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“I didn’t get to see you yesterday,” Jenna said, hoping this encounter wasn’t as awkward as it was feeling.
“I heard you went to dinner with Amy and Nathan. I love that my girls have found two wonderful men who clearly make them so happy.”
Jenna swallowed the lump of guilt as Mac slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his side. The support he silently gave her was humbling. He was always giving, especially a few moments ago when he’d been ready to give her himself.
But that was not a thought she could entertain right now.
“Well, don’t let me keep you two,” Mary went on, waving her hand. “I need to finish my morning walk and then head to my massage. I may never leave this place.”
Jenna instantly found herself wrapped in her mother’s arms. “You look so happy, darling,” her mom whispered in her ear before pulling away. Mary squeezed Jenna’s shoulders and blinked back tears. “This is exactly the life I wanted for you. A strong man who will treat you right. Both of my girls are settling down.”
Quickly, Jenna pasted a smile on her face, keeping up with the farce that had snowballed out of control.
After one more quick hug, Mary pulled away and patted Mac on the shoulder. “You’re perfect for her.”
As her mother made her way down the beach, Jenna wrestled into her cover-up, keeping her back to Mac who hadn’t said a word. She suddenly felt awful. This wasn’t right. None of it.
But as soon as she turned, that desire in Mac’s eyes was still evident and she couldn’t be strong enough for both of them because if he so much as touched her again, she didn’t know that she could say no. She’d nearly proven that point moments ago.
Would she have gone back to the bungalow if her mother hadn’t shown up? Would she and Mac be making love right now?
No. Because they weren’t in love. He loved women in general and she refused to be just another proverbial notch.
“I need to get back to work,” she said, skirting around him. Making a quick, classy getaway on sand wasn’t the easiest of moves, but Jenna forced herself to keep going.
As she made her way to the dock that led to the walkways to various bungalows, Jenna sensed Mac right behind her. She didn’t slow down, couldn’t turn and look at him right now. Honestly, she wanted to be left alone, but no doubt Mac would march right in behind her and make some argument for why they should give into their now-obvious desire for each other. Something about acting on emotions and consenting adults and such.
But his heart wasn’t on the line. Jenna couldn’t keep letting herself get close to Mac or she would find herself crushed at the end of the week, when they returned to Miami as friends.
As she entered the bungalow, she knew she had to put to the brakes on this. Just as she was able to catch her breath, Mac stepped through the door. Only a few feet from him, Jenna concentrated on his face and not the bare chest still exposed, still casting out too much temptation.
“This has to stop,” she stated. “I can’t do it anymore.”
Mac crossed his arms, shifting his stance. “Don’t be afraid of what happened, Jenna. I’m trying to keep my promise to you and play this part, but damn it, I’m having a difficult time keeping things G-rated.”
Said the man who rotated women with the slightest shift in the wind’s direction. To Jenna what they’d just shared was...special.
He’d gotten her out of her cover-up; he’d shown her how beautiful she was with very few words. She knew he wasn’t just trying to seduce her. Mac cared for her and wouldn’t hurt her like that, but he had no clue how fast she was falling for him. If he did, he would be on his jet before she could say “best friend.”
“This isn’t a game,” she cried. “I thought I could distance myself from all of this emotionally. I thought I could pretend, but I can’t. It’s too much.”
The muscle in his jaw clenched. “If you want me to leave, say the word.”
His eyes held hers and Jenna saw a flash of hurt there. Jenna didn’t want to think she had the power to hurt him. Mac was a force of nature, he was strong, much stronger than she was when it came to personal matters.
But he stared at her, waiting for her reply, and she only had one option.
“You should go.”
Nine
“Honey, you’re late.”
Because I didn’t want to come.
