Page 51 of Pure Temptation in Cowboy Boots

Deena laughed. “You’re lucky he’s not here. He’d order the Earthquake.”

“If he was here, I wouldn’t have offered to treat. Come on, everybody. Let’s see what kind of bill you can run up.”

“Sarah and I will be in shortly,” Joan said. “Joe, you go with the rest of them so I can talk privately with Sarah.”

“Come along, Joe,” said Cindy, holding out her hand.

Tess had always liked the way members of the family accepted responsibility for all the children, not just their own. A Blakely grandchild had a host of adult role models, and from where Tess sat, they were all good ones. Then if you added Uncle Mac, a true hero, a kid would have no excuse for not turning out well.

As for Sarah, she looked completely miserable for ruining the mood of the day. For a sensitive little girl, that was punishment enough,

“Come on, gang,” Tess said, adjusting Kimberly on her hip. “I’m in the mood for vanilla dipped in butterscotch.”

“That’s my favorite,” Mac said, falling in beside her. He reached over and tugged gently on Kimberly’s blonde curls. “How’s Kimmy today?”

“Uncle Mac! You’re messing up my hair!”

“It’s already messed up! You’ve been doing cannonballs in the pool, haven’t you?”

Kimberly laughed. “Yep.”

Tess wondered if Mac realized that in reaching over to tease Kimberly, his arm had brushed Tess’s breast. But if Mac didn’t realize it, Tess did. All at once she became aware of her own unkempt hair, her pink nose and her wrinkled shorts. Until a few days ago, she’d never thought about what she looked like when Mac was around. Now she wished she’d at least taken time to comb her hair.

“We all got a little messed up today,” she said.

“That’s okay.” He reached over and tweaked Kimberly’s nose, getting a squeal in response. “I like my girls messed up.”

This time she was sure he was aware that he’d brushed against her. The movement might have seemed accidental to someone else, but Tess felt the deliberate nature of it. He held the door of the shop open for her, and as she walked by him, she registered the heady scent of a slightly sweaty, thoroughly masculine Mac. He wore a T-shirt and jeans today and looked sexier than any man had a right to. She fought her reaction to him, knowing that she couldn’t let any of her feelings show in front of her sisters-in-law.

“So you can take a break any old time and sashay into town for ice cream?” she asked, glancing at him. Oh, but he looked good, with his hat tilted at a rakish angle and a gleam in his eye. “Must be a cushy job you have, MạcDougal.”

“Not as cushy as yours,” he said. “Frolicking in the water with this bunch all day while I’m out there busting my butt repairing fence.”

Kimberly leaned over Tess’s shoulder to peer behind Mac. Then she giggled. “Your butt’s not busted, Uncle Mac.”

That’s for sure. Tess remembered the muscled firmness she’d gripped when they’d... whoops. Dangerous territory. Thoughts like that would make her blush, and blushing wasn’t something she normally did when Mac showed up.

She stepped into line at the counter behind Cindy and Joe. Mac stood behind her, and she could feel his presence as clearly as if he’d pressed his body up against hers.

Kimberly peered over Tess’s shoulder at Mac. “When I grow up, I’m gonna marry you.”

“That makes me one lucky guy,” Mac said.

Tess shivered, remembering Mac’s words in a far different context than playful banter with a little girl.

“Unless I marry Buddy in my Sunday school instead,” Kimberly added solemnly. “He’s always trying to kiss me.”

Tess jiggled her and spoke with mock sternness. “Hey, you little heartbreaker. You can’t propose to one guy and then announce you’re marrying somebody else the next minute. You have to make up your mind.”

“Okay. Then I choose Uncle Mac.”

“Thanks, Kimmy. Can I give you a kiss?”

“Oh, sure. Just don’t slobber like Buddy.”

“I’ll try not to.” Mac leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “There, it’s official.”

They were all just kidding around, Tess told herself. There was no reason for this tightness in her chest, no reason for her to feel suddenly grief-stricken at the thought that Mac would have a real engagement one of these days. No doubt he’d even ask Tess to be in the wedding. After all, they were best friends.