Mackenzie
“I need your help.”
Mackenzie had just returned from yoga when Blake called. All the stretching and new positions the other night had her body aching for days. It was a reminder she hadn’t used up all her yoga classes on her punch card at In Motion studios. The owner was Sage’s sister and had given her a card good for ten classes.
Mackenzie needed to get back into her single life. Riding the coattails of her married friends was depressing. And boring.
Now limber and refreshed, she lounged on her couch, channel surfing like an old maid. Maybe she should adopt a cat. Ten of them.
“Mack?”
She tried to pretend the deep tenor in his voice wasn’t the reason for her sudden chills and the ache between her legs.
“Other than getting your rocks off, I’m not sure how I can help.” Better to sound indifferent than needy and wanting.
Blake’s chuckle at the other end of the line made her scowl. “Soliciting for sex over the phone is illegal in Maine.”
“As opposed to in person?”
“No, that’s frowned upon as well.”
“Been busted for it before, have you?”
“As I was saying, I need your help. Are you off tomorrow?”
“I own a coffee shop. I’m never off. Some people run a real business and actually work during the day.”
“Sounds like someone needs to get laid.”
“Excuse me?” Mackenzie shot up and paced her living room. “You call me begging for my help and then start spewing out insults? You’re one twisted soul, Blake Riley.”
“See, and then you start talking dirty to me. What’s a guy to think?”
“I didn’t say anything dirty.”
“You said sp—”
Mackenzie quickly recalled her last words. “Oh. My. God. You’re like a twelve-year-old boy.”
“Cupcake, nothing about me says twelve-year-old boy.”
“See? You turn everything I say into a sexual innuendo.”
“It’s because you’re hot.”
Mackenzie closed her eyes and laughed. It was either that or cry. The man was non-stop on his game whether it be physical or verbal banter. She needed to step up her own game or he’d be in control of every conversation. Of every physical activity.
“What do you need help with?”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at four.”
“Okay.”
“In the morning.”
“What?”
“Don’t you get up around that time for work anyway?”
She wanted to spit out a stream of curses but he’d already hung up. Mackenzie could call him back, but that would only lead to more flirting and she knew he’d twist her words around into something sexual.
Maybe she wouldn’t answer her door in the morning. Only knowing Blake, he’d use that as an open invitation to break into her apartment and crawl into her bed and…oh, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. No, he’d have the upper hand again.
Curious about his favor and wanting to prove she could handle whatever it was he needed help with, she called Diane and Brandy to make sure they were all set with opening Coast & Roast in the morning and headed to bed.
A solid six hours was all she needed to function, but she had a feeling she’d need a few extra hours of sleep to handle whatever it was Blake had in store for them.
***
Something buzzed by Mackenzie’s head. She rolled over and glared at the red glowing numbers on her alarm clock. Three twenty-five in the freaking morning. Her phone buzzed again. Reaching out her arm, heavy with sleep, Mackenzie grabbed her phone and brought closer.
Two texts. From Blake.
Rise and shine gorgeous. Wear comfortable layers. Hiking boots or sneakers.
The second one read:
Coffee’s on you
He added a few emojis, one with a smirk, one with devil horns. Even at three in the morning the man could infuriate and turn her on. Knowing an extra five minutes of sleep wasn’t going to make a difference, she turned off her alarm and moaned into her pillow.
She had no idea what to expect with Blake. He probably wanted her to test out the obstacles on the Mud on the Rocks course, but why so early? Or maybe he was going to follow through with the ride in the woods scheme and bury her body?
Or he needed sexual favors. Those, she could handle. Just in case, she took a quick shower, shaving the necessary areas and lathering on her crème brûlée lotion, paying special attention to the places Blake liked best.
The knock on the outside door had her looking down at her phone. She still had ten minutes but didn’t want Blake thinking she needed time to prep herself for him. Tugging on a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra, she rushed down the stairs then waited, calming her breath, before opening the door.
“I just woke up. Give me a minute to finish getting dressed,” she said casually as she unlocked the door and walked up the stairs, not wanting to see him and be distracted by his flirty smile.
“Don’t get dressed on my account.” Blake followed her all the way to her bedroom.
“Do you mind? A little privacy, please.”
Blake leaned against the doorframe, his hands tucked into his pockets, one foot crossed over the other. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Familiar chills ran down her spine and puckered her nipples under her pale blue sports bra. Blake’s dirty smile said he’d noticed as well.
“Pig.”
Blake snorted. “A T-shirt and sweatshirt should be good enough. You gonna wear real pants or tease me with your ass all day?”
