She had noticed each and every instant Mac began to struggle with whatever internal demon he was battling. After they had landed in a heap at the bottom of the mud hill, she’d sensed he’d wanted to kiss her. Then this heartbreaking distress had entered his eyes and she’d let him off the hook. After he actually had kissed her, she wasn’t sure who’d been more shocked, him or her, but her heart had expanded at the almost awe that widened his eyes. And right there, she’d made the decision that she could be patient. She’d didn’t know if whatever he was going through was a fresh wound or an old one, but he was struggling because he wanted her. And she did want him. Horribly.
So, she’d give him the time to work through his issues. If anyone knew about having to do that, it was her. Hell, she knew some issues you never really got past, you just found a way to live around them. After she’d lost her longtime boyfriend and her family, it’d taken two more heartbreaks for her finally to find a way to cope with her abandonment issues. Why it had taken her so long to realize, was beyond her. The answer had been so simple. Still was.
Leave before you get attached.
The last two years had been the happiest and most heartbreak-free she’d had since the tragedy.
Sam’s smiling face formed in her mind for a moment. His dark, unruly hair untamed as ever. His green eyes shining with the love he’d had for her. So damn young. They’d never even gotten a chance to start the future they’d spent years talking about. Her heart squeezed hard once. She allowed her first love to dominate her thoughts for a brief moment, cherishing him even more for being the only man, besides her father, who had unwillingly left her. Then she tucked him carefully back into the past—where he belonged. The only future she had with Sam—or with the family she still desperately missed—was the scientific research she busted her ass to do so, hopefully, one day she could keep their fate from happening to anyone else.
As she surfaced from her demons, she realized Mac still hadn’t moved. Racers passed by, giving him confused expressions. When they shot her a look, she sent them a smile, giving them permission to keep going without stopping.
Come on, handsome. Pick the present. If I can do it, so can you.
She understood the war all too well. Saw herself seven years ago reflected in Mac’s present inner battle. It was so much easier now to put the past away. Hadn’t always been like that—a lot of false starts and heartache had come first. If he was just starting down his road to healing, he had a long journey ahead.
His body shook once. And then he started forward, climbed over the car, and stopped by her side. Even though he smiled down at her, the emotions didn’t quite reach his eyes. And there was a new stiffness to the set of his jaw. A sad determination.
“Let’s finish this,” he held out his hand.
Ah, well.
Taking his offering, she squeezed as a burning stung the back of her eyes. This had been a very difficult decision for him. So many questions filled her, wanting to explode from her mouth, but she pushed them back. After her family died, she’d hated being asked questions, being put on the spot, while the person asking stared expectantly at her. She’d sworn she’d never do it to another human being. Maybe one day Mac would open up to her. Until then, she’d be what he needed.
Someone to bring a little fun back into his life.
That, she could do.
She tugged her hand free, swatted him on the ass, and ran off. A chuckle followed her and she smiled. The distress of the moment had been broken, and they’d veered back onto the happy course. Mac fell into stride beside her. They came to an assortment of ropes hanging from a tree. People were using them to swing across a muddy water-filled pit.
“Ladies first.”
Mud caked her hands and the rope from the amount of people who had swung across before her. “We’re not making it across the water. You know that, right?”
“Speak for yourself. You look like you could use a good bath, anyway.”
She struck an attitude. “Oh, really? Is that a challenge?”
“Sure. Why not?”
She eyed him. “Okay. Whoever makes it across without falling in gets to make the other do something.”
“Like?”
“Open game, handsome. The something can be issued anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”
His gaze lit with something resembling mischief. “I like those conditions.”
“We have a deal, then?”
“Oh, yeah. We have a deal.”
Without waiting, she jumped up, wrapped her legs around the rope, and held on. Halfway across, her grip slipped, but she tightened around the rope and landed safely on the other side. She gave a whoop of victory.
She turned to see Mac holding another rope. He jumped up and immediately slipped off, splashing in the water below. He waded out, then climbed up beside her.
“Hey! You let go on purpose,” she said in mock outrage.
A wicked smile she’d never seen before lifted one corner of his mouth as a twinkle entered his eyes. “You’ll never know.”
Then he was the one to take off.