Page 39 of Delivery After Dark (Gansett Island #28)

H e’d wanted to take her out, show her a good time, prove he wasn’t only after the one thing all guys were after… But as fun as it was to spar with her across the dinner table while being entertained by quality music, Morgan couldn’t wait to have her all to himself.

While she watched Owen and Evan, he watched her. He noticed the glow of her expressive face, the way her eyes lit up with pleasure when the guys played a song she loved and how everyone who walked by their table greeted her by name.

She loved it here, was loved by her friends and had established a successful business through years of hard work. It didn’t take long to understand she wouldn’t be happy anywhere else.

The message from Devin weighed heavily on him.

Dev and his family had been good to Morgan, supporting his career growth by paying for continuing education as well as giving him regular bonuses and pay increases.

His current salary far exceeded his wildest expectations when he’d entered the field.

The thought of giving up that level of security and comfort in his work was intimidating, especially as he stared down forty and his future retirement.

But now that he knew Sierra existed in this world, could he be happy or content without her close by, without evenings with her to look forward to after a long day of work?

Two fucking days.

That’s how long it had taken for him to rethink every aspect of what it meant to be happy or content.

Morgan had seen that happen to other people, but it sure as hell had never happened to him. He’d never met anyone who had him rethinking his entire life plan in the span of forty-eight consequential hours.

“You want to get out of here?” he asked her when he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

As they made their way to the exit, everyone wanted a word with Sierra—and a few stopped him to thank him for keeping the gym open.

“I love it there,” Grant McCarthy said. “Best gym I’ve ever belonged to.”

“That’s all thanks to Billy.”

“Absolutely, but you’ve kept up the vibe, and we all appreciate it, especially in light of what you’re dealing with. Just wanted to say thanks.”

“Nice to hear how popular the place is.”

“I know people who started working out because they heard how fun the gym is,” Grant’s wife, Stephanie, said.

“I love that,” Morgan said. “Leave it to Billy.”

“We’re doing that beer tomorrow night, right?” Grant asked.

“That’s the plan.”

Grant shook Morgan’s hand. “Looking forward to it.”

“Me, too.”

“You guys have a nice evening,” Stephanie said.

“You do the same,” Sierra said with a hug for Stephanie.

Stephanie said something to her that made Sierra laugh.

When they got outside, Morgan asked her what Stephanie said.

“I can’t tell you. It was dirty.”

“Then I definitely want to know.”

“She said, and I quote, ‘I hope you’re having your wicked way with that hunk of man.’”

Morgan sputtered with laughter. “Well, all righty, then. Let’s get to that. Right now.”

Holding hands, they ran through the cold to the truck and were on the way to her place in the span of a few minutes. He drove so quickly that the heater didn’t even have time to warm up before he was parking outside her building.

Like the night before, he was right behind her as they sprinted up the stairs.

Again, the key and lock gave her some grief.

He reached around her to help. They were laughing as they almost fell through the door, dropping their coats on the floor.

Morgan put his hands on her hips to steer her straight into the bedroom, tugging at her top, easing it over her head and tossing it aside in the smoothest of smooth moves.

Then he wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. “This feels so good, Sierra. Better than anything ever has.”

She covered his hands with hers. “For me, too.”

“All I want is more of it. More of you.”

“Same.” She patted his hand. “Let me turn around.”

He held on tighter. “In a minute.”

Mac bided his time. He enjoyed watching Maddie cut loose with their friends and family as they listened to their favorite performers. Seeing her talking and laughing with their closest people reminded him of a hundred other similar nights before they had five kids and rarely left the house anymore.

This season in their lives would pass, probably long before they were ready, but he vowed to get her out more often, to make sure she had fun with her girls and that they got more time alone together.

“You’re quiet tonight, brother.” Grant took the seat next to Mac’s, bringing fresh beers for both of them. “Which is unusual enough to be concerning.”

“Haha. I’m relaxing and taking it all in. I’ve missed nights like this with you guys. It’s been too long.”