Oh, that sounded fun. “I’m going for comfort. If you don’t like what I wear then leave me alone so I can go back to sleep.” Not that she would.
“Make sure you at least wear thick socks. We’ll be on our feet all day.”
“And here I thought most of your physical activity was on your back,” she chided.
“There are so many things I want to say right now, but my mother would hide me if she knew how dirty you made my mind.”
“Me? You were a dirty fool when I met you.”
That devilish grin appeared again and Mackenzie growled, knowing once again he’d had her in pieces. Finding the rattiest shirt she could find, she dug in her drawer for the green Celtics tee. It was her favorite since her high school years when her team had won the state championship and Maggie’s father gave her tickets to Boston Garden to see a game.
Mackenzie opened her closet door and shuffled her sweatshirts aside until she got to the bottom of the pile, to the ones she never wore because they were butt ugly and out of style. Pulling out the plain gray one her mother had picked up from the Goodwill over a decade ago, she slipped it over her head and tugged on a pair of puke green knee-high socks she usually only broke out during cold winter months. Keeping with the total grunge look, she put on a Cabela’s hat, sliding her ponytail through the back.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Blake still leaning against her door, thumbs hanging out of his pockets, tapping furiously against his legs. Either he was impatient with her or sexually frustrated. She hoped for the latter. Checking out the clock when she sat on her bed to lace up her sneakers, she saw she was still two minutes ahead of schedule.
“Ready.”
She stood and cocked her head at him in defiance. No way would he make her feel like a sexual goddess during their day, whatever the heck they were doing. They had a stare down until Blake couldn’t hold back any longer, the grin escaping his perfect lips.
“You’re still hot. Even in that ugly get up.”
“I am not.”
“It’s the hat. Camouflage and Cabela’s. A man’s wet dream, second to a beautiful naked woman, of course.”
“Pig.”
“And the tight pants. Don’t yell at me if I’m staring at your ass all day. It looks…good.”
Mackenzie tugged at the stretched-out sweatshirt so it covered her butt. Not used to being self-conscious, she cursed him under her breath. Again.
“So what’s going on that you had to wake me at this godforsaken hour?”
“Coffee first. Then talk.”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
“How is she, by the way?” Blake placed his hand on her lower back, just shy of her barely covered butt, as they left her apartment and down the stairs to Coast & Roast.
Her heart had been defying her lately, quivering and racing and doing stupid things when she’d told it over and over again to remain steady when she was around Blake.
“She has her days. We never know when she’s going to be lucid and when she’s slipped to the past. It’s like she’s either in the current time zone or a decade ago.” Mackenzie turned on the machines, knowing Diane would be in any minute, and heated the water. “What’s your poison?”
“Strong, with a little sugar.”
She made his dark roast and poured a cup of hazelnut for her, with a splash of vanilla flavored creamer and a speck of sugar.
“I pegged you for a high maintenance coffee drinker.”
“Why, because I own a coffee shop? Judge by stereotypes, do you?”
“Not usually. My truck is out back. We need to get going.”
“I can pack some muffins. Rachael brought over a batch of blueberry and lemon poppy seed last night.”
“Already have some in the truck.”
“Oh.”
When they were buckled in and headed down the dark and deserted main road, Mackenzie finally relaxed. The lights turned on in homes as people got up and prepared to start their work day.
“Are you ever going to tell me what we’re doing today?”
“Not a fan of surprises?”
She’d never been surprised before, except by her ex-fiancé, and that wasn’t a surprise she wanted to relive.
Up until then, Chad hadn’t been the surprising type. They’d dated for five years and he never once did anything that wasn’t planned and scheduled. Even their engagement. She’d talked about getting married and he agreed, bringing her to a jewelry store and having her pick out the ring. He bought it, no questions asked—when you were Chad Warner, son of a respected brain surgeon, you could do that.
The only surprise he had for her was introducing Mackenzie to his pregnant girlfriend, weeks before he and Mackenzie were to be married.
“Not especially. I like to know what I’m getting myself into.”
“So this must be killing you.” Blake’s chuckle worked hand-in-hand with her traitorous heart.
“No. Not really.”
“Liar.”
“Mack. Babe. Cupcake. Hot. Liar. You have quite the repertoire of nicknames for me.”
“Hot really isn’t a nickname. It’s just what you are.”
“I’m not a liar.”
“That”—Blake laughed—“I will have to agree with. You’re blatantly honest at times, and other times, let’s say…you’re in denial.”
Mackenzie kicked her leg up on to the bench and squared her body so she faced him. “And you think you know me so well, do you?”
“Babe.” He flicked his gaze to the right for a moment to cast her a quick, sexy glance before returning it to the road.
