Marie Harte - Working Out

And she wanted him to suck, to tease, to lick.

So much for a life of celibacy.

Behind him, the sun turned brighter and illuminated the poster on the wall. Of Shelby’s guest room.

Maggie jerked back, sat up, and crossed her arms over her chest—what she should have done the second she spotted Mac standing over her. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

He sighed and sat next to her on the bed.

She squeaked, but before she could scoot away, he gripped her leg through the cover.

“Wait. I’m not going to attack you, okay? I need a minute to cool down.” His wry look down at his lap brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. “I came by to grab a few books I’d lent Shane. He told me to stop by this morning and grab them. I didn’t realize he was taking this whole relationship thing to heart though. Shelby has turned him into a new man.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’s sleeping in. It’s ten on a Saturday morning, and Mr. Type A is still in bed.” Mac looked mystified. “She must have given it to him good last night.” The speculative gaze he settled on Maggie and the bra hanging over the bedpost spoke volumes.

“Cut it out.” She reached for the bra but couldn’t grab it without him letting go of her leg.

“Let me.” He reached and took the bra from the post, sliding his fingers over the silken cups. “So soft and pretty.”

She grabbed it from his hand and snuck it under the cover, feeling both embarrassed and turned on. Confusion battled with lust in her mind, and she didn’t know whether to attack him or pray that he leave. Then the time registered.

“Did you say ten o’clock?”

He nodded.

“Oh my God. The gallery!” Maggie shot out of the bed with her bra and grabbed her jeans as she left, ignoring Mac’s wolf whistle.

She raced into the bathroom and hurriedly donned her clothing. Running out into the living room, she said a quick goodbye to a grumpy Shelby and laughing Shane in the kitchen. Thankfully Mac remained out of sight.

Ten o’clock, and she had an hour to get dressed, cleaned up and to work in an hour. As she rushed, her body continued to tingle in funny places, refusing to let her forget Mac’s touch. Talk about a hell of a start to her weekend.

A helluva way to start his weekend.

Mac heard Shane and Shelby moving in the house and needed to get a handle on his cock. Or better yet, have Maggie get a handle on it. Good Christ, but the woman was a walking wet dream. Seeing her amazing breasts, her nipples straining though that soft cotton tee-shirt, had been heaven and hell in the same breath. Then to watch her shoot from the bed, to see those toned legs and that tight ass set off by lace panties?

Hell. He worked to regulate his body and relax. Sporting a hard-on while he shared breakfast with his buddy and Shelby probably wouldn’t get him invited over again anytime soon. But fuck if he’d be able to see Maggie again without remembering her in bed.

Bad enough he saw her every day in those tight workout clothes. But the blond bombshell in a tee-shirt and panties trumped anything she’d worn the entire time he’d known her.

And those thoughts did nothing to help him calm his raging lust.

After internally reviewing his weekend schedule and recalling the choice words his uncle had tossed his way after hearing from Wilson “the jerk” Hussman, Mac finally had a hold of his sex drive.

He walked out and met Shane and Shelby in the kitchen. The pair were kissing and laughing, and Mac felt good seeing them. Shelby had looks, gorgeous curves, and hands from heaven. The woman could crush a rock with her strong fingers, but it was her generous heart and soft spot for Shane that had convinced Mac she was just what Shane needed.

“Cut it out,” Mac complained. “Or was I invited over for a show? I came for the eggs, but I’ll stay for the entertainment.”

“Shut up.” Shane flipped him off and laughingly disengaged from his girlfriend.

“I saw Maggie.”

Shelby smiled like a cat considering a bowl of cream. “Did you now?”

“Yep. Freaked her the hell out too. She darted out of the house like her hair was on fire.”

Shelby blinked and checked the time on the clock. “Oh boy. She’ll be lucky to make it to work on time. Too many margaritas last night.”

“She never talks about the gallery.” A perfect opening, Mac thought, to pump Shelby for information. “She’s an artist, right? What does she do, exactly?”

Shelby left the kitchen and returned moments later with a framed piece of art. “She makes paper.”

“Uh, what?” He stared at the piece, intrigued by the patterns and variation of texture and color. It was kind of pretty, in an artsy kind of way.

“Paper. Not the kind you write on, dumb ass,” Shane answered. “It’s art. Paper is her medium.”

“Right, Mr. High Brow.” He shook his head and handed the frame back to Shelby. “Since when are you so into art?”

“Since Shelby made me see what Maggie does. It’s pretty cool, actually. She has a paper press and inks. Dyes her stuff and creates real art. She also does some amazing watercolors. I didn’t realize she was into all that stuff. I’ve only seen her prancing around in tights at the gym.”

Shelby glared at him. “Shane.”

“Sorry. It’s his bad influence.” He pointed to Mac.

“True.” Mac grinned, smiling wider when Shelby sighed. “So why do you suppose Maggie won’t give me the time of day? She comes in to work, does her job, and leaves. I’m lucky if I get a frown half the time.”

Shelby looked uncomfortable.

“Come on. I’m not going to hurt her. I just want a date. That’s it.” He had to get this craving for the woman out of his mind.

“Please.” Shane snorted. “Like that’s all you want.”

“Shut up, dickhead.” If Shane ruined his shot at Maggie, Mac would clock him. He turned back to Shelby and put on his most charming expression. “Look, I know what you probably think of me. But I’m not as bad as Shane would have you believe.”

“He’s worse,” Shane muttered.

“I’ve dated a lot of women, I admit. But I was open. I never cheated on any of them. I can’t help it if I haven’t met the right woman yet. I mean, you think it’s hard weeding through the losers? Try being a guy. I’m expected to hold the door, but if I do, some woman yells at me for being a chauvinist. I compliment a woman on her looks, and I’m supposedly leering. When I don’t look at her breasts, I’m gay.”

Shane choked on the sip of coffee he’d just taken. “Who called you gay?”

“Hetty Leeson.”

Shane laughed. “That woman is seventy years old.”

“And pissed I won’t take out her granddaughter.” To Shelby, he explained, “Hetty lives next door to my uncle. And she’s constantly on me to go out with her granddaughter.”

“In Mac’s defense, Anna Leeson looks like she was hit with the ugly stick. A lot.”

Shelby bit her lip. “That’s not nice, Shane.”

Mac added, “She’s too skinny, and her attitude could use some work. Woman is a bi—ah, a witch. She’s constantly on my uncle about his dog, and the damn thing barely barks or moves. In dog years, Buster is the same age as my uncle. Like Uncle Ian’s really going to get rid of it because Hetty doesn’t like pets? He’s had the dog for eight years.”

“Oh. Well then.” Shelby nodded. “Don’t go out with the granddaughter.”

“Right.” Mac had her. “I should find someone nicer. Someone caring and kind who values the same things I do. A healthy lifestyle. Eating right. Safe sex, or in Maggie’s case, no sex.”

Shelby frowned. “What?”

Mac ignored Shane frantically shaking his head behind her. “I’m not having sex either. A clean slate, you could call it. I figured it’s time I stopped messing around and tried to find someone real.” To screw like no tomorrow. “I mean, you two seem happy. So I figured I’d cut out the unnecessary sex and focus on just one woman. If she’ll give me a chance.” Total bullshit, because who the hell thought sex was unnecessary? But he’d told the truth about not getting any. Ever since he’d laid eyes on Maggie, he didn’t want anyone else. The woman seriously screwed with his love life. In a bad way. He figured the sooner he had her, the sooner he could move on.