. Takes after his dad.” She sighed. “So I take it by your rapid response up here you understood the message I sent with Aidan.”

He snorted. “Hell, yeah. I knew something was wrong when you were so agreeable. When he said your father was here, I told him to call the sheriff. Then I ran up here but you had it under control, baby.” He squeezed her. “Now it’s all over. After hearing you talk about your childhood, I’ve never wanted to kill a man with my bare hands before like I did today. He won’t ever hurt you again.”

Mac lifted her and carried her to her bed. When he tucked her under the sheets, she gave in to exhaustion and shut her eyes, praying she would sleep without nightmares.

Chapter Thirty-Four

With Aidan’s help, Mac convinced Hannah to stay with them again for a couple of days just to make sure her father had left town. Having someone care that much about her overwhelmed her. It had been three days and the emotional scars had been still so sore.

Hannah tried to get back into a routine. She had been psyched now that Luke’s sling no longer needed to be worn. With Aidan up at the crack of dawn each day with Mac to get to work, Hannah had time to herself to catch up on restaurant business.

She spent the morning creating new sandwich recipes for the restaurant and packed them for her new group of guinea pigs—Mac and his employees.

“Okay, Ryan and Luke, I’ll be gone for a little bit. I want to see those drawings when I get back. Okay?” Hannah said.

“Mine’s done,” Ryan said, holding up his paper.

“No fair. You’re older,” Luke complained staring at Ryan’s work.

Hannah slipped into the parlor where the boys had camped out. “Now, Luke, everyone goes at their own pace. This isn’t a race.” She took the paper and stared at the design. “Ryan, you did trace this, or is it freehand?”

“Freehand. Only babies trace things.”

“I only traced a little and that was the lizard,” Luke said defensively.

“Ryan, apologize,” Hannah said while she studied the drawing. When she heard nothing, she looked up and cleared her throat.

“Sorry, Luke, for calling you baby.”

Holding up the paper, Hannah studied the drawing. “Ryan, this is excellent. I really like the concept you have going on here.”

“Really?” Ryan rose to stand beside her.

“The O’Leary Coat of Arms, surrounded by the number seven, and lucky symbols. Your concept is my seventh restaurant, and the number seven is lucky so that’s why you used the symbols.”

Ryan pumped the air with his fist. “Yes! You got it. I was hoping you’d figure it out.”

He danced around and she laughed.

“Can I take this with me?” she said. “I promise to bring it back.”

“Sure. I’ll see if I can come up with something better.”

“Don’t bother. This is what I want, Ryan,” she said with excitement. “This is it. The new cover for my adult menu. I’ll have to talk to your agent about buying it from you.”

He frowned. “Buying it? My agent?”

“Your dad, silly.”

“Oh. But it’s not for sale, Hannah,” he said without hesitation.

“Oh? It’s not?” Her excitement faded. “But I thought you were helping me out with a design for my menus.”

“I am but I’m not selling it. I’m giving it. I won’t take any money for it. And that’s final. And I doubt you’ll convince my so-called agent any differently,” he said, crossing his arms.

She stared at him, studying his stance. She glanced at Luke then back to Ryan. “Do you know you all do that? You, your brothers, and your father.”

“Do what?” he asked, glancing back at Luke confused.

“Stand like that when you’ve set your mind to something.” She nodded. “Okay, sport. I’ll take this with immense gratitude and will be back. I made sandwiches for lunch. They’re in the fridge. Luke, I want to see your drawings when I get back. And what’s the number one rule, Luke?”

“Color in the lines,” he said, not looking up.

She laughed. “Okay. Then what’s the number two rule? The one your dad has been drilling into your head all week?”

“Oh, no climbing trees or anything more than a foot off the ground.”

“You got it. Okay, gentlemen. I’m off to my errands.”

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Hannah passed out the cold sandwiches and sweet tea she’d prepared for lunch. “Now I want your honest opinion please,” she told the six men, including Mac and Aidan. “Tell me if something’s too salty, too dull, maybe too much of one ingredient and not enough of another.”

“Can we comment on the ambience?” Mac asked.

“What? Oh, well, I guess. But why would you?” She stopped in front of him staring down where he sat on the floor.

“Because if you keep talking we’ll have headaches for sure.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “Lunch time is for peace.”

She perched her hands on her hips. “Oh, really? This coming from a guy who works with power tools.”

“Exactly why we need peace at lunch. We hear noise all day long.”

“So now I’m noise?” she said, insulted, and moved away from him.

“Good going, Dad,” Aidan said. “You put her into a temper, you deal with her.”

“Don’t I always?” Mac asked, not hiding the sarcasm in his voice.

Who did he think he was talking about? Her breath caught. “Deal with me? I’d like to see you try to deal with me, Austin MacDevin.”

