Page 15 of Heart’s Cove Hunks
I end up with a bowl, a cup, and a little flat jewelry tray by the end of the class. Mac will have to fire our creations in his kiln once before we can glaze and fire it again, which means we’ll be coming back next week. I pretend that doesn’t make my heart leap. Most of the students except for my crew have filed out of the class by the time Mac removes his apron.
He smiles at the five of us. “Good work today, ladies.”
“We had a good teacher.” Simone winks at him, then winks at me.
Subtle. Real subtle.
“You should see an optometrist for that eye twitch,” I tell her.
Simone just laughs.
Mac clears his throat, then his lips tip up in that cheeky grin that makes my cheeks burn hot. “How do you feel about that pool lesson this weekend, Trina? My father’s been asking about you. Said you need to come by the Grove before he gets too lonely out there.”
“Oh, I—” I’m about to come up with an excuse—any excuse—when Simone and Fiona exchange a glance, and Simone lets out a little whoop.
“Girls’ night!” She grins, then arches her eyebrows at the rest of us. “Yeah? Yeah.”
“I’ll book the salon for some blowouts,” Fiona says. “Jen, make sure you have the evening off. Wait, what evening are we doing this?”
“We?” I ask. “Girls’ night?” When did my pool lesson with Hamish—which I fully intended on avoiding—turn into a full-on girls’ night out that somehow includes blowouts at the salon?
“Saturday,” Candice answers Fiona. “The Cedar Grove, right?” This, she directs at Mac.
Mac’s grin spreads into a full smile. “The Cedar Grove.” He nods.
“We can get our hair done, then head to Katrina’s to get ready. You can do our makeup, right?”
“I don’t… Toby and Katie…”
“Clancy and Allie can watch them,” Candice cuts in, waving a hand. “They’re pretty much in love with Mr. Fuzzles anyway, so any excuse to spend time at your place will be enough for them.”
“Mr. Fuzzles?” Mac asks, eyebrows arched.
I shake my head. “New kitten. Don’t ask. It’s been an eventful week.”
“He’s the cutest. Little white paws.” Simone lets out a squeaky noise. “You should come meet him, Mac. I can just imagine a big, strong man like you holding a little, tiny, furry kitten. That’s the stuff dreams are made of.”
“He should come meet him?” I repeat dumbly. I feel like I have whiplash from staring down everyone who talks. Mac should absolutely not, ever, not in a million years come meet my new cat. No way.
“This is going to be so fun!” Candice says, and I’m ashamed to say I’m tempted to be violent with my own beloved sister.
Murder is wrong. Do not murder your sister. Murder will get you put in jail for the rest of your life, even if she deserves it.
“You can say that again. Saturday night! Yay!” Simone hooks her arm through Fiona’s. “I’ll make mini quiches. You bring wine. We should get our hair done just after lunch so we can meet up at Trina’s early enough to get ready. Then we can have some kitty time too.”
“Definitely.” Fiona nods decisively. “We could do an early dinner. Charcuterie boards!”
Biting my lip, I turn to Mac. “I guess everyone will be at the Grove on Saturday.” I give him an apologetic smile. “Hope that’s okay.”
“I’ll tell Dad to batten down the hatches in preparation.”
“I heard that!” Simone calls out from the doorway. She pauses, turns, and grins. “Not a bad idea, actually. I’m feeling like letting loose.”
Jen, Candice, Simone, and Fiona leave, and all of a sudden I’m alone with Mac. Tension stretches taut between us. I should walk away. I really, really should. But somehow, my feet stay anchored to the ground. My body burns in every place he’s ever touched, from my hands to my hips to the thighs that were pressed against his only a few days ago.
He stands there, just a couple of feet away from me, and it feels like every cell in my body is drawn to him.
I clear my throat and jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “I should…”