Thursday morning, Mack had just finished working out and cleaned up. He dried off and threw on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, wondering if and when he’d talk to his family again.
He didn’t think they’d completely cut him off. But in his current mood, he didn’t care if he never spoke to them again. Well, maybe James because he’d apologized a little. And Alec, who’d called yesterday to say how proud of Mack he was.
“About time you stood up for yourself. Sorry, man, but that had to be your battle. Not mine.” He’d paused. “Dean agrees. He’s tired of all the cop talk. Totally boring.” Alec had laughed, and Mack had felt warm. Included. And loved.
But the others could take a short walk off an even shorter pier, and that hurt to even think. He loved his mom a ton, but he was tired of her just ignoring the family problems. And, yeah, maybe he was oversensitive about all of it. But, damn, he had been talked around and talked down to for years. James and Alec admitted it. Why the hell couldn’t she just apologize so they could move on?
He was done turning the other cheek all the time. And annoyed and still hurt because despite all the family crap, he missed Cass like crazy. Talking to Brad about the drama with his folks last night had helped a little. Brad, having dealt with even uglier family drama, had plenty to say about Mack’s folks not believing—or showing belief—in their son.
The texts from Tex and Reggie had made him feel even better. He might not have all the Reveres at his back, but he had his full crew on his side. Who didn’t feel at all bad about nagging him the past two days not to forget Sunday’s game day—with Cass and crew.
That’s if I can get her to talk to me again. He didn’t like her avoiding him. They had things they needed to talk about. Mack felt good about finally taking charge of the problems in his life. He was still the laid-back guy of C shift, the one who could get everyone laughing, the amiable one in the bunch.
But he had a backbone that until lately he’d ignored. Not anymore. Just because he was easygoing didn’t mean he had to be anyone’s doormat.
He grabbed the kittens and lay in his bed. “Okay, guys, the truth. Copo, Impala, I’m keeping you. You are now official firefighting kittens. We’re going to have to get Christmas photos taken. And yes, I’m lame and embarrassingly lonely because the woman I love can’t bother to pick up the fucking phone.”
Copo danced sideways, his tail puffed up, and batted Mack’s hand. Then Impala smacked him down, and the kittens raced around the bed, pretending Mack was a mountain. Occasionally they’d stop to sniff his face or utter a small trill or chirp.
He sighed. At least someone likes me.
He spent the day running errands. Later in the evening, he helped out at a Pets Fur Life adoption event at a pet shop on Queen Anne with Reggie. Maggie and Emily stopped by with Frank on his leash and bought some toys for the little guy.
They’d set up in the back, several pens and tables prepped to showcase the animals, with helpers like Mack, Reggie, and several other volunteers managing the pets.
While Maggie greeted Reggie with a kiss, her daughter and the dog crept closer to Mack and the dog he was holding, an adorable tan-and-white two-year-old Chihuahua named Noodle.
“No,” Reggie said before Emily could open her mouth. “Noodle already has someone interested in him, and Frank already has a brother.”
“He does?” Mack asked, aware Reggie had been speaking the truth about Noodle, who already had several people signed up to possibly adopt him. The dog licked his hand, and he smiled down at him. “You’re such a cutie.”
“Yeah, who, Reggie?” Emily planted her hands on her hips. She looked just like Maggie, he thought, and wondered what it must feel like to look at a small person with your DNA and see yourself in them. Or to see your wife in them. Like, say, Cass.
Gah. Stop thinking about her.
Reggie planted his hands on his hips and stared down at the little girl. They looked cute together, the burly firefighter and the scrappy kid with her puppy on a pink leash. “Ahem,” Reggie said. “Vader?”
Maggie snapped a quick picture.
“Frame that one,” Mack said to her.
She nodded, smiling.
“Who’s Vader?” The name sounded familiar.
“My cat,” Emily said at the same time Reggie said, “Her cat.”
“Jinx! Buy me a Coke.” Emily smirked at Reggie.
Mack had to laugh because the kid clearly had Reggie wrapped around her little finger.
Emily turned to Mack. “Can I just hold him? For a second? Pleassse?” She blinked at him, her lashes so long, her eyes so dark in that cute face.
“Okay, but just for a second or two.”
“Sucker,” Reggie muttered.
Around them, people streamed, looking over the many cats and dogs available for adoption. A terrific turnout for a Thursday evening.
Mack took the leash, holding on to Frank, who didn’t really move. The leash might as well have been for show. Emily carefully cradled Noodle, who seemed to fall in love with her.
Mack elbowed his buddy. “Looks like a match made in heaven,” he said before something spooked Emily and she turned quickly. The Chihuahua jumped to the floor and took off toward the front, threading through a sea of legs. Unfortunately, the door opened at the wrong moment, and Noodle escaped.
“Shoot. Hold this.” Mack handed the leash to Reggie and hurried after the pup. Late at night, no one would see the little guy if he darted into the road. Though the cute Queen Anne neighborhood had a lower speed limit, even a car going ten miles per hour wouldn’t save the dog from being crushed.
Outside, he nearly ran over one of their other volunteers, a huge, beefed-up guy covered in tattoos who often helped home unwanted strays.