“You’ve been a little busy with baby twins and such.”

“Yeah, for sure, but we needed this night away from it all, and thank God for grandparents who step up at a moment’s notice.”

“Are you ready to share them with the rest of us?”

“Not one bit ready.”

Grant laughed. “Ready or not, here come four new McCarthy babies.”

“I can’t wait to meet them.”

“Me, too.”

“And I can’t wait to meet yours and Evan’s. Exciting times around here.”

“Good thing no one took your no-more-babies edict seriously, huh?”

“You’re all a defiant bunch of SOBs.”

“And you’re not the boss of us.”

“I’ll be glad when they’ve all safely arrived, and we can settle in to watching them grow up together.”

“Can you imagine what it’s going to be like around here in about fifteen years?”

“I can’t. We’ll need to double the number of cops on the island to keep the McCarthy grandchildren under control.”

“Because we’ll be too old to do it by then.”

“Speak for yourself, asshole.”

“I’m not the one about to turn forty.”

“Is that really necessary?”

Grant laughed. “Truth hurts.”

“Ah, it’s just a number, and I’ll remind you that you’re right behind me.”

“Trust me, I know. I talked to Morgan before they left. He’s looking forward to our beer tomorrow.”

“Yeah, me, too. I’m going to offer him a job. Did you know he’s a master electrician?”

“What? No way.”

“Yep, and I talked to Dad about him. The town wants him working on the electrical upgrade that we needed twenty years ago. There’s a lot of work for him here if he wants it.”

“Do you think he’ll want it?”

“Hard telling. I’m not really sure what his situation is on the mainland, but we sure as hell need him here if he’s up for it. He was like us growing up, though. Couldn’t wait to be rid of this place, so I’m not sure what he’ll say about staying.”

“He said he’s planning to keep the gym open.”

“Let’s face it. The gym makes bank. He could hire someone to run that place for him if he doesn’t want to stay.”

“True. Looks like there’s something brewing with Sierra. That might be incentive enough to keep him around.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

Maddie came over to them. “Take me to bed or lose me forever, Malcolm.”

“Whoa,” Grant said with a laugh. “She’s pulling out the big guns, Malcolm.”

Mac glared at his brother. “ She can call me that. You cannot.”

“Whatever you say, Malcolm.”

“Are you going to fight with your brother or take me to bed?” Maddie asked.

“We’re outta here.” Mac held her in front of him to hide his instant reaction to the take me to bed order. “Have a good night, everyone.”

“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do,” Evan called after them from the stage.

Mac shot him the bird over his shoulder and kept moving so nothing would impede the goal of following his wife’s order. He patted her ass. “That was hot as fuck, babe.”

“What was?”

“‘Take me to bed or lose me forever.’”

“You gotta love a little Top Gun between friends.”

He rubbed his erection against her back. “My top gun loves the hell out of you.”

Her giggle was the best thing he’d heard all day. Then she hiccupped, and they both cracked up.

“I might be a tad bit tipsy,” Maddie announced.

She’d only recently weaned the twins, and since tonight was the first time she’d drunk wine in more than a year, it hadn’t taken much to make her silly.

“No worries, love. I’ve gotcha.”

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I’m so happy we got to go out tonight.”

“We need to do it more often. I miss nights like this with the gang—and with you.”

“Same. Just cuz we have five kids doesn’t mean we can’t leave the house.”

Mac held the door to his truck for her. “That’s right.” When she was settled, he stole a kiss. He didn’t expect her to meet fire with fire, but before he knew it, they were engaged in a full-on make-out session right there in the frigid parking lot. “Hold that thought, babe.”

“Hurry up.”

Her eagerness lit a fire in him like only she ever had, and that it still burned so brightly between them after years together and six children, including the precious son they’d lost, was the greatest gift in his life.

He drove them quickly to the Sand & Surf and ushered her in ahead of him through the side door that led straight up the stairs to the room he’d checked them into earlier. Francine had dropped off Maddie’s bag with Laura, who’d promised to deliver it to their room.

