Just One Spark (14 page)

“I’m so glad you’re here. If I have to tell one more person where I went to college, I’m going to scream.”

Kate was positively glowing. Maybe she
was
in love with Derek. “How was Vegas?”

Kate grabbed for her wineglass from the coffee table and drained it in one swallow. “Have you seen Derek?”

Hannah shook her head. Derek was the only McNally she hadn’t seen in the last five minutes.

“I need to find him. Honey, I will be right back.” Kate got up, leaving Hannah alone on the couch in a crowd of people she didn’t know. She crossed her legs and placed her folded hands on her lap. She wished Mason had told her to change. Everyone wore jeans and sweaters, while she was still wearing the dress from the more formal Thanksgiving meal with her family.

As he slid next to her on the sofa, she realized why. He hadn’t thought to change from his work clothes. He looked exactly as he did the first time she’d laid eyes on him.

Mason flashed her a smile. “So what do you think?”

She had no idea what to make of anything when he smiled at her that way. “They all have brown eyes,” she whispered in his ear.

“Very observant, Miss Daniels.” He pulled her away from the couch and up the stairs.

If he was pulling her upstairs for a quickie, he had another think coming. “Where are we going?” she asked, running into the back of him when he stopped short.

He stepped behind her and directed her attention to the collage of pictures on the wall. “There he is.” He tapped a framed snapshot of an elderly man sitting on the floor playing Lincoln logs with a tow-headed toddler. “Francis Mason, meet Hannah Daniels.” Hannah leaned closer. The old man’s eyes were definitely blue, but she’d never know if they were the same blue.

“You have his eyes?” she asked, turning to face him.

“So I’ve been told.” He backed down a step and looked her in the eye. “Would you look at that?”

“What?” she asked, not caring about the answer. His gaze was almost hypnotic the way it rolled across her face.

“When I’m down here, we’re exactly the same height.” Her gaze focused on his mouth. She suddenly realized she hadn’t kissed him in three days. Not since Monday night. Where had the time gone?

But she couldn’t kiss him here, now. She settled for tracing his lips with her fingertip, her stomach clenching as he leaned in. Maybe it wouldn’t look so bad if he kissed her.

“Hands where I can see them, Mason. The rules don’t change just because you move out.” Mac’s words were gruff and caused a blush Hannah was sure extended to the roots of her hair, but Mason’s father smiled as he walked by them.

Mason pulled back. “That man must have radar.”

Marry me. The words echoed in his head. It wasn’t what he’d planned, and he knew she deserved more than a whisper on his parents’ staircase, but he just wanted to get it out. He’d only got the ring yesterday, too afraid she might find it if she went snooping.

Kate had been so helpful, telling him the size and the style Hannah liked. She would like the ring. He wanted to get married the first week she had off and honeymoon in New Zealand for the other two.

Her parents were in town until her birthday, a week from now. There’d be time to clear it with them later. First, he needed to convince her to trust herself, him, and them.

“Hannah?”

“Everybody, can I have your attention?” Derek jumped on top of the coffee table to address the crowd. “Now that everybody is finally here, I have an announcement to make.”

“First, I want to thank Mason and Hannah for introducing me and Katie.” Derek looked down and smiled at the blonde woman looking up at him. “I looked at this woman and thought, wow. This must be a mercy date.”

The family laughed and Mason took Hannah’s hand.

“Before we even left the bar that night I told her I was in love with her. It was the most amazing night of my life, and then she got on a plane the next morning.”

As the crowd sighed, Mason noticed Kate was blushing, and he squeezed Hannah’s hand. “I called her incessantly, harassing her until she agreed to see me again. Last weekend in Las Vegas. Before she changed her mind, I talked her into marrying me right then and there.” Mason gave Hannah’s hand a final squeeze and stepped down the stairs to congratulate his brother.

