Page 9 of Mac
"Don't.I just don't leave the house in my shorts and flip-flops.You on the other hand look amazing."He was a little apprehensive about talking about how she looked, some women didn't like it.It made them uncomfortable and he didn't want to do that to Elyse, but it was no lie and he didn't want to make her feel bad because he'd changed."I thought we might could have this for dessert."He offered her the cheesecake he'd pulled from the freezer."It's still frozen, but if we leave it on the counter it should thaw enough to eat.
"Oh!that's nice.I love cheesecake, but you really didn't have to."
"I wanted to.My ma would have rolled over in her grave if I had come over empty handed."
Elyse lifted one brow and stared at him a moment, "Then thank you."She took the cheesecake."Come on in.I was just about to toss the steaks on the grill.How do you like yours cooked?"
"Still bleeding.As long as it's hot all the way through, you won't get any complaints from me."
Her nose wrinkled."So rare.I like mine a little more done, somewhere in between medium rare and rare, but I can do rare too."She led him through her living room and into the kitchen.Mac didn't have much chance to look around, but noticed her place seemed to be laid out pretty much the same as his.That wasn't surprising with the way houses were built these days.Limited floor-plans available and all of them similar, with elements to make them all look the same, or close to it.
She stopped a moment in the kitchen to set the dessert he'd brought on the table and picked up a plate of meat off the counter.She turned and smiled at him a moment before continuing out the door into the backyard.Mac followed, assuming that was what she wanted.
"Let me just get these started then I'll grab you something to drink."She went to the grill set up a few feet from the edge of the porch and opened the lid, a puff of heat rose, from the interior making her step back for a moment."Have a seat or wander around.Make yourself at home."
Mac looked around.He hadn't ever been back here, not even before she'd moved in when the house had been empty and for sale.The tree in the corner was visible from his yard, but the rest intrigued him.There was a small pond in one corner with a tiny fountain complete with about a four-inch waterfall.He moved closer to get a better look.The sound of trickling water filled the yard as if the fountain was much larger, but he knew it couldn't be heard from his yard, which struck him as odd.He turned to ask Elyse about it and found her just a couple feet away.
"What do you want to drink?I've got tea, coke, water, and I think the milk's still good."She gave him an embarrassed smile, he assumed because she didn't know if the milk was good.
"Is the tea sweet?"
"No."
"Then I'll have that."
"Not a fan of sweet tea?"
"Only when it's hot."He smiled as she turned away and he couldn't help but watch the way her ass swayed as he went inside.While he waited, he looked down at the tiny waterfall for another minute then went back to the porch and sat in one of the metal chairs waiting in the circle of light from the porch light.It wasn't dark yet, but it was getting there fast.
Mac loved living in Tucson, but the short days got his nerves sometimes.Still, he was glad he didn't have to mess with the foolishness of changing his clocks twice a year.He'd never realized how much of a pain in the ass it was, nor how nice it was not to, until he moved to Arizona.
He had to admit, winter days weren't any shorter here than in St.Louis, but for some reason he was more aware of them.He didn't know why and didn't care enough to figure it out.
"Here you are."Elyse came back out and set a large tumbler of iced tea on the table between two chairs while still carrying a second."I hope you like it."She went to the grill and poked at the meat a moment then came over and sat in the other chair."I like the evenings this time of year.It's cool but not cold and a welcome change from the heat of the summer."
"I like them too."Mac watched her a few seconds then turned to watch the play of colors on the horizon.The colors were darker now and in less than an hour it would be pitch dark with only the brightest stars visible from here.Too much light in the neighborhood kept you from seeing more.But Mac knew they were from the times he got far enough from the city to see them."I think this is my favorite time of year here."
"Just here?"
He felt his lips curve in a wry smile."I haven't been anywhere else in too long to remember what they're like somewhere else, at least not long enough to see more than a couple days here and there."
"Don't travel much?"Something about her tone made Mack turn and look at her.
"No, not really.I spend most of my time here in town.I don't really trust anyone else to run the shop, so I'm kind of tied here."He didn't tell her that he did do a little traveling, mostly club business and rarely for more than a day or two."You know, I told you about my shop, but I don't think you ever said what you do."He didn't want to talk about himself, he was much more interested in her.If only he could get her to open up.
"It's boring.At least most people think so.I love it."She waved one hand trying to get him to move on to something else.But he wouldn't be distracted that easily.
"How about you tell me about it and let me decide if I think it's boring?"
This time it was her who watched him, as if looking for some sign that he was lying.She wasn't going to find one, because he wasn't lying.
She took a deep breath and let it out in a rush before pushing herself to her feet and moving to the grill."All right, you win.I manage a secondhand bookstore."She picked up the tongs and poked at one of the steaks.
Mac tilted his head to one side and let her answer process for a moment while he watched her."You mean like Bookmans?"He loved the local chain, they dealt not just in books but games, movies, music and more.
"Actually, yes.Just like Bookmans, in fact it is Bookmans."She turned and stared at him a moment, both brows high on her forehead.
"Which one?"It couldn't be the location on Ina, he would have seen her there.At least he thought he would have.
