A Place to Call Home (32 page)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Hannah stayed out of the way while the MacDevin household had been a flurry of activity Saturday morning. Mac helped the boys pack for their camping trip with Grandpa. He rolled sleeping bags, checked flashlight batteries, packed bug spray, Band-Aids, disinfectant, antibiotic cream, aspirin and other medical supplies.

“Just in case,” Mac said. “All comes in handy with my three boys.”

Hannah packed the brownies and cookies she’d made special for the boys’ trip. Even Porkchop got to go camping.

By the time Aidan, Ryan, Luke and Porkchop climbed into Grandpa’s truck and were on their way it was nine in the morning.

Mac circled his arms around Hannah’s waist after he snuck up behind her at the kitchen sink where she washed her coffee mug. He swept her hair aside and greedily kissed her neck. She giggled and turned into his embrace, her hands resting on his hips.

“I can’t believe I have you to myself for a whole week, Hannah,” he said, walking backwards with her.

“Austin, what are you doing?”

“Going to take a shower.”

“If you plan on dragging me in there with you, you’re out of luck because I’ve already showered this morning.”

His smile became wicked and devious, sending a thrill through her.

“Then I guess I have to make you sweaty first so you’ll need another shower.” He bent quickly, slid an arm under her knees and lifted her with no trouble.

She screeched with delight. God, she loved his strength, the way he always had to touch her. He could turn her on with just a glance. He carried her to his bedroom and kicked the door shut.

“Did I mention I have a surprise for you, brat?” He laid her on the middle of the bed and slid his body over hers.

She tore at his shirt, needing him naked fast. “I bet you do.”

He laughed, kissing her lips and neck. His stubble scratched her skin, and a moan escaped her throat. “Not everything is about sex, you know.”

“Uh huh.” Her greedy hands worked their way into his sweatpants. When her hands felt only flesh, realizing he wore no boxers, her breathed hitched. “Oh, very sexy. You have a great ass, Austin.”

“And you, darling, have great tits.”

He pushed her T-shirt up and unhooked her bra. Lifting her toward him, he stripped her of them and laid her down before taking her breast into that warm mouth. The sensation sent a stream of heat straight to her pussy where wetness drenched her. She heard nothing but the strumming of her blood through her veins.

She massaged his erection, and his breathing deepened, his eyes darkening. The smell of sex hung in the morning air, the sultry scent of human arousal.

“Jesus, Hannah. I wanted to try to do this slow for once,” he said through ragged breaths.

“Okay. You go slow. I’ll go fast.” Her panting matched his, creating a dizzying effect.

“Like hell,” he growled.

Rolling off her, he stripped her then himself completely, and wasted no time putting on a condom. Climbing back over her, he thrust deeply into her with one stroke. She cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders to keep him against her. His mouth landed on hers, his tongue tasting her, claiming her, pleasing her. She floated on air, his kisses taking her breath away while his hips pumped into her, edging her closer to her reward. Never had she thought she could be so thoroughly fucked and made to feel like she was the sexiest, most special woman in the world. But with Mac she felt all that and more.

His mouth left hers to find her breast again. When he took the sensitive nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, nibbling, she thought she’d lose her mind with the orgasm building deep inside her. Every part of her body was on fire. She couldn’t touch him enough, disappointed when his ass wasn’t in her full reach thanks to his thrusting action.

“Austin! I love you,” she screamed, peaking, the wave of pleasure toppling over, dragging her into another world. A world where her body hummed and sang in all her private places. A world where Mac joined her with his own explosion.

“Jesus, Hannah,” he gasped, his strong arms circling her in a crushing embrace while his body became rigid, then trembled when he emptied into her.

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An hour later, Hannah and Mac stood under the stream of warm water in his shower.

“So what’s the big surprise for today?” Hannah asked while soaping Mac’s chest while he kissed her neck.

