Marie Harte - Working Out

“Thanks.” He winked at her, and her heart raced.

“So.”

“So.” He grabbed her coffee and took a large sip out of it. “Ech. Too sweet. But man, I needed the jolt.”

Sighing, she found a clean mug and handed it to him.

He smiled and after pouring himself a huge helping, finally explained what the hell he was doing there. “I have a favor to ask.”

“Another one?”

“So after you drop me off at the car dealer—”

“Excuse me?”

“I need you to pick me up something for Shelby. Something girlie, but not too personal because I don’t want Shane on my ass.”

“Huh?”

“You’re going Christmas shopping today, right? You bitched about not having any time so much that it made my ears bleed.”

“Jackass.”

“So will you do it?”

“Why don’t you shop for her? It’s the thought that counts, right?”

He groaned. “Women. You tell men you want us to think of something, and when we do, it’s wrong.” He narrowed his gaze. “Take you for instance.”

“What about me?” She put her hands on her hips, annoyed. “I haven’t asked you for anything.”

“Besides a spanking,” he murmured before quickly following with, “if I were to get you something for Christmas, I’d buy you a pretty teddy. Some lace panties, maybe some edible body butter.”

“For Christmas? Who is this for, you or me?”

“See? I thought you’d be this way.” Yet his smile told her he’d intended to rile her. “So use your taste to buy Shelby something she’d like. What do you want for Christmas? Think along those lines. So what are we talking? Books, lingerie, perfume?”

“Is this your pathetic way to see what I want for Christmas?”

“Nope. I just know you and Shelby think alike.”

“Well, that’s true.” She thought about it. “I don’t know. Candles, soaps. Some perfume, but you have to get the right kind. Perfume is kind of like shoes. Everyone has a certain taste.”

“See? I’d be wrong already. So no chain and collar, eh?”

She tamped down the excitement at the idea. “And no on the nipple clamps,” she added drily.

He made a sad face, and she laughed.

“Okay. I’ll pick something up for her for you. But you’re wrapping it.”

“Awesome.” He dug in his pocket and handed her a hundred dollars, cash.

How nice to be able to spend that much on your friend’s girlfriend. She stifled a sigh. She’d saved all year long to make her Christmas budget and still afford her bills. The year hadn’t been that bad, and her overtime at the gallery and extra gym hours helped. But still…

She pocketed the money. “Anything else, moneybags?”

“Yeah, this.” He kissed her on the cheek.

The cheek.

“Thanks for doing this, Maggie. I owe you.” He finished his coffee, put his cup in the sink, then grabbed her keys off the counter. “So you ready to go or what?”

Or what, she thought half an hour later. Mac Jameson had kissed her friggin’ cheek. That bastard. No sexual innuendo, no groping, and no hints about more spankings. What the hell was he thinking?

She stewed about him most of the morning as she bought Shelby a few purchases with his money. But as the day progressed, she put him out of her mind and threw herself into the Christmas spirit. The day was too fine not to enjoy peppermint cocoa, carolers downtown, and her barrage of gifts. She couldn’t wait to see Mimi’s face when Maggie gave her more bangles to add to her collection. Or Ron’s face when she gave him the special tea he liked—the stuff was rare, expensive, and almost impossible to find, even in Seattle. For Shelby she’d found a cashmere sweater that cost a pretty penny, and for Shane a framed picture of him and Shelby that Maggie had had professionally mounted.

For Trevor she’d bought a collection of anime her weirdo older brother loved, as well as a new wool scarf and gloves, because more than likely he’d lost the last pair she’d given him. The man was forever losing hats too, so she’d added that to her list. She’d keep it all wrapped so that when he returned in the spring, they could have a belated holiday together.

She had everyone done… almost. Mac. She didn’t know what to give him. The man seemed to be interested in fitness, the Marine Corps, and women. He worked at a gym, had all the Marine stuff he could want, and she had no intention of hooking him up with anyone but herself.

An idea sparked, and she headed to a few stores she’d seen but had never had the courage to enter before now. A corset, fuzzy heels, a collar and chain later, she left the downtown area with her purchases. She felt warm all over, not having had this much fun in a long while.

Later that evening, her phone rang. Mac’s number. All at once, his dismissal from that morning came rushing back, and she felt like an idiot for blowing so much on sexy clothes. Especially when he asked for yet another favor.

“Hey Maggie. Could you pick me up at the car dealer? My uncle left me here, and my car isn’t ready yet. Shane’s busy, and I can’t get a hold of Shelby either.”

“Call a cab,” she said flatly, all her Christmas cheer gone in the space of one phone call.

“I guess I could call Megan. She gave me her number. Sorry for bothering you. I’ll—”

“Damn it. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” She hung up before he could change his mind. Megan? He’d call that floozy? More to the point, why did he have her number on hand? It was one thing to take her number and stash it somewhere, but to have it on his phone? On his person?

She stewed on her drive to pick him up, and after getting him, continued to brood all the way to his place.

While he talked about what a productive day he’d had at work, she remained silent.

“Hey, you okay?” Mac tapped her leg, and the traitorous limb wanted to leap at the contact.

She forced a smile. “Fine. Just tired. I did a lot of shopping today.” Shopping for you, you big jackass.

“Oh, right. Was the money enough?”

He had no right looking so concerned, so masculine and commanding and…

“It was enough.” She hated that she sounded hoarse.

He smiled. “Good. So you’re done your shopping? Nice. I still have Ian to get to.”

“Is it Ian or Uncle Ian?”

“Either. Man answers to most things I call him.” Mac chuckled. “But he doesn’t take any shit, that’s for sure. Swears up and down, but God forbid I tell him off when he’s earned it. Man has control issues.”

She parked the car in front of his house. “You did not just say that. He has control issues?”

He shrugged. “I get it honestly, don’t I?”

How would I know? It’s been forever since I’ve experienced my master, she wanted to say but didn’t. Instead she waited with a brittle smile.

Mac paused. “Despite ordering you around all the time at the gym, I feel bad about doing it on your day off.”

That surprised her.

“Would you mind coming in for a minute more? I swear I won’t take up the rest of your night. You probably have plans.”

“Yeah. It’s a Wonderful Life is on TV tonight.” And a bottle of wine sat in the fridge. She should have felt happy about having so little to do for once. She could enjoy herself without guilt. Her last project to hand over to Kim had nearly finished drying. Maggie would have it done in a few hours at most. But instead of looking forward to her night, she felt lonely. Shelby had Shane. Trevor had his work only God knew where, which seemed to satisfy him. Mac had his uncle. Who did Maggie have?

“Can you give me your opinion on something I got for Shane’s mom?”

She hadn’t thought other women in Mac’s life, but she’d heard from Shane how tight Mac was with his family. “Sure.” It couldn’t hurt, and she had no rush to return to an empty home.