Page 10 of Bossy Baby

“I’m not married!”

“Well, I know that now,” Hayley snapped. “Wait. What do you mean you were shopping for me? Why?”

“Because I wanted to make sure I had food in my house when I brought you home. I didn’t want you to be hungry.”

“Huh,” Hayley said. “Okay. There’s just one thing.”

“What?” Mac didn’t mean to snap. Hayley just kept winding him up. He didn’t like feeling out of control. In his line of work, being out of control meant that he’d end up dead.

“I don’t actually eat any of that crap you have in your cart.”

Mac looked at Hayley’s cart. It didn’t have many items, but they all appeared healthier than what he’d chosen. “I thought you might like—” He waved his hand.

“I own an organic shop. I eat organic. I definitely don’t eat all that processed sugar.”

“Oh.” He’d fucked up.

Hayley surprised him by sidling up to him. “You were really shopping for me?”

“I’ve been trying to get everything perfect,” Mac confessed. “I bought a house. It has a pool. You said that you like to swim for exercise.”

“I did? I mean, I do.”

“I came in right after you opened one morning. Your hair was wet. You said that you’d gone swimming at the community college pool. I thought that you’d like to be able to swim whenever you wanted.” Plus skinny dipping was a thing, right? Would Hayley swim naked? Mac would love to see that.

“Mac.”

“I decorated the house,” Mac said. “I think you’ll like it. You could change it though. If you want.”

“I’m sure I’ll love your house.” Hayley threaded his fingers through Mac’s. “I would have liked to help. I love decorating.”

“I fucked up.”

“No, I think that we’re both trying too hard.” He lifted Mac’s hand and kissed his knuckles. That totally counted as a kiss! He couldn’t wait to tell Mitch. He had so much to tell his friend. But first he needed to take Hayley on a date. He could do this. Hopefully.

“Let’s go have our date.” Mac looked around the grocery store, hoping inspiration would strike.

“Yes! I’m so excited. This is going to be so much fun.”

“Fun,” Mac agreed. Although he didn’t know how to be fun.

“Let’s go.” Hayley tugged at his hand.

Mac let Hayley led him out of the grocery store, both leaving their carts in the middle of an aisle. He sort of felt bad about that, but he happily followed along, even if he had no idea where they were going. Once they were out in the cool November morning, Mac looked around. There was a park half a block away. They both wore long-sleeved shirts. It wasn’t too cold. Probably one of their last nice days before winter made its presence known.

Several shops and stores lined the street along the way to the park. That gave him an idea.

“Come with me,” Mac said. He tugged on Hayley’s hand.

“Where are we going?” Hayley asked as he skipped next to him.

Mac turned a smiled for the first time that day. “On our date.”

Hayley

Hayley couldn’t believe that he was skipping down Main Street with Mac holding on to his hand. And they were going on a date. He’d managed to get a date out of the big guy.

There was a lot he didn’t understand from their conversation. Like Mac buying a house with a pool for him. That was…strange, but so sweet. Mac was always so sweet to him. He was a little odd, Hayley could admit. But Hayley liked that Mac wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met before. Hayley had his own quirks, after all. His mama always said that it would take someone special to win Hayley’s heart. Mac was already halfway there.

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