Speaking of Love (Perfect Kisses) (6 page)

“Pretty soon,” Rick said, looking past Mac’s shoulder to where Greg was whooping at whatever just happened on the game he was watching. “We’ll need a replacement.” Rick wondered if their brother would want to take Charlie’s place on the ice. He’d ask Mac about that later.

“I’ll help you think of someone,” Justine was quick to offer.

“Um, thanks,” Rick said. He couldn’t help smiling. He was really looking forward to the early morning game. Playing the role of big boss at the newspaper all day was starting to wear him down. He needed the release of a good workout.

“So, lunch on Friday,” he said, folding his hands on top of the table.

“Another
non
-date between you two?” Justine said, cocking an eyebrow.

“No,” Mac said.

Rick turned to her. “No?”

“No, I mean, yes for lunch, no about the date.”

Justine leaned toward her sister. “Explain?”

Mac fluttered her eyelashes. “Sister, dear, why don’t you run along and…paint your toenails,” she said, sliding the polish across the table and baring her teeth.

“Why don’t you kiss my—”

Rick laughed. Having only one brother and growing up in a house void of the usual raucousness, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. “Are those my Cheetos?” he asked, gesturing at the bag on the counter behind Mac.

“Back to this lunch you’re talking about,” Justine said. “What’s the deal?”

Rick watched Mac reach for the bag of Cheetos and shove a few powdery orange sticks into her mouth. “I’m setting him up with Brandy,” she explained to her sister, crunching.

“Brandy?” Justine balked.

Rick was taken aback by her surprise. “Something wrong with her?”

Mac shrugged and continued chewing.

“Uh, no,” Justine said, letting out a long breath. “She’s pretty close to perfect, actually. You’ll love her.”

That was a relief. For a moment there, Rick was afraid he’d stepped into a trap with the whole matchmaking thing. He did catch a few more unreadable looks shooting between the sisters, and he was pretty sure one of them kicked the other under the table. He should probably get out of there.

“Well”—he pushed back his chair and stood up—“I should take off. I haven’t been home yet.”

“You stopped here first?” Mac asked. “It’s not even on the way.”

Rick shrugged. “It was no problem.” What he could have added was that he’d been thinking about her on his drive home from the farmlands. His car had just kind of naturally headed her way.

When they got to the door, Justine was folding her arms. “You know what, I like him,” she said clinically, as if Rick wasn’t standing right there. “I wish he could stay.”

“He can’t,” Mac said as she pulled open the front door. “Shucks. But thanks for dropping by.”

“No problem.” Rick stepped onto the porch. “I’ll see you Friday.”

“Yep, Friday,” Mac said, then she jumped as if someone poked her side. Probably her sister. “I gotta go. See ya.”

As soon as the door shut, he could hear animated voices behind it. Sounded like Justine wouldn’t be getting any pizza tonight. Rick felt himself smiling as he walked to his car. And he knew it had nothing to do with meeting Brandy.

Chapter Six

“Here’s to a fabulous weekend!” Tess said.

“Not yet!” Mac pulled back her glass, refusing to clink until the toast was just right. “We’re a day early because
you’re
going away for the weekend.”

“Close enough. And a teachers’ half-day of meetings on a Friday doesn’t count as an actual workday. I used to teach at the high school, too. Remember?”

“True,” Mac conceded with a smile, then reached across the table and clinked her glass against Tess’s. “Cheers.”

It had been a pretty long few days and Mac was more than ready to begin her weekend unwind early.

Typically, her weekend commenced with meeting up with her best friend Tess on Friday for a girls’ night out and for a blow-by-blow personal life update. Before Tess got engaged to Jack, her weekly recaps were much more interesting.

Not that Tess and Jack had a boring relationship; they were just so darn happy. Sometimes Mac got a little grossed out when she had to hear about it. Jack was the head football coach at Mac’s school and, although Mac herself never had the hots for him, she knew how lucky Tess was to have bagged such a great guy.

“So,” Tess said, running a hand through her dark hair, her engagement ring sparkling under the restaurant’s track lighting, “you only have a month until all your free time will be filled with maid of honor duties.” She grinned. “What are your weekend plans?”

“I don’t have any,” Mac said.

“No date?” Tess lowered her glass. “What are you? Sick? Leaving town? Ohhh, are you being whisked away to somewhere exotic by a handsome pirate?”

Mac picked up a tortilla chip from the bowl between them and scooped some guacamole. “Wouldn’t that be considered a date?”

Tess laughed, reaching for her own chip. “I believe there has to be a hint of emotional investment to constitute a date. And with you…” She trailed off, pointing her chip at Mac.

“Ha-ha,” Mac laughed without humor. She chewed longer than necessary. “Do you really think I’m emotionally unavailable?”

She looked up when her friend burst into laughter. “What?”

“This coming from the woman who refuses a second date on principle. The only man you see on a regular basis is Reporter Rick, and we both know
that
will never go anywhere.”

“No joke,” Mac said, taking another chip. “Brandy’s coming into town tonight. I’m setting them up.”

