She seemed to accept that because she turned to Cass and smiled. “Oh, hello. I’m Sandra, Mack’s mom.”
“Mom, this is Cass Carmichael, my date.” He smiled at his mother, who looked genuinely pleased to see him with someone, so much so that she didn’t grill him about his face.
“Cass, come on in.” She took Cass and pulled her inside. “You too, Mack.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Before he got two steps inside, his brother dragged him into their father’s office off the entrance.
“Cass Carmichael? What the hell?” Xavier asked.
Mack forced himself to be amiable. The role he always played when with family.Just let it all roll off. Don’t let it bother you. Breathe in, breathe out.“And happy Thanksgiving to you too. Yes, Cass is a friend of mine. What’s the problem?”
Xavier stared at him, and Mack knew the resemblance would have Cass looking at all of them all night. Unfortunately, Mack and his siblings looked like carbon copies of their father. James was the tallest, Xavier the most muscular, and Alec in between, while Mack could have been his father’s twin if his father were three decades younger.
“No problem,” Xavier said slowly. “Just don’t be fucking around with her.”
Mack paused. “Excuse me?” Before he could ask what the hell business of Xavier’s his dating life was, their father entered.
“Mack, good to see you, son.” His dad pulled him in for a bear hug. “I hear you bumped into a door at work.” Mack rolled his eyes.Nice, Mom.“It’s been a while.”
“A few weeks, maybe,” Mack muttered and forced himself not to play the dysfunction game. No blaming or shaming tonight. He relaxed his shoulders and ignored Xavier. “How’s the turkey looking, Dad?”
His father laughed. “Your mom won’t let me step a foot in the kitchen.” He put an arm around Mack and walked him out into the grand living room, which overlooked a huge dining table with a ton of chairs and the kitchen across the open floor plan. “Who’s the looker?”
Cass glanced over her shoulder at him and winked, then turned back to his mother, who was telling her about something to do with the stuffing.
“Dad.” Mack blew out a breath.
He noticed everyone else in the living room, nibbling on snacks and watching a basketball game. Although Alec and Dean seemed to be talking to Ashley, James’s wife, while James and Sasha, Xavier’s girlfriend, yelled at the TV.
“The looker is a friend of mine. Cass works in the South Precinct with Xavier.”
His father’s eyes brightened. “Oh ho, another officer on site. Good to know the house is protected from criminalsandfire,” he said and squeezed Mack’s shoulders. “How are Reggie and the fellas?”
“Just fine.” He gave his dad a rundown of his friends while keeping an eye on Cass. He should probably head over there to introduce everyone, but it was nice to have his dad’s attention, and in a positive way.
Cass didn’t seem to have any problems as she talked with his mom, overlooking the kitchen.
James yelled, “Commercial break,” and everyone scattered.
Mack grinned. “Wow, it’s like halftime for everyone, not just the guys on the big screen.”
“Yeah. I’d better hit the bathroom before Xavier gets a shot. I swear, I don’t know what he eats, but it never ends well.”
“TMI, Dad.”
His father barked a laugh and left. Mack searched out his family and hugged everyone hello, trying to be nice as he made his way to Cass.
Almost there, he stopped when Dean cut in front of him with a smile. “Been a long time, Mack. Nice face.”
Mack shook his hand andoomphedas Dean pulled him in for a hug.
“Hey, get your hands off my man before I bruise the other cheek,” Alec warned, tugged Mack away, then smiled. “Hey, little brother, about time you came over to say hi.”
“Dad was interrogating me. I couldn’t get past him.”
“The old man’s still got it,” Alec mused then laughed and lowered his voice. “I can’t believe you brought Cass here. I thought you liked her.”
