Page 8 of Jasmine Street Blues

“Neither do I,” Mac said.

So much for that plan. It was now or never.

Loran looked at Mac. She caught his eye, took a deep breath, and…

“This should probably be private, but I want to do it in front of friends,” Tuck said as he stood, hesitated a half-second, then knelt beside Olive. The man was literally down on one knee. “Besides, I can’t wait any longer.”

Mac placed a stilling hand on Loran’s knee. As if she would’ve continued to pick a fight with him at this moment! Did he think so little of her? Well, he didn’t know her, not really. His hand lingered a moment or two longer than was necessary, heavy, warm, familiar. She didn’t mind.

“You’re my everything, Olive Carson,” Tuck said. “Let’s make it official, here and now. Marry me?”

Olive didn’t hesitate. “Yes!”

Other diners clapped as Tuck and Olive came together on their feet for a tight hug. They moved slightly apart so Tuck could slip a sparkly diamond ring, an impressive rock, on Olive’s finger.

Loran’s heart dropped. Her knees shook, and a chill washed through her. She was witnessing a special moment, one she could never know for herself. She was happy for her friends, she truly was. Olive deserved a man who loved her the way Tuck did. But she was also envious. When she looked at where her life was headed…

“Let’s go home,” Olive said softly. The couple was gone in a matter of seconds, leaving Mac and Loran alone.

After a second or two Mac said, “Well, that didn’t go as planned.”

“It wasn’t much of a plan,” Loran whispered. “It was more a… concept.” Not a particularly good one. “If it comes up again I’ll just tell Olive that I don’t like you. No more double dates.”

“She’ll never believe that you don’t like me.” Mac smiled as he teased her.

They’d had this discussion before, but she was compelled to continue. “Then you can tell her you don’t like me.”

“That would be even more ridiculous.”

It was a sweet thing for him to say. She didn’t need or want him to be sweet. “Maybe they’ll be so occupied with planning their wedding they won’t have time for us.”

“Fat chance,” he grumbled.

Mac asked for the bill, but Tuck had planned ahead. It was already covered.

They stood, and he said, “I’ll take you home.”

“It’s not far,” Loran protested. She already liked Mac too much. That hand on her knee. The way he looked at her. Just… who he was. Steady. Strong. Occasionally even a little funny. “I’ll enjoy a quiet walk after that big dinner. You don’t need to…”

“I can drive you or you can deal with the very bad look of having a police car follow you as you walk home. What will the neighbors say?”

“You drove.” She didn’t know where he lived, but Seawolf Beach was a walking town. He couldn’t be too far away.

Mac growled, a little. “The sun has set but it’s still hot, and I was on my feet all damn day. You bet your ass I drove.”

In spite of herself, Loran smiled. “Fine, I’ll take that ride.”

* * *

It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to drive from Maggie’s to Jasmine Street. Odds were Loran would’ve been fine walking home on her own. She probably did it all the time. But what little bit of gentleman Mac still possessed, what had been hammered into him by the grandmother who’d raised him from the age of twelve, insisted he see Loran — real date or not — to her door.

He drove slower than was necessary.

“I’ve never ridden in a police car before,” she said from the passenger seat.

“Glad to hear it,” he responded.

That got a smile out of her, then she turned her head to look out the window. To hide her smile? Maybe.