Page 100 of Protecting What's Mine

Sophie hustled off to man the bar. “Everyone gets a discount if your first drink is a draft,” she yelled.

When Mack made a move to head back to the bar, Linc stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“One more,” he insisted.

“One more what?”

“Dance.”

The song was slow, and Mack was relieved that all she had to do was step into Linc’s arms. There was no complicated choreography here. Just an appreciation of the fine male form that was here to celebrate with her. Two bodies that were getting acquainted. Simple. Sweet.

She caught a whiff of something manly.

“You smell like sawdust and…” She leaned in and took another whiff. “Paint?”

“Imagine that,” he said, spinning her out slowly and then drawing her back. “How’s your ankle holding up?”

“Not gonna lie, I don’t think I’d be any better at that line dancing with two good feet.”

“I like just about everything about you, Dreamy.”

She bit her lip coyly. She couldn’t help herself. “I kinda like you, too, Hotshot.”

“My place tonight?” he asked huskily.

“Yeah.”

He grinned. “Good. My bed’s bigger.”

He pushed her out again. And every time he pulled her back into his arms, she felt the flutter in her belly. It felt a little something like joy.

Russell appeared next to her with a stunning woman on his arm who looked fancy even in jeans and a cashmere sweater.

“Dr. O’Neil, my wife, Denise. Denise, Mackenzie O’Neil.”

“I’ve heard a lot,” Denise said with a warm smile. She offered a hand with a large, tasteful diamond on it.

“I can only imagine,” Mack said, shaking her hand.

“Chief Reed, how’s our daughter doing under your care?” Denise asked. There was nothing veiled about the question. Her message was clear: Take care of my daughter. Or else.

“Skyler is a great addition to the department. Cool under pressure,” Linc said.

Denise nudged her husband. “She gets that from me.”

“Although her rookie toilet scrubbing skills leave something to be desired.”

“And she gets that from me,” Russell said.

“We’ll talk later,” Denise promised. “First, I’m going to dance with this handsome doctor.”

The Robinsons moved off to their own corner of the dance floor, and Mack was once again in Linc’s arms. The song was about not being fooled by love songs and the trappings of romance. She could relate.

She looked up, found Linc watching her. There was a softness in his eyes that belayed the confident smirk that lived on his talented lips.

Her knees gave out.Just a bit. And only because she’d somehow forgotten how to keep her joints stable,she told herself.

“Need a break?” he asked, misreading her embarrassing half-swoon as injury-related.