MacKenzie Fire(90)

“So, how’s fatherhood treating you?” Ian asks Mack as we head down the long road to the highway.

“Love it,” Mack says without hesitation. “Could do without the sleep deprivation, but otherwise, it’s perfect. Andie’s a great mom. Sarah’s a real lucky girl to have her.”

“Ma says Andie’s got the baby blues.”

“Yeah, a bit, but she’s working it out. You know how it goes.”

I turn around to look at Mack. “How does he know how it goes?”

Mack shrugs. “Happens in the animal world too sometimes.”

I nod. This makes complete sense to me. I spent a little time before my nap with my first love, Google, and I learned quite a bit about the hormone tornado wreaking havoc on Andie’s body. It made me want to draw her a hot bath, but when I called her to discuss it she declined my offer.

“If you two want to go out some night, Candice and I could come over and watch her for you,” Ian says.

My heart spasms in my chest. How cute would that be? Ian and me, pretending to be parents for a little while.

My face goes white again. Parents? Ian and me? Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.

“What’s wrong with you?” Ian asks. “You feeling okay? You look kind of pale.”

“Me?” My eyes bulge out. Is he reading minds now too? “Nothing at all. Not one thing.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Liar.”

“How’s the trip going so far, Candice?” Mack asks me. “Andie feels bad that she hasn’t had more time to spend with you.”

“Oh, it’s been great. Ian’s been keeping me occupied.” I want to die when the words come out of my mouth. More like his dick has been keeping me occupied. Holy crap. We totally did it in his parents’ house and their barn.

Ian glances at me, but keeps his mouth shut, thankfully.

“So I heard,” Mack says.

I’m speechless. Thank goodness Ian isn’t suffering the same problem.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks, looking in his rearview mirror at Mack.

“Nothing. Just that I heard you all went to town a couple times together.” He laughs. “Heard she shot you at the range, too.”

“She did.” Ian nods. “In cold blood, I might add.”

I sigh, already tired of this conversation. “I didn’t shoot him, karma did. And I’ve never been called cold-blooded in my entire life, so don’t start now.”

He pats me on the leg and then runs his hand up to squeeze my thigh very close to places he shouldn’t be touching in public. “I’m sorry, babe. You’re right. You’re not cold blooded.”

I lift his hand off me and give him the look. “Hands off the merchandise.” The last thing I need is Mack reporting back to Andie about Ian and me feeling each other up. I’ll never hear the end of that for sure.

Ian glances at me, confused, but then goes back to his driving. We’re not far from the highway and this is the part that has the most holes in the road, so he needs to concentrate. I have a mission to accomplish tonight and I can’t do that in a ditch on the side of the road.

“So what’s the plan tonight?” Mack asks.

“Plan?” I’m all innocence. “What plan?”

“Just three people out for a drink, that’s all,” Ian says.

“You can ease up on the bullpucky,” Mack says. “Mom told me everything.”

I roll my eyes and snort out my disgust. “Can’t anyone keep a secret in this family?”

Ian’s smiling way too hard. “Nope. Hey, Mack … did Candice tell you that she and I are running away to Orlando?”

Mack leans over into the front seat and stares at me. “Why, no she didn’t, as a matter of fact.” He nudges me on the shoulder. “Do tell, Candice.”

My jaw is stuck open. The only sounds that will come out are ones of frustration and surprise.

“Yeah. I proposed the idea earlier today, and she’s all for it,” Ian says.

The words pop out of me before I can stop them. “I am not.”

“You aren’t?” Ian looks at me with concern in his eyes. “Are you serious?”

“No. Yes. No.” I take a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t know what I am. Confused is probably the best word.” I stare out the side window so I don’t have to look at his impossibly gorgeous face.

Mack chuckles. “Well, I think it’s a good idea if anyone cares about my opinion.” He sits back in his seat.

I’m shocked. I have to turn around and look in the back to see if he’s just messing with me. “Are you serious?” He sure is doing a good imitation of someone who is with that cowboy hat on and those cold blue eyes of his. He’s definitely not smiling.

“Why not?” He shrugs. “I married my wife after knowing her only a few hours. I definitely believe in going for it. When you know, you just know.”

Ian pats me on the leg. “See? Told ya.”

I turn around and slump down in my seat a little. This is all moving so fast for me. I can’t believe the MacKenzies would just let Ian go like that, without a word against it. His parents will be furious for sure. A big brother can afford to be casual about it, but his mother, she’s going to be mad. She’ll probably want to run me over with her little truck.