A Place to Call Home (22 page)

Flashes of bright lights erupted behind her closed eyelids with the power of her orgasm, and she sensed every movement Mac made without having to see it. How his hips thrust up into her, how his fingers possessed her, how he held onto her with a gentle yet firm grip. Both clinging to each other, rocking their bodies together. His shaft pulsed within her wetness, the erection subsiding, giving her tender muscles much needed relief from his engorged cock.

While his hands roamed her body, the tender caresses soothing her tingling flesh, he said, “I don’t want to stop touching you, Hannah.”

“Then don’t,” she whispered, collapsing onto his sweat slicked chest, needing to suck air into her deprived lungs.

“Just need a sec,” he said, scooting out from under her, disposing of the condom and pulling a shirt over her head before cradling her in his arms under the covers.

After such a wild lovemaking session, Hannah dozed in Mac’s arms in his bed, in his house, wearing only his T-shirt, completely sated. Mac chose to sleep in the buff with no complaints from her. Their legs were entwined and the sheet hung loosely off their hips.

“Austin?” she whispered through a yawn.

“Yeah?” he answered, his voice revealing signs of sluggishness in the way he drawled his words. His fingers ran up and down her arm drawing lazy circles.

“You’re really good in bed.”

“Right back at you.”

“Austin?”

“Yeah?”

“The next time, just wear your tool belt to bed.”

Mac laughed, a slow, devilish sound. “Goodnight, you little brat,” he whispered, holding her against his chest and wrapping his arm around her tightly.

Mac kissed the top of her head and she dozed off.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next morning the smell of blueberry pancakes filled the MacDevin house. The boys rushed down the stairs and ran eagerly to the kitchen where Hannah scooped the last pancake off the griddle and onto the platter.

Aidan spoke first. “Didn’t Dad drive you home last night?”

“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said cheerfully. “Yes, he did. But we decided I should stay here last night instead.” Hannah attempted to make light of the matter, uncomfortable with discussing her sleeping arrangements. “Unless you guys want to eat cold pancakes you’d better sit down.”

Not having to be told twice, they all took a seat around the table. Mac carried two steaming cups of coffee, placing one in front of Hannah and sipped the other. Soon plates were piled high and everyone started eating.

“Hannah, when did you get here?” Ryan asked. “I got a snack in the middle of the night and didn’t see Dad on the couch.”

Hannah’s cheeks flamed and she looked to Mac. “Want to field that one?”

He caught her stare, grinned, then looked at his plate. “Not really. Just eat, everyone.”

“She slept in Daddy’s room.”

Everyone stared at Luke. Hannah’s eyes widened and stared at Mac whose gaze darted between hers and Luke’s.

“And how do you know that?” Mac asked sternly.

Luke hesitated but spoke quietly. “I had a bad dream so I came into your room. I saw you holding Hannah and you were both asleep. I’m sorry.”

“You did nothing wrong, Luke. You didn’t know I had, um, company. But you should’ve woken me up.” Mac leaned over and rustled his large hand in the boy’s short black hair, earning an impish smile from him.

Hannah was never so grateful that she had slept in Mac’s T-shirt.

“I didn’t want to get in trouble.”

“You wouldn’t have been in trouble with me, buddy.” Mac sipped his coffee, looking at Hannah over the rim.

She knew her cheeks grew red as fire.

“Not with you. With Aidan and Ryan,” Luke admitted daring to glance across the table at his older brothers.

Mac looked at his oldest boys, confused, then looked back to Luke. “Now why would you be in trouble with your brothers?”

“Because I interrupted you again when you were with Hannah. You know. Having a private date.”

Hannah laughed. She couldn’t help it. She was totally embarrassed, but little Luke was so angelic she had to laugh at his innocent perception of the situation.

“Well, Mac. You seem to be digging yourself into a bigger hole.”

“Oh, really? You wanna give it a shot, then, brat?”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Taking a sip of coffee, hoping it would calm her nerves, she looked up to see the boys watching her. “Okay, gentlemen. Last night since your dad and I had such a lovely dinner he invited me to stay here, so I wouldn’t have to be alone at my house.”

“Did you have another bad dream and have to sleep with Daddy?”

“Um, yes, I guess so.” Okay, so she was allowed a small lie. “Since I didn’t want to sleep alone, he let me sleep in his room and held me all night so I wouldn’t have any nightmares.”

“He does that for me too,” Luke said, continuing to eat.

Aidan and Ryan snickered.

“This is different, Luke,” Aidan said.

“Yeah, way different,” Ryan confirmed.

“Oh, really?” Hannah said to them. “Now unless you two think a nine-year-old needs a better explanation then I suggest you drop it. You know, especially since you’re both men and can understand the situation better.”

Both boys turned bright red and Mac laughed.

“So are we agreed discretion is appropriate here, Aidan and Ryan?” Hannah asked, her voice firm.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s discretion mean?” Luke asked to no one in particular.

Aidan answered before Hannah could. “It’s when people don’t always need to know all the details about something. Especially when it doesn’t concern them.”

“I couldn’t have said it any better, son,” Mac said. “Good job. Thank you.”

Aidan beamed.

“These are great pancakes aren’t they, boys?”

They grunted in approval.

“I think Hannah out did herself this morning.” Mac winked. “Now I keep a lot of food in the house but not usually fresh blueberries.”