Chapter Fourteen

Soft fingers tugged on her wrist and pulled her inside the warm kitchen. Hannah looked at Mary Jean, wondering if she thought Derek and Kate’s announcement was crazy too. There was worry in her eyes. Did she think Hannah might try a similar stunt with Mason?

“I just wanted to warn you,” Mary Jean said in hushed tones. “Mason may have a little trouble with this.”

Any sane person would.
Hannah nodded. “I completely understand.”

“Good.” Mary Jean sighed and leaned back against the counter. “I just remember how upset he was when Ryan got married first, and then again when they announced they were having Rianna. He was depressed for weeks. Not jealous, mind you, just wondering if it would ever happen for him.”

Hannah could only nod.

Mary Jean shook her head and smiled. “We expected something like this from the other boys, but Derek is usually so much more cautious.”

Hannah bobbed her head frantically. Nothing tonight was going as she’d expected. But while she had the McNally matron’s attention, she could at least put in a few good words about her newest daughter-in-law. “So is Kate. She is very smart. All of her decisions are weighed and measured. I’ve known her for ten years and she has never done anything so impulsive.”

“Really? She seems fun, spontaneous.”

A grin played at Hannah’s lips. That was Kate. “Spontaneous, yes, but never reckless.”

“Reckless?” Mary Jean’s voice lilted through the room she ruled.

How to dig out of this hole? “Not that Derek isn’t fantastic. Kate liked him just from his resume.”
This is going from bad to worse.
“I never imagined she’d put so little forethought into such a big decision. That either of them would. To marry someone you’ve barely known a week is a huge leap of faith.”

Mary Jean let out a sad chuckle and shook her head. “Not really. They have a lifetime to get to know each other.” The older woman smiled and met Hannah’s gaze. “Hannah, are you in love with Mason?”

“What?” The word escaped her before she had time to think. Hannah scanned the kitchen for a hidden camera. Mary Jean was violating eight different mother-in-law rules with that question.

“Because if you’re not, he deserves to know.” Mary Jean leveled her gaze. “Now.”

So this was the monster-in-law. Hannah knew the woman was too good to be true. “We haven’t been dating long enough for anyone to be discussing love.”

“Love is something you feel, not something you think about. If you have to talk yourself into it, then it will never work. No matter how long or hard you think about it. You either love someone or you don’t. It’s surprisingly black and white.”

“You’re awfully quiet,” Mason said as they made the drive home in the dark. She hadn’t said a word since she told him, “I have to get out of here. Now.” For the second time that night. She’d kept herself pressed against the passenger door ever since they got into the truck, effectively keeping herself out of his reach.

Was she just tired, or was there something more? He couldn’t help if he didn’t know. “Are you still upset about Molly?”

“Of course not. She’ll be an amazing mother, and if she doesn’t want to go back to work that’s her business.” From the corner of his eye, he noticed she gave the speech to the window.

“You’re just worried your parents will expect the same from you?” He tried to fill the silence with reassurance. “Our situation is very different, Hannah. I only have to work twelve days a month. You could work your schedule around that. Plus, there’s my mom.”

“Mason.” The edge in her voice set his posture straight. “We are not at a point where we need to be having this discussion. Especially tonight.”

He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. That hurt as if she’d just kicked him. He caught glimpses of her staring out the window, her face shadowed from the dashboard lights. This was not even close to the drive home he’d imagined when he woke up this morning.

Obviously, a subject change was in order. “Derek and Kate won’t be able to take their honeymoon until after her case wraps up in January. What do you think about them coming with us to New Zealand?”

She rolled her head back against the seat. “They won’t want another couple tagging along on their honeymoon. They need all the time alone they can find just to get to know each other. They’re practically strangers.”

Alarms flashed in his head, warning him to proceed with caution. “They’re in love. That’s all they need to know. They’ll work the rest out later.”

“You cannot possibly be so naive. This is a recipe for disaster. They don’t even know if they want the same things.” Finally, she was turning toward him, and her eyes were flashing brighter than the headlights of the passing cars.

