Page 44 of Mack

“Still finishing the report. After that I’m heading to the hospital to interview the drivers.”

Sam nodded. “Be careful out there.”

“Yes, sir.” Mack walked back to his office, settled behind his desk, and got to work.

****

Mallory unlocked the front door of the shop and stepped inside, exhaling at the warmth after the bite of the morning air. She turned to pull the door shut and her eyes drifted across the street to the courthouse parking lot.

Mack’s black Silverado was there.

She smiled before she could stop herself, just knowing he was in there somewhere, at his desk, drinking bad breakroom coffee and working on his reports. She shook her head at herself and went to turn the music on, then crossed to the back office to get her Keurig going. She had a cup of coffee and a few minutes of quiet before she flipped the sign to open, and she intended to make the most of both.

By noon, the shop had finally slowed. The tourists were gone now, but she was still very busy.

The door opened and a blast of cold air came in ahead of him. She felt herself warm up anyway.

Mack stepped inside, the brim of his hat and the shoulders of his coat dusted with snow. He glanced around the empty shop.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” She smiled. “No customers for once. Would you like coffee?”

“No thanks. I wanted to see if you’d come to lunch.”

“I’d love to. Give me a minute.”

She walked back to her office and the moment she was through the door she pressed her hand flat against her stomach and stood there for a second.

She was glad he’d come. She hadn’t been sure he would, even after everything he’d said Saturday night. Even after he’d told her he wasn’t going anywhere. Some part of her had spent the last two days waiting for the version of events where he’d thought better of it.

“He said he’d call,” she whispered. “And he’s here.”

She grabbed her coat, and purse, then went back out front.

Mack straightened when she came back out and reached for her coat, holding it open for her. She shook her head even as she slipped her arms in.

“What?” he said.

“Your manners.”

“My parents raised me right.” He settled the coat on her shoulders. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

She pulled the door shut behind them and locked it, dropping her keys into her purse. Mack moved to the outside of the sidewalk without thinking about it, and took her mitten covered hand in his gloved one.

They walked to the diner through the snow.

Connie had their orders in before they’d fully settled onto their stools, which Mallory was starting to understand was just how things worked when you came in enough times. She unwound her scarf and wrapped her hands around the coffee Connie set in front of her without being asked.

Mack had the same.

They sat close enough that their shoulders nearly touched, and she was aware of it, but she didn’t mind being aware anymore. Progress, she supposed.

“How bad was the accident?” she asked.

“Bad enough. Interviewed both drivers this morning.” He turned his cup in his hands. “Both going to be fine. Lucky considering that road.”