“Oh, hell.” Mac dropped his unopened sandwich down on his plate, swigged the ice tea, and stood. Striding over to Hannah, he lifted her over his shoulders and carried her from the room.

“Austin, just what the hell do you think you’re doing now? I don’t have time for your games.”

He held her firmly in place and walked into the kitchen where he plopped her onto the marble counter.

Her hands rested on the cool stone and she glared at him. “And you talk about me wasting time and…” She looked down. “Oh my God…the counters. They’re installed.” Glancing around the room, she took in the glint of brushed aluminum finish. “Oh, and the appliances.”

“Surprise,” he said, his lopsided grin sexy as hell. “Now I’m going to go eat my lunch while you look around in here.” He turned to walk to the door.

“Austin.” She scooted off the counter and waltzed around the kitchen.

He stopped and turned back. “Yes, dear.”

Her smile came easily. “Don’t think I don’t know you just banished me from the other room like you would a child.”

He smirked. “And how did I do that, brat?”

“By getting me in here to play with all my new toys,” she screeched and folded her hands, giddy with excitement.

He laughed. “Knock yourself out.”

After Mac left Hannah in the kitchen, she forgot time and remained there for two hours.

“Austin,” she called him over to the entranceway in the room where he worked.

He marched toward her, his tool belt swinging low on his hips. “So does the kitchen meet with your approval?”

“Oh, absolutely. Do you have a minute for me to show you something?”

His blue eyes sparked. “Now as exciting as that sounds, darling, I really can’t do a booty call right now.”

Slapping at his chest, she showed him Ryan’s sketch. “Get your mind out of the gutter and look at this. I had a professional artist draw this up for my adult menus. But I don’t know if it’s any good. What do you think?”

He took the sketch and studied it. “Wow, that’s pretty cool. I like the symbols around the Coat of Arms. That’s pretty ingenious.”

“I thought so too. So I’m going to use this for the menu and probably for the advertising.”

He handed it back. “That should make the artist very happy.”

“Oh, it has. You know him.”

“Really?” Mac’s cell phone rang. He dug it out. “Christ, it’s home. This better not be another possible broken arm,” Mac said into the receiver.

Hannah’s heart pounded when the color drained from Mac’s face.
Oh, no not again! I only just left the boys a few hours ago.
After he hung up and hollered for Aidan, she said, “Austin, what is it?”

“Seems it’s the week for long-lost relatives,” he said, running a dusty hand through his hair. “That was Luke. My ex-wife is at my house.”

“What?” Aidan said strolling in on the conversation.

“You heard me. Your mother is in town. Come on. I need to get home.” He headed for the door and yelled, “Sorry, Hannah. I’ll talk to you later.”

Mac and Aidan sped away. Hannah dragged herself up to her apartment and sat on her bed.” Jealousy ripped into her. Her heart ached, knowing Mac headed off to see another woman. Was Mac happy to have his ex-wife home? The kids would be happy to see her no doubt. Where would Hannah fit into all of this? Would Mac reconcile with his ex after she’d abandoned him? After all she was the mother of his three boys. Three kids is a lot to have in common.

Well, he sure did run home without a second thought. He must miss her a little, right? They’d been together what, over ten years? That was a lot more than the few weeks Hannah had been with Mac.” She focused on her hands in her lap, picking at her unpainted nails. What was she worried about anyway? Mac wasn’t hers. He was free to do whatever he wanted. And when an ex-wife, mother of your children, rolls back into town it was bound to make a man re-think his relationship, maybe even consider getting back together.

Hannah lay down on her bed, closed her eyes and hugged her pillow wishing it were Mac. She inhaled deeply and could still smell his shampoo on the pillowcase. Would he think of her once he arrived back at his house? When would she see him again? She’d been silly for getting used to his presence. Served her right to feel lonely now that he had obligations that didn’t include her. If she had protected her heart like she’d always done, then the stabbing pain in the middle of her chest wouldn’t be there right now.

She rubbed her fist over her heart, unable to dispel the ache.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Hannah awoke startled three hours later. After falling asleep, she hadn’t heard Mac enter her bedroom but his hand on her leg shaking her awake had gotten her attention.

She stared at him. “Oh, Austin. It’s you. Oh. You scared me.”

“Sorry. I let myself in because you didn’t answer the doorbell,” he said softly, brushing her hair from her face, his fingers heating her skin.

“I must’ve fallen asleep. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” With a slow movement she sat against the headboard and stared at her hands, her heart pounding at what he might have to say to her. Would he tell her his wife wants him back?

Mac’s fingers lifted her chin until her gaze caught his. “Jane is leaving tomorrow. She’s not staying, Hannah.”

“That’s her name?” Hannah stared into deep blue eyes. “Jane?”

