“What about you?”
“I’m good,” he promised as he pulled on a pair of jogging pants. “I’d suggest a protein shake to get you going, but I know what the answer will be.”
“Coffee,” we said in unison.
I chuckled, curling on to my side, loving the way his gaze drifted over me. Mac had been here so much this week, he had spare clothes in my wardrobe and his very important protein-shake powder in my kitchen so he could drink it before he left for the gym. He rose at the crack of dawn, and while I struggled to wake up for my workday, Mac would already be at the gym working out before his shift at the estate.
Today was the first morning we’d lazed around in bed. Watching Mac’s fine arse stroll out of my bedroom, I squirmed with glee.
Best goddamn week ever. Other than the sex, my favorite moment was actually two nights ago when he sat in my armchair, and I curled up on the sofa, and we both read. Nothing but the sound of our light breathing and pages being turned. I’d looked up from my book, watching Mac’s eyes move across the words, and I thought to myself, I could do this forever.
The perfect contentment of that moment had scared the shit out of me. Just as it did when Mac told me he loved me. My throat had closed, blocking any possible answer. He hadn’t said it to me again since last Monday.
Shaking off my sudden melancholy, I focused on the good. And there had been so much goodness this week, I was like I was floating through life.
But now it was time to return to the real world.
Except for my work colleagues, the only person I’d seen was Mac. My family had grown antsy, even though it had only been seven days. They wanted us over for Sunday breakfast, an occasional occurrence either at Lachlan’s or Thane’s. This week, I was a hundred percent positive Mac and I were the reason for the get-together. Our family was nosy and wanted to see for themselves how things were progressing.
I smiled smugly as my gaze fell on a tube of lube on my nightstand.
Oh, if my family knew what Mac and I had been up to, they’d die of horror.
The thought made me chuckle evilly as I reluctantly rolled out of bed to prepare to face them.
“Ready?” I asked Mac as we rounded his SUV.
He reached for my hand, drawing me into his side as we stared up at Thane’s home. “Ready when you are.”
Mac didn’t look the least bit nervous, so I decided I shouldn’t be either. However, it was different from walking through the village together (something we hadn’t done as a couple yet) because I couldn’t care less what the villagers thought.
I cared what my family thought.
So yes, I was a wee bit apprehensive, even though my brothers seemed happy for us.
Thane’s front door opened and Regan appeared, smiling that dimpled smile. “Are you just going to stand out there all day?”
Mac and I shared another bolstering look before we strolled up the steps. He released my hand to step back and let me go in first, but I reached behind me, needing him. Seconds later, my hand was engulfed in his again.
Regan’s gaze dropped to where we joined together, and she beamed. “Aww.”
“Shut up,” I ordered, even as I grinned.
“Everyone’s already here. Come in, come in.” Regan sauntered ahead of us, walking out into the open-plan living space of their large home.
Everyone sat scattered around the living and dining area.
“Aunt Arro, Uncle Mac!” Eilidh cried out, jumping off Lachlan’s lap to rush us.
“I feel rejected.” Lachlan looked glumly at his wife.
Robyn chuckled. “Thrown over for my father. How horrifying.”
I laughed at my big brother’s mock glower just before Eilidh hit me. Mac released me so I could swing Eilidh up into my arms. My biceps strained. “Oof, you’re getting too big for this.” I chuckled as she clasped my face in her hands.
Eilidh grinned. “Aunt Arro, I missed you. Where have you been? Have you been choppin’ down lots of trees because my teacher said we shouldn’t chop down lots of trees, and I wanna talk to you about it because I think you might need to be something other than a tree-chopper. You’re too good for it.” She patted my cheek solemnly, like she was my eighty-year-old aunt.
I could feel the vibrations of Mac’s chuckle against my back as I struggled not to laugh, wondering how to explain a forest cycle to a six-year-old and cursing her teacher for clouding the reality of my job.