Page 98 of Protecting What's Mine

“It’s the biggest deal for that family. Remember that,” he said.

She nodded. “I remembered to check the patient notes. They’re big into camping. Camping equals bug bites.”

“I’m very proud of you, Mackenzie,” he said.

She didn’t want it to matter. Didn’t think it should matter. But it did anyway. She felt it again, that brightness in her chest. “Thanks, Russell.”

“It looks like someone else thinks pretty highly of you,” he said, tilting his glass in the direction of the door.

Lincoln Reed in well-worn jeans and a tight gray t-shirt strolled her way with his eyes on her and that charming little smirk on his face.

Thunk thunk.

Her heart got in on the excitement with an uneven limp.Just leftover hormones, she told herself.Nothing complicated.

“Hey there, Dreamy,” Linc said.

She expected him to take the empty stool next to her, but instead he walked right up to her and slid his hands up her jaw and into her hair. He laid a kiss on her that stole her breath and her train of thought.

“Woo! Is it just me or is it gettin’ hot in here?” Sophie called from the other end of the bar, where she fanned herself with a menu.

It was definitely not just Sophie.

The kiss left Mack flush-cheeked and speechless for a beat.

“Hey,” she breathed finally when her words returned.

“Oooooh,” Freida crooned, sloshing margarita over the rim of her glass.

Linc grinned, and Mack felt her mouth following his lead.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Dr. Mack saved a life today,” Sophie said, sliding a beer at Linc.

He held his glass up to Mack’s. “Congratulations.”

“Chief Reed here saved two lives last night,” Mack countered.

“Well, don’t I just have myself a bar full of heroes today?” Sophie said cheerfully.

“All in a day’s work, little lady,” Linc said with an exaggerated wink.

But it was. Their job was to preserve life. And now, there were three souls that would live to see the weekend. It gave Mack a little tingle of satisfaction. Of pride.

She’d saved lives before. Many of them. But proximity made this one different. She’d see Dalton at the grocery store or on the ball field. She’d run into his parents at the Italian place. And they’d all be connected. Forever.

Linc, not even trying to be subtle about it, dragged her stool closer. Positioning it and her between his muscular thighs.

“You look happy,” he said.

She gave a shrug and picked up her beer. “It was a good day.”

“And last night?”

She playfully gave him a scan that started at those pretty blue eyes and traveled south to the distinctive bulge in his jeans. “Last night was pretty okay, too.”

He pinched her, and she laughed.