Whistlin' Dixie (Tempered Steel Book 1) (8 page)

“Will you go out to dinner with me on Friday?” he whispered.

She lifted her head and stared at his handsome face. “I think asking me for a date after what we’ve been doing is a lot like putting the cart before the horse.”She smiled and then took herself on tiptoe, trying to reach his lips to give her answer.

Mac was more than happy to meet her half way, and their kiss was slow and sweet and nowhere near as satisfying as what they both wanted. As he lifted his head, the porch light blinked off and on several times. “Very funny, Jamie.”

Dixie laughed softly then pulled on his shirt to bring his head down yet again. Minutes later, Mac reluctantly loosened his hold. “Go on in, little girl.” He turned her loose and gave her a swat on her bottom just to be silly.

“Don’t, you
little girl
me. If you hadn’t noticed, I am a woman,” Dixie said with feigned haughtiness.

“Oh I noticed alright. I can promise you I am going to be remembering throughout the night, cold shower or not,” Mac rumbled as he opened the truck door.

Dixie laughed as she walked up the front porch steps and turned back. “Good night.” She blew him a kiss.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” With a long last look, Mac turned and climbed into his truck. As soon as she was safely inside, he drove off into the night.

Dixie leaned against the front door, closed her eyes and sighed. This was what falling in love was like. Grandpa Harris was right. It was unlike anything you had ever felt before and better than anything you could ever imagine. When she opened her eyes and drew away from the door, she spotted the damp towel and hurried to pick it up as her brother came out in the kitchen.

“Any luck fishing tonight?” she asked politely, trying to gauge what he saw.

“Nope. Fish weren’t biting.” He stared pointedly at her swollen lips. “Something was, but not the fish.” He plopped on the sofa with a bowl of ice cream. “At least one of us got lucky.”

Dixie threw the towel at him. “Beast.”

CHAPTER SIX

Both Mac and Dixie were busy the rest of the week, with little time for communication except for telephone calls late at night and early morning kisses when he showed up to take Jamie to work. It was driving him crazy. No more than a kiss or two was allowed thanks to Jamie and his obvious bad timing. He never failed to show up just as things were getting interesting, leaving Mac frustrated. He could hardly wait until Friday night.

Adding to Mac’s frustration, another break-in had occurred at one of the model homes in a new subdivision Chance was supervising across town. In his inimitable flair for the dramatic, Chance had committed himself to putting a stop to this travesty of justice as he loudly and drunkenly proclaimed at Montana Max’s saloon one evening. He’d magnanimously offered a reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest, and declared that he and his brothers would be personally overseeing the security of each new home. Unfortunately, he forgot to mention that fact to his brothers until later that week. Mac was ready to strangle him.

“I can’t believe you announce to the world that we would be providing night watch for these homes.” Mac stormed into the weekly staff meeting held in the office conference room on Friday afternoon. Brandon, Chance, as well as two other brothers, Nick and Lucky, were consuming coffee and cookies provided by Dottie.

“Well, look at it this way. Business is bound to pick up when people know we’re providing security,” Chance boasted.

“You have any idea what that will cost?” Mac fumed. He didn’t want to listen to this shit. He wanted to be getting ready for tonight. Once this problem was resolved, he’d head home to a soothing shower and a much-anticipated evening with Dixie. He could hardly wait.
Wine? Check. Roses? Check. Condoms? Double Check.

“It will cost next to nothing. We’ll do it. We will take shifts. Right now, we’ve committed ourselves to building only a few houses at a time, so there’s really no problem. And there’s five of us, plus Jamie. We can handle it,” Chance predicted smugly.

“And just how do we handle this tremendous influx of housing contracts that are going to be flooding our “in” boxes? Staying up all night is guaranteed to make us a bit too tired to take on additional projects,” Lucky grumbled.

“And what about Jamie? He seems a good kid, but there is no proof that he wasn’t in on at least a part of the sabotage,” Nick stated.

At the mention of Jamie, Mac pulled himself together. “He’s not. Just look elsewhere,” His dark voice left little room for argument.

“Mac, there’s a Ms. Trumbull here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, but apparently she’s connected to Trumbull Investment Properties.” Dottie said at the doorway of the conference room. She peered at Mac over her bifocals sending him a severe frown. Very few people breached Mac’s inner sanctum without Dottie’s approval and an appointment. Mac noted she was not a happy camper.

Apparently, Ms. Trumbull must be quite determined. Mac wished he could place the name. It was always better to know who you were talking to in any particular situation. “Show her into my office. I’ll be there in a few minutes and find out anything you can because I don’t remember who the hell she is.”

