Shelter from the Storm Read online

  “No.”

  Mac tilted his head to the side. “What are you doing? Are you testing me? Wanting to see if I’ll resort to using my physical strength to dominate you and take it? I’m not going to. I could sit like this for hours, it’s quite comfortable, actually.”

  Jennifer’s face was becoming increasingly flush, her breathing was becoming ragged. Her tongue darted out and moistened her lips. She said nothing.

  “Ah.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “A glimpse of Jennifer Jones’s dark side. Maybe you like it a little—”

  She bucked underneath him. “Unhand me!”

  Mac smiled. “Well, milady, seems you’ve got it a bit backward. You see, I’m the lord of this manor. You do as I command or I’ll have you thrown in the dungeon.”

  “The dungeon?”

  “And subject you to endless hours of torture. Now, relinquish your weapon!”

  “What kind of torture?”

  “Um, let me see. I’m afraid I’m a bit out of practice in the torture department. We’ll pipe Barry Manilow into the cell twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. And, you’ll get only bread and water to eat, tap water and day-old bread from the market. But, not from a market that’s part of the UFCW strike, because we need to support those people—”

  “Fine.” Jennifer rolled her eyes.

  “Fine? Even the Manilow?” Mac asked, incredulous.

  “Only if you include Copacabana, it’s my favorite.”

  “Stubborn chit! I thought the threat of Manilow was positively diabolical.”

  “No. I like Manilow.”

  “There is something fundamentally wrong with—”

  “Oh! Hey, Rachel, Tom.” Jennifer craned her neck and looked over Mac’s shoulder.

  “What?” Mac released her wrists and turned his head toward the door. “Ompf!”

  Within the space of a second she had turned the tables on him. As soon as he released her, Jennifer sprang up, pushed him over and pinned him to the ground.

  “You cheated!”

  “Whoo hoo! Go me! Go me!” she cheered bouncing up and down.

  “You like being on top? I don’t mind a bit, truly I don’t. I can be comfortable with turning control over to a woman.”

  She froze in place.

  “I think you should let me up.”

  “You admit I won fair and square, and then we can shower.”

  Mac lifted his head to look over her shoulder. “Sorry, it seems the lady of the house has gone a bit daft. We should probably humor her.”

  “Oh, right! Like I’m going to fall for that one, sheesh! Rachel and Tom are always late.”

  “Not always!” Rachel stood in the doorway, wearing an amused expression.

  “Rachel didn’t mention you two were together. Good to meet you, Mac. I’m Tom.”

  “What? No!” Jennifer scrambled to her feet. “We are definitely not together. I mean, I know what this probably looks like. But it’s not. What does it look like? You know what? Never mind! Whatever it looks like it’s—”

  Mac hopped up and placed his hand over her mouth. “Stop. Breathe. I call dibs on the shower. Okay?”

  Jennifer nodded and he lowered his hand. “You’re probably wondering what we were doing,” she said.

  Rachel shook her head. “No, it seemed pretty self-explanatory to me.”

  “Nice to meet the two of you.” Mac extended his hand first to Tom, then to Rachel. “I’m going to go grab a quick shower.”

  “Need me to do anything to get dinner started?” Jennifer asked.

  “How about you clean the lettuce for the salad? I shouldn’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes. Then the bathroom is all yours, blondie.”

  Mac sauntered off toward his room to gather a fresh set of clothes. Everyone else moved into the kitchen. Within seconds, he’d disappeared into the bathroom.

  As soon as the water started running Rachel hopped up onto the barstool. “Oh my God! Spill!”

  “There is nothing to spill. We’re roommates. Period. End of discussion.” Jennifer busied herself with washing her hands.

  “Of course,” Rachel said.

  Jennifer turned around just in time to catch her winking at Tom. “Honest! And it’s never going to be anything more. Besides, he’s annoying.”

  “Annoying?” Tom asked.

  “He doesn’t do dishes.”

  “That’s the best you can come up with?” Rachel asked, crossing her arms in front of her.

  “Yeah,” Jennifer admitted.

