Reap what you sow
Damon (Mack)
“Okay boys,” Damon Mackenzie entered the bar as if he owned it. His hulking body taking up the doorway, closely followed by ten other equally imposing young men. Their haircuts said “army” and their attitudes told the bar they owned the night, and anything else they damn well chose.
“Rule one,” he shouted, as if they hadn’t heard it before.
“Reapers come,” they all shouted in reply.
“Rule two,” as usual, they had the full attention of the bar. All the women were checking them out and all the men wished they had the balls to take them out. Not a chance.
“Reapers see,” the huge cry and Damon paused before the final rule.
“Rule three!”
“Reapers conquer.”
“And don’t forget,” he paused for them all to join in, “We never leave a Reaper behind.”
Damon spied a familiar female face at a table full of Rockhampton’s finest single, gorgeous girls.
“So, Sparrow let you out for the night?” he asked the girl with the shaved head but gorgeous green eyes, before getting the barman’s attention and ordering a round for the table. Perhaps tonight was his lucky night and she wouldn’t give him the same brush off he got at her brother’s party.
“Sparrow?” her response was polite but not inviting.
“Your brother - have you seen how fast he downs a plate of pasta?”
“Oh,” again the polite smile. “It’s Sadie’s birthday. What are you all celebrating?”
“It’s Thursday and we have just on one week left before we go back to base.”
“Life of a soldier?”
“You got it, Maddie isn’t it?” he lowered his voice so she had to lean in to hear, “You don’t mind if us ugly mugs join you ladies tonight? We’re just a bunch of lonely soldiers …” he winked while noticing that her friends hadn’t needed an invitation to take an interest in his unit.
The local boys didn’t stand a chance tonight. Not with his guys out on the prowl with their fit bodies and money to burn. They weren’t looking for a fight, but if one found them it would be entertaining to watch and to the winner would go the spoils. No, they were looking for a warm bed with a woman or two who wasn’t looking to get much sleep. It was always hard to adjust to civilian life for their brief weeks of leave, easier to stay plastered and loose.
Luckily, Sparrow, or Lieutenant Doug Whitehead to his sister, suggested they all take their leave pass to his home town where there was beach, beer and babes. The guys came for a weekend and stayed for two weeks. Now they had limited nights to indulge before they went back either to base or overseas.
Such was the life of his combat engineer regiment – the unit you called when you wanted a job cleared, fast and sure.
“I don’t think I have a choice, my friends would lynch me if I turned you away.”
Was there a flicker of interest? He loved a woman with striking eyes, but after engaging in banter without her flirting in return, he figured it was time to move on.
“Maddie, it’s been good seeing you again but, if you don’t mind introducing me to your friends, I’d like to see which one is going to find my monkey tonight!”
Her first genuine smile as she teased, “Seriously? You go from hitting on me to wanting introductions to my friends just like that?”
“Unless you’ve changed your mind …”
As he knew she would, Maddie had him “my brother’s friend-zoned” and with a couple of glasses clinked together, loudly got the attention of the bar.
“Ladies, this is my brother’s good friend, Lieutenant Damon Mackenzie, but you can call him Mack. He’d love to show you his ‘monkey’. I’d explain what that is but I’m too afraid to ask.” Maddie took a small bow from the laughing crowd.
“I think my job here is done, do with it what you will,” as she backed away, Mack’s attention was taken by her blonde, petite friend with too much hair and not enough eyes.
Xanthe
Of course she noticed the army guys when they walked in, who wouldn’t!
“Reckon any of them will end up being your clients?” Krystal asked, eyeing more than one for herself. “I mean, they look all healthy now, but once they get peeled off the battle field they don’t look so hot.”
“I need to get the job first, final interview is next week.”
“Why would you want to be an occupational therapist for Defence? I mean, yes you’ll be surrounded by hot guys, but stuck on base, where’s the life in that?”
“I don’t need a life, I’ve had that and now it’s time to adult up and get a job with some sort of security.”
“And a man?”
