That gnawing hunger inside Nash grew. The sleepy innocence in her eyes only made Mack more appealing. “How long have you been out here?”
“I don’t know,” she said through a yawn. “I think I came out about twelve-thirty or so.”
“It’s almost four o’clock in the morning.” He touched his fingers to her face. “Your skin is freezing.”
She huddled up, pulling her knees in closer to her chest. “I am a little cold, I guess. I’m not worried about me though. You really think our new friend here will be okay?”
Nash looked the pony over. His ears were perked, his eyes were bright. The dressing was still in place. “He’s fine. Looks like he drank most of the water and ate the grain we left for him.” You could tell a lot by an animal’s appetite.
“I’m worried about him.” She leaned over to secure the blanket over the pony, and Nash couldn’t help the jealousy that sprouted up.
Sleepy Mack was even more tempting than the one in his dream. She’d pulled her hair back loosely, knotting it at the nape of her sexy neck. If he reached his lips down only a little, he could kiss the creamy soft skin there…
“Maybe I should stay here with him for the rest of the night.” She gave the pony a scratch behind the ears. “It’s only a few more hours…”
“If anything, I can take this shift. You’ve already been out here for three hours.” He was amazed she wasn’t freezing. It wasn’t that much warmer in here than it was outside.
“We could both stay.” The suggestion came in that soft tone of her voice he’d started to love.
A dusty old barn floor wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind when he’d thought about spending the night with Mack. But still…she wanted to stay the rest of the night with him. Maybe he shouldn’t be picky. “I could grab some blankets. I keep extras in the truck.”
“Blankets would be nice.”
He was starting to love that smile of hers too. “Okay. I’ll be back in a few.” Maybe he’d grab the cushions off of the patio furniture too while he was at it. He paused by the door. “You sure you want to stay out here?”
Mack smoothed her hand over the pony’s head. “I don’t know if I can leave him. We bonded and I’m afraid he’d get too lonely.”
“All right. Sit tight.” Nash hurried to his truck and grabbed three blankets, then to the patio, stealing all the cushions he could carry.
When he got back to the stable, Mack was standing up.
“We can just lay everything out right here.” She gestured to the spot between the pony and the wall.
They worked together to make a nest of cushions and blankets and then Mack climbed in, holding the blanket open for him with a smile. “I think we might have to rely on body heat too.”
“That’s probably best.” He climbed in next to her, pulling the softest blanket over them.
Mack snuggled into his side, turning to face him. “This probably isn’t the first time you’ve slept in a barn.”
“Nah.” Sometimes it was a job requirement. “But it’s the first time I’ve slept in a barn with such a beautiful woman. Usually, I’m hanging out with the bulls. They’re not nearly as good company.”
“I should hope not.” Even in the dimness, that penetrating gaze of hers held him captivated. He wasn’t sure why he’d worried about being cold. They generated plenty of heat together. They had ever since they’d first met.
He couldn’t hold back a grin. Who would’ve thought after they’d sparred so much those first couple of days that they’d eventually end up spending the night in a barn together?
“What’re you thinking about?” Mack eyed him suspiciously.
Many things. He was thinking about many things. That first night he’d found her in his bed. That kiss on Fancy Pants’s back. Especially that kiss. It had made him feel something. It had been so long since he’d felt something.
The craving to feel that rush again—to feel her lips against his—overpowered everything else and he turned into Mack, his eyes intent on hers.
She let out a small gasp just before their mouths came together, just before the world shifted, and this time he didn’t hold back. He let the kiss take him over.
Mack rose to her knees, circling her arms around his neck, inching her body up against his. Her hands cupped his jaw, the touch more tender than any he’d ever experienced.
Their mouths found a rhythm, opening to each other, exploring, savoring.
Mack pulled back, gazing into his eyes, her face rosy and close and so lovely.
