Page 106 of Protecting What's Mine

“Let me see what I have planned,” she said evasively.

“I’m gonna need an IV to rehydrate,” he decided, coming to his feet. He reached down and helped her up.

“I know someone who can help with that,” she said and pointed to her mug.

His grin was boyish, and once again, she felt that uneven lurch in her chest. She should probably see about getting an EKG.

Linc hastily pulled up his pants. “Thanks for taking Sunshine today.” He kissed her, hard on the mouth and soft on top of the head, before grabbing his smoothie and heading toward the door.

She laughed when he stumbled in the doorway.

“I’m lightheaded.”

“Don’t forget to zip your fly, Hotshot,” she told him.

“Don’t forget to report any suspicious basement lurkers,” he said. Then sobered. “I mean it, Mackenzie. If you see anything that doesn’t sit right with you, call Ty and then call me.”

She gave him a salute. “Yes, sir!”

Back to playful, he sent her an exaggerated wink. “Dinner tonight,” he called over his shoulder. “And don’t forget to meditate!”

About thirty seconds after the front door closed, Mack’s phone buzzed on the counter.

Linc: Thanks again. For Sunny. And the bj.

Mack: Don’t be weird.

Linc: Feel free to stay and take another shower. Wi-Fi password is 4AlarmFire. Move in if you want or wait for me to do the heavy lifting.

Mack: I see blow jobs damage brain cells.

34

Linc’s sister Rebecca—another replica of the Reed DNA—had been more subtle in her “what are your intentions with my brother” interrogation. Dressed in pajamas and a robe and clutching a cup of coffee, she invited Mack inside her neat and tidy two-story.

With her exit cut off, Bec quizzed her on how long she planned to stay in town and if she was enjoying small-town doctoring. All while telling her kids to turn the TV down and reminding her husband to take the car in for an oil change.

Mack brought Sunshine back to her place, and they spent the rest of the morning working in the flowerbeds in the backyard because apparently weeding once was not enough. While Sunshine ran back and forth between the yards bringing Mack every dog toy and stick she could find, Mack gave the open gate a few contemplative looks, still not sure what to think of it.

Presumptuous. Yes. Convenient. Also yes.

He was already systematically pushing back on her claims that she didn’t want anything serious or complicated. Which meant she was going to have to push back harder. Maybe after dinner tonight. After all, she had his dog. Obviously, she’d have to see him at some point.

Yes.Tomorrowshe’d set firmer boundaries.

After lunch and an afternoon meditation, she took Sunshine for ice cream and laughed at the metronomic tick of the dog’s tail as she wolfed down a small dish of vanilla.

It was after three. And ice cream had been her one and only “fun” idea. The clinic was closed now, so there was no point stopping in unless it was to fall out of her chair again.

Maybe fixing dinner would be fun?

So she loaded Sunshine into her SUV and headed to the grocery store.

“I’m so lame,” she complained to the dog in the passenger seat as she steered toward home with steaks and veggies to grill. “I can’t even come up with something spontaneous besides ice cream and grocery shopping.”

Sunshine looked at her and blinked.

“No. A nap isnotspontaneous fun.”