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MAC
Ididn’t know what possessed me to text Natalie last night. I had her number for professional reasons. I couldn’t fall asleep because I was worried she’d drive home or that some asshole would come on to her in the parking lot.
I couldn’t call one of the Wilde brothers and ask; they’d give me shit for it. But I was glad to see that they’d looked after her and Kylie. They were protective of their little sister, and I was glad it extended to her friends, at least when they were in the bar or the club on their property. If Natalie was going to go out, that was the safest place for her to go.
I spent the weekend getting caught up on paperwork for the business, making sure the supplies and things we needed would arrive in time so we could stay on the proposed time line. I didn’t want Natalie to worry.
I wanted all my customers to be satisfied and for the projects to be completed on time, but I felt extra pressure with the B&B. I knew Natalie needed the money that would come from reservations.
I avoided going to the site and doing any work, even though I could have used the distraction. I wasn’t ready to run into Natalie and explain why I needed to know she arrived safely home the other night.
On Sunday, I headed over to my parents’. When I got there, Mom greeted me with, “Maggie’s still recovering from a stomach bug, so they won’t be here.”
“What?” I came to family dinners to get my Maggie fix. Now that Sam wasn’t working on the B&B, I didn’t see Maggie as often. Alice only occasionally brought Maggie into her new shop.
Then I came up short when I saw Natalie and Delaney in the kitchen.
When Delaney caught me staring, she said, “Mac. I brought my game for you.”
“I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“Your mother invited us,” Natalie said.
Mom bustled into the room. “She wanted to pay me for babysitting, which is absurd. I loved hanging out with Delaney, and we made amazing cookies. You going to help with the cake later?”
“Sure,” Delaney said, a little shyly.
“Perfect. I love having helpers.”
“What am I?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.
“You help with a lot of things, but you’re not great in the kitchen.”
“That hurts.”
“I can’t wound your overgrown ego. I don’t even worry about it.”
Natalie laughed, and I couldn’t take my gaze from her. She wore a soft-looking blue sweater over light-colored jeans and boots. She looked soft and comfortable. I wanted to curl up with her on the couch. I ran a hand through my hair. Where had that come from?
Delaney tugged on my hand. “Can you play with me?”
“Absolutely.” I missed Maggie, but I was happy to play with Delaney and get to know her better. I told myself it had nothing to do with her mom.
She pulled me to the living room, where we sat on the floor and sorted the cards.
“A rematch?” I asked.
“Are you up for it?” Delaney asked, handing me the green card that saved me from the exploding cards and the other five cards.
“Absolutely.”
We played for a few minutes before I asked her, “What grade are you in?”
“Third.”
“That was a fun grade.”
“It was?”