Hannah just smiled and sipped her coffee.

Mac watched her. “Did you steal my truck again, brat?” His smile shone soft and warm.

“I sure did,” she confirmed. “Couldn’t walk to the store.”

“I never heard you get out of bed.”

She glanced at the boys who were busy eating. “You were sleeping like a baby,” she whispered. “Now finish your coffee. I need to get home and get back to normal.”

“Hannah, are you sleeping over again tonight?” Luke asked.

“Yes,” Mac said.

“No,” Hannah said.

“What do you mean no? You don’t have to stay in that house alone,” Mac chastised.

“And you’re not telling me what I’m doing.” She rose and took her plate to the sink. “Ryan and Luke, you get to do the dishes since Aidan has to work. Ryan washes. Luke dries.”

The boys agreed.

“Don’t be stubborn, Hannah.” Mac said standing next to Hannah by the counter.

“Choose your words wisely, Austin.” She poked him in the chest.

“Damn it! You know you can stay here. Now we can spend all day arguing but this is one argument I plan to win.” His warning bounced off her with little weight.

“Well, I wish I could spend all day arguing, but it just happens my day is full and you have a project to work on.” And she couldn’t discuss changing her living arrangements in front of his family. Why would he want her to live with him? It’s not like they wouldn’t see each other even if she lived at her own place. The last twenty-four hours had moved too fast for her. To have someone like Mac care for her so much and then ask her to move in had to be given some thought. Why spoil a good thing with the complication of a commitment?

“I know what I have to work on.” He cornered her at the counter. “We’re going to your house, Hannah, and when I leave for the day, you’re coming back here with me. You can either pack some clothes or not. I don’t care. I happen to like you in my T-shirts. But make no mistake about it, you
are
coming home with me tonight.”

“Now you listen to me, Austin MacDevin—”

“Hannah,” Aidan said interrupting her, his voice loud enough to be heard over her rising tone.

Mac and Hannah turned their heads to find Aidan standing in front of Ryan and Luke. Hannah scolded herself for forgetting the boys were still in the room witnessing her argument with Mac.

“You’re staying here tonight,” Aidan told her, his arms crossed, his face serious.

Hannah’s eyes widened. “What?”

“It makes sense. What Dad says. How you shouldn’t be alone there.” Aidan sighed. “Hannah, I mean no disrespect but if you don’t agree then I guess we’ll just have to come sleep at your house.”

Mac grinned wide.

“Porkchop too,” Luke said, tugging on Aidan’s arm.

Aidan looked down at him then back to Hannah. “Yeah, Porkchop too.”

“You can’t sleep at my house. It’s under construction.” She stared at each of the boys.

“I know,” Aidan said calmly. “That’s why you’ll sleep here. Where we can keep you safe.”

“We?” A knot formed in her throat.

“Sure.” He shrugged. “All of us. We’ll help Dad keep you safe from your nightmares, right guys?”

His brothers agreed.

Now Hannah had a lot happen in her life, but never had she felt so treasured as she did at that moment, facing the MacDevin men in their united stand against her stubbornness. Giving in seemed to be her only option. And she wanted to do it before the tears burning her eyes spilt over. How sweet for the boys to band together with their dad and offer her comfort? Whatever she had done in life to deserve the company of these fine men, she’d gladly do it all over again. Emotions swam through her, her heart swelling with love for the MacDevin men. Living here with them would prove difficult when it came time for her to leave. Oh, well, there would be plenty of time to dwell on that another day. She’d just live for the moment, seize the day.

“Well, since you put it that way,” she said. “I guess I could stay another night or so.”

Aidan smiled and Ryan and Luke cheered. Porkchop barked.

Mac tossed Aidan his truck keys. “Start the truck. We’ll be right out.”

When they were alone again in the kitchen, Mac, who had refused to back away from Hannah, looked into her eyes. “Now why was that so hard for you to agree? All that arguing and my sixteen-year-old convinced you.”

“He was very nice about it. Better than you acting all macho.”

“Thought you liked macho?”

She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Austin, this can’t possibly be a good thing with me staying here.”

“Now that I disagree with. I’ll have great sex and great food. Tell me what’s the bad part.”

“The kids could get attached to me.”

His devilish grin spread to his eyes. “Newsflash. The kids are already attached to you. Remember your pedestal?”

“I’m serious, Austin. I just don’t want to play house and then they get hurt when I leave.”

“Are you worried about them or you, Hannah? Maybe you’re worried
you’re
getting attached. Hard thing for a woman who moves from state to state to do. Kind of puts a kink in your plans.”

Obviously, her hesitation had edged him into a bad mood. She hadn’t meant to appear ungrateful for his offer of more suitable housing than her place but the truth had to be faced at some point. She wouldn’t be staying and residing together, for however short a time, just didn’t seem like the best decision.

“That’s not fair. How I live my life is my business. Not yours.” Wanting to avoid his inquisitive stare, she couldn’t keep eye contact. She focused on Porkchop who sat at her feet, and tried to ignore Mac’s closeness.

He straightened. “As you wish. Come on. We’re running late. Get what you need and get in the truck,” he said and turned to leave then stopped and turned back. “Please.”

“That’s better,” she said and stalked past him to go to his bedroom to get her purse.