“I’m not looking for anything serious,” she almost knocked over a drink on the table behind her with her brunette ponytail catching the full brunt from the shake of her head.
“Neither are they, which one is your type?”
“Right now, anyone who isn’t up for conversation sounds good to me,” Xanthe was nervous about the job interview, tired from constant partying and sick of men who had higher expectations of their own attraction than their bodies or minds warranted.
“Was that a ‘I love you but shut up Krys’ that I heard?”
“Actually it was a ‘my drink is empty and it’s your shout’.”
Xanthe watched Krys flirt her way over to the bar and smiled knowing how at least one night would end. From her table in the far corner she could stand back and watch human nature unfold. From the moment the army guys walked in, she correctly guessed they’d head over the to table with the most girls. Now, she figured it would take about half an hour for the pairs to be made, and then any guys still lonely would start scouting the bar for other potential hookups.
No, some were ready to spread their wings earlier. Krys was making her way back to their table with two of the army guys looking like they’d already scored. Damn it! She should never have trusted Krys to go to the bar alone, not when their month of abstinence had run out earlier that day.
“Xanthe, this is Reith and Scout. They’ve promised if we come over to their table, not only will they buy the drinks, but they’ll also tell us their real names.”
“Why would I want to know their real names, they’d only want me to remember them after tomorrow morning and I won’t make promises I can’t keep.” Xanthe didn’t even try to soften her words with a cheeky smile.
Tonight was a mistake and she was in a bitch of a mood. One month after kicking her last ass-hole to the curb and she either wanted anonymous, uncomplicated sex or to find someone worth getting to know. Actually, in her mood it was better to go home early and alone rather than do something she knew she’d only regret in the morning.
“How about you let me buy you that drink and you can tell me how you like your men,” oh, Reith was smooth, crowding close and trying to penetrate her with his eyes. He might be fine for some fun but tonight wasn’t going to be his lucky night, at least not with her.
“Xanth?” Krys pulled her aside. “C’mon, let’s have some fun.”
“Sorry, I thought I’d be okay but …” she started.
“Xanth, it’s been a month. I want to play a little, at least come with me over to their table and chill.”
Xanthe didn’t want to hold her friend back. After all, they had waited out their one-month self-imposed exile after coming home early from a girls night out to find their boyfriends in the same bed with two random girls. Stupid little skanks who had responded to an online hookup and didn’t expect angry girlfriends to walk in.
Now, ex-girlfriends. Single women who sensibly decided that one month without men would stop them from doing something stupid.
“Okay,” she turned back to the guys, “How about we give these guys an opportunity to show us what they’ve got, I mean, they’ll be off soon, putting their bodies on the line for their country. It’s only fair that we see what’s protecting us.”
She flashed her best smile, knowing Krys had already made up her mind, would leave her in a couple of hours and she’d be on her own. With all the other crap going on in her life, tonight wasn’t the night to do something out of revenge or on a rebound. These guys had one small chance to impress or she’d find another bar in town for a quiet drink and no distractions.
She knew Krys so well, “Off to get some coffee and cake. Don’t wait up.”
“You want your cake and to eat it too?” she hugged her friend.
“He says he’s hungry, and I’m in the mood to be fed. Are you okay if I go?”
“Yeah, I won’t be far behind you.” Xanthe was sick of fending off horny guys with nothing to offer and the one guy who had caught her eye had flirted with every other woman in the bar. The last thing she needed was another player.
“Don’t bug out so quickly, the guys are organizing a party at someone’s house. I mean it Xanth, if you get this job it’s gonna be intense so kick back tonight, chill and have some fun.” Krys tried to downplay what she really meant.
“Ahh, you want the house to yourself so you two can make some noise!” Xanthe understood all too well. When Krys was happy, she wanted the world to know. “Okay, unless the party is lame, you’ll be asleep or exhausted by the time I get home.”
“Love you, babe,” Krys finished as she was being pulled away by Scout.
“Right back at you.” Xanthe turned back towards the large table. She wasn’t in the mood to hook up with anyone tonight, it just seemed too sad and pointless.
