Shine Not Burn(71)

“Skulking? I’m not skulking. I’m just getting my groceries!” Hannah Banana was the picture of innocence, her eyebrows so high they were practically at her hairline.

“Is that so?” Maeve looked pointedly in Hannah’s cart.

The entire basket was empty, and Hannah was already three quarters of the way through the store. I got nervous, wondering how much of my conversation with Maeve she’d overheard.

“Yes, it is so. I’m here to get barbecue meat for tonight’s dinner. I’ve got the old group coming over. Mack, Ian, Ginny, and me.”

Maeve snorted. “Are you throwing a party or a funeral?”

Hannah’s jaw dropped open for a second before she recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Maeve shook her head, maneuvering her cart around Hannah’s. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Did you check with my boys before you made your plans? Because we have calves to work.”

“Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll come. I have a surprise for them.” Her cocky smile made me want to slap her. I got the distinct impression that she thought her influence over the MacKenzie men was stronger than their mother’s. I didn’t know them that well, but I couldn’t imagine that this was the case.

I caught up to Maeve in time to see her rolling her eyes. She was already moving down the next aisle. “Okay, well, enjoy your party,” she said without looking back.

Hannah looked at me, a saccharine smile stretching her lips as she spoke up loud enough for half the store to hear. “I’d invite you, Angie, but I have a really small place and Mack is not really into hanging out with strangers much. He likes to just keep it simple, you know?” Her head cocked to the side, as if she expected me to answer.

I stopped halfway down the aisle. “It’s Andie, not Angie. If you’d invited me I would have declined anyway. I’m leaving town after I talk to Mack today.”

“Awww, bummer. Okay, well, have a nice flight.” She wiggled some polished acrylic fingernails in my direction and pushed her cart away, disappearing around the end of the aisle.

Maeve was muttering to herself when I caught up with her.

“Anything I can get for you?” I asked, holding lightly onto the edge of the cart.

“No, I’m about done here. Just got the last ingredient for my famous lemon bars. Come on, let’s get out of here before I say something stupid to someone I should be ignoring. I’ll grab the cream cheese on the way out.”

We made our way to the front of the store through the refrigerated aisle and paid for the groceries. Maeve refused to let me contribute, saying, “You’re our guest, and guests don’t pay,” even though I was already at least two meals into her hospitality and would probably have one more before leaving.

The happiness over her generosity only lasted about five seconds. As we were walking out the door, I noticed a familiar figure striding towards the front of the store. His swagger was impossible to miss.

“There he is.” Maeve waved him down. “Mack!”

The man in the cowboy hat turned his head and smiled. Then he caught sight of me and the smile disappeared.

My god, he is so gorgeous it should be illegal. Ten thousand butterflies took up residence in my stomach and started a little rodeo when the memories of what we’d done last night came rushing back to greet me.





Chapter Thirty-One





“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” asked Maeve, giving her son a hug.

He glanced at me as he answered. “I had to do some packing and shopping. What are you doing here?”

“Picnic supplies. But didn’t you have plans to talk to Andie this morning about her project?”

Mack hid his surprise well. “Um, yeah. But I had to do this other thing first.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what … why don’t you bring her back with you so I can run by the party supply place and then the dry cleaner? She’ll get bored being with me all morning, and I think she said she needs to get back to work. Best get your business together worked out as soon as possible, right?” She patted him on the cheek and then put her hand on my upper arm. “See you back at the ranch, sweetie.”

I smiled. “Back at the ranch. I’ve always wanted to say that.”

“Go ahead then.” She stood there waiting.

“Okay. See you back at the ranch, Maeve.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

“Hope to shout.” She walked off and left us standing there, Mack’s expression telling me nothing.

“What’d she just say?” I asked.

“Hope to shout.” He turned away from the store. “Come on with me, then. I’ll get you back to the ranch.”

“What does hope to shout mean?” I shuffled along behind him in my sexy moccasins.

He walked up to another truck, this one red and brand new, pressing the button on his keychain to open the locks. “It means I sure hope so or something close to that.”

“Huh. I’ve never heard that before.”

“It’s pretty country. Probably not your cup of tea.”

I climbed up into the truck with the help of a step that was attached to the side. “I wouldn’t say that.” I had to go back down when one of my shoes fell off. I grabbed it with my hand and just carried it in. Buckling up, I watched him get into the truck, waiting for him to look at me.