Just a Memory (16 page)

Carolyn stopped her movement of the dish sponge. "What is it, Mac? Is something wrong?"

He looked up and saw the worried look on her face. "Oh, it's not a problem," he said quickly to reassure her. "Actually, it might be fun," he countered with a grin. "I think we'd enjoy ourselves. I mean, I'd enjoy myself if you were there with me." His grin disappeared and a worried frown took its place.

She hardly knew what to make of his stammering. He was beginning to sound like she'd felt in his office when she couldn't get out what she had come to say. "Okay, okay,
tell
me already."

He straightened and put his weight on both feet, facing her as if ready to accept a blow. With a deep breath, a flood of words erupted. "Okay, it's like this. I got an invitation last week to attend a black-tie dinner a week from Saturday." He named the place in
Syracuse
and explained it was a retirement dinner. "I'd be representing Lakehaven, and I can bring someone with me. Would you go with me, Carolyn? As my guest for the evening?"

Another chance to spend an evening with Mac? Sharing a dinner out with just adults to talk to? That was a no-brainer. "Sure. I'd be happy to."

She was rewarded with an ear-to-ear smile smacking of relief. They returned to doing the dishes.

"I've got to warn you, though. I haven't worn a tuxedo since senior prom in high school."

Carolyn couldn't wait to see him in it. She handed him the last saucepan. "Mac?"

"
Hm
?"

"You got the invitation a week ago?"

"Yeah."

Mac had dried all the pans and Carolyn began to put them away. He hung up the towel and leaned his backside against the counter, his legs spread in a comfortable vee in front of him. Leaning that way meant he wasn't a lot taller than her five feet ten.

"There," she said, turning back to him with her arm extended, pointing toward the counter behind him. "Would you hand me–"

Mac captured both her hands in his. Their gazes locked. Moving one foot momentarily, he tugged her into the vee his legs formed. He laid her hands on his chest and held them there.

"The City Council wants me to go to the dinner to pay our respects to the retiring police chief. If I hadn't met you…or if you hadn't agreed to go, I would have gone alone and cut out right after the dinner."

He brought her hands up to his lips and kissed the knuckles of each one. Then he laid them back against his chest, and rested his hands on the sides of her waist. "Thank you for saying you'd go with me and for the delicious dinner."

Sliding his hands behind her waist, he gently pulled her against him. Carolyn felt the jolt of awareness that heated her entire body when she discovered the intimacy of leaning against the inside of his thighs. She was glad he was holding her against him. Her legs couldn't possibly support her at the moment. She couldn't think. She could only feel.

She looked up from her hands to see a smile on his face. He looked so handsome. He felt so strong. Without her willing them to, her fingers began little sideways movements, feeling the hardness and power of his chest beneath them. "Mac?" Carolyn wasn't quite sure what she was asking, but when Mac leaned down and kissed her she knew that was exactly the right answer.

His lips touched hers lightly. He nibbled his way across them. He raised his head just a bit and whispered, "Oh, Carolyn."

She didn't know where she found the nerve to do it, but she slid her hands up around his neck and threaded her fingers into his hair. That seemed to be all the signal he needed to lower his lips back to cover hers. She kissed him back with a tender urgency. He teased her lips with his insistent tongue until she opened her mouth to him. His tongue brushed against her teeth and thrust inward to circle hers.

Carolyn felt dizzy. Her knees were weak and she clung to him. A tingling warmth swirled within her and settled deep in her belly. Behind her closed eyelids, dark and light streaks flashed in random patterns.

She couldn't get close enough to him. No man had ever made her feel like this before with a kiss.

Mac's hands rose and fell on her back, settling on her hips and pulling her more firmly against him. She knew at once this kiss was arousing him as it was her and she couldn't stop the little moan that escaped.

Arousing. The sensations were so foreign. She'd been a married woman. She'd had a child. There in Mac's arms she suddenly felt naive and inexperienced.

Too much, too soon.

She broke off the kiss and turned her face away, gasping for breath. "If this is what happens when you kiss me, then I need police protection–from myself."

He chuckled softly. She slid her hands to his shoulders and tried to push away to stand up straight, but his powerful hands on her back held her in place against him. She felt his lips move against her temple as he spoke. "It's all right, Carolyn. Just keep your arms around me for another minute. That's all. Let me hold you in my arms a little longer."

He kissed her hair as she tried to relax against him and lean her cheek against his neck. They held each other until the tension in their bodies eased and their breathing returned to a more normal rate. Carolyn wondered if she should feel embarrassed at the way she'd reacted. She hadn't dated much since becoming a widow. Tonight she was feeling positively wanton.

This was their first kiss. It felt so right that for once she pushed away her staid side and decided she would only think about enjoying the moment. Far from having objections to the way she acted, Mac had only encouraged her.

