His chuckle sent warmth seeping through my veins. “Of course. I’d be honored.” He was a gentleman too? Lord have mercy on my soul. I gratefully sank into the chair across from him, my heart hammering double-time in my chest. “So you’re Mackenzie. Do you go by Mac?”
He grinned. Even his teeth were perfect. “I do, actually. Should I call you Nate?”
I snorted. “Not unless you’re looking to die.”
His eyes widened. My breath hitched. Damn it, did I say that out loud? But before I could open my mouth to apologize, Mac’s shoulders began to quake with laughter. The glint of amusement in his eyes told me he found me endearing. I hoped.
“Depends on how you plan to kill me.” He winked.
“Slowly,” I drawled, propping my elbow up on the table and resting my chin on my upturned palm. “So. Come here often?”
“Absolutely not. No offense, but this isn’t really my idea of a good time,” he admitted, and I noticed he kept stealing glances around the room. Was he nervous? “I don’t really like crowds, but I told my sister that I’d at least try and have fun.” He flashed a quick smile. “At least my date turned out to be pretty damn cute.”
I sniffed. “Sweetheart, I’m a fucking prize.”
“Before we get ahead of ourselves… You’re single, right? No other would-be suitors sniffing around?” He lofted a brow, then scratched at his well-trimmed goatee. “Not that I’m saying tonight’s gonna go anywhere, but I… I’m not the kind of guy to play games. My last relationship was a mess and if you’re dating around, or you’re into the whole open-relationship thing, then it’s probably better if I go.”
He looked so damnconflictedall of a sudden. Here he was, this drop-dead gorgeous Alpha with an amazing smile and an even better laugh, and he was insecure about competition? Wow.
“I’m here with you and only you,” I told him. “I might be a little promiscuous, but…I’ve had to reevaluate my life choices recently, and I think it’s finally time to settle down. To find someone who’s real and not just another phony Alpha-hole. If this goes anywhere, then you have my word. I don’t fuck around and Idon’tplay games.”
He released a pent-up sigh and when he smiled at me, it glimmered in his eyes. A man could get lost in eyes like those… “Good. Great. That’s really good to hear.”
“So I’m guessing you aren’t a fan of dancing?” I gestured to the partygoers who’d gathered on the dance floor, currently jamming out to “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
He pulled a face. “No.”
I laughed. “Then what do you say we ditch this place after dinner? Go someplace a little more private. The coffee shop on the corner of West and Ninth has the best peppermint mocha, hands-down. We could take a walk, enjoy the scenery?” I winked.
He rolled his lips together, but he couldn’t hide his pleasure. “I’d love that, Nathaniel. Honestly.”
“Good. Now tell me a bit about yourself…”
Dinner was amazing—melt-in-your-mouth prime rib with a smorgasbord of roasted veggies, finished off with a decadent pumpkin cheesecake. I leaned back in my seat after my last bite, regretting that my jeans were so damn tight…at least until I caught Mac checking me out.
I crooked my finger in a come-hither motion. “What do you say we make a break for it?”
“That sounds like the best thing I’ve heard all night.”
“Perfect.” Or it would’ve been perfect if some numbskull wouldn’t have opted not to bring a damn coat. As we crunched our way slowly down the snowy sidewalk, our hands brushing together every now and again, I had to suppress a shiver.
I must’ve failed miserably, because Mac caught my hand and pulled me to a stop. “Where’s your coat? It’s freezing out here.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I remarked, then flushed. “Sorry. I’ve got a big mouth.”
He smirked. “I noticed. Here.” He tugged free of his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. My hands trembling from the cold, I welcomed the warmth of his body heat with a soft groan. It smelled like him too.
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked.
When I glanced up at him, he smiled and shrugged. “Nah, I’m pretty hot-blooded and besides, I have my blazer. The only reason I brought my coat was in case of car troubles. Never knowwhen you might get stranded in cold weather and my car’s not the most reliable source of transportation.”
“I thought you owned a business?” I blurted, not thinking first.Damn it.
He only smiled. “I do, but I’m a sentimental guy. I like my old Chevy and so far, she hasn’t left me high and dry. She’s gotten me through a lot of shit and until she kicks the bucket on the side of the road, well, I guess she’s sticking around.”
“You’re cute,” I said on a sigh. Why did he have to be so perfect?
We talked all the way to the coffee shop with only a brief pause to order our drinks. The hot peppermint mocha I bought tingled across my tastebuds with a zip of flavor, but my attention was locked on Mac and his colorful way with words.
