“I don’t know what I’m doing, Mack.”
“You like her.” It’s not a question.
I look him dead in the eye and admit it for the first time out loud. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I poke my finger into my chest. “I’m fifty- three, Mack.”
“Yeah, so am I.” He leans on the arm of his chair and waits for a better explanation.
“I’m old enough to be her father.”
He narrows his eyes. “Fifteen is not a normal age to have kids.” One side of his lips twitch.
“You were seventeen,” I remind him.
“Yeah.” His eyes drop.
I’m an idiot and the worst friend on the planet. “I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay, Worley. You and I have always talked freely, even about Ariel.”
He’s right. We have. “I didn’t say it to hurt you, though. I mean, she’s young.”
“She’ll be thirty-eight soon, Worley. It’s not like she’s in her twenties and still in college.” He tosses a hand up. “I know what you’re saying, though. Ariel would be thirty-six this year. But don’t look at it that way.”
“How else am I supposed to look at it?” I’m practically pleading at this point.
“Like she’s a grown woman. A woman you care about. Like you’re falling in love with her.”
Love? That gets my attention fast. Am I falling in love with her? I swallow hard, realizing I’ve already slipped.
“And what will everyone think?”
“Darin Worley!” Mack slams his fist on the desk and hardens his eyes. It’s not often my best friend gets mad at me or uses my full name. “Who cares what anyone thinks? This town is always going to find something wrong with us. Ignore those fools. If Nina doesn’t want you, then that’s another story.” His angervanishes, replaced by a teasing grin. “But that woman looks at you like she’s about to claim you rather than the other way around.”
“Really?” My mouth falls open. “You see that?”
“No.” He laughs. “But my wife and the other ladies do.”
“Nah, man. That can’t be true.”
“Oh, trust me, Worley Bird. I get an earful at home about how Worley and Nina need to be together. It hurts my ears at times. And please, don’t let me hear them after I leave the room. The things those women say you two need to be doing. I don’t know what a silver fox is, but apparently you’re one, my friend.” He shakes his head. “I can’t picture you that way. It’s wild.”
I huff out a breath. He’s messing with me. Maybe he’s not. Biker women are wild, but please don’t let me ever hear any of the McLeod women talk that way.
“All I’m saying is if you like her, pursue her. If something’s there, claim her before one of these other yahoos does.”
I jump to my feet and jab my finger at him. “That’s not happening.”
His grin widens. “Then stop messing around and go get your woman.”
I stomp to the door. “You’re as bad as Jay.”
“Well, he is my brother’s son.” Mack’s laughter can still be heard after I close the door, more like slamming it.
My woman? Yeah, let’s go figure that out.
