Page 72 of Tough Nut to Crack

"Where are you going?" Mac asks.

"Home," I whisper.

He frowns up at me, and the threat of tears becomes a real problem when I see the look of disappointment on his face.

I swear I'm normally not this freaking emotional, but there's just something about today that has me all over the place. It started when I woke up alone in my bed, which shouldn't have bothered me at all, considering I went to bed alone.

"Stay," he says as he stands as well.

"I can't," I rush out as I begin to gather the items I brought from home.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I assure him, but there's a waver in my voice I can't disguise.

"Riley," he growls, his hand covering mine. "I’m not doing this shit again."

Chapter 30

Mac

I have no clue what I was about to say to her because the only thing I can focus on when I grab her is the tremble in her hand.

With my free hand, I curl a finger under her chin and urge her eyes up to mine. I swear the glistening threat of tears in her eyes nearly takes me to my knees.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Instead of answering me, her eyes dart toward the group of men finishing the breakfast she brought.

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks square in the chest with enough force to nearly take my breath away. She's not comfortable around my men. She sat across from me, not eating her breakfast, feeling uneasy because they were all gawking at her like she was a circus monkey expected to do tricks.

"That was amazing," Ethan says as he drops his plate into a trash bag that she was thoughtful enough to bring along with her this morning.

Rather than heading back to the shop to finish loading materials up for the day, he walks past us, pausing right in front of Riley.

I watch in irritation as he leans forward and brushes a quick kiss on her cheek with a thank you on his lips.

She dips her head before telling him he's more than welcome, despite the discomfort still on her face.

Then the others do the same, each one taking care of their trash before thanking her and pressing their lips to her cheek.

Donnie, the most respectful one of the group, whispers a simple thank you, not touching her, and it makes me consider him for employee of the year because Ethan's ass just got knocked to the bottom of the list right along with Ronnie and the other guys.

Once they're all several feet away, getting back to work without being told to do so, I feel territorial, as if I might need to rub myself all over her to claim her in some way. I know they were all grateful for breakfast, but the kiss on the cheek was extra just to get on my damned nerves. Thesemen don't see me with women. I've never flaunted anyone in front of them, so they're very aware of just how different she is.

"I should go," she whispers.

"Not yet," I tell her, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the front porch.

I have a million and one things I could be doing right now, but not a single one of them matters other than making sure she doesn't feel like she shouldn't have come here.

"Mac," she whines, but there's no resistance in our connection.

She isn't pulling away and trying to scurry back to her car.

I spare a glance over my shoulder once I guide her in the house, noticing that all the guys have cleared the front yard and have no doubt made it back to the shop.

We now have the privacy I was aching for fifteen minutes ago, but she seems less than eager now, which contradicts how I read her mood earlier.

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