“It’s a recipe for success. Derek and Kate have done a lot of talking on the phone. I’m sure they’ve covered all the deal breakers. And besides, it worked for my parents.”

She reared her head back so quickly he feared she might smack it into the window. “What do you mean it worked for your parents?”

“They got married three days after they met.”

He heard her suck in a ragged breath that robbed his lungs of air. “You never told me that before.” Her head fell heavily against the seat, and then she pounded it against the headrest three times. “No wonder she turned on me.”

Turned on her? “What are you talking about?”

“This proves my point exactly. I made an ass of myself with your mother. I said I thought Kate and Derek were reckless when they hadn’t known each other a week. Twice as long as your parents did.” She pounded her head a few more times. “That was need-to-know information, Mason. Do yourself a favor and tell your next girlfriend that tidbit.”

He took the corner too fast, but he didn’t care. Maybe smashing against the door would knock some sense into her. She was trying to be mean and he didn’t like it one bit. “Is that why you wanted to leave?”

“I’ve just had enough of this day.” Hannah struggled to right herself as he took another corner, this time knocking her his way. “Everybody has lost their minds, and they’re looking at me like I’m crazy.”

“Your sister is pregnant and your best friend got married. Some people would think this was a good day for you.” Mason set his jaw to bite back the rest of the words as he negotiated their way into downtown.

Her whole body shifted in her seat as she rubbed her right arm. “I’m not jealous.”

He hadn’t even thought of that, until now. He turned and caught her eyes boring into him. Very green. They almost matched.

“And I’m not hormonal about turning thirty either. I’m just being rational about the situations.” She plopped back against the seat and stared straight ahead.

So that’s how old she was going to be. It stung when Ryan had announced he and Tara were having a baby the month before he turned thirty. He’d been thrilled for them but wanted the same in his own life. He could only imagine it being worse for a woman. “I understand how you feel. When Ryan had Rianna—”

“I know, you were depressed for weeks. Your mother told me.”

“She did?” Just what had gone down between them
?

“Yes. She was worried you might be upset about the wedding, but you seem way too comfortable with it.”

Mason circled their building, looking for a parking spot. “Of course I’m comfortable with it. My brother has never been happier.”

“Because he’s setting himself up for a fall. What’s between them is obviously physical, and when that burns out where will they be? Divorce court.” She threw her hands in the air. “And Kate swore she’d never get divorced after what happened with her folks. This is going to tear her up.”

“You’re so cynical.” He jerked the Bronco into a parking spot and killed the engine. “They’ll make it work.” He had to believe that. Derek wasn’t any more prepared for a divorce than Kate was.

“I’m a realist. They haven’t spent enough time together to learn what bothers them about the other person. You have to know what’s wrong with someone before you can decide if you can live with it.”

Mason hopped out of the truck and circled around to her side, but she’d already gotten out.
Of course.
He stacked a laundry basket on top of the cooler. He wanted to tell Hannah to leave the other one but it was already in her arms piled with the hanging items. “What’s wrong with me?” he asked, as they made their way inside.

Hannah trudged up the stairs, seeming to ponder her answer. When they reached her apartment, she turned to face him. “You’re possessive and short tempered.”

He was only possessive of her, which triggered the temper he usually kept under control. Mason dropped the laundry basket on the floor. The clothes jumped up, and then neatly fell back into their piles.

“And you’re nosy and distrusting and you get mean when you’re hurt or scared. I can live with it. Can you?”

Hannah set her basket on the ground and fumbled with her keys. “Not tonight, Mason.”

He took the key from her, slid it in the lock and pushed the door open. “Can you?”

She spun to face him and ripped the keys from his hand. “Knock it off.” Her eyes were so bright they were throwing sparks. Blue sparks. Not good. “I can take care of myself.”

He was not going to rise to the bait. He piled her basket on top of his and carried the entire load into her bedroom. He didn’t even jump when she slammed the door. He started to sort through the baskets to pull out what was his, but she’d already done that. As efficient at laundry as she was at everything else.

