Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
I’m in hell…
That might have been a mild exaggeration, but as he was sitting at his desk after everyone had gone home, that’s what it was beginning to feel like.
Actually, right now, his entire life was feeling like it was out of control, and he had no idea what to do about it.
Earlier–as in first thing this morning–MacKenzie had met him in the kitchen, ready for work. She’d apologized for making him have to come out and get her and for anything inappropriate she might have said or done.
So obviously she didn’t want to directly address the kiss, which was fine with him.
Or maybe it wasn’t. He was all over the place on what was right and what was wrong where MacKenzie was concerned.
She’d worked all day at the shop, but at four o’clock, Ashlynn and Avery had shown up and announced that they were there to pick up MacKenzie so they could all get ready for rock and roll bowling together.
Honestly, he hadn’t really planned on going to the bowling alley tonight.
He was all for the reunion celebration, but…
the main party was tomorrow night with the dance.
Tonight was just for people to get together and hang out–people who didn’t get to see one another all the time.
Devin felt like he got to see almost everyone in town on a regular basis–especially this last week–so going bowling wasn’t something he felt drawn to do.
Until now.
Ashlynn had given him a pretty detailed itinerary of what was going on tonight.
Part of it was just her personality–she was incredibly chatty–but he kind of felt like she was baiting him a little.
She told him how all the girls were wearing some sort of glittery tank tops and they got one for MacKenzie.
They were all getting ready together and planned on doing some bowling and then having some drinks and dancing too.
Ridge Lanes had a fairly large bar and party room that was going to be used tonight, and apparently the girls were already planning just how much fun they were going to have.
And including MacKenzie in all of it.
Devin contemplated going. He knew everyone would be there. The town was filling up for all the festivities for the reunion, and even though he was exhausted, it might be fun to go out and see some old friends.
Or keep an eye on MacKenzie.
Two birds. One stone.
Whatever.
Besides, it might be easier to just be there with her to drive her home later, he reasoned.
Doing a quick scan of the garage, he noted how everything was in its place and there wasn’t anything that required his immediate attention.
If he left now, he’d be able to go home and shower and change and make himself a sandwich before heading over to meet up with everyone.
Fashionably late, isn’t that what they called it?
Although he didn’t want to be too late–no point in letting the single guys of Sweetbriar Ridge start hanging around MacKenzie. She was off-limits.
Including to himself.
So why was he going and torturing himself again?
Oh yeah, because…well, there was no logical explanation. Maybe he was a glutton for punishment. Or maybe he just enjoyed being in her presence and hearing her laugh and watching her smile.
He had it bad.
He knew it.
And he still had no idea what to do about it.
Grabbing his keys, Devin walked out of the shop, locked it up, and headed for home.
With any luck, he’d get himself ready and go have some fun.
It had been a hell of a long time since he’d allowed himself to do that.
The long hours of running his shop pretty much made him a homebody with an early bedtime.
Maybe it was time to actually start living his life–and having a life outside of his business.
She was bowling.
Badly.
No one seemed to notice or care, but she was feeling like the only person in the entire place who couldn’t knock down a pin.
After her twelfth gutter ball, she turned to Devin in total dismay, and fortunately, he understood without her saying a word.
“Okay,” he said with a grin. “Let’s work on your stance first and see if that helps.”
“Nothing’s going to help,” she mumbled, but let him drag her over to the ball return to wait for the kiddie ball to come back. “Seriously, I think I’m just gonna watch the rest of the time. It’s fine. Really.”
“Don’t be a quitter. You haven’t bowled in a long time. Of course you’re a bit rusty.”
“Rusty?” she repeated with a laugh. “Devin, I’m bowling like I never heard of the game before. I’m pathetic.”
“I don’t see it that way.” And before she knew it, he was pressed up behind her and showing her how to hold the ball.
There were so many other things she’d rather be doing with him pressed up against her, and bowling wasn’t even in the top one hundred.
“Take a few steps,” he said, his breath warm against her ear.
