by Dahlia Rose
Nina stood. “My work has my sleep schedule all askew; it has been for years. I’ll take these dishes to the back and get them washed up.”
“No, go enjoy your days off,” Mac stopped talking for a moment. “And yes, tomorrow how about I meet you by the bakery and we can go from there?”
“Great,” Nina gave a little clap. “They’ve started setting up tents. I’ll meet you at four.”
“Night.”
Mac lifted his hand in a wave as she trailed her hand around the edge of the bar as she headed upstairs. Nina turned and came back to stand in front of him, and she cupped his cheek. He made a sound of surprise, and then he closed his eyes, succumbing to the sensation of her soft hands against his skin. Mac felt the fullness of her lips pressed against his, and it was exactly how he’d envisioned. Nina tasted like a sip of heaven, and when she tentatively licked his bottom lip, he gave her access so she could have her own taste. When Nina lifted her head, the heavy-lidded sensual expression on her face was even more of a gut punch of arousal.
“Why did you do that?” His voice was husky.
A smile crossed her face. “I said to myself, Nina Crane of Fitts Village St. James, If you run into that man again, you might as well kiss him, so since I am true to myself, I took that leap.” She tweaked his nose. “And it was worth it, 'night.”
As she walked upstairs, Mac called. “Do you go around pinching grown men’s noses?”
Her laugh was the answer, and then he heard the heavy door that led to her apartment slam closed. He grinned. Why do I feel so light all of a sudden, like I could dance across the hardwood floors? That was not his nature, and yet as he turned out lights, he did a little slide across the polished wood. Mac regained his composure and finished locking up before leaving the Celtic Cross.
For a moment he worried about her being on the property alone, but there was a great security system—built by him of course. Haile also mentioned that when they took her as a tenant the reinforced door was added at the top of the stairs for added security. With a thick metal strip built into the frame, there was no way anyone was kicking it in. They’d break a leg first. Mac got into the rental car and headed toward his home away from home in the guest cottage of his friend. All the while he thought about Nina’s supple lips and the simple kiss that had devastated his senses.
* * * *
One of the reasons he loved Northumberland was the Christmas traditions that had been built from the time it was just a small town with barely thirty houses. As time went by, it had expanded outward from the town square to where it is now, yet the traditions had stayed the same. That included all the festivals they had for Christmas that he remembered growing up. There was more than once when his mother took him and Donnie out to the tree-lighting ceremony or some other event. They’d come home with full stomachs, too much sugar from treats, and she ‘d clean them up in their small flat and put them to bed. The small tree and lights from the sparsely decorated living room would lull him to sleep.
Mac embraced the fond memories before time and poverty had made them all hard. Before he wanted things she couldn’t afford or got upset when he heard her crying at night because they couldn’t pay the rent. It was then that he'd decided he would do anything to make her happy, but as time went by it was never enough. She wanted him to take from his friends and use their name for her success as bitterness set in. He pushed the negatives away and focused on good thoughts while he waited with two cups of hot chocolate for Nina to arrive. The square had rows of white tents with heaters blowing warm for those who attended. All the delicious smells wafted around as fresh hot cross buns were baked and the sweet confections or warm soups were offered by vendors not participating.
While the Christmas tunes and the sound of bells filled the air, he spotted her weaving her way through the crowd. The jeans she wore hugged every curve, and the rose suede boots matched the color of her sweater. Nina left her fur-lined coat open even though the evening had turned out to be even more chilly than expected. Her knit was the same rose color and pulled down over her long hair that she left loose. The sun was already going down even though it wasn’t quite four, and as people greeted her, she waved. Mac noted that more than one gaze of surprise from the crowd passed in their direction. And then Nina finally stood in front of him.
“Hi,” her voice was light and breathless.
“Were you running?” he asked and held out the cup. “Hot chocolate, with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
“How did you know?” Nina smiled up at him. “And no, I wasn’t quite running, just a brisk walk so I wouldn’t be late.”