He propped his basket against his hip and marched to the living room. She wasn’t there. “Hannah?” Had she gone upstairs already?

“I’m tired of talking.” He spun around to the sound of her voice as she stepped out of the bathroom. His mouth went dry.

She did not fight fair. She wore a red satin nightgown that went all the way to the floor. The red lace trim accented her full breasts and the slit went from the floor to her hip. She even wore the red stilettos from that time with the chair. He swallowed hard. He could control himself. This wasn’t over yet.

It was all over. She was not going to discuss marriage or babies one more time tonight. Mason’s priorities were severely distorted from the events of the evening. Hannah had been simmering with restless energy all night. They’d burn it off and both feel better.

For some reason, Mason held the laundry basket in front of him like a shield. It might have offended her if she couldn’t see the desire burning in his eyes. He wanted this as much as she did.

“We need to finish this conversation.” His protest might have been convincing if his voice hadn’t cracked.

Hannah shook her head, her hair falling in front of her shoulders and began to stalk towards him. She knew what she needed tonight, and it wasn’t more crazy talk. She needed to lose herself in the moment. She needed time and work and family and lost chances to fall by the wayside, tangled and forgotten in her insatiable need for him.

“Hannah, no.” He took a step back.

“What do you mean no?” She tried to take the laundry basket from him, but he held it firmly. She did not want to play games now.

“I’m not going to make love with you so you can get out of talking to me.”

She stepped closer. “Then just have sex with me.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear, her hot breath puffing the words. “Fast, hard, hot.”

He jumped away as she reached for the waistband of his pants and backed all the way to the front door. The lust in his eyes vanished. “What is this about?”

How to explain what she barely understood? She just needed to be with him, to have him inside of her when she came apart, to have him hold her as the pieces fell back into place. Somehow he fed the hunger for love that was so deep in her soul it could never be filled. How could she tell him and not be weak? She couldn’t, not tonight when she was barely keeping herself upright.

He hugged the basket closer and exhaled slowly. “Just put on a robe and we’ll go home and finish this conversation.”

Hannah shook her head. She needed him to stop talking before he started saying things he didn’t really mean just to keep up with his brother. She needed to be in control of her responses, even if they were just physical. And she needed a home-court advantage tonight.

“I’m home. I live here.”

Mason flashed her a smile. “That’s one of the things I want to talk about. I want you to move in with me.”

Her stomach clenched and she closed her eyes. This must be what his mother was warning her about. He’d push their relationship ahead so he wouldn’t feel left behind.

“Why?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

“I like having you close.” He grinned across the room. “Kate is moving in with Derek, so your living situation is changing anyway.”

The perfect reason for co-habitation. “It would certainly make the sex more convenient. No pesky flight of stairs to get in the way.”

“Knock it off, Hannah.” His smile disappeared and he shifted the basket to his hip. “It’s not like that with us and you know it.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and wished she’d put on a robe like he’d asked. “You won’t have sex with me tonight.”

Mason shook his head. “Not tonight or any other. And not until you let me fix what’s got you so upset.”

Her temperature rose for a whole new reason. “You want to fix me.”

Finally, he put the basket down. “That’s not how I meant it. I don’t want you to feel the way you do right now.”

She threw her hands in the air. “You’re telling me how to feel now? You know what, Mason? I did a pretty good job of taking care of myself before you ever came into my life. I can handle everything without you telling me how to feel.”

“Hannah, don’t get hysterical.” He stepped closer, but this time it was her turn to back away.

It was one thing to reject her physically, but to be the second man tonight to tell her not to get hysterical. No way.

“I’m not hysterical, but I’m rapidly approaching it. All I wanted from you tonight was an orgasm. Something to help me remember where we are and forget all the craziness.”

“Where we are?” He rubbed his neck as he began to pace around the room. “What does that mean?”