  “When he came home last night, did the two of you talk?” Rachel pressed. “Did you decide to give this a chance?”

  “No. No chance. I admitted I’m attracted to him—”

  “Then I don’t get it. What’s the problem?” Tom asked.

  Jennifer glanced toward the bathroom. “I… You see…”

  Rachel covered Jennifer’s hand with hers. “Tell us.”

  “My sister’s moving into this apartment in just a few days. She’s going to need my attention, my focus. More importantly she’s going to need consistency and stability.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t want her to become attached, to think he’s going to be here forever. He won’t. Someday he’ll move on. It’s inevitable.”

  “Jennifer,” Rachel said softly. “Maybe it would be different this time. Maybe he’s the one.”

  They were startled when the bathroom door suddenly opened. “All right, shower’s all yours.” Mac emerged, barefoot, but wearing a fresh pair of jeans and a clean T-shirt. His hair was wet but combed. “Hey! You didn’t even start on the lettuce.” He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out two heads of romaine.

  “Sorry, we got a bit carried away with catching up. Here, I’ll do it.” Jennifer extended her hand.

  “Nonsense.” Mac lifted the lettuce out of reach. “Go get cleaned up. I’ll finish the dinner and set the table. You can do the soddin’ dishes. How’s that for a deal?”

  “What is it with you and dishes?” Jennifer asked, curiously.

  “When I was a babe, my mum used to bathe me in the kitchen sink. One time I accidentally dislodged the stopper and the water all drained out. I thought I was going to get sucked down, too. It was terrifying, very traumatic,” Mac said with a serious expression on his face.

  “Lame. Completely lame. You can do better, Mac,” she replied before heading for the bathroom. “Behave with my friends.”

  “I promise I’ll work on making a good impression, put my best foot forward and all that rot. By the time you emerge from the bathroom, you won’t even recognize me.”

  Jennifer turned around and frowned. Mac held one hand up in the air; the other was placed, earnestly, over his heart. His face was the picture of innocence.

  “On second thought, maybe you should just be yourself.”

  Chapter Six

  January 9, 2004

  Mac rubbed his eyes as he walked out of the bathroom and headed back toward his bedroom. He hoped to catch a bit more sleep. It had been a long week, his first out of orientation and at the new job. And, of course, he and Jennifer had been crazy busy getting ready for Sara’s arrival.

  As he turned to once again close his bedroom door, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. There was a dark outline of a silhouette against the French doors in the living room. Mac stepped back out into the hallway. “Jennifer?” he quietly whispered.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  He walked over to her. “You didn’t wake me, blondie. Is something wrong?”

  “I can’t sleep.” She stood there, gazing out at the city.

  “How long have you been up?”

  “Hours. I’m scared about tomorrow, or I guess I should say today. The sun will be up soon.”

  “You should have woken me.” Mac walked over and grabbed the chenille throw off of the sofa. “It’s cold. Aren’t you cold? Do you want me to turn the heat up?”

  “I don’t feel it. The truth
is, I haven’t felt anything in a long time. Sometimes I think I’m dead inside. Somehow, here in the dark, where you can’t see me, where no one can see me, I can admit that.”

  “But I can see you.” Mac placed one hand on her arm and gently turned her body until she faced him. He splayed his hand over her chest. “I can see what’s in here.”

  The moonlight streamed in through the panes of the French doors and softly lit her face. She was wearing a long silk nightgown and he wondered, briefly, if it was a recent purchase. If she had given any thought to him when she’d slipped it on tonight. The straps were thin and it plunged low in the front. He couldn’t tell what color it was, but he could see the sides of her breasts peeking through. As he removed his hand, his palm brushed across the hardened peak of one nipple.

  “Do you like what you see?” Jennifer stepped closer and tilted her chin up in invitation.

  “Don’t tease. It’s not nice, and it’s dangerous,” Mac warned her.

  “Dangerous?”

  “You’re playing with fire.”

  “I’m not teasing. I need you,” Jennifer whispered. “I want you.”