Her phone buzzed yet again, probably with another message from her ex who was still trying to get her to forgive him over “one stupid mistake of thinking with my dick instead of thinking about us.” She didn’t need to complicate her life any further, not when this one job interview next week could make the difference.
No, Krys was right and tonight needed to be about hanging out and having fun. Yes, some of the group had thinned with couples leaving but most were here to drink, laugh and party.
“Who’s getting takeaways and who’s coming to keep this party going?” The army guys took the lead on organizing the after party when last drinks were called.
Xanthe was in half a mind whether to join the party or call it a night when another message appeared on her phone. “Look at what you’re missing.” Of course, her ex sent her a short video of whatever he was doing with whatever random he had picked up.
Classy! Not.
Insensitive jerk.
Cruel bastard. Xanthe blinked away the angry tear, refusing to give him the power to hurt her again. After all, they were both single and he could bloody well do whatever he wanted.
Ass-hole.
“A friend of yours?” the hulking Adonis she kept avoiding, looked over her shoulder and saw the message. “I mean, he’s got some form, but he’s gotta learn how to use his hands.”
“And you do?”
“I could teach him some moves or two, if you want,” he moved closer. “Or I could just show you, and you can pass them on.” His ice blue eyes melted hers.
“I don’t want you to waste your time with him, I’m not going to.” All the reasons she had been dodging the Adonis was to avoid this unwanted physical reaction.
From the moment he walked in, she felt an energy, some sort of stupid connection where ever he was. He didn’t even have to touch her, and she wanted him to fill her the way his presence filled the room. Silly, crazy thoughts that she could only blame on her break up or nerves for her interview. She’d never had a thing for men in uniform before, why on earth had she started tonight?
Then again, her wicked voice whispered, she didn’t want to see him in his uniform!
Xanthe put her phone away and tried to walk between the Adonis and the table to leave before she did something crazy.
“So, he’s an ex. How did you break up?” So gently, he blocked her path. Not completely, but just enough to let her know he wanted her to stay. His eyes never left hers and all her sensible resolve started fading away. She could leave, should run a mile. But what if she stayed? Her bare arms covered in goosebumps as she shivered at the thought of what could happen if she gave him half a chance.
“A month ago today, my girlfriend who was here earlier, and I came home early. Let’s just say that there were four in the bed and two of them were our boyfriends.”
“Tough call,” she didn’t flinch when he draped his leather jacket around her shoulders. “Tell me, was there a cat fight? I mean, two angry, sexy girls fighting with two naked ones, that could have been hot. Don’t spare me the details.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, I left and Krys’ brother and a couple of mates dropped by and packed up my stuff the next day.”
“Baby, you could never disappoint me,” Xanthe held her breath when he raised her chin with one finger until she felt his breath against her lips. If he kissed her now, she could die happy and to hell with the consequences.
“How about we show him how fast you’ve moved on?” Still he held her chin.
“How do we do that?” Thoughts crashed through her mind, but they were all for her pleasure and none involved her ex.
“Do you trust me?”
“I don’t even know you.”
“Lieutenant Damon Mackenzie, at your service, but please call me Mack.”
“Mack as in short for Mackenzie?”
“Mack as in women say I’m built like a Mack truck.”
Xanthe clung to his arms for support as her knees almost gave way, believing that if he was proportionate to the rest of his body, yes, a Mack truck would be a fair description.
Oh, he was built. A perfectly created body that was designed and primed for a woman to take whatever pleasure she pleased.
No! She was not going to sleep with this man tonight, not a chance in hell. No matter what lines he spun, she had to be smarter than that. Flirt a little, play a little and then go home and fantasize. No harm could come in dreaming about him, could it?
“Does the lady have a name? After all, if we are going to do this thing, he’s going to have to hear how sweetly I say your name.” So close were his lips to her ears that he didn’t even have to speak louder than a whisper.
“Xanthe, spelled with an ‘X’ but pronounced with a ‘Zan’.” With more curiosity than concern, she asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I assume you can video chat with him?”
