5. Mac
5 MAC
She smelled so good. Like a bouquet with a hint of mint and rosemary, which was really fucking annoying because how in the hell do I even know what rosemary smells like? Because that’s what Kayla did to me. That plump red smile and the way those hazel eyes glittered when she was genuinely amused, it was the total fucking package. I realized as we sat inside the Ol’ St. Nick Pub that for the first time since high school, I had a crush on a girl. No, on a woman because Kayla was all woman.
And I was hella interested.
“So,” she looked at me with those long lashes and smiled again. “How’s the songwriting going?”
I searched her gaze for any signs she was looking for more, the way most people did when they asked about my work. She just seemed curious, because unlike most of the people I came in contact with, Kayla had a very busy life that had nothing to do with celebrity gossip. “Okay,” I finally answered. “But a lot slower than usual, unfortunately.”
“The world tour was a lot, wasn’t it?”
Again, I studied her beautiful face and again I found her sincere. “Yeah. It was a fucking dream come true. Seeing all those countries made me realize the reach of my music. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.”
Her lips tugged into an answering smile. “Sounds incredible. But?”
“But it was exhausting. At least one show a day almost every day for a year.” I felt like such a dick whining about a world fucking tour.
“Sounds like you might be burnt out.” It wasn’t a judgment, just a statement of fact. “It happened to me, and I knew I needed a break or I’d have a breakdown at the wrong time.”
I couldn’t imagine it. “So what did you do?”
“I rented a room at one of those mom-and-pop ski resorts in Vermont and stayed there for two days. I slept, I ate, I skied, and did nothing else. It was perfect.” She studied me this time. “Maybe that’s what you need?”
My lips pulled to one side, and I leaned in close. “Are you offering to spend two days with me in a cabin in the woods?”
Her head fell backward, and a throaty, sexy-as-fuck laugh spilled from her lips. “Not exactly, but maybe you need something normal in your life, and if not normal, just not rock star-related.”
Was she angling for a date? “And just what do you have in mind?”
Kayla licked her lips, and I had to bite the inside of my jaw to keep from moaning. My mind instantly conjured up the image of those red lips wrapped around my cock, leaving a trail of red marks across my abs and chest. “Well,” she began, but she was cut off by a new arrival at our table.
“Lancaster,” the woman with huge tits in a too-tight t-shirt purred. “Buy me a drink?”
I put on my best friendly smile. “No can do, enjoying some time with friends.” I stared until she got the hint and left. “Sorry about that.”
“If you want to go,” she began. “Feel free.”
“I’m right where I want to be, Doc.” I winked, and she rewarded me with that irresistible blush. Again.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. Positive. Now, what did you have in mind to heal my burnout?”
“I don’t have a lot of time, but a few hours in the evenings, and we can make a pretty great float for the parade. If that’s your thing, I mean.” She looked away nervously, and I just wanted to lean in and taste her mouth.
“Holy shit, it really is you. Lancaster.” Another woman stopped at the table in a tight red mini-dress that left nothing to the imagination. “Wanna get out of here?”
My gaze slid from the woman back to Kayla as I shook my head. “No thanks, I’m right where I want to be.” Having women be so bold wasn’t new to me, but with Kayla around, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that flash of something I saw in her eyes. It was almost as if she was waiting—or expecting—me to lose interest.
She shrugged. “Your loss.”
“Possibly,” I conceded with a smile before I turned back to Kayla. “You really have a parade?”
She nodded. “Oh yeah, we go all out for pretty much every holiday. There’s at least one festival every single month.”
“She’s right,” Torey chimed in with a smile. “There’s a green beer pong competition, bracket-style, but you need a partner for that. An Emerald Isle cook-off, a scavenger hunt, and then the parade followed by a potluck and dance.”
I wasn’t sure if they were messing with me, but it all sounded fun, and like Kayla said, the perfect distraction. Maybe I needed to adjust to civilian life again, and inspiration would hit me. “I’ll make a float with you if you partner with me for pong.”
She frowned. “You want to do green beer pong? Seriously?”
“Hell yeah. Why not? Are you scared?”
“Ha,” she tried for a fake laugh. “No, but I thought that pizza was your carbs for the year.”
“Smart ass,” I laughed and stole a potato skin from her plate instead of the platter in the middle of the table. “I’ll get back in shape when I have to.”
“Now that’s just cruel,” Rob groaned from the other side of the table.
“I’m in,” Kayla answered with a hesitant smile.
“Perfect.” I returned her smile, and our gazes locked again, and it was intense and hot, and electricity arced between us like one of those lightning storms in Colombia.
“This was fun, but we have to go,” Nix said and stood, which forced Rob and Torey to stand as well.
“Yeah, me too,” Torey agreed.
The night was over, and everyone was headed home. “I’m gonna stick around for a while,” Rob said as he eyed the bartender in the flannel shirt.
“Since we’re neighbors, how about I walk you home, Kayla?”
She lifted her chin. “Maybe I’ll walk you home.”
“I accept.” My hand landed on her back and slid down to the spot just above her ass.
“Come on, then.” I followed her out and focused on the swing of her hips and the curve of her ass. Her body was killer, I knew that, but the way those jeans hugged her thighs and hips should be illegal.
“How did you like growing up here?”
She shrugged. “It was great, mostly. It sucked trying to date and outgrow the nerdy girl I used to be, but it also allowed us to be a bit more reckless than your average teens without lasting consequences.”
I could listen to her talk all day. Her voice was a low alto, smooth and husky, and when she talked, the words came out relaxed and engaging. The walk home was too short.
“Here we are.” She turned to me, her hazel eyes smiling.
I realized we were in front of my door. “I don’t think so.” I took her hand in mine and walked us both across the grass until we were at her front door. “Thanks for the walk.”
“You’re welcome. I can now put bodyguard on my resume.” Her laughter was contagious, but my eyes were laser-focused on her mouth, full and lush with just a hint of red leftover.
Instead of laughing, I palmed the back of her neck with one hand and the side of her face with the other. She seemed so delicate and fragile in this vulnerable position, but her lips were parted, and her breaths came out in shallow puffs. I leaned in closer until I could smell the negroni on her breath, and then I froze. “Kayla,” I groaned.
She froze and then took a step back, clearly misreading my tone, but it was probably for the best. “See you around, Mac.”
“Soon, Doc. Really soon.” I called myself every kind of fool on the short trip across the lawn, and once I was inside my house, I vowed that the next time I had the chance to kiss Kayla, I was taking it and running with it.