“Yes, you’re a big ball of joy. I remember.” He winked and left the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. She heard the front door open, then, “Oh, hey, Alec. Sorry. I could have sworn we were supposed to meet at one-thirty, not one.”
Cass couldn’t believe she’d been playing with Mack for over an hour. What had happened to her stern resolution to remain friendly but distant? She admittedly liked Mack, what little she knew about him. But she didn’t need the complications of a relationship again. Her last boyfriend, a year and a half ago, had been enough to warn her off needy men for a long while.
She went into the bathroom with her clothes to clean up and dress. And as she did, she wondered about this new dynamic with a man she had a real problem resisting.
How the heck had she gone from wanting a small favor to rolling around in bed with the studly fireman? She had to grin at that because, damn, but Mack was a shower and a grower. Handsome as sin and amazing in the sack. Yet still single. Hmm. Why was that? Because he had some serious personality flaws? Issues with commitment? Was he a closet serial cheater?
It sure couldn’t be because he was a slob. The bathroom was surprisingly clean, smelled nice, and looked professionally designed. Same with his bedroom. The walls were a slate gray with white molding around the windows and baseboards. His bed had been made with tight corners, the pillows fluffed and in place.
Huh. He had a thing about neatness she could appreciate. His living and dining rooms had been the same. So Mack liked order. Cass liked order. What else did they have in common? Family pressure. A dedication to serving the public. Smart-ass friends…
Curious, she left the bathroom and joined him and his brother in the living room. She decided it wouldn’t hurt to get to know Mack better, especially because they’d be helping each other out with family. And Jed and Shannon were part of her family, no matter how she felt about Shannon being a busybody. Which led her to think about her parents and how pleased they’d be if she brought a man home to dinner.
Wouldn’t that be great, to show them she was mentally and socially healthy as a horse?
Mack smiled at her, and she moved to stand next to him, surprisingly not bothered when he put an arm around her shoulders. The action didn’t seem motivated by any chest-thumping either, but by sincere affection. Or maybe she was still riding that pleasure wave off her last climax and couldn’t see the real truth, basking in the afterglow.
“Alec, this is my friend, Cass. Cass, my brother Alec.”
Alec narrowed his eyes, studying her as he held out a hand. “I know you. I think I’ve seen you when I’ve been at the South Precinct checking on my little brother, Xavier.”
She shook his hand. “You Reveres all look alike. But you definitely look older than Xavier and Mack.”
Alec snorted. “Oh, and aren’t you a charmer?”
She smirked. “Truth hurts.”
“Nice.” Mack guffawed.
She hadn’t been kidding. All the Revere men she’d met, and she hadn’t yet run into Mack’s dad, had dark hair and light-colored eyes, the combination striking against chiseled features and muscular frames.
Alec stood a little taller than Mack, was a little broader in the chest, but she found Mack to be the best-looking of the bunch. Perhaps because amusement at the world seemed to brighten his eyes. Or because he seemed sincere whereas Alec looked suspicious and Xavier could be over-the-top arrogant.
“I bet your parents had a tough time with you guys growing up.”
Alec huffed. “It’s like you’ve already been talking with my mom. She swears she’s going to heaven just for having raised a bunch of hooligans.”
“And that was before I was born,” Mack said.
Alec added, “James was the worst. But it was really after she had Xavier that the glorious road to parenthood went steadily downhill.” He sneered at his brother.
Mack ignored him and said to Cass, “He’s just mad because he’s not the prettiest Revere in the room.”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Alec gave Cass a head-to-toe inspection, then surprised her by smiling. “So, little brother found a keeper, eh?”
“Well, I don’t know about ‘keeper,’” Mack said. “But she’s definitely someone I’d think twice about throwing back in the pond.”
“Please, Mack, all that flattery is making it hard to think.” She elbowed him in the side, pleased when he let out anoomph.“Let’s be honest. Mack is lucky I’m letting him breathe my same air. But I’m not so sure you’ll make the cut.” She gave Alec his own once-over. “So watch it, pretty boy. Or your soon-to-be husband is going to be sad when you go home missing your teeth.”
Alec laughed. “Oh, I like you.” He took her from Mack and helped her into her jacket, handing her the scarf. “Now let’s head off to lunch and talk about my brother. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
He had her out the door while Mack yelled at him to wait.
She let Alec settle her into the front seat of his SUV, pleased to have noted his snow tires. With the roads being slick and the snow still coming down, every little bit helped. “Nice truck.”
Alec buckled in, and they watched Mack hurry to lock the door before joining them, sliding into the back seat. Alec said, “It’s especially good in this God-awful weather, but nothing counters black ice. We’ll drive slowly.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, enjoying herself, which was so unlike her. She hadn’t planned this trip. Heck, she hadn’t planned having sex with Mack either, but so far, rolling with life seemed to be going in her favor. Why not go two for two?