“Yes, but why would I want to.”
“Are you ever going to go back to him.” Those eyes had her mesmerized, completely willing to be caught up in whatever game he wanted to play. “I need to know because after we make this call, ‘A’, he’ll be pissed at you, and ‘B’, I get jealous really quick.”
She might not sleep with him, at least not tonight, but if he didn’t stop looking at her like that, she was going to enjoy hours upon hours of kissing.
“I …” How could she tell Mack that he ex was history and her future could be standing in front of her? She stuttered, “He … no … I.”
Mack knew. His large hand almost covered her waist, effortlessly pulling her up and towards him so their lips melded of their own volition. Xanthe felt the touch down to her groin, his tongue not having to work at all for her to open and savor the moment.
It should be illegal to kiss that good, her feet barely on the ground, Xanthe tried to catch her breath.
“How many panties have you removed with one kiss?”
“Xanthe, I don’t want to talk about any other woman and after we make this call, I never want to hear you talk about another man. Deal?”
No one would ever believe she could be rendered speechless, but she could only nod until rewarded with another kiss that answered the question, at least for her own panties.
Mack
His men were all happy, the booze was flowing and the vibe was upbeat yet chill. Always the soldier, he saw the body language of a large group of local boys start to get antsi, especially when two more girls joined his table.
If there was going to be a bar fight, his boys would finish on their feet, but it would only make things harder on Dougie who lived here and cross another bar of the list of places that would welcome them back.
“Boys,” he strode into enemy camp after having a quick word with the barman. “I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality.”
“It’s a free country, thanks to you. You guys are Defence, right?” Once the first guy spoke, Mack knew he found the leader to win over.
“We are at that, Army, CER here visiting Doug Greenwood while we’re on a short leave.” He stressed the short leave. “We’ve only got a couple of nights of freedom left, and figured we’d come here and have a few quiet drinks.”
“Don’t look quiet from where we’re standing,” there it was, the resentment and slow build anger that they’d come across more than once before. He’d been right to come over but now he had to close it down before it got out of control.
“Boys, we don’t mean no disrespect to you or your ladies. If you see my men acting in anyway that causes disrespect, I want you to come to me and we can sort it out like gentlemen.”
“What do you mean, disrespect.”
He almost had them, “I mean, we’re all young and enjoy a good night out. Now if any lady has forgotten that she’s already spoken for or in a relationship, I want you to let me know so I can make sure my men understand.
“We don’t want any trouble and we both know that trouble usually starts over a woman or a misunderstanding,” Mack pressed home his point.
“Usually over a woman,” their leader joked. When the rest of the table laughed, Mack knew the night wouldn’t end in police statements.
“To show you boys how sincere we are,” he nodded over to the bar. “The barman agreed to allow me to buy you all a couple of rounds. A token of my gratitude for your hospitality and I’d personally like to invite you all back when we take this party on the road after last drinks.”
The only single woman who hadn’t tried to talk to him was the brunette with the long ponytail and large pale eyes. He couldn’t tell if they were soft blue or green, but he wanted to get close enough to describe the color, and to find out for himself if his hand could span her tiny waist.
What was she thinking wearing that nude tinted dress with a plunging neck line? The soft folds hanging loosely across her body couldn’t hide the shape of her hips. The length tantalized and teased every one of his senses, long enough to be classy but short enough for him to want more of those thighs. Pale dress against her dark hair and olive tan, what a powerful turn on.
Dressed to kill.
The fact that she had ignored him all night didn’t help him forget her. In fact every time he started to edge towards her side of the table, she moved away which only made him want her more. When her friend left, he thought for a moment that he lost his chance to make his move, and he tried to ignore his unfamiliar relief when she stayed and then his joy watching her give any guy stupid enough to think he had a chance, a short burst of flirting before a graceful exit.
He liked her style.
He liked her look.
He didn’t like the look on her face when she kept looking down at her phone. Whoever it was, there was nothing good about any of the messages.