“Your cousin? I thought she was seeing that banker with the bedroom eyes and bad attitude.”

“They broke up once she realized he was pond scum. Now she’s on the prowl.”

“Is Rick interested in dating?”

Mac shrugged. “Aren’t all men?”

“No,” Tess said, tucking some dark hair behind her ears. “I thought the whole arrangement between you two was so that neither of you had to date.” She tossed a chip in her mouth. “What happened?”

Mac rested her elbow on the table. “It was getting complicated.”

“Because you think he’s hot.”

Mac didn’t like the way Tess was looking at her. Her best friend’s blue eyes always had a way of seeing the truth.

“He
is
hot,” Mac granted, not bothering to deny it.

“So then tell me again, why don’t
you
date him? For real, and not all these fake-out non-dates?”

“You know why,” Mac said, dropping her voice, running her index finger around the rim of her glass.

Tess thought for a moment then nodded, leaning her crossed arms on the table. “Have you ever talked to Rick about what happened with your dad?”

Mac shook her head.

“He might not know about the Elm Street factory, Mac. It happened ages ago, and he didn’t grow up here in Franklin. His father’s probably closed down a lot of factories.”

“Comforting,” Mac said, resting her chin in her hand.

“What do you really know about Rick? All you guys do together is go to dinner parties with a hundred other people. How can you possibly get to know someone that way? Do you ever talk?”

“Of course we talk. Do you think we just stand around gawking at each other like baboons?” Mac widened her eyes, let her jaw go slack, and stared into space.

“Sexy,” Tess said, laughing. “Is that the face you make when he’s about to kiss you? No wonder you’re not getting any action.”

“Ha ha. I need another drink.” Mac waved at a waiter whizzing by.

“What I mean is,” Tess continued a moment later, “do you and Rick ever talk about anything important? He might not be like his father at all. How well do we know anyone at first? Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

“Doubtful,” Mac said. “Anyway, it was glaringly obvious the other night that it’s time for me to move on.” She shrugged. “I think Brandy will be perfect for him.”

Mac scooped up another chip, then washed it down with a long drink. She was a little amazed. The more she talked about it out loud, the more sense it made. And she felt nothing toward Rick but the desire to be his friend and to help him be happy. Yes, Brandy would be perfect for Rick. They might even fall in love.

“She’d make good arm candy, at least,” Tess said. “When’s the date?”

“Tomorrow. Lunch.” She sat back. “I invited Jeremy. It’ll feel more relaxed if there’s the illusion that it’s a double date. Less pressure for everyone.”

“I forgot what an expert you are at matchmaking,” Tess conceded. “Which one is Jeremy?”

“The bartender with the crazy ex-wife,” Mac said, pushing back the bowl of chips.

“The one who looks like a younger but taller, floppy-haired Mark Wahlberg?”

Mac took a moment to dissect the description. “That’s pretty spot-on.”

“Isn’t he also kind of…”

“Uncouth?”

“I was going to say ape-like.”

Mac snorted. “Kind of. I’ve known him forever, though. He used to play city league baseball with Greg. He’s always good for a lunch or something short notice.”

“And did you two ever…?” Tess grinned at Mac over her glass.

“Not even close. Jeremy is fun, but there’s no chemistry. We hang out sometimes, just as friends.”

“Like you and Rick?”

The question made Mac bite down on her tongue. “Um, sure,” she said, reaching for her glass. “Like me and Rick.”

Except with Rick
, she could have added,
a lack of chemistry was never the problem
.

But Tess didn’t need to know that.

It was hard to explain, even to her best friend, Mac’s need to keep extra emotionally sealed when it came to Rick. It wasn’t just that his father closing the Elm Street factory had basically been the catalyst to her parents breaking up. That was tragic enough. More than that, she and Rick were complete opposites. She didn’t have to know him for twenty years to understand that. Their upbringings, their backgrounds, even their basic concept about something as simple as Lincoln Park… She and Rick Duffy would never see eye to eye.

They were just too different, and all the chemistry in the world wouldn’t change that.

Tess lifted her glass and clinked it against Mac’s. “Well, your social life never ceases to amaze me.”

The waiter appeared with their salads.

“How’s Jack?” Mac asked, eager to steer the subject in another direction.

Tess picked up her fork. “Amazing,” she said with a huge grin.

Mac rolled her eyes to heaven. “I mean, how is he doing? I haven’t seen him at school very often this semester.”

“With football season over, he mostly stays around the gym. Or drives out to my music studio for an extra-long lunch.”

“Nice,” Mac said, smiling.

“I wish you could find someone who makes you as happy as Jack makes me.”

“I don’t need a—”

“I know, I know,” Tess said, cutting her off. “You don’t need a man to make you happy. I didn’t mean it like that. I just think… In life, you reach different levels of content and happiness. For me, I was happy alone. You could say I was at the top level of my happiness. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. But when I met Jack…” She smiled and looked down at her diamond ring. “It was like I reached this whole new level of happiness that I didn’t know existed. But I couldn’t get there alone.”

