by Anne Fraser
‘We could organise something really cool, like paint-ball or … I don’t know … something else. We could arrange it all as a surprise.’ Now that the words were out, there was no hiding his enthusiasm. ‘I never had a party as a kid.’ He smiled but he couldn’t disguise the hurt in his eyes. ‘I always wanted one, but my mother always refused. She said there was no way she was going to let a bunch of kids run riot in her house.’
‘Me too,’ Abby whispered. ‘I would have given anything to be able to dress up in a party dress, just once. But my mum said parties weren’t for the likes of us.’
They looked at each other and the world spun on its axis. Abby could hardly breathe. For a moment she thought he was going to pull her into his arms, but then he stepped back and let his arms to drop to his side.
What just happened there? Abby wondered. Her heart was racing as if she’d run up the highest hill in England. Every nerve cell in her body was zinging. Lord help her, she wanted him to have taken her in his arms. She wanted to lay her head against his chest, have his arms wrap around her, feel the pressure of his mouth against her. What was she thinking? Thinking that way spelled danger. He was so not the man for her. Why, then, did she feel this crushing sense of disappointment? Because she was in love with him. The realisation hit her like a ten-ton truck. She loved him and would do until the day she died.
‘I think it’s a great idea, Mac,’ she said, turning away lest he read her discovery in her face. ‘I can speak to the mums at the school, swear them to secrecy and get the invites out. We could organise it for the weekend. If we leave it any longer, someone’s bound to give in to temptation and tell her. And I think the paintballing is a great idea. Emma’s always wanted to have a go and the boys should enjoy it, too.’ Hoping that she’d removed every trace of latent lust from her eyes, she turned back to him. ‘I’m warning you, though, we’ll both have to take part. You do know that, don’t you? ‘
Mac grinned broadly. ‘Why do you think I suggested it? ‘ he said.
Emma was surprised but thrilled to find out about her party. Mac arrived before the partygoers and Emma flung herself at him, forgetting in her excitement to adopt the cool façade she had been trying to perfect lately.
‘Isn’t this the best idea? ‘ she said. ‘I can’t wait for everyone to arrive so we can get started. Mum says she’s going to join in, too.’
Mac looked at Abby over the top of Emma’s head and grinned. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing her moves,’ he said.
Abby wagged a playful finger at him. ‘Don’t you underestimate me. I can run pretty fast when I have to.’
Emma’s friends started to arrive, their laughter and shrieks of excitement filling the reception area. Mac had to shout above the clamour to make himself heard.
‘Okay, guys. Before we get changed, we need to pick teams. Emma is captain of Team Arrows and, Simon, I believe you want to be captain of Team Blades. Since it’s your party, Em, you get to pick first.’
Abby knew her daughter’s every expression and she could see her hesitation as her eyes flicked between Abby and Mac. Abby’s heart twisted painfully, sensing her torn loyalties. She wanted to choose Abby but also wanted to impress Mac. Was this how it was going to be from now on? She’d had her daughter all to herself for the past eleven years but now it was time to share her with someone else. Her father. Mac. The knot of jealousy felt alien to her but she had to remember this wasn’t about her—it was about Emma.
Catching Emma’s eye, she nodded her head slightly towards Mac. She caught the almost imperceptible flash of gratitude in her daughter’s eyes as she selected Mac. Simon then chose Abby and the rest of the teams were quickly divided up.
Despite what she’d told Mac, Abby had no real idea what to expect. Obviously it had to do with firing balls of paint at each other and using various items around the course to hide behind to avoid being hit yourself. And taking the other team’s flag.
When she emerged wearing her lurid green overall, she blushed under Mac’s amused grin. She felt slightly ridiculous, holding her ‘gun’. On the other hand, he looked the part in his blue overalls, like a dashing secret agent on a dangerous mission. The way he was looking at her warned her she was going to be his prime target. Abby felt a flutter of excitement—there was nothing she’d love better than to out-fox Mac. He was underestimating her if he thought she was Team Blade’s weakest link! It was game on.