Seizing his opportunity, he was at her side looking over at the phone before she could react.
Ass-hole ex-boyfriend shoving his new sex life in her face. What sort of low-life scum-bag would do such a thing.
As soon as their eyes met, Mack knew two things, her eyes were the palest of green and he could bet his heart that they changed color when aroused. Secondly, she hadn’t been avoiding him by accident or because she wasn’t interested.
Mack found it easy to protect his country. Self-sacrifice and leading the charge came more naturally than breathing. Protecting his men even easier, he’d willingly lay down his life to bring them home safely to the families who loved them.
The stuff on her phone was something else, the guy was a complete piece of work and needed to be dealt with.
Thinking quickly, he came up with a plan to get the creep out of her life, if she’d let him. Wanting to protect a woman he’d never met before, a completely new experience. Bed them, yes, he had more than enough women in his past. But having a primal urge to protect Xanthe was unfamiliar and powerful.
Xanthe trusted him enough to hand over her phone.
“Quickly, tell me something that only a lover would know.”
“What?”
“He’s gonna push back and say I’m some random hook up.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
“Not yet, I’m not but if you want to teach him a lesson, we’ve gotta make it seem real.”
Every muscle flexed as those gorgeous eyes took their time looking him up and down, taking in the body he knew she had already examined. When she licked her lips, it took all his self-control not to show her other lessons he had in store for her, if she was willing.
“Tell him, you didn’t need to be told what to do with my …” Oh, the girl could blush as well as banter. Fuck, he couldn’t wait to see what else she had in store.
“You can tell me, I promise that whatever it is, I won’t be shocked and if I had the chance I wouldn’t need an instruction manual. But Xanthe,” he loved the sound of her name on his lips, “You need to tell me.”
She tossed back her hair, challenging him to judge her, “Tell him you didn’t need to be told how to use my nipple rings.”
“Fuck me.” Of all the things he expected to hear, that didn’t even come close, and as hard as he looked, he couldn’t see any rings through the dress.
Now there was the smile he would cross more than a room to see, “I don’t wear them all the time, they make me too horny and I stop thinking straight, especially around men like you.”
“Xanthe, just so we are clear … I would give you a thin chain that you would wear around your neck during the day, and then at night when it’s play time, I’d thread it through those rings and see if we could have some fun. Does it seem like I need an instruction manual?”
“Make the call.”
Xanthe
What on earth would she tell Krys? That she had verbally fucked a soldier in the middle of a crowded bar? That after one kiss, he knew exactly how she liked it in bed and had some ideas of his own to try.
It only took a couple of rings before her ex picked up. Still in bed, but alone this time.
“You don’t know me, but I’m only gonna say this once. Xanthe has moved on. She doesn’t want your texts, your calls or your small-time dick picks. They embarrass you and offend her.” Mack’s low voice showed all the authority she could imagine he commanded in the field. Not needing to raise his voice, but full of confidence in himself and in Xanthe.
“Who the fuck is this and watcha doin’ with my girlfriend’s phone? Put the bitch on.”
Xanthe flinched, what on earth had she seen in him for so long? Unseen on the camera, Mack’s fingers found the small of her back and traced down until he felt the elastic of her panties. A silent message that he would handle this.
“Mate, you’re not listening to me, Xanthe is not single. She’s very happily with me. So do yourself a solid and back off and pretend you never knew her.”
“Prove it. Xanthe loves me and we’ll sort things out as soon as she knows that I’m like a wild lion that can’t be tamed.”
“Hi, it’s me,” Xanthe adjusted the phone so she and Mack were in the picture. She knew her lipstick would be smeared from kissing and the blush of her cheeks would give away what else she had planned. “Thanks for sending me the video, I’m really glad you found someone else, too. I was worried that you hadn’t moved on or gotten over me.”
“Bullshit, you love me. You said you’d always love me.”
Mack pecked her cheek, lowering his voice to a sexy growl, “Sorry mate, now I don’t want to sound like a tool, but I’m a very jealous man and apparently, I’m not nice when I’m jealous. Leave the lady alone and you and me won’t have a problem. Understand?”
