Yesterday's Scandal (The Wild McBrides 3)

“It was nice of you to take the time to walk him through.”

“I had no other plans. And I understood his curiosity.”

“And now I’m the curious one. I can’t wait to get upstairs and look around.”

“Then what’s keeping you?” he asked, motioning toward the stairway.

Very aware of Mac following close behind her, she climbed the stairs, wondering what she would find at the top.

As Trevor had commented, the upstairs resembled a maze, with lots of little rooms opening off meandering hallways. To add to the chaos, the workers had started tearing out walls already, leaving gaping holes behind.

Mac guided her through the mess, pointing out features that would remain, describing the changes, even asking her opinion on a couple of options. She took several snapshots, though she knew it would look very different once Mac was finished.

Studying a particularly interesting wall line, she turned and found Mac standing directly in front of her. “Um…there’s not a lot of natural light up here, is there?”

The way he was looking at her, she could tell he wasn’t really thinking about the renovation. “There will be more when we’re finished,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face.

She moistened her lips, trying to keep her mind on the job. “You’re making a lot of changes.”

“Yes. But the basic style and structure of the house won’t change.”

“I know. That’s what I find so intriguing about this project.”

He lifted a hand to straighten her hard hat, though it already felt straight. He left his hand there when he’d finished, maintaining the contact between them. “Doesn’t anything else about this project intrigue you?”

She swallowed. Now, how was she to answer that? “Um…”

“Coward,” he murmured just beneath his breath.

Her left eyebrow rose in response to the challenge. “I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing.” His attempt at looking innocent was almost laughably ineffective. She didn’t think Mac would be trying out for the Honoria Community Theater anytime soon. Innocent was just not an expression he could pull off.

Feeling more at ease with him now, she walked the fingers of her right hand up the front of his denim shirt, holding the camera in her left hand. “If I were a coward,” she asked, “would I be here now? Alone in this old house with a guy some people say is involved in organized crime?”

Even though she had spoken lightly, he frowned. “I told you, I am not …”

She covered his mouth with her fingertips. “I know. I was only teasing.”

Moving swiftly, he caught her hand and held it against his lips, planting a kiss in her palm. Funny. She’d never realized there were quite so many nerve endings in her palm. And every one of them sparked to life when Mac’s lips brushed her skin.

His head still slightly bent over her hand, he looked at her through his dark lashes. No man had ever looked at her the way Mac did. Others had looked at her—Mac seemed to look right into her. And, oh, how it made her feel.

Without releasing her, he slid his other hand behind her neck and gave a gentle tug. She never even considered resisting.

This kiss was as startlingly powerful as the ones they had shared before. She might have thought she would be better prepared this time for the effect his kisses had on her. She’d have been wrong.

She wasn’t sure how her arms ended up around his neck. She didn’t remember puttin

g them there. She only knew they felt right there. She didn’t know what had happened to her camera, though she supposed the slight thud she’d heard at her feet a moment earlier might be a clue. Fortunately, it was an inexpensive and durable model. Not that she cared at the moment.

He twisted so that she rested over his arm, giving him better access to her mouth. His movements were bold. Decisive. There was a hint of wildness in this kiss. A whisper of danger. She wouldn’t have expected to be drawn to either. But she was.

From the beginning, Mac had appealed to a part of her she hardly recognized, herself.

He lifted his head, searched her face for a moment, then covered her mouth with his again. The kiss went on for an eternity, and when it ended, there was no doubt left in her mind that he was as affected by the connection between them as she was. His left arm surrounded her, supporting her. His right hand was at the small of her back, pressing lightly, holding her against him. There was no question that he wanted her—and what an experience it was to be wanted by a man like this!

“Did you plan this?” she asked.