His black hair glistened from the water like a thousand diamonds. “You know, no matter how many times we make love, Hannah, I just can’t seem to get enough of you. Look at me. I’m hard again for you.”

She glanced down and found his manhood jutted out at an angle. “You’ve got a hand. Use it,” she teased and turned away, placing her face under the spray.

“Like hell.” Pulling her closer, he nuzzled her neck, his five o’clock shadow scratching her skin. “Want to make love in the shower?”

“What? Are you insane? We can’t possibly.” She turned back into his arms and noticing his massive body taking up so much room.

“Oh, we can. And we are, darling,” he said with a mischievous grin.

When he lifted her against his body, she wrapped her legs around his slippery waist.

“I guess I could be convinced.” She leaned forward to kiss his smiling lips, her tongue licking the outline of them, nipping at the corners.

“This time I want slow, Hannah. I want to enjoy every movement, feel all of you.” His voice was barely a whisper against her ear, the sound of the shower loud background noise.

“If you want. You’re the one who has to hold me the whole time.”

His muscles flexed, tightening their grasp on her. “Now if I didn’t know any better that sounded like a challenge.”

Keeping her effortlessly perched on his waist, her legs and arms holding her to him, his hands slid behind her to open a condom. Turning his back into the spray he sheathed his cock.

With his hands cupping her bottom, he raised her up and onto the length of him. She took him in, her arms clinging to his neck, her hips gyrating to take him in deeper. Having him fill her so completely, stretched her, awakening every nerve in her pussy.

Holding her as if she weighed nothing at all, he swayed, each movement molding his body against the sensitive nub at her opening. Tiny jolts of fire shot through her.

With the warm water flowing over her, their skin slippery and sleek, Hannah sank into the moment, enjoying every movement. Never would Hannah have guessed the smell of plain soap could be so erotic. But standing with Mac in his shower, riding his cock as he held her, she inhaled deep breaths, committing the scent to memory, knowing she’d never again be able to smell plain soap without wetting her panties.

Her pleasure built with a steady rise again, the slow rhythm of their loving teasing her to no end. With every move her body pulsed. With every sway of his hips her body begged for more. With every caress of his rough hands over her sensitive flesh her body heated until the familiar warning of her pleasure spiked. Deep inside where his erection stroked the walls of her womanhood, a tension wound as tightly as a yo-yo and then broke. The resulting intermittent wave of bliss rolled up and down inside her, along the length of him. Her spasms took her voice, leaving her speechless for once in her life. Mac’s loving never disappointed her. He always left her feeling like she had been the only woman in the world, the only focus of his attention. God, she loved that about him.

Mac drew circles on her back, making lazy strokes from her neck to her bottom and all over again. She didn’t think she had the energy to move her legs, leaving them wrapped around Mac’s muscular body a definite option if not a necessity. If he put her on her feet, she’d probably slide down the drain, unable to hold herself up after that exquisite passion.

“The water’s cold, baby,” he said after washing away the remnants of their loving before turning off the valves. Still holding her, he stepped from the tub and wrapped her in a towel.

“I don’t think I can stand,” she whispered, her body completely sated and relaxed.

With a laugh, he carried her to his bedroom, laying her on the bed gently. After drying off, he dressed while she watched him from the bed.

His long frame, tanned from the South Carolina sun, moved with the stealth of a tiger. Toned and muscular, he ignited desires deep within her every time she caught his handsome face looking her way. Sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder why her. How did she of all people come to be in the arms of such a great man? She could offer him nothing.

“So what’s the surprise, Austin?”

“I’m taking you on a date.”

She stood wobbly and wrapped the towel around her. “A real date? Are you serious?”

He nodded, his gaze roaming her body. “I am. We’re going to visit Beaufort where you’ll find some things for the restaurant.”

“Oh, really? Now I’m very interested. Tell me.” Gathering her clothes, she dressed and listened.