“Xanthe, I need to hear it from Xanthe. Babe, c’mon you know you love me, what’s he got that I don’t?”
“It’s not what he’s got, it just that he doesn’t need Google to know how to use it.”
“Fuck me, hang up on this loser and let’s get out of here and go home,” Mack kissed her and made sure her moans were the last thing her ex heard.
“Well, that was unexpected, and you didn’t need to know about my … nipple rings after all.” Once again, she needed to catch her breath and if he let her go she knew her knees hadn’t decided to start working again.
“Most of the others have already gone to the party, I hope you’re coming?”
“As your date or was this a one phone call kind of fling?”
“I already told you, I’m a jealous guy and if you turned up and another guy hit on you, well …”
Laughing, she gave him a light kiss, “All you had to say was ‘yes’, it’s a simple word.”
“Not so simple when it means a night of commitment.”
“Then just commit to not being boring.”
“Yes,” this time it was a real, panties don’t want to stay up, kind of kiss.
Mack
They walked in when the party was already in full swing. Automatically, he checked the mood of the groups. The local guys still seemed chill, his guys were over at the make shift bar seeing who could tell the biggest stories. There were some from his unit missing and he presumed off to get some action.
All in all, the best night.
“So, you’ve met The Mack!” Reith was obnoxious when sober, but when drunk he needed handling.
“The Mack? Not just Mack?” Xanthe asked as he squeezed her hand.
“Named by every woman who’s ridden on his Mack truck. Or are we calling it a monkey, now,” when Mack gently pushed him onto the lounge, Reith was smart enough to stay down and let the alcohol lull him to sleep. Still, Xanthe’s hand had already loosened it’s grip and he knew she was moments from ditching the party and him, and not necessarily in that order.
“How about I get us a couple of sodas and you tell me something about yourself other than your nipple rings,” she didn’t smile but at least nodded and allowed him to kiss her shoulder.
The party hadn’t progressed outside and he tried not to sigh with relief when she joined him on the sun lounge.
“That crack about women …” he started.
How could he explain that while men all around him could put themselves out there and find love and families, he knew that dream would always be out of reach. His parents showed him time and time again he was undeserving. It’s why he’d put his life on the line to save others, and if he came home, it might never be to an empty bed but always an empty heart.
“You said you didn’t want to talk about other women.”
“That was before some friend decided to tell you that I’m no virgin.”
“You kind of gave that away with your ideas of using a chain.”
“I’m no saint but I’m clean and I’ve never had a woman who wasn’t completely willing or understanding that I’m already married.”
“What!” he caught her as she started to run off. “You bastard!”
“I’m married to the Army. Wherever she wants me to go, I’m already there. Whatever she asks of me, I’m already committed. Not all women understand and some might think they can but this is who I am. Now tell me, who is Xanthe?”
He waited until she finished her soda. “Want another one?” She nodded. “Will you still be here when I get back? I mean, if you want to leave, you can go out the front door and I won’t stop you. I mean, I’ll follow at a discrete distance to make sure you get home safe, but I won’t stop you.”
“I’m still thirsty.”
The subtle catch in her voice pinned him to the lounge. It wasn’t that he couldn’t help himself, hell, he could have stopped but unless she protested, he never wanted to stop. Leaning over, he brushed his lips against hers. When she opened up to more kisses, he gently lay her back on the lounge, feeling his hips push against her parting legs. Her skirt offering his hands no resistance and her eyes, softened at least a shade lighter, as he knew they would.
Her body was a warm bath he wanted to drown in.
He wanted to lay her in a bed of rose petals. The softest cream of her dress and the deep pink of her lips. He would personally strip every stem of all thorns before gracing her with a bouquet every time he returned from duty.
Damn it! He was a soldier, not a bloody poet.
A fighter.
A lover.
Who had never been and never planned to be in love.
“Xanthe,” he forced himself up. “I’m going inside to get those sodas, and a blanket or two if I can find some.”
