Page 27

Hank sighed. “I know. Sharon would know how to deal with this, but…” He shrugged, unable to speak the rest of his thought.

“But if Sharon was here, you wouldn’t have this trouble,” Porter finished.

“To hell with Janice. I’ve told her I’m dating Macie. Maybe once she’s seen the two of us together a few times, it’ll sink in and she’ll move on.”

Porter didn’t look convinced. “Maybe.”

“You finished changing that oil?”

Porter shook his head. “Nope. Was too busy hiding under the truck. I’ll wrap it up now.”

Hank chuckled. “Coward. I’m gonna get some stuff done in the barn.”

Hank spent the better part of the next two hours working on repairing a broken chainsaw. He’d just finished when he heard another car coming down the lane.

Jesus Christ. He wiped his hands off and stormed out of the barn, ready to tell Janice—once and for all—to stay the fuck away from him. He was done being nice.

He rounded the corner just as Macie closed her car door and started toward him. She stopped suddenly, frowning when she saw his face.

“Um, sorry,” she muttered. “This is obviously a bad time.”

Hank lifted one hand quickly and shook his head. One look at her and the fury he felt vanished. “No, no. It’s a good time.”

“You just looked really pissed off to see me.”

Hank walked toward her. “I’m never going to be pissed off to see you, Whiskey.” He grasped her waist and pulled her close, stealing a quick kiss. “Didn’t expect to see you back here so soon. Did you forget something?”

She tightened her grip around his neck and stole a kiss of her own, adding some tongue and letting it linger just long enough to send all the blood in his body straight to his dick.

“No. I brought lunch for you. I didn’t cook it,” she was quick to reassure him as she pointed toward the plastic bag she’d placed on the hood of her car. “It’s from the restaurant. Sort of planned to use that as an excuse to come see you. Was going to surprise you with a picnic. But the truth is, I missed you. And I’m horny as shit.”

Hank laughed. “You don’t need to use food as an excuse to visit, Macie. Hell, just the horny part would be enough reason for me.”

“I was taking you at your word when you said I didn’t have to play things cool. So I hope it’s not freaking you out that I’m back here already. Does this make me look clingy or needy?”

He kissed her gently on the cheek. She was a breath of fresh air. Her honesty, her willingness to put herself out there so completely, was probably one of the things he found most attractive about her. “Nope. Truth is, I was just finishing up my chores and fighting like the devil not to get into my truck and drive to you.”

She ran her hand down the front of his chest, her fingers toying with the buttons on his shirt. “I wouldn’t have complained.”

“This way is better. Means the difference between me taking you on a flat surface in the privacy of my house or up against a wall in the storage closet of the restaurant with half your family outside the door.”

Macie snorted. “God. What does it say about me that I think both those options sound hot as hell?”

“It says you’re perfect for me.” Hank backed her toward the side of the barn, pressing closer to give her a much deeper kiss. Macie gave herself up to it—and him—without reservation. Her hands slid around his waist, tugging his shirt out of his jeans so she could slip her fingers beneath to stroke his bare back.

Hank’s fingers did some exploring themselves, finding her breasts and cupping them, before squeezing more firmly. Macie groaned against his lips, the sound fueling his need even more.

“Jesus. Don’t make me turn the hose on you two.”

Hank slowly withdrew from the embrace at the sound of Porter’s voice.

Macie glanced over toward his ranch manager. “Hey, Porter.”

“Hey, Mace.” Porter was grinning at the two of them. “That’s quite a show you’re putting on there, but you might want to have mercy on the dozen or so single guys around here who still have a day’s worth of work to do. Making it pretty hard for us to concentrate.”

“Good point. Time to move this inside.” Hank grasped Macie’s hand and started to lead her to the house. He was surprised when she resisted.

“What about the food?”