Nash moved his thumb down her cheek, taking in the details of her features—the delicate slant to her nose, the way the contour of her upper lip dipped, the few freckles that dotted her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“For what?” Her whisper was thick.
“For misjudging you.” He smiled at the memory. “When we first met. I think I was wrong about you.”
“Why?” She narrowed her eyes. “What did you peg me for?”
“Maybe a spoiled rich girl. And I was worried you were a little crazy, seeing as how you were in my bed wearing my underwear.” He ruffled her ponytail. “Then there was your hair…”
The woman raised her shoulders in mock outrage. “I’ll have you know your aunt made me wear your underwear.”
There was something he never thought he’d hear a woman say…
“What do you think of me now?” Mack asked, peering up at him from under those long, dark eyelashes.
A hit of adrenaline made his heart pound. How did this woman make him feel things he’d never allowed himself to feel?
He didn’t understand it. He only knew he wanted more of it. “I think I want to know more about you. Everything. I think about you a lot.”
Mack slid her hands up the back of his neck, combing her fingers into his hair. “Well in that case, I forgive you for misjudging me.” She smirked. “I may have misjudged you too.”
“Yeah?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear this. He hadn’t exactly been friendly to her those first couple of days. Okay, he really hadn’t been that friendly to her until they’d shared dinner last night.
Then some switch had flipped and now all he wanted was to hear her laugh, to hear that small moan she’d made when he’d kissed her before.
“Yeah.” She slid her hands under his shirt, feathering her fingertips over his skin. “That night we first met, I thought you were a spoiled, sullen, egotistical underwear model.”
Mack might’ve been the only woman in the world who could make him laugh like this. “That so?”
“Oh yeah.” She snapped the elastic band of his boxers.
He nudged her lips with his but pulled back before really kissing her. “Besides the spoiled, sullen, egotistical thing, you liked the sight of me in my underwear?”
That smirk bloomed into a tempting smile. “Oh yeah.”
“I like the sight of you too.” He dragged his gaze down the front of her. “Especially in your pajamas.”
“These pajamas?” She tugged on the sweatshirt. “There’s nothing sexy about these pajamas.”
Nash lowered his lips to her neck. “I beg to differ,” he breathed against her skin.
Mack uttered the small moan that drove him half crazy, and he took the kiss deeper.
He’d never get tired of hearing that sound.
Chapter 13
Well, well, well.
Agatha walked down the hallway in Nash’s house, noting that both his bedroom door and the guest bedroom door stood wide open.
She took a second to peek in each room, but they were empty. Nash and Mack were nowhere to be found. Neither bed had been made, which made it appear they’d left in a hurry.
Based on the interaction between them last night when Nash had invited Mack to stay at his place, they were definitely somewhere together.
Oh, they had to be together.
Smiling to herself, she shuffled back into the kitchen. Her knees were extra stiff this morning. And that lingering
headache she couldn’t seem to get rid of lately niggled her temples.
But aches and pains of age were no match for the joy she felt at the prospect of her nephew opening his heart to someone like Mack.
For so long, she’d feared it would never happen. He’d been closed off, detached. But now…well, she wasn’t trying to pry. It wasn’t like she’d come over here to spy on them or anything.
That wasn’t the only reason.
She’d gotten up early to see Emery off to work, and had decided to make the whole gang a nice big breakfast at Nash’s place since he had a bigger kitchen, but it seemed he and Mack had made other plans. Together.
Delight bubbled up in a giggle as she wandered around the kitchen, pulling out bowls and ingredients. Wherever the two of them had gone together, they’d be back, and when they arrived, she’d have a delicious breakfast waiting.
Maybe she’d make her apple cinnamon waffles with honey butter syrup…
A car engine hummed outside the kitchen window.
Agatha paused and craned her neck to look out at the driveway. Whoa. A fairly new Mercedes Benz had pulled up in front of her nephew’s porch—not the kind of car they typically saw in these parts.