“I really didn’t, I just picked what sounded good. And I would have waited, there was no need to hurry,” Mac moved a stray tendril of hair back from being caught on her coat.
She took a sip of her drink. “I like to be prompt. Have you tried anything yet?”
He gave her a teasing shocked look. “Without you? What kind of man would I be to eat without the person who invited me?”
Nina shook her head in amusement. “Okay, dramatic, where do you want to start?”
Mac rubbed his hands together. “Let’s go with what drew us here: hot cross buns,”
“You read my mind,” Nina replied.
Soon they were waiting in line for two of the biggest buns he’d ever seen. Although they were traditionally an Easter treat, these pastries had crossed over to various holidays including Christmas. While balancing two of the big buns on a disposable plate that also included a big scoop of butter and cheese, they went to find a bench under the town Christmas tree. Mac prepared his treat the way he liked it, using all the butter and then adding the cheese in the middle after he sliced it. He took a big bite and closed his eyes in pleasure as a groan escaped him. The spiced flavors of the bread combined with the icing and cheese and butter was so good that he chewed greedily, ready for another bite.
“If you'd just heard yourself, I would think you'd agree that this sounded like a porno,” Nina teased.
Mac chewed before speaking. “You’re lucky my shirt isn’t off and I’m not whispering sweet nothings to this thing.”
“I know how to make them,” Nina announced. “I’ll have to borrow Mrs. H’s kitchen—and, trust me, you will want to be alone with my buns.” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, and she grimaced. “Yes, I heard it after I said it.”
“All I’m saying is, I don’t mind being alone with your buns,” Mac teased.
“Hush it.”
He noted that was one of her favorite terms to use and while they ate in companionable silence, Zeva and Jasper walked by. The baby was of course bundled up in her stroller, but she smiled and dropped the pacifier out of her mouth when she saw them and squealed.
“Hey guys, fancy meeting you here!” Zeva’s voice held warmth, curiosity, and that sound women make when they sniff out a date or new romance. “Jasper, isn’t it a co-inky-dink that we see them here together?”
Jasper grinned. “She’s not subtle at all, is she?”
“And apparently Mari has been teaching her some of her Texas wordage,” Nina added. “We decided to come together, so don’t go crazy.”
“It’s friends hanging out,” Mac said.
Zeva gave them both an innocent look and smiled. “No one said otherwise.”
The baby opened her mouth revealing a few teeth and expecting a bite. Mac looked to her parents for approval. “May I?”
“Of course, just a small bite. She doesn’t have molars yet,” Zeva advised. “And don’t linger at her mouth, those teeth are sharp.”
Mac gave Abigail a small piece, and she clapped her hands before going “mmmm”—it was the cutest thing he'd ever seen. Imagine that, he thought, noting how lovingly Jasper looked at his wife and daughter. Did he crave this sense of family and home? Should I even pass on the bad genes to another generation? He hated where his thoughts went sometimes and focused on the present. Jasper and Zeva were going to walk around so they decided to joi
n them. As a foursome they sampled food and drinks until everyone was completely stuffed and the baby began to complain sleepily. Along the way, they found Haile buying some of the hot cross buns for Mari, who was having morning sickness at night and not feeling up to the festival. Zeva and Jasper decided to take Abigail home while Mac and Nina stood with Haile as he waited for his order.
“I don’t know who can win; every bun I sampled is so delicious, I want bite into all of them again,” Nina said.
“What you’re saying is, you want to bite the buns?” Mac questioned, and Haile chuckled.
She folded her arms. “You know what . . . hush it.”
“Well, well, well, isn’t it Mackie Black home to roost.” The voice made the smile fall from Mac's face, and he turned to see one of the men he used to run the streets with.
“Alec,” Mac said the name stiffly. “How’ve you been?”
“Not better than you it seems,” Alec looked like he’d been worked over more than once. Age and time had not been good to him. He took gnarled hands out of his dark-blue wool jacket. He still wore fingerless gloves like the men who used to work on the dock. “Out enjoying the night, I see, with yer fancy friends and some put-together lady.”
