She yawned, toasty thanks to the hot chocolate and heat of the fire. “I guess I should get going.”
“You need to work tomorrow, I know. I’ll be hitting the gym and tinkering on my car. I think I’m supposed to meet the guys for lunch at Reggie’s, too. Or maybe Tex’s place. I can’t remember.” His cell phone rang from somewhere in the house. “Shoot. Wait here. I’ll answer quick and be right back.”
She waited, and while she waited, she tugged on the throw from the back of the couch and snuggled in it, watching the fire. She let herself bask in the warm glow, happier than she’d been in a long time, and cuddled into the blanket that smelled of Mack’s cologne. And fell asleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Mack hadn’t intended to get in a long conversation with his mother at ten-thirty on a Thursday night, but she insisted on asking him a ton of questions about Alec and Dean, which she should have just asked Alec about.
Ten minutes later, he hurried downstairs from the study, where he’d found his cell. He wanted to apologize for being gone so long when he saw Cass asleep in front of the fire.
He stared at the shine of black hair splayed over the blanket and the floor, her flushed cheeks and parted lips so sweet yet surprisingly sexy. In sleep, Cass looked soft, touchable. That she’d hate him seeing her unguarded made him fall a little harder for the woman he wanted like crazy.
He’d been hoping against hope that asking if she wanted a boyfriend would get him a different answer. But she’d said no. He could respect that. He could also work to change her mind without pressuring her in any way. Let Cass make all the moves. Let her see what an incredible boyfriend he’d make, what a handsome fiancé he’d one day be.
He should have been more freaked out that his mind was going toward a place of permanence with Cass. Was it being around so many couples he respected? His friends, his family, heck, Jed and Shannon?
No, because the guys had been gravitating toward love and marriage for a while now, and none of those relationships had pushed him to find one of his own. Although, with even Reggie engaged and playing dad, Mack had been thinking more about what the future might hold for him.
He and Cass just had so much in common. Unfortunately, he could see how that might also freak her out. When you weren’t looking for love and you found the perfect man, how scary would that be? Finding Mack had to have shaken her, even if she couldn’t see it yet. And, yeah, he realized how conceited that sounded, but he was still right. They fit on every level.
It had shaken him too…at first. But the more time he spent with Cass, the more time he wanted to spend with her. Even more than he wanted to work on his cars or go for a run, he wanted to chill with Cass, doing anything or, hell, doing nothing.
That wasn’t to say he’d discount sex. Mack wanted her. Period. In his bed, in his life, wherever. All his rambling about being friends with sex a secondary thought? Talk about wading in his own bullshit.
For Mack, sex and love went hand in hand. But Cass had been different from the first. He hadn’t charmed her at all, and she hadn’t seemed to like him very much. They’d gone from unlike to lust to like to…something much more. But what, exactly? He couldn’t really be in love with her. Not so soon. Could he?
He did know he was crushing on her.Hard.She made him feel happy, excited, aroused, and just from being herself.
He stroked her hair, her cheek. “Hey Cass, honey, you want to sleep here?”
“Hmm.”
Not a yes, but not a no either.
He gently scooped her into his arms and walked them down the hall to his bedroom. After he tucked her into his bed and watched her curl up with his pillow, he sighed and turned to leave. As much as he wanted to scoot in with her, he didn’t want her freaking out that he’d somehow taken advantage.
“No, stay,” she murmured.
He smiled. An invitation he couldn’t refuse. “Be right back.”
He hurried to lock up and brought the kittens with him, placing them into the pen he had tucked into the corner of his bedroom, and joined Cass in bed, where he belonged.
***
When he woke the next morning, he was alone except for Copo and Impala making noise with their toys. Too bad. He’d have liked seeing Cass first thing in the morning, bedhead, morning breath, and all.
He grinned and stretched, in an amazingly good mood. A glance out the window showed the sun shining, hopefully melting all the snow so he could get back outside to run. He didn’t enjoy the treadmill at the gym, but he refused to break a leg on an icy street or sidewalk.
After taking the kittens back into the living room and letting them roam at will, he fixed himself some breakfast. As he sat down to eat, he saw a note near the coffeepot he rarely used, one currently half-filled with hot coffee.
Had to get home. You’re cute when you snore. Thanks for not kicking me out last night. Oh, and you owe me for not taking advantage of you when I could have. PS Call me later, Rent Boy.
He laughed as he ate his eggs and managed a cup of coffee with flavored creamer to go with it. Mack spent an enjoyable morning with the kittens while cleaning the house. After allowing them plenty of playtime, he hit the gym downtown, not in the mood for the fire station today.
Though he and the guys loved working out there, sometimes Mack just needed his own space. Once at the gym near his house, he hit the treadmill and the free weights, allowing himself to think about what an amazing night he’d had with Cass and how to gently nudge her to the next level—becoming the boyfriend.
He had no problem at all calling her his girlfriend, but he had a feeling she’d balk if he tried to label them an item.