“Fine. I’m in denial. I’m pissed off that you kidnapped me once again and I have no idea what we’re doing. I don’t believe that you need my help for anything, which makes you the liar.”
“First, I didn’t kidnap you the first time. You were an enthusiastic participant.” Mackenzie snorted. “Second, I didn’t kidnap you this morning either. You stood before me half-naked and carried on a conversation, then made me coffee.”
“You gawked while I dressed, refusing to give me privacy, and ordered me to make you a coffee.”
“I asked you.”
“Ha.” Mackenzie pulled out her phone and read his text. “Coffee’s on you.”
He smiled wide, his white teeth glowing in the dark cab of the truck. “That wasn’t an order.”
“An innuendo, then.”
“You caught on to that?” He sounded proud. “And third, I do need your help today.”
“Where are we going?”
“Mount Washington.”
“What?” she sputtered. “That’s two hours away.”
“Which is why we needed to leave so early. Best climbing is in the morning.”
“Climb?”
“You said you’d never been. We put it on your Bucket List, remember?”
“I didn’t put anything on my Bucket List. I don’t have a Bucket List. Those are for people who are dying. I’m healthy and happy and can do whatever the hell I want.”
“Which is hiking Mount Washington for the first time.”
She’d never admit it to him, but her stomach was in knots. A rope of nerves, fear, and excitement all pulling at once. “How is this a favor to you?”
“I used to hike Washington all the time in high school. Sometimes alone. My dad nearly skinned me alive when he found out I made it to the summit alone. I promised him I never would again. The buddy system is important, no matter how skilled of a hiker you are. I felt like going for a hike today but couldn’t do it alone. I needed your help.”
“Seriously? That’s your favor? Why not call one of your brothers?”
“They’re working.”
“Or Jake.”
“He’s spending the day with Rachael.”
“Or another friend.”
“Don’t have any I wanted to spend the day with.”
“Or another girlfriend.”
“Don’t have any I wanted to spend the day with.”
That knot tugged a little bit tighter. Mackenzie sipped her coffee, now cool enough not to burn the back of her throat, and stared out into the early morning sky. The sun was starting to make its way over the horizon, the mountains a stunning silhouette behind the pink and purple backdrop.
“How high up are we going?”
“To the summit, baby.”
“How high is that?”
“Just a few miles up and a few miles down. We’ll be at the base a little after lunch. We can grab some food in North Conway and be home in time for the evening news.”
“I’m not running up the mountain or rock climbing or doing any of those other stupid obstacles you have set up at Mud on the Rocks.”
“Simple, safe climb is all that’s on tap today.”
“Uh-huh,” Mackenzie said in disbelief.
“That and staring at your hot ass.”
***
Blake
The yoga pants were a definite distraction. He and Mackenzie stayed side-by-side during the first stretch of the Tuckerman’s Ravine trail, stopping to take in the view of the waterfall and to point out wildlife. There weren’t many critters lurking around since the trails were pretty well traveled, but the birds were out and Mackenzie seemed to enjoy spotting a squirrel or chipmunk crossing their path.
It was cute. And if he told her that she’d probably smack him across the face. The woman was a whole mess of contradictions. They’d kept their conversation casual, discussing the weather, his upcoming trial run, his brothers and sisters. When he asked about her mom she ignored him, so he changed the subject, respecting her privacy and not wanting to ruin the mood.
It wasn’t until the trail turned steep that he let her go first to set the pace. They had a quick water and snack break at the Hermit Base shelter, which was when she saw the ravine they were going to hike.
“You can’t seriously expect me to climb that? We need ropes and special shoes and crap.”
“You wussing out on me?”
“I don’t wuss out, but I don’t have a death wish either.”
A family of five waved as they hiked past, the youngest in tow most likely still in elementary school.
“Should I warn those kids their parents are trying to off them?” he asked.
“Like you tried with the four-wheeler trip?”
Blake laughed and shoved the granola bar wrappers in his backpack. “Something like that. Besides, that wasn’t a trip. It was a quick ride through the woods. Some day I’ll bring you for a real ride.” He winked and grabbed her hand, pulling her up the trail.
When they hit the rocky ravine he stayed close behind, offering encouraging words as they neared the summit. She impressed him with her pace and her strength, not stopping when he expected her to. Now he was worried she’d get dehydrated, being too stubborn to stop.
“The air is thinner up here. Why don’t we sit and rest? You’ve been pushing yourself like a madwoman.”
“I can feel it in my chest.” Mackenzie put a hand over her beautiful breasts and breathed in deep. “It’s gorgeous up here.”