Fifteen minutes later Abby had to keep reminding herself it was only a game. The darkness, lit only sporadically by flashing lights and filled with atmospheric dry ice, heightened the tension and fun. Crouching behind a pillar, Abby paused to catch her breath. So far she’d managed to evade being shot, but so had Mac. Another flash of light and in that second she saw the top of his head behind a barrier. Abby crept forward, raising her gun slowly. Her finger tightened on the trigger and she stifled a giggle.
She didn’t know how it happened but the next moment she was sprawled on her back with Mac’s face inches from hers.
‘Trying to sneak up on me, were you?’ he growled into her ear. Abby could hear the triumph in his voice. She was distracted by the heat of his body on hers, his warm breath on her neck.
His eyes bored into hers. Her heart thumped against her ribs and she knew in that moment he was going to kiss her. Her lips parted involuntarily. At the very last moment, just before his mouth came down on hers, she wriggled out from underneath him. Despite being caught off guard, he moved much more quickly than she’d anticipated. Paint splattered from their respective guns until they were both covered from head to toe in myriad colours and laughing uncontrollably.
Grinning, Mac held out his hand. ‘Truce?’
Abby took his proffered hand, only to let out a yelp of surprise when he yanked her towards him. ‘I believe you still owe me a kiss. And I intend to collect it … soon.’
It wasn’t long before Emma’s team triumphed, and after they had all cleaned up and changed they congregated in the café.
The children chattered happily about the game, arguing over their respective tactics.
Abby smiled at Mac, sitting opposite her at the table. ‘Thanks for organising today. It’s wonderful to see Emma looking so happy.’
‘She’s a fantastic kid. You have to take some of the credit for that.’
Abby glanced over at her daughter, her heart swelling with pride. ‘Don’t hurt her, Mac. I’ll never forgive you if you do,’ she said quietly. And don’t hurt me, she wanted to add.
Mac shook his head. ‘I’ve no intention of doing that.’
After they had cleaned up and the other children had left stuffed full of pizza and cake, Mac turned to Emma.
‘The party isn’t over yet,’ he said. ‘I’ve one more treat.’
Emma grinned at him. ‘Tell me,’ she implored.
‘You have to come out to the car.’ He led the way, a bemused Abby and Emma following in his footsteps.
‘Close your eyes,’ Mac told Emma. ‘And no peeking.’
Emma did as she was told. Mac opened the boot of his Jeep and pulled out a board and something that looked like a kite. He placed them on the ground. ‘Okay, you can open your eyes now, Emma.’
Emma’s eyes grew wide. ‘Is that what I think it is?’
‘It’s your very own kite-boarding stuff. In the spring, as soon as the weather is good enough, I’m going to teach you how to do it. You picked up windsurfing so quickly I’m sure we’ll have you doing tricks with the kite board by the end of the summer.’
Emma turned to Mac and flung her arms around him. He picked her up and twirled her in the air. Abby’s throat tightened. She knew this was Mac’s way of telling them both he planned to stick around. When he deposited her back on the ground, Emma looked at him before hooking her arms into one of his and one of Abby’s. ‘This is the best day of my life,’ she said.
Mac looked at Abby over the top of Emma’s head.
‘And mine,’ he said quietly.
CHAPTER FOU
RTEEN
AS DECEMBER approached, winter began to tighten its grip. The wind was sharper and the days shorter. Emma and Mac still went mountain biking and Abby rejoiced to see her child grow ever more confident, although she still fretted until Emma had returned home in one piece. The DNA results hadn’t come back yet, but Abby wasn’t surprised. They had been told that it could take months.
Mac and Emma arrived back just before darkness fell. They were both spattered with mud and their cheeks were flushed from the cold.
‘I’m going to beat you one of these days,’ Emma teased Mac.
‘I hope you’re not letting her go too fast,’ Abby warned Mac. ‘The last thing I want is to be involved in the rescue of you two.’
‘Oh, Mum, you worry too much,’ Emma complained. ‘Dad would never let anything happen to me.’