It was probably a lost tourist trying to get to Aspen. The trip could be tricky if you opted for the scenic route instead of taking the highway. Agatha rinsed her hands and then wiped them on a towel. She’d best go see if they needed assistance.
Leaving the flour out next to the mixing bowl, she hummed her way across the living room and stepped outside.
A woman now stood next to the car, and she was definitely out of place—Agatha had never seen heels that high in River Haven. And what was that silk jumpsuit all about? A big headache if you asked her. How did one even attempt to use a restroom while wearing a jumpsuit?
It wasn’t her cup of tea, that was for sure, but then again, she did her best not to judge.
“Morning,” she called, making her way down the steps. “ Can I help you with something?”
“Yes.” The woman held her shoulders proudly, as though she was used to standing in front of large crowds of people. “My name is Sandra Benson. I’m looking for my daughter.”
Well if this didn’t beat all. Agatha brightened her smile, but Mack’s mom didn’t smile back. The woman looked nothing like her daughter. The absence of any resemblance was almost dumbfounding.
Sandra had jet-black hair and porcelain skin that had been stretched and re-stretched one too many times. Sandra had none of Mack’s friendly facial features, either. Not the delicate smile lines or the lovely freckles that hinted how much she loved to be outdoors.
“Do you know where she is?” The woman cleared her throat and lifted her chin as though she was used to looking down on people.
Agatha nearly laughed but caught herself just in time. Oh, what this woman must think of her. Wearing dumpy old overalls and a tattered T-shirt.
Compared to such polished sophistication, she must look like a country bumpkin with these braids in her hair, the dirt on her denim.
But then again, she’d always been damn proud of being a country bumpkin.
“I don’t know where she is,” Agatha told her honestly. “It seems she and my nephew have gone off on some errand this morning.”
It seemed to be the wrong thing to say. Irritation flared across the woman’s already harsh features. “You’re Agatha then, I presume.”
“I am.” Despite the woman’s coldness, Agatha approached and held out her hand. “So pleased to meet you, Mrs. Benson. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Mack these last few weeks. She’s got such a big heart.” The woman was full of kindness and compassion—absolutely perfect for Nash with her openness and her authenticity.
Sandra shook her hand, though she made it obvious she didn’t want to. The contact was brief and stiff, much like the woman’s demeanor.
“You have no idea where Mackenzie is?” Mistrust lined the woman’s dark eyes. She had very pretty eyes, though they weren’t nearly as striking as her daughter’s.
“I don’t. But I’m sure they’ll be back very soon.” It was possible Nash had taken her out for a romantic sunrise ride. Or maybe they were tending to that pony.
Either way, he was too considerate to let her wonder for too long. “Why don’t you come inside? We can enjoy a cup of coffee together while we wait.”
“I guess I have no choice.” Sandra dug around in her fancy leather purse and found car keys. She clicked a button and the car honked and blinked, locking up like a fortress.
Once again, Agatha had to conceal her amusement. Just who did she think was going to break into her car at the Forget-Me-Not Ranch? One of the horses?
“Right this way.” Reminding herself to be polite, she led Mack’s mom up the porch steps and into Nash’s house. “This is my nephew’s place,” she said ushering her inside.
The woman stopped dead in her tracks. “My daughter is staying with your nephew?”
“Well, she was staying with me over in the smaller house. But then we took in a young woman who rescued a pony and got all tangled up in a barbed-wire fence.”
Upon seeing the horror on Sandra’s face, she decided to leave it at that. Given that she didn’t know the woman at all, she should probably say as little as possible and let Mack handle her mother.
“Who is your nephew?” Sandra walked through the living room, stopping to peruse the bookcase as though looking for clues. “Mack hasn’t mentioned him in any of her texts.”
No, she likely hadn’t wanted her mother to know there was an attractive bachelor about her age hanging around. Meeting this woman, she could certainly understand why.