“I’m taking you on a day trip to a place in Beaufort where we can relax for the day, enjoy some sightseeing, and enjoy a fine cooked meal prepared by someone else.”

“Oh, sounds wonderful. I’d love to check out some of the competition in the area.”

Sitting on the end of his bed, he tied his sneakers. “By that, I hope you mean for your restaurant and not for me.”

Dressed in light blue jean shorts and a pink tank top, Hannah brushed her long hair before braiding it. “Afraid I want to replace you already, Austin? Stop it. You have no competition.”

“Ah, but you’re wrong. I have to compete with your need to run from place to place without settling down. Be warned, I’m working on changing that, darling.”

She remained silent, not knowing how to reply. She couldn’t think about what would happen when the time came for her to leave. Hadn’t it been increasingly difficult to
want
to leave?

He stood and faced her, hands on his hips, a serious expression. “I love you, Hannah. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I got too scared. I didn’t plan on blurting it out like this but what the hell. You should know how I feel about you.”

Oh. My. God. Her eyes watered, her heart pounded. “I thought maybe you did, but it’s wonderful to hear the words.”

“Will you stay in Charleston, Hannah?” He stared at her, his bright blue eyes filled with hope.

Her heart swelled. “I’m thinking about it.”

“Good. I just had to ask is all,” he said, marching across the room before turning back to her. “Hannah?”

“Uh huh?”

“Think hard. Think very hard,” he whispered.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

After their long weekend alone, Hannah reluctantly drove with Mac to her house to get back to work, wishing she could have stayed in bed with her sexy lover. She disappeared upstairs to her apartment while Aidan and Mac finished the final renovations. How time had flown by. So much had happened over the past months, and the construction of her latest restaurant that normally would have demanded her entire focus had been the least of her concerns. The MacDevin men had become too important to her to be overshadowed by her work. It didn’t matter that opening night would be in a few days. Her time here wasn’t ending, it was just beginning.

She danced around her apartment with the giddiness of a schoolgirl. Waiting until the grand opening to tell Mac and the boys that she had planned to stay Charleston had been such a difficult secret to keep—especially when Mac had made it clear he didn’t want her to leave. But he’d given her the time and space she needed to form her decision. She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when she made her announcement.

Her cell phone rang, and she picked it up. Glancing at the caller I.D., she didn’t recognize the number.
Please don’t let it be Mother, hitting me up for more money.

“Hello, Hannah. Jane VonFlagan. I’d think twice before hanging up. I have something you’ll like to hear.”

Hannah clenched her fist. “There’s nothing I want to hear from you, Jane.”

“Oh, I think you will if it involves the boys.”

Hannah froze. “What about them?”

“That’s what I thought. I knew you’d be reasonable where the boys were involved.”

“Jane, I’m very busy.” Anger pulsed through her at the other woman’s tone. She had a friggin’ nerve. “Is there something you want?”

“You could say that. You see I’m going to fight Mac for custody of the boys.”

Hannah’s stomach turned and her heart pounded. “What would you do with three boys, Jane? You said yourself you didn’t want them.”

“I don’t but I’m a multi-millionaire and will send their asses to boarding school and separate ones, too, so they can’t see each other.”

Hannah saw red like never before. “You’re cruel.”

“Ah, but I’m their mother. I can do what I want. And as for Aidan, I’ll send his ass to military school. That’ll teach him to be rude to me.”

Hot tears ran down Hannah’s cheeks. God, she had to get Mac. He needed to deal with this, not her. “Please don’t do this, Jane. The boys need to be with Mac. Their life is here.”

Jane laughed, the deep, hollow sound disturbing.

Hannah’s temper boiled, but she couldn’t let it rule now. “Mac will fight you, Jane. He’ll never give up his boys.”

“Hannah, I thought that someone like you who came from nothing and now has some money would understand wealth truly does buy anything. I have enough assets to take those kids from Mac. Judges can be bought, bitch. I can have emergency custody by morning.”

