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His face transformed into an expression of shock. “Are you kidding me, Layla? Honestly, have you not been paying attention at all? Why the fuck would I want you to resign? You’re the best tour manager we’ve ever had. Our stages have never been more organizedandyou pulled Xavier off of the publicity bullshit when no one else ever would. Whether or not you’re putting out for us, you’re our tour manager. Nothing changes that unless you suddenly forget how to do your job.”
I stared down at his hands on my thighs and moved my hands to rest on top of them. Tracing the shape of his fingers, I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I didn’t mean to do it. I feel like a joke. I made such a big deal out of staying professional and then I just threw all my standards out the window. I’m no better than Matthew.”
“Fuck yeah, you are. First of all, you’re not cheating on anyone to be with us. Second of all, you’re damn good at your job, Layla. You make it look easy.” He turned his hands over so he could hold mine. “Third of all, and most importantly, the chemistry between us can’t be ignored. You tried. You succeeded for much longer than I would’ve liked. This thing between us doesn’t care about your professionalism or our previous fear of commitment. It just wants.”
I looked deep into his eyes. “It’s terrifying.”
He pulled me forward so I was curled into his chest. “Don’t do anything you don’t want to do. Like I said, you have a job here whether you put out, or not. I’d prefer you put out, but who wouldn’t?”
“Of course, I want to put out! Y’all make me crazy.” I turned my head slightly so my nose pressed into his throat. “I feel lost. I know what I’m supposed to do, but that’s not what I want to do.”
“Should I move so this conversation is a little easier for you?”
I sat back and placed my hands over his chest again. “No. I want to be here. I can’t do it, Mack. I can’t stay away. I already proved that with Jones and Xavier. It’s no different with you. I’m tired of missing you from ten feet away.”
“Okay.”
I frowned. “Okay?”
He smirked. “Yeah. Okay. That ball’s still in your court, sweetheart. I don’t want to steer your decision to walk away from these high morals.”
I pouted, not even concerned that I was being a brat. “You’re mad at me.”
He laughed easily and shook his head. “I’m not. Not even a little bit. I just don’t want to push you into making a choice you might regret.”
“I think there’s only one choice I would regret right now.”
“And what choice would that be, sweetheart?”
Biting my lip, I cupped his face in my hands and ran my thumb over his bottom lip. “Not taking a chance on you and the guys.”
His slow grin was breathtaking and the way he nodded at me like he thought I’d answered correctly made my heart race. He ran his hands up my sides and held me closer. “So, you’re going to take a chance on us? No more avoiding us and hiding?”
I nodded. “This can’t change the way I do my job, though. I love what I’m doing now and I don’t want to lose it. It’s really important to me.”
“Baby, we’re not going to touch your job. You’re so fucking good at what you do. None of us are stupid enough to think that taking you away from something you love so much would be okay. Or fun. You’re feisty at times.”
“Okay. Cool.” I sat back and cleared my throat. “So.. Are we dating? This is weird.”
He slid his hands down to my ass and pulled me flush against him. “You’re asking me? I haven’t dated since I was fourteen, Layla. I’m not the best source for information here.”
“Do you want to date me?” I watched his face and searched for any warning signs.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, baby, but you’re really slow on the uptake at times.” He laughed when I slapped his shoulder. “We haven’t made our position clear, yet, huh? I don’t know about dating, but what we want is you at our side. I know that I want to go to sleep with my dick in you and wake up with it in you and spend the day doing my best to get it back in you. I like the other stuff, too.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like when I suck your dick?”
He growled. “Yes, but I also like when you talk to me. Those first days we spent together weren’t just sex. I liked playing cards with you and talking about shit. I like when you smile at me and when I make you laugh.”
Warmth encompassed my being as his words slowly took root in my mind. Pressing my mouth to his, I kissed him slowly, desperate to show him how much his words meant to me. No one had ever said anything like that to me before.
My stomach growled loudly between us and Mack pulled away to look down at it. I crossed my arms over my waist and sighed. “You’re not supposed to acknowledge it.”
“I was going to have my wicked way with you, but I guess there’s time for that later. Come on. There’s a waitress inside that might be trying to seduce Jones and Xavier by now.” He laughed at my frown. “She can’t be a year under eighty, honey. You have nothing to worry about.”
I grunted. “I wasn’t worried.”
“Sure.”