The comment set Mac’s teeth on edge. “Walk away, Alec.”
“Why should I? I’m here to enjoy the night like everyone else,” Alec said and eyed Nina up and down. “Forget about bread—I like the buns on this one. You always like them thick, Mackie. I figured how could Mackie be back and not visit with his old friends?”
He leered at Nina, and Mac was ready to beat his head open. “We stopped being friends long ago, so go away before it ends badly.”
“For whom,” Alec sneered. “You are probably more worried about messing up the fancy clothes ya wearing.” He grabbed Nina’s hand as he said, “Come on, sweets, show me the sights.”
Nina dragged her hand away, and her eyes shot fire. “Take your hands off me. . . . ”
“Don’t fucking touch her!”
Mac had Alec by his collar and within seconds had punched him twice in the head. A small cry went through the crowd drawing attention to them. Mac was in Alec’s face, and he was almost rabid to hurt the man for touching Nina.
“Know your place, Alec. It wasn’t for me you’d be somewhere dead by now, sank in the mud of the moors and not a bloody person will miss ya,” Mac snarled. “Tread lightly, you and your friends. While I’m here cross the street when you see me, allayuh! Or I’ll crack every one of your damn skulls!”
“Let him go, Mac,” Haile ordered gently and then said loudly. “You’d think these guys would learn by now, when women say no they mean no. Get going, Alec, before she presses charges.”
Mac knew his friend was trying to defuse the situation and help him save face. It only angered him more. He shoved Alec away and watched him stagger down the street through the crowd.
“I don’t need you to speak for me, Haile. I can handle myself,” Mac snapped.
A spark of anger flashed in Haile’s eyes. “Yeah, we all know you can use your fists to solve a problem. Stop letting these assholes bait you; you’re better than them and this.”
“Am I, Haile? Am I?” Mac’s tone was deadly.
“Get the fucking chip off your shoulder,” Haile snapped. “Nina, have him walk you home and cool off before he ends up scrapping with his friends.”
Nina took his hand and urged him gently. “Mac, come on, walk me home, please. Remember, you don’t want me walking by myself in the dark.”
Mac allowed himself to be led away while Haile turned back to get his food. He knew he had to apologize for how he'd treated his friend. But right now, he had to cool the rage within him. He walked briskly, and even though Nina kept up, she was practically sprinting. Finally, at the corner before the pub she stopped.
“Okay, thanks for the track meet; we can stop now,” she said breathlessly.
“I was trying to get you home,” Mac’s tone was clipped. “Alec or his boys don’t deal with situations like that well.”
“Then why hit him?” Nina asked as they started walking again.
“He put hands on you, and if I didn’t respond, they’d think I was easy pickings,” Mac explained.
She stopped in the shadows by the alley with her hands on her hips. “What do you care? You made your successes, these people shouldn’t matter, it’s your past. They may not have evolved past being thugs or gorillas, but you are.”
“How would you know?” Mac snapped. “You don’t know the way of the streets, you’re a transplant here. You see the sweet spots, the tourist traps, and the festivals. If you knew the underbelly of Northumberland, you’d be scared in your bed at night.”
She pointed at him. “Let me tell you something, I work emergencies more often than not and I see the knife wounds, the gun shots, the beatings people take, so don’t tell me about the sordid side of this town I see it every day. I’ve treated Donnie more than once for almost overdosing or being so drunk it took two banana bags of fluid to sober him up.”
His head snapped up at her words. “So, you think you know us—or me?”
“I go by instincts,” Nina took a deep breath, and her voice gentled. “You’re a good man, you strived and succeeded where many couldn’t. Be proud of that.”
In flash he had her pressed against a wall and was ravaging her with kisses. Where hers had a sweet, tentative taste, Mac’s was primal as he speared his tongue into her mouth and molded his body to hers. Her whimper and soft moan only fueled him. His anger was replaced by desire and then internal rage at himself. Mac cupped her breasts through her sweater and kissed his way to her ear.