“Yo, Sam, have you seen a white Chihuahua?” Mack asked, frantic.
“Follow me.” They raced down the sidewalk and across a thankfully empty street, up into a residential area off Queen Anne Avenue. As they ran, Mack spotted a flash of white and heard a familiar yip.
“Noodle!” he yelled, but that blasted dog turned his head, his tongue out, laughing, and moved down a driveway that led to an alley behind some really nice houses.
“Shit. Come on.” Sam ran, but Mack was faster.
Not loaded up with all that muscle, some of us can move.
He heard sirens and swore, seeing all over again a puppy nearly run down, a woman lying in the street, having been hit saving it. Exactly what had happened to Maggie and Frank a few months back.
He’d outraced Sam but still didn’t see Noodle. And now he’d entered someone’s private backyard. Not cool.
“Noodle,” he whispered. “Come out.”
It took him a few minutes, but he finally spotted the escapee chewing someone else’s bone about the size of his body.
After tugging the dog out from under some bushes, he tossed the bone back in the yard and left, climbing back over the wooden fence he’d been forced to scale.
And found two annoyed police officers, one holding Sam by the upper arm, his wrists behind his back…as if in cuffs.
The taller of the two officers smiled wide. “Well, well. If it isn’t the love bandit, stealing another heart. What you got there, buddy, lady bait?”
Sam looked from Jed to Mack and rolled his eyes. “Obviously, you know Mack. How about uncuffing me, Officer?” he said to Cass.
The hard-ass looked from Sam to Mack and shook her head. “They both look like criminals to me. Jed, drag Revere back to the car. I have this one.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He yanked Mack with him, following a cuffed Sam and Cass as they walked toward flashing lights. “And you, make things right. She’s been a huge pain lately.”
Mack cradled Noodle, still panting and overjoyed from his escape. “Me?” In a louder voice, he said, “She’s the one being a pain. She crushed my poor heart.”
Cass glared at him over her shoulder.
Sam looked over and grinned.
“What’s up with your boy?” Jed asked. “He looks like he just escaped from King County.”
“Nah, Sam’s a mechanic who runs a lot of the Pets Fur Life adoptions. His wife owns the massage shop on Queen Anne. Bodywork.”
“She doesn’t own it, Mack. She’s a partner there.” Sam asked over his shoulder, “And what’s the deal with you and that dog? Are you taking it too? I heard you found some kittens you’re keeping. Nice.”
“You adopted a dog?” Cass asked, pulling Sam back with her to walk next to him and Jed.
“No, I didn’t adopt a dog,” he said. “But I did find this sly escape artist. Tell them, Noodle, how fast you are.”
Sam nodded. “He’s a bullet. So’s Mack. Mack outran me, and I’m pretty good at running from the cops.” Sam grinned.
Jed hadn’t been wrong. The guy did look dangerous. But seeing him with any of the animals or his wife you’d know he was a softie at heart. Despite the tattoos. And the muscles. And the killer glare…
They arrived at the car, where Cass uncuffed Sam. “Sorry, but we had a few calls about possible burglars in the area.”
“I’m sure you did.” Mack gave Sam a once-over and grinned at the gesture the guy shot back. “You want to take Noodle with you? I need a minute with Benson and Stabler here.”
Sam snickered. “Sure.” He took the dog in his arms, and the thing seemed to melt. Animals knew good people. “Aw, come on, Noodle. Let’s go find you a home.”
Sam walked away.
“I’m Stabler, by the way.” Jed slapped Mack on the back. “We’re on for dinner on Sunday. Thought I’d let you know.” He pointed at Cass and ordered, “Fix it. I’ll meet you by the pet shop.” He walked away, whistling, and got back into the car.
Something occurred to Mack. “This isn’t your area. What are you doing up here?”
Cass blushed but said nothing.
Mack waited, but she just looked at him as they continued down the alley toward the street. “You have nothing to say? Really?”
He turned away from her, uber annoyed. Because his heart wouldn’t stop racing and the love he’d been trying to ignore was overwhelming.
“Stop, stop.” She pulled him to a halt and tugged him under the darkness of an overhead tree, out from under a streetlight. “Look, I made a mistake.”
“With…?”
She blew out a loud, exasperated breath. That made him feel slightly better.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do more to crush you at soccer.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to look stern and not as if he were drinking in the sight of her. She looked so damn sexy in her uniform.
“I just… I talked to my dad, and he thinks maybe I was trying to sabotage our relationship.”
“If you want out, you only have to say—”
“Will you shut up? I’m trying to tell you I love you, okay?” she snapped.
He blinked, not sure how to follow that and doing his best not to appear as joyful as a kid at Christmas.
But Cass seemed stressed and unsure because she started pacing in front of him, not meeting his gaze. “I told you before I’m not great with relationships. I like myself, and I don’t think I should have to change to suit anyone else’s needs.”
He started to tell her he’d never asked her to change but instead kept quiet, doing his best to just listen. Something he wished his parents had done instead of treating him like a little boy wanting attention he didn’t deserve.