“His name is Nash Campbell. He’s a veterinarian on the rodeo circuit.” Agatha crossed the room and made a beeline for the coffeepot. “He’s not home much, I’m afraid, but I’ve been lucky to have him here for the last few weeks.”
That seemed to grab Sandra’s attention. “So he’s been here? The whole time? With Mackenzie?”
“Yes and no.” Agatha brushed off the significance with a light tone. “He’s kept pretty busy. He’s almost like a celebrity when he comes home. Everyone wants him to check up on their animals.”
She measured out the coffee grounds and water, started the coffeepot a hissin’, then gestured for Sandra to take a seat at the table.
“I don’t understand.” The woman set her large purse on the chair next to her. “How did my daughter even end up here?” An utter disdain punctuated the words, like Sandra couldn’t fathom why Mack would’ve stayed in such a place.
“I found her in the parking lot at the gas station.” Agatha sat across from the woman. Maybe if she smiled enough, she could melt that icy glare Sandra kept shooting in her direction.
“She was in her wedding dress, the poor dear. And she’d taken quite a tumble. I think she was in shock, still trying to get her wits about her after everything that had happened at the wedding and all. So I offered her dinner and a place to rest.” The same way she’d offer it to any person or creature God brought into her path.
She might not be smart with business, but she’d learned to make a lot of room in her heart over the years, and no matter how many creatures she brought in, there always seemed to be room for more. That was her gift, and she was glad for it.
“What is she thinking?” The first hint of emotion filled Sandra’s eyes. “Staying here for two weeks? Walking out on her life? Letting so many of us wonder and worry while she hides away doing God only knows what?”
Agatha allowed a certain degree of sympathy to ally her judgements. Sandra was a mother. Obviously she would worry for her daughter.
“Mack hasn’t exactly been hiding away,” she told her. “She’s been helping me, actually. I take in a lot of animals around here. And she seems to think I could start a nonprofit organization to help with staffing and costs.”
She’d meant the explanation to comfort the woman, but Sandra simply shook her head. “Evan is dating some
one else.” Desperation flooded her voice. “It’s time for Mackenzie to stop this selfish diversion and come home. If she’s not careful, she’s going to lose him for good.”
Whoa boy. It seemed Mack’s mother was having a harder time letting go of the wedding than Mack herself.
Agatha stood and hurried to the coffee pot where she filled two mugs. “If he’s already dating someone else, it seems to me he didn’t love her in the first place.” Mack had been right to walk away from him.
She gathered up the creamer and sugar, setting it all on a tray and carting it back to the table.
“Of course he loved her,” Sandra insisted. “And she loved him. They still love each other and she needs to come home right now so we can fix this mess she’s made.”
Ah, Sandra was one of those. A control freak. A meddler. Not much could be said or done about that.
Agatha doctored her coffee with a splash of creamer and a heaping spoonful of extra sugar. If she had to spend the morning with this woman, she was going to need all the sweetness she could get.
Though sunlight streamed through the barn’s high windows, Mack didn’t want to move.
Some moments were too perfect to disturb and she couldn’t ruin this one.
Warmth enveloped her beneath the blankets that cocooned her and Nash together. Her head lay on his chest, moving slightly with his deep, even breaths, and she could feel the slow, steady beat of his heart against her cheek. His arms were circled around her, strong but relaxed, holding her even while he slept.
Most of the night they’d kissed and talked in hushed tones like two teenagers, but at some point, she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open anymore and she’d fallen asleep. Though it couldn’t have been more than a few hours ago, she felt rested.
Deep contentment anchored her heart to his, filling her with a peace she hadn’t known before. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d wanted a moment to linger into forever, but she could stay happily sealed in this one.
Unfortunately, the pony could not. He staggered to a ginger standing position, tossing his head before snorting while he slurped water from a trough.
This Place Called Home: Includes Bonus Story! (Forget-Me-Not Ranch) Page 12
