Page 323 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

GEORGIA

“I really appreciate this,” he said for the tenth time.

Instead of pizza, Mac picked up deli sandwiches after leaving his dad’s.

Since I didn’t know my way around town like he did, I followed him in his fire department command truck back to his house.

Since Andy wasn’t allowed to ride in that vehicle, he’d been with me in my rental car again. Happy as could be.

Then, like a little family, we ate at the kitchen table and listened to Andy talk about school. Even though Mac was on shift and his walkie talkie sat by his water glass, he’d stayed to eat.

Then it was bedtime for Andy. Mac asked if I could stay with him in the house instead of in the garage apartment since he had to go back to work.

It was clear Drew wasn’t an option, even though the older man didn’t want to admit it.

The boot he had on his foot was large and cumbersome and I expected would take some time to get used to.

Andy was caring and thoughtful, but there was no way Drew could keep up with him tonight.

And he’d taken his pain meds before we left him and was probably sleeping hard by now.

So it was me. In Mac’s house. First dinner, then a sleepover.

Fuck. Shit. Crap. A pageant queen didn’t swear, but I wasn’t a pageant queen and if there was a time for swearing, this was it.

Mac didn’t know that I moved to the James Inn. That I’d made a decision to distance myself from them as a family. It was one thing to have Mac come to my hotel room and have some no strings sex, but being in his house? Upstairs? Taking care of Andy and staying in the guest bedroom.

Completely and totally opposite of my intentions. This was the opposite of needing space.

I sighed. I didn’t know what else to do.

I’d have to tell Mac about relocating to the inn and my reasons for it.

He’d know I was catching feelings then he’d get all cranky again.

Maybe even toss in an I told you so about the importance of no strings.

Laugh at me. Maybe not sleep with his secretary on the side like Art, but I didn’t even want to have him look at me in the same way.

A look that told me I wasn’t worthy of everything and laughably couldn’t even do no strings right.

It wasn’t only Mac that I was falling for.

Picking up Andy at school and taking him to Steaming Hotties for hot chocolate was hard enough. School pickup? A stab to the heart. Having him chatter from the backseat of my car? Another stab. Sharing hot drinks and marshmallows? Stab, stab, stab!

Now it was going to be making breakfast, homework, bath and story time.

Ugh!

Yet, all I said for the tenth time with a big smile was, “No problem.”

Mac opened the guest bedroom door for me.

“No! That’s Grumpy’s room.” Andy rushed down the hall, sliding across the hardwood in his socks. He put his arms out to block my way, as if there was some kind of HAZMAT scene in there.

“It’s the guest room,” Mac corrected.

Andy vigorously shook his head and took my hand, tugging me back down the hall to–

Lord, help me over the fence.

Mac’s room.

Andy pulled me all the way in. Mac followed.

There was a very large bed taking up most of the space. The bed was made, but just by tossing the comforter up and over the pillows. A shirt was flung over a chair in the corner and the door to the closet was open. Mac’s scent filled the room.

This was bad. Very bad.

I’d gone from the apartment over the garage, which I thought was too much, to Mac’s bedroom.

“Moms and dads share a room. She stays in here with you!” Andy said.

I blinked.

Really, really bad.

Nothing I said to him in his classroom earlier stuck. No Miss GG and marshmallow sharing best friends.

Andy wanted us to stay together. I glanced at Mac and tried not to smile because the one person we were trying to be discreet with was the one who wanted us to share a bed.

“Andy, bud, she’s not–”

“I know what Miss GG said. What you said. But try it. Maybe you’ll like it.”

He ran out the door, pulling it shut behind him as he went.

I stared at the door for a long moment.

“You heard what he said,” Mac commented, coming closer with a sly grin. “Let’s try it. Maybe we’ll like it.”