“Bring your arm back, hold your wrist steady so your thumb is on the top, and…release.” He guided her through it all and as the ball left her hand, MacKenzie stood perfectly still–refusing to even breathe–as the ball made its way down the lane and…
Knocked over two pins!
“Holy crap!” she cried. Turning, she jumped into Devin’s arms as he spun her around. “I did it! I knocked down two pins! Did you see it?”
He nodded and held her tight, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her.
Her heart was racing like mad, her mouth went dry, and for a moment, all she could do was look at his lips.
Their eyes met and held and it was like all the noise and all the people simply faded away because he was all she could see.
“Devin, I…”
“Hey! Look who finally knocked down a pin!” Avery said as she came up beside them. “Good for you! You’re up, Devin!”
And…that officially killed the moment.
Fortunately, for the rest of the game, every time she was up, Devin came up and helped her.
Every. Time.
By the time they were done, she was more turned on than she ever remembered being and was ready to demand that he take her home and press up against her in a sexier–naked–way.
But she never had the chance to because Ashlynn, Avery, Chloe, Billie, and Jade announced it was time to dance, so…she went to dance.
“Oh, my gosh! I love this song!” MacKenzie cried as they walked into the entertainment area.
For a solid thirty minutes, she danced and laughed, and had more fun than she remembered having in years.
She was a little hot and sweaty, but she was enjoying herself so much that it made it all worth it.
The whole week had been amazing and it was thanks to this quirky little town and the people who lived in it.
Between girls’ night last night and then getting ready with everyone earlier, it was beginning to overwhelm her in the best possible way.
Back in Syracuse, she had friends, but they rarely got together to do anything other than a movie or dinner.
And dinner was always at the same place–Steve’s Pub–and they all ordered the same things every time.
In a word, it was boring.
And now that she thought about it, that pretty much described her life for far too long.
Boring.
When the girls had shown up at the shop the other day to invite her to lunch, she nearly had a panic attack. It had been years since she’d made any new friends and honestly, she thought maybe she was too old for that to happen.
She was happy to be proven wrong.
Then there was girls’ night and that was awesome, and when they’d shown up again today so she could get ready with them–and given her a bedazzled tank top that matched theirs–it felt like…she belonged.
Now, as she danced around to one of her favorite Taylor Swift songs, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored wall and almost couldn’t believe how different she looked.
Ashlynn had lent her a pair of black skinny jeans and a fabulous pair of boots.
Avery had shown up with a pizza and a gift bag for MacKenzie with her bedazzled Sweetbriar Ridge High School tank top in it.
They had helped her do wonders with her hair–which had been up in a ponytail all day–but now was soft and wavy and looked as if she’d gone to a salon.
Which, basically, she had since Ashlynn owned the local hair salon.
All in all, it had been a long time since she’d put in such an effort for a night out.
Or any night.
Or any outing.
The song ended and another great one started up immediately, but all eyes had turned toward the entrance to the party room.
Devin.
When Ashlynn picked her up from the shop earlier, MacKenzie kind of had a feeling she was doing her best to convince Devin to come and hang out, but he hadn’t seemed interested. But judging by the way he was scanning the bar–and the way his gaze seemed to lock on hers–he was definitely interested.
Even more so than he had earlier while they were bowling.
For as loud as the place had seemed a minute ago, MacKenzie couldn’t hear anything now except her heart pounding at the sight of him.
Faded blue jeans, a snug black t-shirt–neither of which was out of the ordinary, but the way he was holding himself was–as if he were barely holding on to the control he always had.
Her breath quickened and suddenly she wished they were back at his place, just the two of them.
“Just a kiss, huh?” Ashlynn said directly in her ear. Earlier, while they were getting ready, MacKenzie had admitted to kissing Devin, but she had played it down. “I don’t think so.”
MacKenzie turned toward her, even though she hated to look away from Devin’s heated gaze. “What? What do you mean?”
Avery danced over with a knowing grin on her face. “That is not the look of a man who you shared just a casual kiss with.”