“No need. Ms. Flashy Pants is already ensconced there. She said she never waits in a lobby,” Dottie said sarcastically.

Mac groaned.
Just what he didn’t need.
He finally remembered the name. Christina Trumbull was a spoiled brat who liked to pretend she ran her father’s company. Unfortunately,
Daddy
did listen to her on occasion, so it would probably be best not to ruffle her feathers. Her father was extremely rich and powerful man in the state of Illinois. The only reason she could be here was because of the marina project proposal.

Mac excused himself and headed down the hall to his office. Closing the door quietly, he took a moment to remember the woman waiting by his desk.
One day of marina proposal meetings with her father; one night of totally forgettable sex with her.
It had been over two years ago. He didn’t even remember what she looked like until she turned around. “How can I help you Christina?”

“Hello, Mac. It’s been a long time.” She glided over to him on high red heels, her tall slim body encased in an all-white suit. Perfectly manicured red hot nails grazed over his face. Her tawny tresses were artfully styled to complement her amber eyes, which smoldered with desire. The silent invitation in her delicate pose was designed to bring a man to his knees. But Mac felt absolutely nothing but irritation.

“Again, how can I help you, Christina?” he asked impatiently as he sauntered around his desk. He immediately felt better as soon as there was a desk space between them.

Christina frowned. “Father heard about your plan for a new winery near the marina. He wanted to find out a bit more before he makes a decision whether to back your proposal.” Christina sauntered over to the brown leather couch and sat down, as she crossed her legs and leaned back provocatively.

“Proposal was six months ago. What’s taken him so long? I may have already found all the financing I need,” Mac stated dryly. He hadn’t found all the financing, but he was angry enough to let her think so. She was taking up valuable time he could be spending with Dixie, and her attempts at seduction left him cold. Dixie left her in the dust at every level.

“My father’s a very busy man. Someone as hard-working as you can appreciate that I’m sure.” She stood up, crossing to the large window, letting the sun silhouetted her figure to perfection. “Nevertheless, he has instructed me to act on his behalf. If I find the property worthy of consideration, my father would like to contribute the amount specified in the original proposal in exchange for a seat on the board. I am assuming the proposal still stands?”

Christina leaned over Mac’s shoulder, offering him a glimpse of her breasts beneath the jacket of her suit. “Why don’t we go to dinner and discuss it? That is, if there is somewhere to eat around here.” She touched his arm in an intimate gesture making sure he understood she would be more than willing to dine in, preferably in his bedroom.

Damn!
Mac cursed. Dixie was looking forward to dinner tonight and so was he. This woman was so artificial and lacking compared to Dixie’s natural beauty and vivaciousness. He felt nothing but revulsion when she touched him.

On the other hand, business was business. And if he could get her old man to put his share into the marina project, it would guarantee success. The other investors would fall in line, and the town would have a new marina to attract tourists and businesses. It could very well mean the start of something big for his small town. Surely Dixie would understand that.

He sighed in resignation. “Just let me make some adjustments to my schedule. I’ll be right back.” A few minutes later, everything was taking care of, but as he escorted Christina to his truck, he couldn’t help but think of a smaller, sweeter woman who would fit in his arms perfectly.

*****

As Dixie walked up her front porch, she heard the phone ringing in her purse. Fumbling with the groceries, her purse, and her messenger bag, she tried desperately to get to the phone. The teachers’ meeting had run over and subsequently, she was running late for her date with Mac. If she hurried, she could just manage to get a shower and dress before he came to get her.
Not that he seemed to mind finding me in my bathrobe.
She smiled, and her body trembled as she remembered the outcome of that encounter.

Perhaps tonight.

“You’ve become a wanton witch, Dixie Harris,” she murmured under her breath as she finally located the phone. She dropped her purse on the porch swing and the contents came tumbling out, rolling in every direction. Dixie scrambled to retrieve the mess as she swiped open her phone. She hit the voicemail and Mac’s deep timbre filled the silent room. “Dixie, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. I’m going to have to break our date tonight. I’m sorry, but something very important to Grafton has come up at the office and I’m not going to be able to get away. I hope you understand. I’ll have Chance bring Jamie home. I really hate doing this. I’ll call you soon as I can and we can schedule something then.”

