Chapter 15

“Thomas,what do you think Auntie Mack and Dean are doing?”

He looked at Lucas, who was sitting in the lounge with cookies and milk, reading another Our Gang comic. “Um, talking. They are neighbors, you know,” he replied.

“He seems okay. I think he likes Auntie Mack. Do you think he’ll marry her and go live with her?”

He didn’t really know where Lucas was going with that question. “Would that bother you if he did, Lucas?” he asked, taking a seat beside him.

Lucas stuck out his lower lip in a pout and said, “I wanted her to marry you.”

He laughed. “Lucas, I’m an old man. Your aunt is young and needs a younger man, like Dean or someone like him.”

“Have you ever been married?” Lucas asked with a frown.

“Yes. I was married for thirty years before she passed away.”

“That’s sad.” Lucas went quiet for a few moments. “What was her name?”

Thomas was deep in thought and replied, “Janet, the love of my life.”

“Hmm, well, would you be my granddad then? Scott has three granddads, and he says it’s really cool.”

“We’ll have to see, Lucas. Let’s get back to reading. Do you want me to read you this one?” he asked, rather amused.

“Yes, please.”

Be his granddad. If Lucas only knew how much he would really enjoy that. Hopefully, Mack would stay in touch with him when it was time for her to head back to Boston. He would miss them both terribly.

* * *

Dean wasat the Portland Head Light watching Mack while she walked along the edge of the cliffs. With the light breeze from the ocean blowing her hair back from her face, she was stunning.

He’d really enjoyed spending the day with her. They’d driven into Portland and browsed around the Old Port shops. Then on their way to the lighthouse, they’d stopped for lunch and ate a delicious lobster meal.

Dean, for the first time in a long time, felt as though he could breathe. Mack was like a breath of fresh air, so easy to talk to, to laugh with. She listened to what he had to say without interrupting, and only offered her opinion once he’d finished. And her opinions were rich and full of amazing insight. She even listened as he went on and on about his work as a graphic novelist. He worked with a couple of authors, who had great ideas, but couldn’t put their vision on paper, which is where he came in. He loved his work and the flexibility it gave him.

They’d already walked around the lighthouse, and as they’d approached the cliff edge, he’d taken hold of her hand, lacing their fingers together.

Dean wanted that contact again as he walked over to where she waited for him. On his approach, she turned and when her gaze landed on him, she offered him a dazzling smile, causing him to miss a step. She was so beautiful with all that flowing brunette hair, and she took his breath away, especially when she smiled for him.

He stood in front of her without saying anything and moved his hands to her face in a light caress. He searched her eyes before he lowered his head and placed a light kiss to her lips. “You are so beautiful.” He lowered his head again and used more pressure against her mouth. She moved in closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, allowing the kiss to deepen.

He shivered and groaned. “I think we better stop,” he whispered, placing small kisses around her lips.

“Then why aren’t we?”

He couldn’t stop touching her, and smoothed his hands down her arms, moving them so his fingers could caress her waist under the T-shirt before he intertwined his fingers with hers. “Because I don’t have any willpower with you. This top has been driving me crazy all day. Every time you move, I catch a glimpse of your stomach.”

“I was so tempted to put my hands elsewhere when I sat behind you on your bike,” she admitted, laughing, then she squeezed Dean’s bottom before she took a step back.

“I don’t know how I managed to get us anywhere without crashing while your hands were on me. Nothing has ever felt so good.”

She winked at him. “I know.” Then she sauntered toward his Harley. She knew damn well that his eyes were on her bottom the whole way.

“I hate to say this, but I think I better take you back.”

Lightheaded with happiness, Mack laughed. “Mmm, Thomas will be waiting with Lucas.”

“Their friendship is unique,” Dean observed.

“Yes, it is.”

* * *

I remove my helmet,and then hold my arms out for Lucas who runs straight into them.

“Auntie Mack, have you really been on Dean’s bike?”

“Yes, I have.”

“That’s not fair. I want to.” Lucas starts to get tearful, although I know for a fact that Lucas is rather capable of putting on the waterworks at will.

“Hey, Lucas, you want to sit on the bike, and I’ll take you around the yard?” Dean asks him before the waterworks really start.

Lucas’s tears instantly dry as he dives out of my arms and runs straight over to Dean, who lifts him astride the bike.