“But you never asked me to change. The one time I did something that, frankly, bothered even me, you told me to stop and just be myself.” She met his gaze. “For the record, I just wanted you to have fun with the game. I didn’t want you to be mad if I crushed you in front of your friends.”
“I hate to break it to you, Officer Hotness, but I did steal the ball from you at our mud game.”
“Yeah, because I slipped in the mud,” she said drily. “You got lucky because David Beckham you are not.”
He sneered. “And yet you still didn’t win.”
“We tied, doofus.” She walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mack. I got weirded out by what I feel for you. It just snuck up on me. And when I get nervous or—”
“Scared?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Or anxious, I don’t react well. I’m sometimes quick to get angry—”
“Sometimes?”
She talked over him. “Usually think I’m right because I am right, and have a tough time confronting those I love, which is why I keep avoiding you.”
“It’s driving me crazy,” he said and pulled her in for a kiss. He broke away, breathing hard, his whole body one live wire, and leaned his forehead against hers. “God, Cass. I love you so much. I’ve been trying to keep it to myself and not scare you off. I know you’re independent and tough and smart. And any guy would be lucky to have you.” He pulled back to look into her gorgeous gray eyes, swearing he could see the love in them even in the shadows. “But I’m the best you’ll ever get.”
Her lips quirked. “Is that so?”
“Yep. Everyone likes me. Well, except for my folks. And Xavier. And apparently Ben Templeton, and I have no idea why. But everyone else, yeah.”
“Does it matter that I like you?” She cupped his cheeks, careful of his bruised one, and kissed him again.
“It sure the hell does. I know it feels like we just met and it’s sudden. But you get me better than anyone else. And I get you. I’m a single father now. I need help supporting my kittens.”
She laughed. “So you did adopt after all.”
“Officially, I did. I’m also keeping you. And if you must know, I decided that after you nearly killed me at soccer the first time.”
“It was a legal slide tackle, you big whiner.”
“Keep thinking that. I’m sure the sight of your bare legs and clingy top—”
“It was a sweatshirt.”
“—didn’t affect that ref with the crush on you at all.”
They started walking back to the car, him with his hands in his pockets to stop from hugging her, all the way to Jed. They continued to argue about who had the better team.
“You’re just so darn cute when you’re wrong.”
She laughed. “Moron.” She paused by the passenger door to her patrol car.
“Hurry up, Cass,” Jed called, his window rolled down. “We need to do another drive by Mrs. Cleary’s.”
“Hold on.” She glanced around, seeing the many people in and round the pet store. “Nice adoption going on.”
“Yep. They come to see Reggie flex and leave with an animal.” He nodded to Reggie inside, who could be seen laughing and holding a mature cat in his big old arms.
“And Sam, hmm?” She stared at the tattooed giant also holding some animals and being very careful as he showed a few small children how to properly pet the rattled dog.
“Eyes up here, woman.” Mack poked her in the shoulder and pointed at himself, smiling. “That’s better. I’m told I can be a possessive kind of guy.”
“Well, apparently, I’m clingy.” She smiled.
“Will I ever see you again? Or is this it? Do I have to take a mental picture of you in that uniform for use at night?” He ignored Jed’s groan. Big ears. “Or can I expect to see you at my place tomorrow after your shift? You know, for the kids and all.”
“For the kits, you mean.” She grinned. “The sacrifices I make for this city. Okay.” She kissed him, right there in front of everyone. “I love you, Mack. See you tomorrow at noon.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Clothing is optional.”
She got in the car, and they left.
Mack stood there, grinning like a fool, until Reggie clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Put your tongue back in your mouth, Mack. I could see your panting from inside. The kiss looked good. Your desperation, not so much.”
“She loves me.” He turned that silly grin on Reggie. “She told me.”
“I’m glad.” Reggie’s sincere smile only added to Mack’s joy. Until the big guy slapped him in the back of the head. “Of course she loves you, dumbass. You’re Mack Revere. Now get that scrawny butt inside and help us adopt out some animals. And pretend you’re still available. I’m pretty sure we get more older dogs adopted when you handle them with all the single moms.”
“Why don’t you do it?” Mack said with a laugh.
“Maggie’s in there watching me like a hawk. No way I’m getting some poor women hurt when my gal lights into them.”
They both looked at sweet, petite, innocent-looking Maggie.
Mack knew better. It was the quiet ones you had to look out for. Well, and the ones in uniform.
He grinned. “How about we just let the animals sell themselves, so to speak?”
Noodle sat in an older man’s arms, looking delighted with himself.
“Sounds good. Now, for the last time, invite the woman to the Sunday gauntlet or you’re in real trouble.”
“I’m supposed to do a dinner—”
“If you two aren’t there, you’ll partner with Tex all week long. And it’s nothing but Jason Aldean and Keith Urban all day every day.”
Mack frowned. “You’re pretty familiar with country artists for a guy who hates country.”
Reggie darted away awfully fast after one last threat.
Mack followed him back and put his happy mood to extra good use. He had some animals to help and a woman to wait for.
One he’d been waiting for his whole life and had finally found.