“On what grounds?” Hannah demanded.

“Because of you, of course. Because I don’t want my kids exposed to your father or your mother, who you can’t seem to escape. I know all about you, Hannah. It’s amazing what private detectives can find out when paid well enough.”

Shaking, Hannah tried to take a breath but found it all but impossible. “Have you told this to Mac?”

“No. I wanted to share with you first.” Her words were frosted with sweetness.

“Why me?”

“Well, because, Hannah, dear, you can fix the situation very easily.”

Hannah had a sinking feeling in her gut, like she stood on a tight rope and someone wanted to shake her off of it. “How?”

“Simple, dear. You leave town. I’ve kept tabs on you since our wrestling match. Your restaurant opens in three days. You’ll leave Mac and the boys the next day and never come back. If you don’t agree then when I hang up I’ll be calling Mac to let him know I’ll be picking the kids up in the morning with my emergency custody order.”

“And if I leave you won’t try for custody?”

She laughed. “Why would I? You’d be out of the picture.”

“Jane, what’s so wrong with me being in the picture? I love those boys and would never do anything to hurt them.”

“Told you, when I get bored, well, I like to find something to amuse myself. If what you say about the boys is true then you’ll leave in four days, or you’ll be responsible for their lives being turned upside down. Believe me, I will do it.”

Defeated, Hannah had no choice but to give in. “Please don’t, Jane. I’ll leave.”

“I knew you’d see it my way. Oh, and one more thing, Hannah.”

“What’s that, Jane?” Devastation engulfed Hannah. How could she agree to never see Mac or the boys again? What would her life be without them? Without their smiles, their arguments…their love?

“If you mention our little conversation today to Mac, I’ll go for custody. Keep this between us, leave town quietly, and Mac can keep his boys.”

“I understand.” The one person she needed most couldn’t help her now.

The phone disconnected, and Hannah collapsed to the floor crying. Her heart ripped into pieces. Memories of the past months rushed through her mind. How content she’d been. The way the boys gave her unconditional love. The way Mac made love to her, challenged her, accepted her. Just when her life pleased her, this happens.

Money can buy anything Jane had pointed out. Money couldn’t buy happiness, though.

Hannah wanted to stay in Charleston. For once in her life, she had planned to set down roots. Now she would be forced to leave. Why was fate so cruel to her? What had she ever done to deserve this?

Hannah wracked her brain for an hour but didn’t see a way out of this mess. She had money too, but what good would it be when she couldn’t have the man she loved? All the events of the last months continued to roll through her brain, fueling her need to defeat Jane’s wretched plan to rip Hannah from Mac and the boys.

Since when had Hannah O’Leary ever given up? Never. And she wasn’t about to start now. Not when the men she loved needed her.

She’d play Jane’s game. But the bitch didn’t know Hannah aimed to win. She picked up the phone and dialed. She would make her money work too. She only hoped she had enough to find dirt on Jane and keep her from breaking up the MacDevin family.

Patience. Hannah needed lots of it now. Not her strong point by any means. But for Mac and the boys, Hannah would do anything. She belonged with them, and she’d be damned if a callous, deranged bitch like Jane robbed her of the life she’d been searching for since she was a little girl.

When the phone was answered on the other end, she said, “Hi, my name is Hannah O’Leary and I need to hire a damn good private detective. Money’s no object. Just get the job done and you’ll be compensated.”

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Two days later, after Jane’s phone call, Hannah ventured to see Mac down in the restaurant. “Austin, can I talk to you?”

“Uh oh. That tone sounds serious. Which kid did what?” He stood in front of her, his hands on his hips, braced for the worst.

Her heart pounded, her mouth went dry. If only she could tell him the truth.

“It’s not the kids. It’s me. I’m not late. I got my period.”

“Oh,” he said, his lips remaining firm, his shoulders slumped a little. “Okay.”