Dean winks at me before he turns his attention to Lucas. “You need your helmet on, young man.” He laughs as Lucas stills with an eager grin on his face and allows Dean to place the helmet on his head.

I feel a bit unsure about Lucas being on the Harley, and walk closer to Dean, who catches the frown on my face. He takes hold of my hand and places a kiss to my cheek.

“He’ll be fine, don’t worry.” He leans in to give me another quick kiss, on the lips this time before he climbs on the back of his bike. Dean surrounds Lucas with his body as he explains to him what the different instruments are for on the panel in front of them.

I walk over to the steps leading into the cottage and sits down beside Thomas. I blush slightly when I meet his gaze and see the knowing look in them.

“I see you made friends with the neighbor then?” He chuckles.

I grin. “Oh, yeah.”

Dean switches the bike on and very slowly puts it into gear and starts moving around the yard with an excited Lucas sitting in front of him. With a glance at me every time he passes, Dean winks, which really amuses Thomas.

“Thomas, do you like Dean?” I ask as Dean switches the bike off.

“I don’t swing that way,” He tries not to laugh at the stunned expression on my face, but fails miserably.

With a laugh, I nudge him with my elbow. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“I only met him briefly this morning, but from what I can see and how he spoke to me, I would say he’s one of the good guys.”

“Thanks.”

“Auntie Mack, Thomas, did you see me?” Lucas barely manages to get out before diving on me.

“We certainly did. You were pretty good.”

“Thanks, Auntie Mack.”

“He’s great.” Dean ruffles Lucas’s hair. “Listen, I’m going to leave you guys for now. I have some things to take care of. I’ll come around tomorrow if that’s all right?”

I smile up at Dean, slightly disappointed that he isn’t staying for dinner. “We’ll see you at breakfast, right?”

Grinning, Dean asks, “Was that an invitation?”

“Sure was.”

“I’ll be there,” Dean replies, hesitating.

I turn to Thomas. “You going to eat dinner with us?”

“No, thank you. I’m meeting a couple of friends in town tonight, so I’ll see you all at breakfast,” Thomas says.

Dean takes hold of my hand and pulls me toward him. “Walk with me a minute?”

Thomas grins at the two of us and stands, taking hold of Lucas’s hand. “Come on, Lucas. Show me that game you keep talking about before I leave.” They enter the cottage to give Dean and Mack some privacy.

* * *

Walkingover toward Dean’s cottage, he didn’t know what to say, because all he really wanted to do was drag Mack inside and never let her go. He wondered where that thought had come from. It wasn’t one he’d had before…ever…for anyone…and certainly not for a woman he’d only just met.

Pushing the thought aside, he turned to Mack, took her face in his hands, and brought her in close. She put her hands on his waist and moved in even closer.

His mouth covered hers hungrily and his tongue sent shivers of desire racing through them both. Mack reached up and curled her arms around his neck, pressing hard against his tall frame.

However, he pulled his mouth away, trying to catch his breath, which had gotten stuck at the back of his throat when Mack rubbed herself against him. He shuddered and groaned. “Mack, we have to…stop.”

She dragged his head back down to meet her lips while he grabbed hold of her hips and brought her into closer contact with the throb behind his zipper.

It was Dean who broke the kiss, but only because he’d heard a throat being cleared.

“You’re both giving me high blood pressure,” Thomas shouted from the kitchen window.

They laughed, amused at the older man.

Dean placed her slowly back on her feet before he stepped away. “I think you better go before I drag you inside.”

With what appeared to be reluctance, he watched as Mack took a few steps, and then on unsteady legs started to walk to her own cottage. She looked back over her shoulder. “Promises, promises,” she teased.

She entered her own cottage laughing.

Dean let out a frustrated sigh as he entered his. He hadn’t lied to Mack when he said about dragging her inside. He’d only met her that morning and after spending most of the day with her, he knew she was special.

Her hair was soft and smelled of raspberries, her skin was lovely and smooth, and those freckles, he thought they were speckles of cinnamon sugar, and probably just as tasty.

However, at the back of his mind was the fact that he’d lied to her. He hadn’t been honest about his name or about the reason why he was in Cape Elizabeth, and that bothered him. The desire that had sprung up between them had been unexpected to say the least, but before anything more serious could happen, he had to tell her the truth.