The Homespun Holiday by Sarah O'Rourke Read Free Book Online Page A

about her sexy
boss.  Of course she had!  He was hot.  Lean and muscular in all the
right places.  And she’d bet her right pinky toe that he was hung like a
horse.  But that’s where the fantasy ended.  Because in addition to all she
fantasized about, Mackenzie Daniels was also surly, stubborn and an all-around
Gloomy Gus on most all the days that ended in Y.
    “For your sake, lady, I’m going to
choose not to be offended here,” Mack returned mockingly as he fought a grin.  “You
don’t need to look quite so astonished; I’m not exactly an ogre, Mills.”
    Staring up at him, Millie took
stock of the Doc’s high, chiseled cheekbones, his dimpled chin, his square jaw
and his perfectly sculpted, extremely kissable lips and she had to agree.  “No,
definitely not an ogre,” she whispered, as her tongue darted out to lick her
suddenly dry lips.  “What I meant to say is that I just never imagined anyone
that valued his solitude and privacy as much as you do married to anyone.”
    “I do enjoy my solitude and privacy,
but I’m also a guy, Millie.   I do like to fuck.”
    Millie nearly choked on her
tongue.  “Women, right?”
    “Yes, women!  Did you assume I was
asexual?  Or did you think I was gay?  Do I strike you as a latent homosexual,
Millie?” he asked as his steady gaze connected with her nervous one.
    “N-no, but if you did swing that
way, you should know that Paradise has this lovely florist that’s been looking
for love in all the wrong places,” she managed to impart through her mostly
frozen lips.
    “He’ll have to keep lookin’ then
because I’m straight as an arrow, woman,” Mack growled, his eyes skating
hungrily over her pretty face.
    “Doc, why are you tellin’ me this
stuff?” Millie asked, trying desperately to understand where and when this new
and open Mackenzie had emerged.  Would she find the ‘Old Mackenzie’ collapsed
at his desk in the office?  Was she hallucinating?  What exactly had been in
her sandwich from the diner?
    “That’s what friends do, right? 
Share and shit like that?” he asked with a careless shrug.
    “I reckon,” Millie mumbled.  “But
maybe we should think about getting back to the office.  It’s almost two and
you’ve got a 2:30 with Sandy Bingham.”  Honestly, she was more than a little
nervous standing here with him because suddenly Mack was eyeing her like she
was a steak and he was a very hungry animal.  And crazily enough, she found
herself not minding in the least the idea of being his meal.
    Ignoring her reminder of his afternoon
appointment, he kept staring at her.  “So, is that a yes to spending tomorrow
with me?”
    “I… uh…. I guess, if that’s really
what you want,” she agreed, her cheeks blushing as she tried to make herself
stop fidgeting like a teenage girl being asked on her first date.
    “What about tonight?  Are you busy
tonight?” he asked.
    “I don’t think so.  Why?”
    “Because, you haven’t seen my
place.  I want to show it to you so that you can get an idea of what we’ll
need.  I’ll even feed you if you’ll agree to help me out,” he offered calmly.
    “I…you’re sure about this?” she
asked, not quite able to believe that this man was volunteering to spend time
with her.  Or hell, with anybody really.  Mack was a loner.  Everyone,
including her, knew it.  He’d already knocked her off her axis with the news
that he’d once had a wife.  Now, he was acting like -- dare she even imagine it
– like he was actually interested in her?
    “I’m positive.  And maybe tonight
could be an adults-only evening since tomorrow will be kid-friendly,” he suggested
smoothly.
    “Uhmmm – okay,” she agreed slowly,
nodding.  “I’m sure my mom and dad won’t mind watching Paisley for a few
hours.”
    “Good,” Mack declared with a
satisfied nod as he reached around Millie to open the vehicle’s door for her. 
“Then I’ll pick you up at your place around six.  Is