Chapter 20

She ducked her head in case her thoughts were written on her face.

"It's...nothing for you to look at," she stammered, pressing the Velcro tab on the bag closed and setting it on the ground beside her chair. She needed to get something to clean up the spilled wine, but somehow she couldn't make herself move. Her body seemed disconnected from her brain.

"You look like you need a little help," Mack teased. "Hang on."

He vaulted lightly over the fence, pulling a rag from his back pocket as his feet touched the lawn and jogging over to where she sat. In seconds he had the wine blotted up and tossed the rag aside. Alix thought he'd say something else smartass then go back to his own yard, but instead he sat down on the side of her lounge chair, facing her.

"Thank you. I'm not usually so clumsy."

"No problem." His eyes landed on the pink bag next to her. "As my reward, maybe you could show me all those goodies in that bag again."

His grin could best be described as erotically lethal. Slightly crooked with - oh, god - a dimple at the left corner of his mouth. Reflexively, she squeezed her thighs together. Unfortunately, Mack noticed the tiny flexing of muscles and widened his grin. His big hand rested on her leg just below the knee, his fingers stroking lightly.

Immediately, the air became charged with so much sexual electricity she wondered it didn't incinerate them. From the look on his face she realized he felt it, too.

Uh oh.

"I think you should probably stop that." But she seemed to lack the will to move her leg away. And she knew her words were far from forceful.

"Yeah?" He lifted an eyebrow. "I don't think that's the signal I'm getting." He studied her as his fingers continued their feathery movement. "Tell me, Alix. How is it you and I have never, you know, gotten together before?"

"You mean have sex?" she blurted then wanted to hide her face in her hands. What was the matter with her? She was thirty-five and acting like some shy virgin, for heaven's sake. But damn it, just his light touch had her suddenly imagining acts that were probably illegal in at least five states.

"Well," he chuckled, "that, too, but I was thinking we might start out with something a little simpler, like dinner. Or just drinks?"

"You mean go out? Like on a date?"

He squeezed her leg. "I understand people actually do it, you know."

I must be getting worse at this than I thought. I really do need to get a life.

"Oh, um, well..."

"We wouldn't even have to talk about your little gizmos here."

She looked down at her lap. "I think that would be best."

"So how about it? Tonight?"

Alix raised her head and looked at him. His touch was driving her crazy and she was sure he knew it. "Tonight might not be good. I'm trying to recover from the weekend."

"Oh, yeah." He grinned. "The gaggle of women."

"Gaggle?" She stared. "Did you say gaggle?

"They giggled like geese so...gaggle seems to fit."

"I didn't realize you could hear us," she said, defensively. Had they really made that much noise? She probably should have shut the back doors and windows. "We don't get together that often and we were just being crazy. Sorry if we disturbed you."

"Not a problem. I wished I could join you. So. Tonight's not good, right?"

"And I have a very busy week. Very busy."

"Why, Alix Townsend. Are you trying to get out of dinner with me?"

His thumb moved lazily over her knee, bringing every pulse in her body roaring to life. Cream soaked her panties and when Mack's nostrils flared slightly she was embarrassingly sure he caught the scent of her unexpected arousal.

Ohmigod!

She tried to inch slightly away from him but his hand tightened fractionally on her leg, the heat from his fingers like a brand on her skin.

"Don't tell me I'm making you nervous," he baited her. "Tough attorney like you." His hand inched slightly up until it touched her thigh. "Listen, you have to eat. So do I. How about this: come on over Saturday night and I'll grill some steaks." He paused and frowned. "Wait. You do eat meat, right?"

"Of course." She smiled. "I even enjoy it, but don't let my veggie friends know."

"Good. Steaks it is."

"Oh, but - " Wait. She hadn't said yes. Had she?

"No buts. Sugar, I've lived next door to you for two years and the only person whose social life is more lacking than yours is my grandfather's." He leaned forward so his face was close to hers, his hand tightening on her thigh. "Time to unwind, Alix. Have fun. Enjoy life."

"And you think you're the one to help me do that?"

"I'm damn sure going to give it my best try." He brushed his lips over hers, so softly that afterward she wasn't even sure it happened. Then he stood up. "Saturday. Seven o'clock." He looked down at her. "Wear this. I like the way it looks on you. Oh, and be sure to bring that little pink bag." He winked. "You can explain to me how everything works."

Alix was still sitting on the lounge chair, immobilized, when he vaulted back into his own yard. Had she just accepted a date with the hunk next door? Apparently so. Of course, she had a whole week to figure out how to cancel.

Chicken!

Petra's voice echoed in her head.

So alright, maybe she'd go. But taking her bag of toys? She'd have to think long and hard about that. She just hoped he didn't figure out how out of practice she was. At everything.