“Yeah. She’s only in the States for some golf tournament in Florida. So she had her private jet fly her to South Carolina to see the kids. My house looked pretty damn funny with a Mercedes stretch limo parked outside it,” he said, half laughing.

“Austin, shouldn’t you be there with her?”

He stared at her like she had three heads. “You got a head injury or something? The last place I want to be is where she is. She’s here to visit the kids, not me. She screwed up again and gave Ryan his birthday present.”

“Ryan? But his birthday isn’t for six more months.”

He stared. “Jesus, Hannah. See what I mean? You know her kids better than she does. She mistook Aidan’s for Ryan’s.”

Hannah filled with rage. “What? She did that to Aidan?”

Mac sighed. “Yeah. It’s not the first time. Then when Ryan informed her it wasn’t his birthday she simply took the envelope she’d handed to Ryan and gave it to Aidan.”

“What? She gave Aidan a birthday card intended for his brother?”

Shrugging, he let his hand drop to rest on her thigh. “Jane never puts names. She just signs her name. Not Mom either. Jane. That’s what she wants the kids to call her.”

Just when she didn’t think she could be any more stunned. “Oh my, God.”

His laugh hadn’t been humorous. “Of course they don’t. They call her Mom just to piss her off. Well, at least Aidan and Ryan do since Luke is still too young and calls her Mom automatically.”

“Good. I’m glad they stick it to the bitch.”

Smiling, his face relaxed. “Me too. I promised them they’d never get punished. Not for treating her like she treats them. What’s fair is fair. Aidan resents her, wants nothing to do with her. In fact, he’s at his girlfriend’s house now. He didn’t care if Jane was at the house.”

Hannah’s heart broke for the children. “I don’t blame him.”

Mac appeared exhausted, his eyelids heavy, dark smudges beneath his eyes. “Me either. Ryan tries to follow Aidan’s lead but you can tell he’s torn. I don’t think he misses Jane but more like misses having a mom. And Luke, well, he’s happy to see her. He’s always the hardest to deal with after one of her visits. He never understands why he has a mom but she doesn’t live with us.”

Tears welled in Hannah’s eyes. Poor little Luke. A kid needed a mother. “Some people just don’t deserve to have kids.”

Glancing up at the ceiling, he let out a slow breath. “I know what you mean.”

“But I’m glad you were married to Jane, Austin. She gave you those wonderful boys. If that’s all she ever did for you then at least you have that. That’s more than most people get out of bad relationships.”

His gaze focused on her again, staring until he reached behind her neck to pull her lips to his. The gentle kiss barely skimmed her lips. His fingers caressed her skin sending shivers down her spine. “You really are something else Hannah O’Leary. You have the biggest heart I’ve ever seen in a woman and remember, my mother and sister ooze love. But you win flat out.”

God, she loved the feel of his hands. “I’m glad you stopped by, Austin. I thought that maybe you wouldn’t, well, since Jane was in town, that she’d take up your time.”

“Only long enough for me to point her in the direction of the highway.”

Hannah laughed. He stood, lifting her with him.

“I came by to pick you up.”

Her eyes widened. “For what?”

“An adult sleepover,” he whispered, his hands sliding over her bottom, her skin tingling from the contact.

“Are you insane? I’m not going near your house while your ex is there.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ll stay here until she leaves.”

His expression seemed painful. “She’s not sleeping there. Oh, hell no. She’s going to a hotel. Plus, she’s gone by now. Said she’d be back tomorrow late morning to say goodbye to the boys.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I have my T-shirt waiting for you.” He bent and kissed her mouth. “Come on, my little brat. I need to get to bed.”

“Austin, if you were tired you should’ve just stayed home,” she said, sitting at the end of her bed to tug on her sneakers. Her body tingled with the thought of sleeping in his arms again.

“I said nothing about being tired.”

Raining her head, there could be no mistaking the meaning in his words. She’d never felt so desirable in her life. She rose and took his hand. “Oh. Well, in that case come on.”

“Hannah.” He held her in front of him. “You will tell me right away if you’re late, right?”

Did he mean what she thought? Had he worried too? Her heart sank. “Late for what?”

“You might be pregnant.” His expression had been relaxed, not the worried look she’d expected once he’d realized their mistake. “You know we weren’t too careful that day in my office. I let lust take control and I’ve never done that before. I’ve always been careful. Did you think I didn’t know I forgot a condom?”

She splayed her hands across his chest. “It just was never a good time to broach the subject, I guess.”

His frown had her glancing away.

“Wrong,” he said and trailed his fingers over her cheek. “You planned to shoulder the worry by yourself.”

“Honestly, Austin. I’d let you know right away if I were pregnant.”

“I know. But there’s no need for you to wait out the days by yourself, right? So we use condoms but if it turns out you’re pregnant then, well, I’ve always wanted a daughter.” His smile had been so genuine her heart swelled with more love than she’d ever known.

