Mac (Mountain Men 2)

I want her all to myself.

She sees me a moment after I see her. For one brief moment, she gets an odd look on her face I can’t quite place, and she hesitates for a fraction of a minute. Then her eyes look down, almost bashfully, and when she looks back up to me, she’s smiling. I meet her halfway, take her hand, and kiss her cheek.

“Hello, there,” she says. I gesture to the barstool.

“I’d pull it out for you so I can be all gentlemanly polite, but these buggers won’t move,” I mutter. I can’t deny that I’m pleased to see her again.

“I believe you,” she says with a smile. “Have you been waiting long?”

Her voice is warmed honey, soothing and sweet, and I want to hear her talk all night long.

“Just got here. What’s your drink?”

“Glass of chianti,” she says, holding herself erect on the barstool.

I nod to the bartender, who pushes a tall glass in our direction.

“Didn’t guess you were a wine girl,” I say, and it’s not because I guessed it, but because I know exactly what she drinks on the rare occasion she’s out with friends: hard cider or craft beer. Is the wine for show, then?

“Oh?” she asks, giving me a curious look. “What else have you already guessed about me?”

Now this is an easy question. The only trouble is, I have to give just enough real information for her to think I’m observant or perceptive, but not a danger to her.

I’m all of the above.

“Hmm. Let me think,” I say, pretending to mull it over. “Well, first of all, I know you're a vegetarian. So I’ll hazard a guess you’re health-conscious. Maybe you like to start the day with yoga, or… meditation or something like.”

She smiles. “Something like.”

“I’m guessing you have older siblings. Maybe you're the youngest in the family. Maybe a little sheltered, but like a typical youngest, maybe a little… wild. You like things adventurous and exciting, and you don’t love being told what to do.”

She smiles, but there’s reservation in her gaze. “Impressive, Mac.”

I have to throw her off.

“You think the tree-huggers are fuckin’ mental.”

She rolls her eyes, a dead giveaway.

I take another sip from my pint before answering. “Ok, then, missed the mark there.” It was on purpose, but she doesn’t have to know that. “You’re eco-conscious. You don’t like landfills or waste, and think it’s a shame with as many resources that we have that we’re still allowing rain forests to be polluted, children to be left in orphanages, and the poor to die of hunger.”

She sips her wine, and this time doesn’t meet my eyes, but only nods and gives me a demure smile. “I was expecting you to say something like, ‘You like walks in the rain and chocolate over vanilla.’ I didn't expect you to jump right into the philosophical so quickly, but it's entertaining, so please do continue.”

“So am I onto something?”

“I will neither confirm nor deny.”

I laugh at that. She’s fucking adorable.

“You have a small friend group. You’re fiercely loyal, and won’t share your deepest secrets with just anyone. You're a bit hard to get to know. It’ll take some time to really understand you, and maybe sometimes you even wonder if you know yourself. But when you do find a friend who’s loyal and kind, and really understands you, you're the best friend a girl could have.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’m not sure how much of what I said was flattering, but I do wonder if it’s true.”

“I suppose you’ll know in time, then?”

I nod and finish my pint. “Alright, then. Let’s hear your guesses about me.”

She smiles. “Let’s see. You know about things most men I know are ignorant about, so I'm guessing that’s because you have sisters. I already know you love your mum, because you picked up her favorite treats in town. I'm not sure how you feel about your father, but you bristle whenever I mention him, so I'm going to guess like most men of your age, you're not super into a relationship with your dad."

Accurate. All of it.

She’s unapologetic in her delivery and sips her wine before continuing.

“You mentioned brothers, but given your own rather jovial nature, I’m going to guess they’re older as well. You’re big and strong, so I'm also going to guess that your brothers had a hand in boxing, weightlifting, or some other sporty type thing with you. Football?”

She goes on before I can reply.

“You're a hard worker.” She places her wine down and reaches for my hand, nestling it between hers. Heat rises in my chest when she touches me, and her own heavier breathing makes me wonder if she feels the same.

“I can tell by the calluses on your palms, and a few other things that you've said, that when you put your mind to something, you get it. I'm not sure what you do for work, but whatever it is, you put yourself fully into it. I would guess that you're also loyal. There's just something about you that makes me think that it's in your nature.” She smiles softly. “You like a good time." She drops her head, and a sultry smile comes over her lips. Her voice is just above a whisper. "Especially sex.” She gives me a wink. “One might even say you’re a bit of a player.”