“I’d say.” She’d taken her sweatshirt off about five hundred feet earlier and tied it around her waist. The collar of her shirt was wet with perspiration, as was a line under her breasts.
He knew what she tasted like when she was hot and sweaty. Sex on a mountain. Definitely something to add to his Bucket List. Blake looked around, noticing the tiny dots of people that peppered the trail from base to summit. They had about a thousand feet to go and he hoped Mackenzie would be impressed with the view from the top.
She took out her cell phone from her pants and snapped pictures.
“Would you like me to take one of you two?” a hiker asked as he came near.
“Uh…” Mackenzie wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
“That would be great. Thanks.” Blake snatched the phone from her and handed it to the stranger. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he drew her in tight and smiled for the camera. Mackenzie lowered the bill of her hat but Blake lifted it and kissed her cheek, hoping the hiker got a picture of her surprise.
“Thanks, man. You need us to return the favor?”
“Nah, I’m here with my buddies. See you at the top.”
Blake and Mackenzie stepped to the side as a trail of men nodded and hiked past them. He scrolled through the pictures, smiling when he got to the one he wanted, and sent it to himself.
Even if she deleted it, he’d still have it.
“I’m sweaty and disgusting,” she growled and grabbed her phone back.
“You weren’t complaining about that five minutes ago.”
“That’s because strangers weren’t snapping pictures of me.”
“On your cell phone.”
“That you swiped. You probably posted them all to Facebook already.”
“And here we were getting along so beautifully. I liked it better when you were quietly hiking in front of me.”
“I hope all your Facebook invites are for games.”
Blake grinned and followed behind. Unfortunately the sweatshirt covered her butt now. She hiked at a slower pace, the thinning air and steep incline making it virtually impossible to stand up straight. They were hunched over, hands on the rocks in front of them, practically crawling up the last ledge of the ravine.
“I hear the train!” Mackenzie looked back at him, her smile so big and genuine it nearly knocked him on his ass, sending him thousands of feet below.
“We can ride it up or down next time if you want. The track goes down the other side the mountain, away from where we parked.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather hike down anyway. You said there’s a different trail to go back?”
“Well, there are a few different ways. We can always go down Tuckerman’s, but I like to mix it up a bit. Next time we can hike up the Ammonoosuc Ravine trail and take the train back. I forgot to warn you about your knees. It’s a killer going down.”
“I’ll survive.” Mackenzie got a burst of energy and he did all he could to keep up with her. Granted, he had the backpack weighted down with their lunch and still-full water bottles on his back.
When they reached the top, he watched Mackenzie straighten her body and rest her hands on her hips, breathing in the fresh mountain air.
“I love the smell of the ocean, but this. This is awesome. I’ve never smelled air so clean, and that’s saying a lot since I’ve never been too far away from the coast of Maine. The air here isn’t tainted by salt or seaweed or fish. There’s nothing to it, actually. No flowers or even the evergreens that I smelled on the way up.”
“We’re above the tree line here. Not much grows. On a warm summer’s day you’ll be able to smell a little bit of the greenery, though.”
“I knew you could see for miles from up here, but I didn’t know what that would actually look like other than seeing the islands off the coast. This is pretty cool.”
Mackenzie took out her phone again and snapped a panoramic picture.
“Come over to the top. The view is even better.” Blake grabbed her hand and led her to the touristy spots he knew she’d like. “Give me your phone so I can take your picture.”
“No way. I’m a hot mess.”
“Hot, yes. Mess, not really.”
“I thought we’d be getting dirty today.”
“Babe.”
“Oh, please. That’s not what I meant. I thought you needed help on the course or with an obstacle or something.”
“I have an obstacle that could use a hand.”
“Blake Riley!”
He laughed as he dodged her swatting hand. “I’m kidding. Stop.” She continued to slap his arm, his chest, his stomach until he could safely capture her hands without hurting her.
“I’m sorry. That was rude.” Blake held her hands behind her back, her torso jutting out and pushing into his. She stared straight at his chest so he couldn’t see her face under the bill of her hat.
It was a good thing or he would have thrown caution to the record winds on top of Mount Washington and taken her mouth with his.
“Blake,” she warned.
“Let’s go inside and check out the Weather Discovery Center. They have a cool gift shop too.” He stepped away, and this time he didn’t take her hand in his as they walked up the stairs to the visitor’s center.
They took their time reading the stories about record-breaking winds, watched the videos showing the extreme weather, and visited the gift shop. When Mackenzie left to use the restroom he bought her a gift and tucked it in his backpack.
