The Mighty Quinns: Mac

“I’ll read it here,” she said.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

She opened her mouth, then quickly snapped it shut. Emma held out the library card and Lily snatched it from her fingers and hurried out of the library. Emma drew a deep breath and sighed. Childhood was such a complicated time for some kids. She couldn’t help but empathize with Lily Harper, so scared and vulnerable. At times like this, Emma wished she had more than books to offer.

She picked up the bouquet that Mac had brought her and drew in the scent of the flowers. All the troubles of her own adolescence had made her into the woman she was today. But her lack of sexual experience kept her anchored to that vulnerable girl. She couldn’t truly feel like an adult until she’d left that part of her behind. And she was determined that Mac would be the one to help her do that.

* * *

MAC SORTED THROUGH the stack of scribbled notes, then stared at the computer screen. He was supposed to enter his crop-dusting jobs into the accounting program so invoices could be generated, but Buddy’s program was ancient and nothing seemed to work properly.

The screen door creaked and he looked up to see Charlie Clemmons standing in the late morning sun, a large plastic bag tucked under his arm. Mac straightened, shoving the bookkeeping aside. “Hi,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

Charlie approached the counter, reaching to pull his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. He cleared his throat nervously. “I want to hire you again to fly another banner for me.”

Mac shook his head, holding out his hands. “Listen, Charlie, I get how you feel—”

“This is different,” Charlie insisted. “I bought a new banner. I want you to take it up this morning. She and Trisha always meet for coffee on Saturdays so she’ll be sure to see it.”

“Emma Bryant came in here after the last banner,” Mac said. “She was pretty angry. I don’t think a new banner is going to make her happy.”

“This one will make her very happy,” Charlie said. “I’ve decided that I was moving too fast. I have to slow down and court her. A girl like Emma doesn’t want a pushy guy. A girl like Emma needs time to fall in love.”

“A girl like Emma?” Mac asked.

Charlie shifted uneasily. “Yeah...you know.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. ’Cause she’s a virgin.” He paused. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, to be honest, I’m lacking in that department, too. That’s why we’d be an excellent match. There wouldn’t be any...expectations.”

Mac groaned inwardly. This was too much information! Was this the gossip that Emma had referred to? Mac let the information sink in. Though it didn’t change his desire for her, it certainly changed his attitude about seducing her at the next available opportunity. One didn’t just ravish a virgin without a care for her limited experience. Being a woman’s first lover was a tremendous responsibility—the kind of responsibility he wasn’t sure he was ready to accept.

“So what will it take?” Charlie asked.

Mac blinked and met his gaze. “What?”

“What will it take to get you to fly my banner? I paid you two hundred dollars for the last flight. I assume this one will cost the same?”

“Are you sure you want to waste—I mean, spend—your money on this? I’ve talked to Emma and she really isn’t impressed. Maybe you ought to turn your attention to another woman. Someone more...obliging.”

“What does that mean?”

“A girl who might welcome your affections?”

“But the book said that I should be persistent and not give up. No matter what.” Charlie pulled a dog-earred paperback out of his jacket pocket and dropped it on the counter.

“How to Catch a Mate in Ten Easy Lessons,” Mac read out loud. “Which lesson are you on?”

“I can’t seem to get past number three,” Charlie said with a dejected sigh.

“Maybe you should start over...with a different woman. A guy has to know when to cut his losses and move on.” Mac couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for his suggestion. After all, he did have ulterior motives. But it wasn’t just because he’d been suddenly captivated by Emma Bryant and wanted her for himself. He also wanted to save her the irritation and embarrassment of dealing with another of Charlie’s banners.

Charlie set the banner on the counter. “You’re probably right. You might as well toss that,” he said.

Mac nodded. “Good call. You’ll see. You’ll find someone who’ll appreciate your romantic gestures. There are a lot of fish in the sea.”

“Where? What sea have you been looking in? There are only so many women in this town who’d consider dating a guy like me and I’ve run through them all.”

“Maybe you ought to aim higher,” Mac suggested. “Shoot for a girl who’s out of your league.”

“The book doesn’t help with that,” Charlie said. “I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Mac paused. If he really wanted a clear road ahead with Emma, then he had to be willing to help Charlie out. It wasn’t as if business was booming for Buddy’s Flying Services. And he did have knowledge he could impart. “How about if I help you out?” Mac offered.

“You’d do that?” Charlie asked. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to see you make a fool out of yourself. We’ll hang out. The 49ers are playing on Monday night. Is there a sports bar around here?”

“There’s Shooters just east of town.”

“All right. I’ll meet you there on Monday night. We’ll have a few beers, talk to a few women and see where it goes.”

“You’ll be my wingman,” Charlie said, grinning. “That’s been my problem all along. No wingman.”

Charlie left the banner sitting on the counter. It was still there when J.J. came in through the shop door. He stopped and stared at it, then winced, shaking his head. “Charlie again?”

“I talked him out of it,” Mac explained.

J.J. seemed surprised. “That guy is like a terrier with a bone. He once decided that he was going to get on that show Gladiator Games. He trained for three years. By the time he was ready, the show had been canceled. Charlie has the worst luck. That’s why people avoid him. They’re afraid it might rub off on them.”

“I’m just going to distract the guy for a while. Give him some good advice and maybe find him a different girl.”

J.J. gave Mac a dubious look. “You’re fixin’ to steal his girl away.”

“Emma is not his girl.”

“That’s not what most people in town believe. Most folks around here are all for the match.”

“You didn’t mention that she was a virgin,” Mac said.

J.J. shook his head. “Why should that make a difference to you?”

“It doesn’t,” Mac said. “It’s just something most guys would want to know.” He cursed beneath his breath. This was suddenly getting far too complicated. Too many people had a stake in his relationship with Emma. Mac had always preferred to keep his social and sexual life simple. It made for easier exits. And he’d be the first person to admit that he never wanted to stick around for long.

He was all too familiar with the consequences. There would be questions—about his parents, his family, his background. Where was he born? What were his parents’ names? What about grandparents? So many questions that he didn’t have answers for.

For any other man, that might have made a difference. But for Luke MacKenzie—or whatever his name really was—he’d put those questions aside. He’d determined at a young age to let the past go, to focus purely on the present.