Page 12 of Mac
"Are you sure?"He set the plates in the sink and ran water over them, rinsing off the juice from the meat and the small bits of butter.
"I'm sure.I'll take care of it in a bit."Elyse waved one hand.
The haunting piano notes of a familiar song seemed to come from the air, then the low deep voice that sang the cover of an old song."I'm so sorry.I need to take this.Do you mind if I step out back?"Mac asked before pulling his phone from his pocket.
She wondered if that was a special tone set for just one person."Go right ahead."She motioned to the door as she stood, gathering things from the table to put away.
He stepped outside and closed the door behind him, effectively cutting her out of the conversation.She didn't mind, whatever it was, was none of her business anyway.
Elyse busied herself by putting things away and loading the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, cleaning up before he had a chance to insist.She'd just closed the dishwasher, washed her hands and stood drying them on a towel when the back door opened again, and Mac stepped inside.
"I'm sorry about that.That's my president's ring tone.When he calls, it's a good idea to answer, unless I want to be on shit duty until someone else pisses him off."
"I hope it wasn't bad news."
"Not bad news, as such, but he's called a meeting.I hate to eat and run but I need to head over to the clubhouse.Dinner was really good and thank you for inviting me."
"No problem.It was nice to have someone to talk to.I wish I'd invited you over sooner."She smiled at him, wondering what he would say to that.
"I kind of wish you had too.and I'm sorry to have to run like this."He made his way to the front door and turned to talk to her, one hand on the knob.
"No problem.I know where you live.You can't hide from me forever, especially now that I know how nice you are."
"You may change your mind on that.Especially if you catch me after a shitty day at work."
She lifted one brow and watched him a moment, trying to decide if he was being honest or trying to scare her off.She couldn't decide."We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.Now go do what you've got to do.I'm going to grab a book and settle in for the evening."
"That's tempting, especially if I could do it with you, but I'll go be a good boy, at least for now."Mac let himself out.
Elyse followed, stepping out onto the porch and watching him cross first her lawn then his driveway and let himself into his house.Guess he had to grab something from inside before he took off.Once he was out of sight, she ducked back into her house, locking the door because she didn't plan to go back out tonight, then heading into the kitchen.She might as well finish her cleaning so she could relax the rest of the evening.
Though, she would have enjoyed it more if Mac could have stayed even a little while longer.Already her mind leapt ahead to reasons to invite him over again.Maybe she could offer to take him out to dinner?No.Mac wasn't the kind to let a woman pay if they went out.If she wanted to feed him, she'd have to do it here.She could work with that.A slow smile spread across her face as she started coming up with excuses to invite him over.In the kitchen, she found the cheesecake he’d brought, put it in the fridge and made a mental note to take it back over to share with him, or maybe it would make a good reason to invite him over again.
CHAPTER9
Mac changed shirts and pulled on his kutte, wishing he could have stayed at Elyse's house.For the first time in longer than he cared to remember, there was something he wanted more than he wanted to keep Tuck happy.Still, he didn't want to end up on the prez's shit list, so he was doing as he was asked.Being on Tuck's shit list would only cost him more in the long run.Time that he might be able to talk his fucking hot neighbor lady to spend with him.
He tucked the .45 ACP he kept holstered in the small of his back, back into the holster, flipped the edge of the kutte over it so it didn't show and headed back out to his bike.He was wasting time and he knew it.
On the road, he let his time with Elyse replay through his mind, the sultry sway to her hips when she walked.The light, sweet, teasing scent of her as she moved past him.The swing of her hair as she flipped it out of her face.He didn't think she was even aware of that last one.It looked like a habitual move, one she'd done for so long, she didn't think about it anymore, it just happened.
The trip didn't take long and less than fifteen minutes after he left his house, he pulled into the yard at the clubhouse.As he walked his bike backward into its position in line, he pushed Elyse from his mind and turned to what was coming.All Tuck had said on the phone was that the new prospect had arrived, and they were calling everyone in to meet him.Well everyone who could.Not everyone could drop everything and come in.There were some with businesses that needed their attention, even at this hour, and others who were busy on club business.They'd get their turn to meet the new guy later.Mac left his helmet on his bike and glanced down the line of bikes.There wasn't one he didn't recognize so maybe the new guy didn't have one yet, or maybe it just wasn't here yet.Either way, the best way to find out was to go inside, so that's what he did.
He stepped in the door and let it swing shut behind him as he went to the bar and motioned to Jailbait.
"What can I get you?"she asked, her tone as sweet and pleasing as always.
"Give me a bottle of the Glenfiddich 12 and a couple glasses."Mac scanned the room while he waited for her to bring those to him.It looked like most Saturday nights in here.A few guys watching tv, a couple watching one of the whores spin around the pole in the corner, a few more playing pool at one of the tables at the far end, and more scattered at the tables that filled most of the room.Some of the men had women with them, more and more of that happening as his brothers found women to share their lives with.Mac shook his head wondering when he'd become the minority as a single man.He wasn't really a minority, but sometimes it felt that way.He spotted Tuck sitting at one of the tables, a kid sitting at the table with him, but no one else nearby.
"Here you are.Can I get you anything else?"Jailbait set his bottle and glasses on the counter and flipped her ponytail, making Mac shake his head.She belonged to their newest patched member, Dumbass, but there was still that element of flirting with everyone she hadn't lost from her days as a hooker.He didn't blame her, but he wasn't going to engage her.The last thing he wanted was for Dumbass to come after him for disrespecting his girl.
"Thanks."Mac picked up the glasses then grabbed the bottle by the neck and headed over to where the prez sat.
"Who's this?"He nodded to the new kid as he pulled out a chair with one foot and set the pair of glasses on the table.He sat and twisted the lid off.
"This is Savage," Tuck said as Mac poured two fingers of whiskey into a glass.
"Nice to meet you, Savage.You drink scotch?"