A chill ran up Abby’s spine and as she caught Mac’s eye she knew he, too, realised the import of Emma’s words. She was calling him Dad. If there was any doubt in either of their minds, she knew there was none in Emma’s.
‘Run upstairs and shower and change out of your wet clothes,’ Abby told Emma. ‘I’ll get supper on.’
Mac still looked in shock as Emma left the room.
‘Dad!’ he said. ‘She called me Dad.’
‘So she did. How does it feel?’
‘It feels strange. Very strange. But good. Yes. Very good.’
‘Would you like to stay for supper, too?’ Abby asked.
Mac grinned. ‘I don’t even want to sit down. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m filthy.’
Abby had to laugh. Mac’s face was almost black with thick dust. Only his eyes, where he had been wearing his goggles, were mud free. Impulsively she leaned forward and wiped his cheek with her finger.
His hand caught hers and he looked down at her with a glint in his eye. Her breath caught in her throat.
‘Careful, Abby,’ he warned. ‘Don’t start something you can’t finish.’
She pulled her hand away as if she’d been stung. They stood staring at each other.
‘Tell you what,’ Mac said. ‘Why don’t I go home, get cleaned up, and I’ll organise supper for the three of us?’
‘I thought you didn’t cook.’
‘Didn’t you notice I said organise? I didn’t say anything about cooking. There is a great Chinese a few minutes’ walk away from me. That’s what I had in mind.’
‘Emma is going to the cinema with a friend,’ Abby said, looking at her watch. ‘The mother is coming to collect her in an hour.’
‘In that case, why don’t you come? You could feed Emma and then come over. By that time I’ll have cleaned myself up. You’ve never seen my place.’
‘I don’t know, Mac. Is it wise?’ They both knew what she was talking about.
Mac took a lock of her hair between his fingers. ‘I promise you, you’ll be safe,’ he said. ‘It’s just two work colleagues, friends, spending time together.’
Safe? What did he mean, safe? The flash of disappointment was unexpected. Was he implying that she wasn’t his type? Perhaps she had misread him? Flirting came as naturally as breathing to men like Mac. He probably wasn’t even aware he was doing it. She really needed to remember that.
‘Or did you have something less innocent in mind?’ he said.
She flushed. Damn the man. It was as if he could read her thoughts.
‘Of course not,’ she said coolly. ‘You and I both know that.’
‘So that’s sorted, then. I’ll see you around eight. Don’t worry, I’ll let you get back in plenty of time to be here for Em.’
‘Okay,’ she agreed finally, knowing she was risking her heart. ‘I’ll be there at eight.’
Mac smiled to himself as he drove home. Abby was much more transparent than she realised. He could read every thought and emotion that flitted across her face. She just couldn’t pretend. That was what he loved about her.
Good God. Where had that come from? No way was he in love with Abby. Okay, he found her attractive, well, more than attractive, sexy as hell, and she was brave and funny and good and loyal and, damn it—he was in love with her. The shock almost made him collide with a car coming in the opposite direction. He pulled over to his own side of the road and the car passed him with a blare of its horn.
No! This was crazy. It was simply that he lusted after her. She was a challenge. The first woman he had ever wanted that hadn’t fallen into his arms. But he knew he was lying to himself. He was in love. For the first time. And with Abby Stevens, the woman who was the mother of his child. So to speak. This wasn’t at all what he had planned. He didn’t do love. He didn’t do for ever.
Mac was in all kinds of trouble.
Abby knocked on the door, thinking for the umpteenth time that she should have phoned and made her excuses. Was she stark, raving mad? Every bone in her body was telling her that it was a mistake to be alone with Mac.
Just as she was thinking of turning tail, he opened the door. Her breath caught in her throat. What a difference from the mud-splattered man of earlier. He had showered and changed into a dazzlingly white short-sleeved shirt and black jeans. Her heart rate went into overdrive. He looked divine. So confident and self-assured.
‘Abby!’ He smiled at her as if he had been waiting just for this moment and her legs turned to jelly.