  Mac softly caressed the side of her face. “I want more. I want to hear you say it. You’ve got to know I won’t be satisfied with doing this halfway.”

  She leaned into his hand, nuzzled his palm and closed her eyes. “Those three little words men long to hear?”

  “Tell me you love me,” Mac demanded, his voice rough with desire and emotion.

  “I love you.”

  He slid his hand behind her head, entwining his fingers in her hair. As he moved closer to her, she parted her lips, and her tongue reached out to moisten them. He could smell the remnants of her toothpaste and the bitter scent of coffee…

  “I’m Laura Kane for STAR 100.7 and that’s the traffic report!” the voice on the radio said.

  “Bloody hell!” Mac groaned as he rolled onto his side and turned off the radio alarm. The odor of fresh coffee wafting in through his slightly ajar bedroom door told him Jennifer was up. Unfortunately, he had to go to the bathroom and he was sporting a very noticeable erection. “Now what?”

  “Mac?” She knocked twice, then pushed open the door.

  He flipped over to face her. “Just waking up.” He attempted to hide his erection with his arm.

  “Coffee?” She held a cup out to him.

  Mac looked at her outstretched hand. “I’m having, well, a bit of a dilemma,” he confessed.

  “Trying to cut down on caffeine?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can make you some decaf, or we can start making half-and-half,” Jennifer suggested.

  “It’s not the caffeine,” he admitted.

  “It’s not?”

  “The truth is, I seem to have woken up with an erection. I was in the middle of this dream and, well, welcome to one of Mac’s most embarrassing moments. Sorry.”

  Jennifer smiled at him, her expression instantly softening as she saw how vulnerable he was feeling.

  “It’s okay.” She extended the cup toward him again. “I promise I’m not going to run out, virtue fluttering, scared off by the big mean penis.”

  Mac accepted the coffee from her and took a sip. “Thanks, and for the record, my penis objects to being called mean. The big part he’ll happily accept.”

  Jennifer blushed. “I shouldn’t have walked in here without permission. I’m sorry. I’ve been up for hours. I’m nervous about Sara coming today. When I heard your alarm go off, I…”

  “You what?”

  “I’ve been wanting to thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m not sure I even thanked you properly for the book and your note. It’s hard for me, accepting things from people. I’m wary of the strings,” Jennifer admitted.

  “There are no strings. Anything I’ve done, I’ve done because I wanted to. There is no reason for you to feel indebted to me,” Mac assured her. “Now scoot and give me a minute, or ten. How about we walk down to The Gathering for breakfast? I could go for some of their eggs Benedict.”

  “Sounds great.”

  As she reached the door, Mac called out. “Jennifer?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You don’t need permission to come in here. You have an open invite. What you do with it is completely up to you.”

  She hesitated on the threshold. “What if I’m not sure what to do?”

  “We could always try taking things slowly, figuring it out as we go, together.”

  “Together?”

  “Promise me you’ll think about it.”

  “The dream. It was about me, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, it was,” he admitted.

  “I’ve had them, too,” she confessed.

  “So, you’ll think about it?”

  Jennifer nodded. “I’ll think about it.” Then she walked out and closed the door.

  “Sara, I’d like you to meet your big sister, Jennifer,” Bonnie said.

  The young social worker who would be following their case was late and not at all what Jennifer had expected. She assumed Mac was focused on the beautiful Bonnie with her waist-long dark hair and her voluptuous breasts. The frail-looking creature who stood next to Bonnie was mesmerizing her. Sara was small for her age, both in height and apparent weight. She reminded Jennifer of a young colt, all arms and legs. Her hair was long, scraggly and hanging in front of her eyes like a protective shield.

  “Come in,” she said, with forced cheerfulness. “I can show you your room if you want. Let me—” She stopped mid-sentence when Mac placed his hand firmly on her lower back.

  Mac crouched down, then he reached up, grabbed Jennifer’s hand and gave it a gentle tug. She knelt on the floor beside him and watched as he lowered his head in search of Sara’s eyes.

