“That’s pretty accurate.”
Mac finally strolled over to the blanket and sat down. Crickets chirped in the background as she tugged out the fried chicken, potato salad, and green beans. “Thank goodness this stuff is awesome cold. Next time, just show up when I tell you to, okay?”
“Next time?”
As she followed the muscular lines of his arms, she bit her lower lip. “If I get my way, there will be.” She lifted her gaze to his. “And I always get my way.”
A flash of heat warmed the coolness from his eyes, then he glanced off into the distance.
So, he felt it, too. Good.
She made Mac a plate and handed it to him. An awkward tension settled between them. He seemed to be filling it by munching on his chicken, but she refused to just sit there mute. If she had to steer the conversation, so be it. “How long have you known Lance?”
Mac froze, and she got the distinct impression he wasn’t expecting her to speak. Too bad. She loved to talk.
He swallowed his food and wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Since we were kids.”
“So you know Piper, too?”
“We all hung out. I take it you know her?”
“Yeah. Lance has me keep Skylar when he goes out on runs. Today, he could’ve taken Skylar with him to the airport, but he wasn’t sure if there’d be a delay, and Piper was supposed to pick Skylar up.”
“It’s nice that you help him out.”
“I believe in community, and there are no better ones than the ones you live beside.”
Community had been there for her during her darkest days, and she always made sure to reciprocate.
“Well, it’s still nice of you.”
“Lance mentioned you were going to help him train. I’m sad to say, I don’t really follow MMA.”
“Not a fan, huh?”
She had the man talking. Holy hell.
“I’m not not a fan. I’ve just never really watched it.”
“Not even with Lance as your neighbor?”
“Nope.” Again she let her eyes do the talking as she surveyed the very male body beside her. “However, I think I’m a little more interested now.”
Red crept into his cheeks, and she thought it was the most adorable thing she’d ever seen. Such a strong, imposing man embarrassed by a little compliment.
She turned her gaze to the sky. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Doesn’t look like this in Atlanta. I’d forgotten how endless the night sky is out here.”
Will wonders never cease? Had there been a hint of awe in the curmudgeon’s voice?
Since she was on a roll, she asked, “When did you move to Georgia?”
His body tensed, jaw clenched. Okay. Touchy subject.
“Almost four years ago.”
“Ah. Won any major titles out there?”
She kept close tabs on his body language. His muscles relaxed as he turned his head toward her. “Nope. One day, maybe, but my usual opponents are extraordinary fighters who are all out to win a title fight.”
“Humble. I like that.”
“It’s the truth of the business.” He placed his empty plate beside him. “I’m friends with two title holders. Neither one of them came about their title bid easily. They busted ass for it. I got into fighting much later in life than they did. It was really only a hobby until a few years ago. Fought amateur, but never had any plans to make it a career.”
“What changed?”
Again, his body tensed. So, the move to Atlanta and the fighting were connected in some way. In a way he really didn’t want to talk about.
He finally looked over at her, his lips pressed into a hard line that tightened her chest. “Life just has a way of changing in a split second.”
They stared at each other. The haunted look in his eyes was all too familiar. She’d seen it reflected in her own. Mac had obviously been through something traumatic, but had lived to face life anyway.
He toyed with a chicken bone, then tossed it onto the plate. “Dinner was great. Thanks.”
She took the cue. She’d gotten him out here. Had made him relax a smidge in her company, but he was ready for the evening to end. She gathered up the plates, quickly folded the blanket, and attached everything to the ATV.
Instead of driving back to her place, she passed it by and dropped him off in front of Lance’s porch, just wanting a few more seconds of feeling his powerful body behind hers, his muscular arms around her waist.
He slid off, and she immediately missed the warmth.
“Feels weird having a woman drop me off,” he said.
She grinned. “I’ve never done things the way people expect.”
He snorted. “I’m not surprised. But you’re not as much trouble as I’d initially thought.”
She climbed off the four-wheeler, walked up to him, and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You haven’t experienced the full Gayle yet. I’m all kinds of trouble.”
Chapter Two
You haven’t experienced the full Gayle yet.