‘Hello, Mac.’ Damn it. She sounded breathless. She cleared her throat. ‘I’m not late, am I?’
‘Bang on time,’ he said. ‘Our food should be here shortly. Come on in.’
He stood aside to let her pass and she squeezed past him, terrified lest she brush up against him. She could almost feel the waves of magnetism emanating from him.
‘Let me take your coat.’
She almost yelped as she felt his warm hands brushing the back of her neck as he helped her shrug out of her coat. Little goose-bumps sprang up all over her body.
He tossed her coat onto the sofa. ‘Can I get you something to drink?’
‘Some sparkling water would be nice.’
His flat was the opposite from her little house in every way possible. Where her home had cramped, if cosy rooms, his was modern and open plan, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the sea. Where her home was cluttered with the everyday minutiae that living with a teenager brought, his was sparsely but expensively furnished with enormous white sofas and bleached floorboards. On one side of the room there was a small kitchen with white units and a black granite worktop. It was fitted with every conceivable appliance down to an in-built coffee maker, she noted enviously. Not that it looked used.
In front of the sofas, which were arranged to form an L-shape, was a modern gas fire that looked almost real.
As Mac was pouring her drink, she wandered over to the ceiling-height book shelves opposite the windows. She found herself intensely curious to see what he read. Apart from several well-thumbed copies of the classics, there were thrillers and medical textbooks. She found herself smiling. There were few clues here about Mac. Was that intentional?
‘One sparkling water,’ Mac said, holding out a glass.
As she took it from him their fingers brushed and once again she felt a zap of electricity run down her spine.
‘What do you think?’ Mac waved his glass at the room.
‘I like it.’ Taking a sip of her water, she walked to the window and took in the view. Beneath her the lights twinkled and the moon, as bright and full as she could remember seeing, lit up the sea, so that she could see the waves rolling onto the shore. The windows where she was standing were actually a set of double doors leading out onto a small balcony.
‘You can hear the surf from outside on a quiet night,’ Mac said, coming to stand behind her. He was close enough for her to catch a faint smell of soap. ‘It’s one of the reasons I bought it.’
‘I’ve always fancied a place with a view,’ Abby said. ‘Who wouldn’t? But at the same time just having my own place with Em is good enough for me.’
‘Yo
u really love her, don’t you?’
‘It would kill me if anything happened to her.’
‘Why have you never married, Abby? ‘
The question startled her. She whirled round, taken aback to find herself within inches of his broad chest. She lifted her eyes to his, trying to ignore the blood rushing in her ears. ‘I never met anyone who wanted me enough to take on a child, I guess,’ she said softly. Then she grinned. ‘Actually, that’s not the whole truth. I’ve never met anyone that I thought I could live with, let alone marry. And the older I get, the more used to having my independence I get. What about you?’ she challenged. ‘Have you never met anyone you wanted to marry?’
‘Me?’ Mac laughed. ‘I’m not into marriage, I’m afraid. I can’t see the point. Why get married only to tear each other apart? It also implies that there is only one person for each of us and I don’t believe that either. Unlike swans, I don’t think humans are meant to mate for life.’
‘What about children?’
Mac looked thoughtful. ‘Having children was something I thought I would never do. What was the point? I liked my life exactly the way it was. But now.’
‘But now …?’ Abby prompted.
‘But now I find I like being a father.’ He turned away. ‘Emma’s amazing. I’m proud to be her dad.’ He turned back to Abby and grinned. ‘I never thought I’d say that, let alone mean it. And I have you to thank.’ He crossed over to where Abby was standing. ‘Thank you for letting me share her.’ He touched her gently on the cheek and tipped her face so that she was forced to look him in the eye. ‘I’ve had some of the best days of my life since I got to know her … and you.’
Abby’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart was hammering against her chest. Slowly he lowered his head and, tipping her chin, brought his mouth down on hers. Abby had never felt sensations like the ones that were rocketing around her body. His lips were warm and hard, demanding a response from her. His tongue flicked against her and spurts of heat ricocheted from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Her body felt as if it were on fire.