  “There you are.” He said it softly, a kind smile on his face. “I’m Mac. This beautiful gal here is Jennifer. We know you’ve been through a lot and I’m sure this is scary, but you’re going to be safe here with us.”

  Sara didn’t say a word.

  “We’re sorry about your mum, but we’re both happy you’re here,” he continued. “Aren’t we, Jennifer?”

  “Yes.” Jennifer, taking his lead, reached up and took Sara’s hand in hers. “I’m so glad to have you here. I’m…sorry I didn’t know sooner.” Her eyes teared. “I’m sorry about a lot of things.”

  Sara gazed down at their joined hands and blinked. For a moment she seemed almost confused. Then she gave Jennifer’s hand a slight squeeze. Relieved, Jennifer squeezed back.

  “How about if Jennifer shows you to your room? You can explore all you want while Big Sis and I finish some business with Miss Bonnie?” Mac suggested.

  Sara continued to stand there, essentially unresponsive. Mac gave Jennifer an encouraging nod and stood, then watched as Jennifer led Sara over to the small bedroom they had prepared for her.

  Once they were gone, he turned toward Bonnie. “Has she said anything to you, anything at all?”

  “Not a word. It made for a long, lonely drive.”

  “Did the two of you have time to stop and eat?”

  “You offering to buy me lunch?” Bonnie tossed her long dark hair over one shoulder.

  “I was wondering if I should fix a sandwich for the kid, actually. I could make one for you too if you’re hungry.”

  “Oh, I’m hungry, all right.” Bonnie stepped closer, placing her hand on his chest in a way that was overly intimate.

  Mac could feel the scratch of her nails through the thin fabric of his T-shirt. His stomach muscles beneath contracted.

  The effect it had on him didn’t go unnoticed. Bonnie smiled, coyly. “Would you happen to have something tasty for me to eat?”

  “How about an apple?” Jennifer suggested, dryly.

  Bonnie leaned up and whispered in his ear, “Do you think she would put poison in it?”

  Mac couldn’t help but smirk. “Don’t you have work to do? Tots to protect?” he asked her.

  “Yea
h.” She sounded obviously disappointed. “I’m expected back at the office shortly. Walk me out?”

  “Sure.” Mac opened the door and followed her out without a backward glance.

  “I could probably squeeze in a quick nibble,” Bonnie said, just as the door closed. “But I’d much rather take my time over dinner.”

  Jennifer was totally caught off guard by the intensity of her emotions as she struggled to fight down tears of frustration and jealousy.

  Okay, what do you want to do? Briefly her mind flashed on the image of her opening the door, stomping down the hall, grabbing a handful of Bonnie’s hair and—

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a bang followed by the shattering of broken glass. Jennifer ran into Sara’s room to find her cowering in a corner, trembling like a leaf. She quickly scanned the room and saw Sara had opened one of the windows. A pane at the top of it had shattered.

  “Sara?”

  The girl flinched.

  Jennifer remembered how Mac had lowered himself to her level earlier and she quickly moved to the floor. “It’s all right. We don’t nail the windows down here. That’s what you were checking for, isn’t it?”

  “Everything all right?” Mac asked from the doorway, a concerned look on his face.

  “Could you get the dustpan and broom?”

  “Sure thing.” Mac disappeared only to return seconds later with a broom and dustpan.

  Jennifer grabbed the broom. “Enjoy your nibble with silicone Barbie?”

  Mac frowned. “Bonnie.” He leaned down and extended his hand to Sara. Ever so slowly, she placed her small hand in his. “Are you hurt?” he asked, helping her to her feet.

  Sara looked up at him, but said nothing.

  “I’m not trying to make you talk, kiddo. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but we’re going to have to figure out some way of communicating the basics. A nod will do. Are you hurt?”

  Sara looked at him, her eyes empty and listless. She shook her head.

  Mac smiled. “No? Well, that’s good. We’ll just clean up this mess. Bonnie said the two of you stopped for an early lunch. Are you hungry?”

  Again Sara shook her head.

  “Mac? Can you hold the dustpan?” Jennifer asked.