Grinning, she kissed him for a brief moment. “I thought you’d be mortified having another child after you already have three grown boys.”

He massaged the side of her neck sending delicious shivers down to her toes. She wanted to take him and throw him on her bed.

“They’re not grown yet,” he said. “And remember, I never got fixed. That was the ex who stopped wanting kids. I love kids.”

Wow, talking about babies made the circumstances so real. The conversation was too intimate to handle now. So much had happened today thinking of the future seemed impossible.

“I know you do. Can we not dwell on it though? It’s a little scary to think about. I promise to tell you the minute I’m late if I am. But for tonight I want to do things to you that will take your breath away.” For emphasis, she nibbled his jaw, the stubble tickling her skin.

“Now see I like a woman who takes charge,” Mac said, grabbing her by the hand, shutting off her lights and locking her door.

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Mac needed to hold Hannah like never before. The wounded look in her eyes earlier when he’d announced Jane’s arrival at his house had broken his heart. No way Hannah could leave town, leave behind what they had together. He needed to convince her to stay, at least to give them the chance to see where their relationship went. She was the woman he wanted in his life.

“Candles, Austin? I didn’t know you liked romance,” Hannah said.

Mac lit the candles he’d scrounged up and arranged on the bureau. “I should’ve shown you romance before tonight, baby. Now I plan to make it up to you.”

She raised a brow. “Oh, really? Do tell.”

He gathered her into his arms. “Nope. Just gonna show you.”

When his lips sucked on the side of her neck, she moaned, the soft sounds encouraging him in his seduction. He cupped her breast through her shirt, pinching the nipple when it pressed against the fabric of her shirt.

“I want to taste you, Hannah.”

A shudder coursed through her. She ran her hands over his back, but he had to keep control of the situation or before long he’d be the one seduced, and then his plan to convince her to stay would be blown.

His hands on her shoulders, he manipulated the skin with a delicate massage. Her head tilted side to side in a slow motion.

“Oh, God. That feels too good.”

She melted before his eyes. Under his touch, the tension left her muscles. Her body yielded to him only furthering his desire. Undressing her proved simple. She moved with him, allowing him to drag her clothes from her body. Standing completely naked before him, she’d never looked so hot and gorgeous. Her lust-filled eyes captured the dance of the candle flames behind him on the bureau.

“I have purely selfish reasons for this seduction, Hannah, darling.” He lifted her, setting her in the middle of the bed.

“What’s that?” Her arms circled his neck, her gorgeous, long hair splayed around her head like a red halo.

He cupped each breast, his thumbs tweaking the stiff nipples, earning a cry of pleasure from her. “I want to give you incentive to stick around here. I’m enjoying the hell out of you, Hannah, and not just in bed. Just have to say that.”

He didn’t give her a chance to debate. Instead, he moved his arms beside her to hold his weight off of her and covered her mouth with his. Now that she understood his intentions, she could think about more than just bolting from town after the renovations were complete. In the meantime, he’d be sure to give her plenty of memories.

His tongue pressed between her lips, diving into the warmth of her mouth. He trailed the inside, keeping a slow rhythm, wanting her to enjoy his kiss. Her tongue met his, twisted around it, challenged it. God, she tasted delicious. The slight hint of the mint candy she had sucked on in the truck still lingered. Having a front row seat to her tossing the candy around her mouth had driven his imagination wild, and he’d wished it had been the head of his cock she had pleasured with such attention.

He deepened the kiss. She had to know that she consumed his thoughts every minute of every day. Every dream revolved around her–that hot body and that fiery temper. But telling her all this would only make her think he’d said it to keep her here. He needed to show her how he felt. He still had plenty of time left to work on proving to her that staying in Charleston could work.

“Austin,” she whispered when he tore his mouth from hers to devour her breast.

Sucking on the pink tip had his cock raging to feel her pussy wrapped around him. “So beautiful, Hannah,” he said and switched the other breast, giving it the same attention. “So fucking hot.”

The other nipple responded to his touch, hardening to a tight bud. She arched her back, pushing her breast further into his mouth and driving him wild in the process.

“Austin. I want to feel you…inside me,” she gasped.

He trailed wet kisses down her belly to her inner thigh. Her legs opened, allowing him to settle between them. With his shoulders keeping her knees parted, his hands went to work on driving her insane with need.

“Your pussy is dripping with your hot juices. Been dying to taste you again, Hannah.”

Her fists clenched in the sheets. “Oh, God. Yes. Yes.”

Not wanting to rush the moment, Mac took his time running his tongue up and down her inner thighs, alternating legs, each pass getting closer to the soft reddish-brown curls blanketing her mound. It excited him to see she’d kept her bikini area neatly trimmed. Maybe he could eventually ask her to shave all of the hair off so he could enjoy the softness of her bare pussy lips.