While he carried his bag, he kept his arm around Maddie on the stairs so she wouldn’t trip. She was all goofy giggles as he juggled his bag and the key while keeping an arm around her.

“You’d better not be asleep in five minutes, Mrs. McCarthy,” he said as they went into the room that featured a king-sized bed, a dresser and a small bathroom, which was all they needed.

She dropped her coat onto the floor. “I’m not at all tired.”

“That’s a bald-faced lie.”

She flopped down on the bed. “The flowers are gorgeous. Thank you for arranging all this.”

“Steph is sending up dinner in thirty minutes.”

She held out her arms to him.

Mac didn’t need to be asked twice. He came down on top of her and let her trap him in her web of soft, fragrant skin and the hot, sexy kisses he’d missed so much during the months they’d been consumed with kids and babies.

Not that they hadn’t kissed plenty during that time, but they’d kept the lid on things until he’d gotten the all clear following his vasectomy.

They were done having kids and were finally able to get back to enjoying each other without the fear of conception.

“The first time might be quick,” he whispered against her sweet lips.

“I’m okay with quick.”

He caught the look of apprehension that crossed her expressive face before it was gone as fast as it had come. “What’s wrong?”

“What? Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to your husband, Madeline. I know you too well.”

“It’s just… What if we slip one past the goalie, and it’s triplets this time or something? And don’t say that can’t happen with twins and quads in this family in the same year.”

Mac smiled as he brushed the hair back from her sweet face. Could she be any cuter? “David assures me that all my pucks are gone, so there’s no chance the goalie will miss one.”

“I still feel like I’m playing with fire.”

“I’m hot, but not that hot.”

“It’s not funny, Mac! We can’t have any more kids.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“You are on the inside, and don’t try to deny it.”

“Maybe just a little, but only because you’re adorable.”

“I’m dead serious.”

“I know you are, and we’ve done everything humanly possible to prevent further conception. Now it’s time to go back to enjoying ourselves with no fear of consequences.”

“Did you just refer to our children as consequences ?”

Mac laughed at her indignation as he quickly undressed them both. “They are, in fact, the consequence of this.” He was careful as he slid into her, watching as her face flushed with color and her eyes rolled back with pleasure. “Oh, how I’ve missed this, my love. So, so much.”

“Me, too.”

For the longest time, he stayed still as he held her close and wallowed in her soft sweetness and the scent that he’d know anywhere as the woman he loved with all his heart.

Her hands slid down his back to cup his ass and pull him deeper into her.

Lord have mercy, the move almost took him right over the edge. He began to move, slowly and carefully since it’d been a while, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her in any way.

“I’m okay, Mac.”

And that she sensed what he was thinking was one more reason to love her madly. She knew him better than anyone ever had.

He pushed up on his arms so he could see her face as he made love to her. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. “Madeline.”

“Hmm?”

“Look at me.”

She opened those caramel-colored eyes and smiled.

“I don’t want you to forget who you’re doing this with.”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “As if you’d ever let me forget.”

“I can’t ever let you forget who loves you more than anything.”

She raised her hands to his face. “I never could.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

Mac picked up the pace until they were both crying out from months’ worth of built-up desire and years of love that had only gotten deeper through all the ups and downs they’d experienced together.

Afterward, he rested on top of her, enjoying the slide of her fingers sifting through his hair as her other hand caressed his back.

“Things get so busy with kids and work and life in general that I almost forget how great it is to be just us once in a while,” she said. “Thank you for the reminder.”

“Since we have amazing grandparents always willing to help out, we’ll do it more often going forward. I promise.”

“We’re going to be sharing half of them with the quads.”

“That’s okay. We’ll still find time for just us, even if we have to have date night at home.”

“I’m down for that.”

He kissed her neck, her cheek and then her lips. “I’m down for anything that gets me more time alone with you.”

“Yes, please.”