Page 45 of Mac
"You went quiet.I was afraid you'd fallen asleep on me again.You keep doing that today."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be.You needed it.You were recovering.I was just checking to see if you're ready to eat."
"I am.I'm starving."She shifted in her seat, then moved her chair so it faced the table instead of turned half away so she could watch him.
"I hope you like it.I can make a few things but I'm not the best in the kitchen."He slid a plate onto the table in front of her, setting his on the other side of the table before turning away to grab a couple other things."It's part of why I eat out so much, or at the clubhouse where I can get someone else to cook for me."
"It looks good."She glanced down at the plate.She wasn't sure what it was, but it smelled heavenly.After a bite, she knew her nose hadn't led her wrong.Flavor burst into her mouth and she didn't know if it was because of his cooking or she was just that hungry, but it was one of the best things she could remember eating in a long time.They ate without talking until Elyse pushed her plate back and leaned back in her chair.
"Want more?"Mac asked.
"No, thanks.It tasted amazing and I'd love more, but I'm stuffed."She rubbed her slightly mounded belly for emphasis.
He gave her a long look, as if trying to figure out if she was telling the truth, then took the last few bites from his own plate before standing, picking up both plates and taking them to the sink.
"You want me to head home after cleaning up or you want to find something to watch?"He ran water in the dishes in the sink and opened the dishwasher.
Elyse was surprised to find the machine empty.The last she remembered was turning it on before work the other day, then she'd come home, and things had gone downhill from there.The thing should have been full, of clean dishes, sure but still, full.He must have emptied it at some point.
"You don't need to clean up.You've done enough for me; I can take care of this."She stood and moved to take over.Mac faced her, arms folded across his chest and a look on his face that dared her to challenge him.Some other time, she'd love to, but still a little tired, despite all the extra sleep, she decided to let it go tonight.
"I'll let you put away the food, mostly because I'm not sure where you keep containers, but I've got the rest of this."He turned back to the sink and started loading the dishes he'd used while cooking.
Elyse stood for a moment, frowning at his back before going to the pantry where she kept her storage containers.
CHAPTER21
Mac wanted to growl at Elyse, he didn't like the way she was pushing herself back to work, but she was a grown woman and got to make her own decisions, no matter what he thought about them.He wanted to tell her she was being stupid, but he was only her neighbor, her friend and maybe as far as her lover, but he didn't think he had the right to tell her to do, or not do, anything.All he could do was tell her what he thought and sit, or stand, by and watch her do what she thought was right.
He finished the dishes then turned to where she sat at the table watching him.
"What now?"he asked as he tugged her to her feet and pulled her against him.He liked having here there, snug against his belly or side.The warmth of her body reassured him she was there and okay.
He could still picture the way she'd looked yesterday when he'd been unable to wake her.Pale and fragile.If he could, he'd find a way to fix everything and make it so she never looked like that again.But he didn't have the magic that would take.He'd have to settle for taking care of her as best as she would allow.Not that it was all that much, or nearly enough to suit him.
"I don't know.Is there anything on TV tonight?"
"I don't know.I don't watch it enough to know what's on when.I just look for something interesting when I turn it on."
"Then let's do that."She tried to pull away, but he held on to her, instead walking with his arms around her into the living room.He would have carried her but knew she'd protest if he tried.
They settled onto the sofa, Mac sitting back while Elyse curled up against him, snuggled in and watched the screen as he flipped through the channels.She didn't seem to care what they watched, only that they were together, and she got to half lay on him.Mac didn't want her going anywhere, so he was content with the arrangement as well.After he found something to watch, or at least listen to, Mac spent as much of the evening watching Elyse as he did the TV.She looked so much better than the day before, or even than she had just this morning, but he couldn't help but worry.Even after Kinard told him she'd likely be just fine after a little more rest.
Elyse's breathing told him she'd fallen asleep again about fifteen minutes into the second program.He debated for a moment about turning the TV off and carrying her to bed, but she seemed comfortable and he didn't want to disturb her, not yet.
When the program ended, he turned off the TV and watched her for a few minutes before realizing if she woke up and caught him watching her like this, she would probably think he was some kind of creep.Well, maybe not since she'd fallen asleep right there, but still.
He scooped her up, she stirred a little but didn't wake, instead she rubbed her face against his chest, taking a deep breath and letting it as he carried her into the bedroom.Once more, he laid her on the bed and pulled the blankets up around her before slipping from the room.He'd considered leaving.Going back to his place and letting her sleep by herself.But he couldn't get the way she'd stopped him from leaving early out of his head.Instead he uses the restroom, then checked the doors and windows before going back into the bedroom, getting undressed and sliding into the bed beside her.As soon as he lay down, she seemed to sense he was there, probably from the movement, but she moved toward him, as if he were some kind of magnet.
As soon as she curled into him, she let out a long sigh and relaxed even more.Mac found himself smiling into the darkness as he wondered how she would react if she knew how she clung to him in her sleep.He didn't think it would upset her but still, it would be interesting.He wrapped his arms around her and held her close while turning his mind to the next day.He didn't want to go back to their normal lives, but he couldn't see any way around it.There was no way he'd be able to keep her from going back to work, and with her gone, there was no reason for him not to.Besides, there were a couple jobs in the shop that needed his attention.His guys were good, but none of them had as much experience or knew some of the older cars as well as he did.
Then there was the issue with the Souls and that trafficking ring.He'd need to check in with Tuck to see how things were going with that.
It was two before Mac found the time to break away from the shop to grab a bite to eat.He let Jake know where he was going, then he headed next door to the clubhouse.He figured he'd have whoever was working the bar fix him something to eat and see what was going on with Tuck and that operation, killing two birds with one stone.
He stepped in the door and glanced around to see who was there.Jailbait washed dishes behind the bar while a couple of the older, no longer active Souls sat at the far end of bar.Crash sat on the couch in front of the tv watching what looked like a basketball game, but it was too far away to tell who was playing and Mac didn't care enough to go look.He spotted Tuck sitting at his usual table near one corner of the large room and started in his direction, catching Jailbait's eye and waving her over on his way.