"You know you don't have to worry," he said as if reading her mind. "We'll never do anything you don't want to do," he promised quietly. He laid his lips across her ear in a soft kiss.

"I think I knew that or I wouldn't be in your arms right now," she whispered, knowing she trusted him completely to keep his word, and knowing she would remember tonight for a very long time.

As if by some silent signal, they both straightened and Carolyn stepped back to the sink. She gripped the cool stainless steel edge and took a deep breath. Mac kissed her temple and said he should go. "I still owe you that dinner at the restaurant on the highway. How about Friday?"

She looked up and smiled. "I'd like that very much," she said, surprised that her voice worked just fine.

"Mom! I can't get to sleep," Terri called as she came down the hall in her nightgown, bathrobe, and slippers.

Carolyn thanked her lucky stars she hadn't appeared in the kitchen moments earlier. "Mr. MacDonald is just leaving, Button."

"Will you give me a good night kiss?" Terri asked Mac suddenly.

Carolyn could see she'd startled him with the idea.

"Christie's dad kisses her good night and I've never had a dad to kiss me," Terri confided.

"I think I can handle that, little one." He hunkered down and was almost knocked off balance when Terri flew into his arms with a big bear hug. When she relaxed her grip a little, Mac kissed her cheek. "Sweet dreams."

"Are you gonna kiss my mom good night, too? She doesn't have anyone but me to kiss her."

Mac did a good job of repressing his grin, but his eyes sparkled with the humor of the situation. Carolyn felt the heat of embarrassment rise up over her cheeks and didn't know what to say.

"I think I can manage that for you, Terri–since you've asked me so nicely and all."

Mac rose and stepped over to face Carolyn. He raised his hand to gently caress and hold her cheek. His good night kiss on the opposite cheek felt so gentle and tender that tears pricked behind her eyelids. "Sweet dreams to you, too."

Mac turned back to Terri, ruffled the curly hair on the top of her head and walked out the door. With a glance back at the two standing in the hall, he winked and quietly closed the door behind him.

Chapter Seven

"I'll have to prepare my very special recipe for broiled scallops for you some evening so you can compare," Mac proposed after their dinner Friday at the new restaurant on the highway.

The meal hadn't been as good as Carolyn had expected from what she'd heard about the place. "I'll bet yours will win hands down."

"I like to coat them in a little oyster sauce and broil them on an outdoor grill. They stay moist and taste great that way."

"That sounds yummy. Does a charcoal grill work in the cold of the winter? I only use it in the summer."

"We'll never know unless we try it," Mac offered with an easy smile.

Carolyn smiled and leaned back in her chair. She was feeling so at ease talking about future plans with Mac that she surprised herself. She'd have to be careful that she didn't forget her vow not to count on any kind of future with him.

After bringing her home, Mac volunteered to make coffee while Carolyn ran next door to get her daughter. Terri was sleepy and very willing to skip her bath and go right to bed. She said goodnight to Mac on the way past the kitchen and by the time Carolyn had tucked her in, her eyes were closed.

Carolyn returned to the kitchen and Mac handed her a cup of coffee. They leaned casually against the counter and she felt her cheeks grow warm when she remembered the last time they'd stood at this very counter together. Mac had kissed her. And not just
a
kiss, but–

"Carolyn…"

She shook off the memories. "
Hm
?"

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"I wonder if you would show me around the area Sunday. You know. Go for a drive."

She frowned in an exaggerated manner to be funny and leaned her hip against the counter beside him. "I think you're really dating us, Mac. Young people don't go for drives any more."

He laughed. "I want to learn my way around the roads and see what can be found in the area. Is asking you to go for a long Sunday afternoon drive too old-fashioned a thing for you to do?"

She shook her head. "I'd like to." Suddenly her smile disappeared when she remembered. "Oh, but I'm watching both girls so Judy can go car shopping with her husband."

Mac looked disappointed. Suddenly his face brightened. "What are you planning to do with them?"

"We're going to the park on the lake. There's great play equipment that isn't taken down until the snow comes, and they can feed the ducks that stay here year 'round."

"Sounds like fun."

Carolyn laughed.

"What's so funny? You can't believe I'd have fun spending the afternoon with you and two little girls? Try me."

"Mac, you're asking for it. But hey, I'd love to have adult company. The outing won't be too long anyway, if it stays as cold out as it was today."

"How about taking them for pizza after the park? Kids like pizza, don't they?"

"It's one of their major food groups. And it's a great idea, but…listen. If you come to your senses and change your mind about going with us, just let me know. I'll let you back out without hard feelings."

"I am
not
going to change my mind."

True to his word, Mac and Carolyn watched the kids play in the park and talked. And talked. She even told him about her marriage to Richard and the lonely years since his death.