After they dined on turkey sandwiches, trail mix, and apples, he pulled out the bag from the gift shop. “For being such a good sport about today.”
“Did you expect me to be a poor sport?” she asked as she peeked into the bag and pulled out a bright pink shirt. ‘This body climbed Mount Washington.’ Cute. Thanks. You didn’t have to.”
“You keep complaining about your wretched shirt. Now maybe you’ll smile for a picture.”
“Ass.” She laughed and swung her legs out from the bench and whipped off her shirt.
“Wow. There are people here.” Blake jumped from his seat and shielded her naked body.
“I’m wearing a workout bra.”
“Not to be seen by the entire world.”
“I wear this to the gym. It’s fine.” She pulled the new shirt over her head and he stepped back, looking around to see who he had to beat up.
“I didn’t take you for the shy type.”
“I don’t care if people see me but they don’t need to be gawking at you.”
“No one was gawking. No one even noticed.”
“I would have.”
“That’s because you’re a perv.”
“No.” He picked up their trash and shoved it in his backpack. “It’s because you’re hot.”
Mackenzie shook her head and took the water bottle he offered. “I’m going to use the bathroom one more time and I want to visit the gift shop as well.”
They laughed at the silly touristy trap trinkets, all too familiar with the coastal version sold in the shops on Main Street in Rocky Harbor, and Mackenzie bought Katie a onesie that said ‘Someone who loves me climbed Mt. Washington.’ When they left the store, she surprised Blake with a gift as well.
He pulled a shirt out of the bag and grinned. It was the same one he’d bought her, only in gray. “Really?”
“Yup. If I have to wear mine you have to wear yours.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the shirt I have on.” He looked down at his black Mud on the Rocks shirt, one of twenty he had at home.
“There wasn’t anything wrong with my shirt either.”
“You were complaining about it all morning.”
“I was not.”
“Was too.”
“You’re sounding twelve again.”
“Easy.” He grinned and caved. Giving her a taste of her own medicine, he stripped his shirt and took his time folding the sweaty thing and unzipping his backpack, storing it safely to one side, then zipping up his bag.
Blake scratched his chest and took in the view, counting the mountains to distract himself from Mackenzie’s heated stare. The little catch in her breath hadn’t gone unnoticed. She was as affected by him as he was her. And two could play at that game.
“Put your shirt on, hot shot. It’s time to go.” Mackenzie started down the steps that led to the trails and waited for him by the sign that indicated two trails. “You said we’re going down Lion’s Head?”
She still wouldn’t look at him, so he tugged on his shirt and strapped on his backpack.
“Since we’re doing the cutesy matching shirt thing, we’re going to take a selfie.”
“Oh. My. God. You are twelve.”
Blake took out his cell, took off her hat, tossed it aside, and held the phone out in front of them. “Smile.” She stuck out her tongue and he snapped a shot. Then took another when he kissed her cheek.
“Enough. Get my hat. I have hat head now.”
Blake picked up the Cabela’s hat and put it on his head, backward, tugged Mackenzie in a bear hug, and snapped another picture. And another. Just to piss her off. It was fun. When she elbowed him in the gut he put the phone down.
“Okay, okay. Just trying to lighten the mood. You’re awful serious sometimes.”
“Not everybody can play all day and not have to worry about family and responsibilities.” She took off down the trail, not looking back to see if he followed.
The branch that had slapped him in the face earlier didn’t hurt as bad as the reality slap she just gave him.
On the ride to the mountain he’d asked how her mother was doing but never even checked to see if Mackenzie was needed at her parents’ place this afternoon. And she had a business to run. So did he, but he had Colton as a fifty-fifty partner. Mackenzie ran Coast & Roast by herself and with a handful of part-time employees.
Blake jogged after her, calling out, “Mack. I’m sorry. We can hustle down and I can get you to your mom if you—”
“I’m not running down this mountain, Blake. It’s fine.”
“Your mom?”
“I can do her shopping tonight when I get home. I texted my dad on the way up to let him know I’d be gone all day.”
“I’m sorry.” Blake touched her arm and held her until she stopped. “I know you’ve had a lot on your plate and wanted you to have a good time. No responsibilities or anything. I should have asked first.”
“See. You say stuff like that and you’re going to get your bones jumped. Don’t be nice to me.”
Blake grinned. “Being nice to you equals sex?”
“No.”
“But you just said…”
“My mind isn’t thinking straight. It’s the thin air.”
“It’s because I took my shirt off.”
“Conceited much?”
“A little.”
Mackenzie chuckled as she walked ahead, shaking her head in amusement.
Yeah. He was gonna get lucky tonight.