As the voicemail ended, Dixie shut off her phone. Disappointment welled up inside her as she opened the door to the house and flopped down on the sofa. She felt totally deflated. “Stop acting so pathetic,” she scolded herself. She sighed, thinking of Mac and his flirty smile. His gruff exterior harbored a tender side that melted her heart. He wanted to bring this town back from devastation so badly. She couldn’t fault him for his noble nature.

Even if she was dying to feel his touch again.

“I wonder if cold showers work for women, too?” she mumbled.

She gave her herself a mental shake for her pitiful attitude, and with a heavy sigh she picked up the groceries she left on the porch and trudged into the kitchen to fix something to drink. What was so important that would keep Mac away from their date? Maybe they had finally gotten a lead in the vandalism case!

When Jamie came home two hours later, he couldn’t give her any clues as to what was happening. He had been out at the recently vandalized homes most of the day, and he hadn’t seen Mac since early morning. “I guess this means your free this evening, Dixie. Why don’t we catch that new movie playing at the Starlight?”

“No, let’s just have a quiet evening here. I’ll order some pizza and pickup a video. What do you want to watch?” Dixie really didn’t care about eating or the movies, but spending the evening with Jamie was better than just sitting here pining away and waiting for the phone to ring. Dixie ordered the food from a restaurant in Grafton and went to pick it up along with the movie as Jamie got a shower.

Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant, Dixie noted the streetlights were just beginning to turn on. The days were getting longer and the nights shorter, but she was ready for spring. What was that saying?
When all God’s creatures turn to thoughts of….love.
She smiled to herself as she
noticed a couple locked in an amorous embrace by a car. She sighed, thinking of Mac and wondering again what might’ve happened tonight. She had never felt the passionate intensity she knew in Mac’s arms. He could make her fall apart with passion, shattering any objections or fears she might have just with his kisses.

Dixie got out of her car quietly so as not to disturb the loving couple and made her way across the parking lot. As she neared them, the man raised his head and the illumination from the streetlights cast his features in perfect profile. Silver eyes gleamed at her then narrowed fractionally in recognition. Dixie drew to a halt and took a fortifying breath.
It’s not Mac. It’s Chance. He’s a hit with the ladies and he resembles Mac. It’s not Mac; don’t let it be Mac.

“Dixie?”

Pain sliced through her heart when he called out her name. It was Mac. She would know that deep voice anywhere. Dixie stood numb with shock. Mac was seeing someone else. She couldn’t believe it, but she had seen him with her own eyes. The woman’s hands were rubbing against Mac’s shirt. She tilted her head up and brought her hand to his face, placing a kiss on his lips.

Dixie had seen enough. She began walking briskly back to her car, ignoring the man calling her name, anger quickly replacing the numbness.

“He’s not married to you. You haven’t even been on a real date yet. You have no right to be angry. He never said he was dating you exclusively,” she muttered as she reached her car.
I have every right to be madder than hell. He lied to me. He stood me up for some other woman.
He hoped I wouldn’t find out. And he thought he could keep me still have this other woman. Well, now I know the truth and soon Mr. Mackenzie Coalson is going to know a few things. I don’t play second fiddle to anyone. So she can have him. She’s welcome to the low-down dirty creep.

Her anger drained away at the end of her tirade leaving only the pain of loss and abject humiliation. Despite all she had seen, she can’t help but wish she was the one Mac was holding right now.

She made it to the car and started the engine before the tears began to fall.
I thought after the other night, that he felt the same way I did, that what we shared was special. He deliberately led me to believe that. I was such a fool. Oh God, it hurts!

“I suppose I should just be glad my brother walked in when he did or I’d have even more to cry about now,” she mumbled to herself, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand. It didn’t help.

She began crying in earnest as she backed out of the parking lot. A few passionate kisses from the first man she was attracted to and she melted like butter before fire. Well, there was no sense beating herself up about it. She had learned her lesson the hard way. She wasn’t going to play the fool again. Not even if he came begging her to take him back.

Stupid, gullible, virgin fool.

She dared a hasty glance at her rearview mirror. It showed Mac, with his arm around the other woman, helping her into his truck.
He couldn’t even be bothered to try and chase her down.
Dixie gunned the engine and headed home.

Mac swore as the taillights of Dixie’s Jeep faded in the distance. He tossed a rather inebriated Christina Trumbull into his truck. She moaned softly and he looked at her in disgust. If it wasn’t for her, he and Dixie would be enjoying a pleasant evening together. Now he doubted he would even get a chance to explain the situation. He had seen the expression on Dixie’s face. She had drawn her own conclusions. He couldn’t blame her. He knew it looked bad.