She didn’t dare touch him for fear of collapsing into his arms and telling him everything. The way he despised Jane only meant that he’d challenge her, go after her with all he had. If he did that, then Jane would get the kids. Hannah couldn’t tell him, couldn’t risk it. She just couldn’t. “You sound disappointed. I thought it was good news.”

He shrugged. “I told you I wouldn’t mind another child, especially with you. You’d look so damn sexy pregnant. Guess I may have gotten use to the idea.” He buried his face into her hair. “But there’s plenty of time to make babies.”

“Yeah, um, about that, Austin.” Shrugging off his embrace, she stepped back from him, her heart aching with a pain she’d never experienced before. But she had to do this for him, for Aidan, Ryan and Luke. Keeping Mac with his boys was the only thing that mattered.

“Now I
know
I don’t like the sound of that tone. What’s wrong, Hannah?” His gaze pierced her.

“I found a new location for my next restaurant,” she lied.

“You did, huh?”

“Yeah. Great location. It’s in Savannah, Georgia. It’s close. I could visit some time maybe.” She swallowed hard, unable to dislodge the lump in her throat. “I leave the day after the opening.”

 “You can visit? You leave in two days?” He flinched, the shock visible on his face. His bright blues eyes lost their luster, and his mouth hung open for a minute before his jaw clamped shut. “So that’s it, Hannah? This is how it ends?”

Her heart shattered into a million pieces. “I’m sorry, Austin. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”

“Bullshit. What’s going on, Hannah?” He grabbed her by the arms, pulled her against him.

“What? Nothing. I found my next restaurant. That’s all.”

“Really? So you really have been just playing house these last months.”

Sucking in her breath, she wanted to blurt out the truth but she couldn’t risk Mac’s custody. “No. I haven’t and you know damn well I haven’t.”

“Then tell me what’s so damn important about Georgia. You said you were thinking about staying in Charleston.” His voice shook her to the bone.

“I was. I did think about it and decided against it.” God, she hated the lying. “Oh, Austin, can’t we just be glad for the time we shared together and remain friends?”

He stared. “Wow. Wham bam thank you, Mac. Is that how it is?”

“No. Please don’t make this any harder than it is.”

“Then if it’s hard why the fuck are you leaving, Hannah?” His frown deepened, his eyes narrowed. “Still having issues about your past and your miserable parents? Well, get over it and grow up.”

“Don’t you dare talk to me that way.”

“I’ll talk to you any damn way I please. I’m not going to beg you to stay, Hannah. I said I loved you. I’m not taking that back even if you’re throwing it into my face.”

“No. No, I’m not. Please just please understand, Austin. I have to do this.” Her hands clutched his T-shirt.

“Yeah. Well, then you tell the kids you’re leaving.” He turned and stomped away.

“What? Austin. Wait.”

He whirled around to face her. “I promise you, Hannah. If you leave them a fucking note saying goodbye, I’ll never speak to you again. They deserve for you to tell them to their faces that you’re leaving.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her knees shook and her stomach turned with violent spasms.

“You know, I’ve been calling you the wrong name all along. You’re not a brat. You’re a cold, heartless…” He ground his teeth together and growled. “I don’t even want to look at you.” He stomped away.

She ran upstairs, wiping furiously at her face to get rid of the tears. Crying never accomplished anything. But she just couldn’t stop the tears that flowed down her face.

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If Hannah thought telling Mac she had to leave had been hard, well, she couldn’t be prepared for what would to come when she told the boys that night while Mac stood in the background of his parlor.

Aidan slumped on the couch, his brows knitted, arms folded. “Guess you made up your mind, Hannah. Not much we can say.”

Sitting on the edge of the couch hadn’t been comfortable. “I’m sorry, Aidan, but I have work to do.”

“You can’t do that work while you live in Charleston?” Ryan asked, his voice rising.

“It’s not that easy,” she whispered.

“Thought you liked Dad,” Aidan said.