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Mackenzie put the car into gear and pulled into a side road, stopping on the double yellows in front of a trafficwarden.
“That’s going to get you a ticket,” Isaid.
“I have hundreds of fucking tickets from those assholes,” he said as he unclipped mybelt.
I sighed at the instant relief, leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. I angrily brushed a tearaway.
“I’m sorry,” hesaid.
“So am I. Can we get to the house, then you question me?” I could see them forming on hislips.
Why the fuck I should feel embarrassed, I had no idea, but I did. I was the hard-nosed career woman, wasn’t I? Isn’t that what he called me? I was the tough cookie, and yet a pang of nerves had my stomach knotted when we walked out of my apartment, that knot doubled when we walked out of the apartment building. Being nervous to leave my home embarrassed me. Holding my breath until I was safely in the car embarrassed me. Meeting my best friend, knowing I was going to break down and cry as soon as he saw my bruise, embarrassed me. They shouldn’t have, but theydid.
We drove the rest of the way insilence.
Mackenzie opened the passenger door once we’d pulled onto his drive, and he crouched down besideme.
“I’m sorry. Ijust…”
I placed my hand on his cheek. “I know it’s totally irrational, but I feel embarrassed that somehow I allowed him to do that, I didn’t fight back. I should have. I’m not a weak woman, Mackenzie, but he scared me. For the first time in my life, a man scared me. That is what I’m embarrassed about. Not you, not us, not me beinghere.”
“I’m glad you also see that as completely irrational. No matter how tough you think you are, Lauren, you’re no match for a drunken man, who took you by surprise. I’ll postpone Jerry’svisit.”
I sighed and smiled at him. “Help me out the car, your fucking stunt driving has killed myhip.”
“I wish you wouldn’t swear,” he mumbled as he helpedme.
“Says the man who wants me to saysoaking cunt,” I said, somewhat surprised by hiscomment.
He laughed. “I wish you wouldn't swear because it turns meon.”
“Why?”
“There’s Lauren, the professional career woman, the upstanding pillar of community, and then there’s Lauren the dirty, devil on her shoulder, sexy as fuck woman. I lo…like them both, ofcourse.”
I frowned at him, what was he about to say?Just say it,I said, no, shouted, in myhead.
I was scared of reading too much into what he was saying, and I blamed Gabriella for putting the thought that he was in love with me into my head. How often had he said he wasn’t looking for a relationship? I tried to rack my brain for instances, while he grabbed my bag from the boot of hiscar.
He opened the door and left my bag at the bottom of the stairs. We walked through to thekitchen.
“I need to get some tea,” he said, as he fired up his coffeemachine.
“Don’t shop just for me,” Ireplied.
“I want to. Now, rules. It might be the traditional thing here in the U.K. that the kitchen is your domain but it isn’t. It’s mine; all mine. I cook.” He smirked atme.
“I’m not going to argue with that. Any more rules? Can I use yourtoothbrush?”
“Since my mouth has been all over your body, I don’t have a problem with you using my toothbrush. Steer clear of my razor though. That might provoke a Mackenzie you haven’t seenyet.”
“A Mackenzie I haven’t seen yet? That soundsinteresting.”
“Yeah, you might not like that Mackenzie. I cut my face because you blunted my blades? Won’t be a prettysight.”
“Yet you have all this scruff,” I said, running my hand over hisstubble.
“It can come off if you don’t likeit.”
