Page 18 of Mac

“A friend?” He frowned. “Who?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, a friend. Evelyn and I work together at the diner.”

I couldn’t figure out why he was grilling me about what I was doing today. “This your phone?” Mac asked, picking up my beat-up cell phone that was still on my bed. It drew him even closer into my personal space. This close up, he was even more attractive. I could smell hints of leather and smoke, but also an earthy, desert fresh scent over that.

“Yes. Why?” I asked, my throat dry.

“I want to give you my number, in case you need me for anything,” he stated casually, programming his number in my phone, his own buzzing a few seconds later.

Those last words reverberated in my skull:In case you need me for anything.

“I don’t need anything from anybody,” I stated, softly.

He smiled again, this time, not so nicely. “Just remember this one thing, Kate. Anything you need, I’ll be there. Whenever you want me, I won’t hesitate.”

The heat in his voice slithered through my veins like molten lava. Speechless, I could feel my whole face get blazing hot again at his innuendo, something Mac always managed to do at least once when we saw each other, which was rare, and probably a good thing or I would have burned up into ash by now.

“Good seeing you, sweetheart,” Mac said as he opened the door and, without a backward glance, left.

I stood there like an idiot, still processing everything and my heart racing fast in my chest. I was hot all over, and my brain was mush.

It was cowardly, but I waited to leave my room until I knew Mac was gone and I’d calmed down. Once I sat behind the driver’s seat of my car, I reflected on our interaction that had just occurred. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the way Mac looked at me during our conversation.

I didn’t know what it signaled, only that something had happened. His words kept playing over and over in my head the whole car ride to the Strip, where I was meeting Evelyn, and I couldn’t shake this idea that Mac and me...well...there was definitely something to be worked out between us. And I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or worried.