Mac was annoyed with herself when she felt tears spring to her eyes. Where had they come from?

“I just don’t want you to miss out on anything,” Tess added.

“Believe me,” Mac said. “I’m not. I’m great. Work is good; I’m young and healthy. I’m not missing anything. I promise.”

“Okay,” Tess said. “I believe you. Lecture over.”

“Thank you.”

“So.” Tess took a bite of her salad. “What time does Brandy arrive? Where is this lunch tomorrow? And what are you wearing?”

…

Rick ran a towel over his face. “Nice game,” he said to one of the players they had just beaten.

“We’ll even it up.”

“I don’t doubt it. See you next week.”

After securing a towel around his waist, Rick walked out to the locker room. The others were already dressed.

“We thought you fell down the drain,” Jack said, pushing up one of his shirt sleeves.

“You get me up at the crack of dawn and then you’re the one not in a hurry,” Charlie said, riffling through his cammo duffle bag. “Nice.”

Rick looked at the clock on the wall. He’d spent an extra ten minutes in the shower after their hockey game. He’d been distracted lately. Luckily he was able to keep his mind on the game long enough to score two goals and help his team win. Not that winning was all that important at these early morning games. It was more about exercise and camaraderie. Rick usually enjoyed starting off the day with his two buddies, but this morning, he couldn’t seem to stay focused.

“I guess I zoned out for a while,” Rick said, opening his locker. “I should already be at the office. I have a lot to do before I go out to lunch.”

“You got a lunch date?” Jack asked.

Rick nodded.

“Who’s the girl?” Charlie asked. “Mac?”

Rick looked up. “Mac? No. Why would you think that?”

Charlie tossed his towel toward the row of sinks. “My sister told me you’re dating.”

Rick frowned. He sometimes forgot what a tight, little group he’d been pulled into: He’d been non-dating Mac, who was best friends with Tess, who was engaged to Jack and sister to Charlie. Sometimes he felt like he needed notecards to remember.

“Not dating,” Rick corrected, opening his locker. “We’re friends.” After the words left his mouth, he felt about as masculine as a Lifetime movie. “In fact, she’s setting me up with one of her cousins.”

“I haven’t met any cousins,” Jack said. “I only know her brother and sister. They’re fun, kind of rowdy, like Mac.”

“I know,” Rick said, smiling to himself, remembering the comical glares darting across the table between Mac and her sister Justine last night. He’d never seen that side of Mac. He liked it.

“Which cousin?” Charlie asked, pushing his hands through his hair while he checked himself out in the mirror.

“She lives in Indianapolis,” Rick said. “Her name is Brandy.”

“Brandy?” Charlie turned to him, grinning. “Oh, buddy.”

Rick looked at him. “You’ve met her?”

“Affirmative.” Charlie drew out the word. “I’ve known Mac’s family forever. Brandy used to spend plenty of summers here.” He whistled.

Charlie was a documented ladies’ man. If one woman pulled his focus more than another, there was always a reason.

“What’s she like?” Rick asked.

“Smokin’ hot.”

Jack chuckled. “Classy, Charlie.”

Rick rolled his eyes. “Anything else?”

“I haven’t seen her in a few years. Last I heard, she was working at a TV news station.”

“She’s a broadcaster? Mac didn’t mention that.”

“Not a broadcaster,” Charlie amended. “I think she wants to be, but right now she’s mostly working behind the scenes. But buddy,” he elbowed him, “she should be on camera. I’m not kidding, she’s gorgeous. She was Miss…
something
back in the day. Lived the whole beauty queen circuit. Did pretty well.” He zipped his bag. “I didn’t follow it much because it creeped me out.”

“Why?” Rick asked.

Charlie was lost in thought for a moment, then chuckled. “Because we’re almost like family. And there’s a code: Hands off friends’ sisters and sister’s friends.”

Jack cleared his throat. “Present company excluded, of course?”

Charlie laughed. “I’m only letting you marry my sister because you’re taller than me.”

“So, wait a minute,” Rick said. “Do you mean you used to have a thing for Brandy?” he asked. “Or
Mac
?”

Charlie chuckled again. “Brandy—no. She was out of my league, even I knew that. But Mac…”

Rick didn’t like the way Charlie trailed off. He felt his fists clench. “But Mac, what?”

“Nothing,” Charlie finally said. “Like I said, there’s a code. I never hit on any of Tess’s friends. Not then, not now. That’s just not cool.”

“Yeah,” Rick said, nodding. But he still felt like Charlie wasn’t telling him the whole story. Rick knew he and Mac had basically grown up together, but just saying that he followed some “code” and never hit on Mac, didn’t mean he hadn’t wanted to when they were younger. Or didn’t want to now.

“Well, good luck, buddy,” Jack said, slinging his gym back over his shoulder.

Rick chuckled at Jack’s lack of enthusiasm. He didn’t know how good he had it. Jack had already found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. A few months ago, Rick didn’t think that was something he wanted for many years to come. But seeing Jack and Tess together, he totally got it. And he totally wanted it.