She nodded, not knowing how with the sweet, innocent passion of her kisses, he had become putty in her hands. Completely at her mercy.
“I would very much like to sleep out here, with you tonight, but not necessarily sleep with you.”
“What’s in it for me?” thankfully she teased and lightened the mood.
“If you’re a good girl, one day I’ll show you my monkey.”
“And if I’m a bad girl?” Oh, fuck he hoped she would be.
“Then,” he leaned over for one final kiss, “I’ll show you why they call me ‘The Mack’.”
Xanthe
“So, why become an OT? I mean, it’s a noble profession and all, but wouldn’t there be more money as a gym instructor or more glamour as a physio?”
Not only had Mack found a couple of blankets, but a box of crackers, soft cheeses and a six-pack of sodas that no one would miss. He climbed over the lounge until his legs were wrapped around hers, resting the food in her lap in easy reach. The way he had dealt with her ex, and claimed her body as his own, In no way did it feel like they had just met.
Xanthe leaned back into his arms as he fed her a piece of creamy camembert. She resisted the urge to lick it off his fingers, but mentally added it to all the things she hoped to one day do, on her way to meet his mythical monkey that everyone seemed to know about.
“With my marks, I couldn’t get into medicine. The best I could get was become a certified massage therapist.”
She laughed as Mack gave her the same look she had suffered for years. “That’s exactly why I went back and did more study to become an occupational therapist. I was sick of guys like you asking me to give them massage relief.”
“So, when did you make the decision?”
“I was treating a burns victim, this guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each few days he needed the scars to be massaged with creams. It was as much pain relief as it was an opportunity for him to open up and talk about the difference the accident had on him, and how he wished he had gotten better medical advice sooner. I don’t know, I wanted to be the first person that people could go to and make a difference.”
“Your parents must be proud.”
Xanthe hesitated, she never talked about her parents, not with friends and definitely not with strangers. Even Krys knew it was a subject not to be broached. Every Christmas, Xanthe volunteered so others could hang with families. She used the excuse that she needed the overtime when the truth was she needed the reason not to think or wallow into self pity for the family life she lacked.
“Xanth, your parents.”
“I don’t talk about them.”
“Don’t or don’t want to?”
“Does it matter?” She wished he would stop asking in case she gave into the moment and told him everything.
Mack wrapped his legs and arms tighter, “It’s a beautiful night out here and only the stars can hear us. Tomorrow, you can choose never to see me again or we can see how it goes. What’s the worse thing that can happen if you tell me about your parents.”
“I’ll start blubbering like a crazy bitch and you realize that you don’t kiss crazy?” She tried to laugh, fooling neither of them.
“How about you talk, if you start to cry, I’ll reward you by taking off my shirt to dry your tears.”
“What about the kissing,” she leaned back, hoping that a great kiss could distract him, although the idea of removing his shirt wasn’t so bad either.
“Not a chance, you get rewarded for talking. Not before.”
“Okay, dad was in the Army, he served, got wounded, came back and died. Mum didn’t like her bed being empty when he was away, but after he died she could arrange a series of permanent fixtures. Some she married, and some she didn’t.”
“So, do you hate him for dying, or hate her for not caring that he died?”
How on earth did a complete stranger pick it in one. “Both. My mother has been married too many times for me to ever believe in love. But daddy, he was everything to me, and before he left, he’d always promise to come back. Well he came back the last time, but it was too late.”
“And now you are one interview away from being one of the first the broken and bruised turn to.”
“Yep.”
“Babe,” the hands that had spent the night flirting up her legs, smoothed down her skirt but continued to hold her close to his chest. Not trying to brush against her breasts, even though she wished he would.
“Your dad would be proud of you and I want him to be proud of me in the way I treat his daughter. Because I’m hoping that there will be a second and even a third date, I’m not going to do anything to his daughter on our first date that he wouldn’t approve.”
“Does that mean no kissing?” She needed the kissing to start so her tears would stop.
“Well, I did promise you a reward!”