“Does this feel like a good man?” he whispered raggedly. His erection was hard in his pants. “Are you wondering how many women I fucked in alleys like this coming home from bars and wanting a taste of my cock? Right now, I can tell by those sex noises you’re making that Nurse Nina is creaming in her pants. Should I strip them off your hips and pull your panties aside and fuck you from behind? You wanna see what this boy from the wrong side of the docks can do? I can make you explode with my fingers and lick your come off two, maybe three, of them Can you take it?”
He felt her hand on his chest, and then she pushed him away. Although she was breathing hard, her eyes shot fiery daggers of anger in his direction.
“I like dirty talk as much as the next woman, but I won’t be fucked in anger, not now, not ever.” Nina's voice was stiff, and he could hear the anger and hurt in her tone.
“If you want me to be a tool for you to get your angst out, baby boy, I am not the one. All of this comes with stipulations—and assholes don’t taste the sweetness of this damn fine treat. You’re a grown man, act like it, you are not the first or the last person to go through shit.”
Nina poked him in the chest. “We rise above, and like Haile said, we get rid of that chip on our shoulders. Now I’m going to my apartment, and the next time I see you, there had better be an apology on your lips or I will act like you don’t exist. You have good people in your corner, your friends and me. By the time you figure that out, you may have pushed everyone away. Good luck with that.”
“Nina . . .” His voice was ragged.
She held up her hand and stepped out from between him and the wall. “Not right now. I can get home on my own. But here’s the thing, Mac.”
“What?”
“If you were anything—and I mean anything—like Alec or those other people that know how to press your buttons, you wouldn’t have stopped when I pushed you away,” Nina said.
She gave him a long, sorrowful stare before walking away, and he was in no position to stop her. She, Haile, anyone who knew him was right: He was being a complete and utter jerk. He wasn’t a product of his environment; Mac knew he was letting it warp his life—and for too long. Even though she said she could walk alone Mac trailed behind her until he knew she was safely inside. It was his turn to take a walk of shame back to his car. The next day
he had a lot of apologies to dole out.
Chapter Five
Nina went about her day as efficiently as she always did when working. But her mood was more subdued compared with her regular personality; one of her patients even noticed the change. But soon enough, she shook that off and donned her reindeer antlers to push away the dark mood, Mackenzie Black had caused. Since the night of the festival, she hadn’t seen him. His version of an apology was a text to her phone, and she wasn’t having that. He acted the fool in person, so he was going to apologize in the same fashion. The text went unanswered, and over the next few days flowers kept arriving at the nurses' station with her name on them.
“If Matron Potter was still here, she would pitch a fit,” one of her co-workers commented, laughing.
After the incident in which Matron Potter accused Dr. Kievla of inappropriate behavior with Nina, Potter had been moved to the hospice part of the hospital where her duties would to be to care for the terminally ill patients and keep them comfortable as they passed on. There was very little interaction among the nursing staff unless they were going off-shift and needed to update each other on the status of each patient. Nina understood why they did it that way, for it eliminated her from bullying the nursing staff and she kept her job.
“You need to forgive this guy before he fills this entire ward with poinsettias, freesia, and candy canes,” another nurse passed by and took up a floral arrangement in a white vase.
“Take them with you,” Nina encouraged. “I already have some in every patient's room.”
Melissa, her friend, smiled. “You better give that guy a second chance or I will; I’m a widow after all, so I will stand in your place,” she joked.
“I’m calling him right now, we are running out of places to put flowers,” Nina promised.
On her break she walked down to the open glass arboretum that graced the entrance of the hospital. With her coffee cup in hand, she sat on one of the white benches next to the fountain, near the thick leaves of one of the plants growing there. Nina pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Mac’s number. As she dialed she wondered how much teasing he'd had to endure to get her number from Marisol or Zeva.
