that, he stalked out the back door to the hammock and relaxed as if he didn’t have a care in the world, as if he was oblivious to the turmoil that raged within her. He’d delivered that emotionally packed speech, got her hormones good and jumbled then just turned to leave?
And she was his for the week? As in...his?
Both fear and excitement coursed through her. What type of beast had she unleashed?
Mac pulled out the chair for Jenna. Once she was seated, he moved her hair from her shoulder and placed a kiss on her bare, sun-kissed skin. Her familiar floral scent mocked him. He knew firsthand that she dabbed her favorite perfume beneath her ears and put a dot between her breasts. Not only had he seen her do it a time or two, but when he’d been making a path from her neck to her chest, he’d inhaled that scent and he’d wanted more.
“This is so exciting.” Amy beamed from the other side of the table. “I’m so happy for you guys and I’m really glad we could carve out this time to spend together. After all, we’ll all be family soon enough.”
Family? No. His family was his brother, sister, Ryker and Jenna. That was all. Small, simple, effective in making his life complete.
“I finished one of the small bouquets today,” Jenna stated, as if she wanted this conversation to take another path, too. “It’s even more beautiful than I thought it would be.”
Yeah, instead of taking hours to get ready like most women he knew, Jenna had opted to work on an arrangement, then had showered and transformed into evening-ready in minutes. She was stunning tonight with her bare shoulders exposed. Her dress hugged those curves he was dying to get back beneath his hands.
Amy reached across the table and patted Jenna’s arm. “I didn’t ask you to do the flowers because you’re my sister. I asked because you’re the best.”
Settling back in his seat, Mac could relax a bit more now that the sisters had fallen into their easy chatter. The waitress popped over to their table to take their drink orders. Mac and Nathan ordered the local beer on tap, while the ladies ordered a house wine and slid right back into all things wedding.
“Don’t look so glum,” Nathan stated with a laugh. “It’s not that bad. And if she’s happy, then that’s all that matters.”
Mac grunted. “I think eloping would be the easiest.”
Amy gasped, focusing her attention on Mac. “You don’t mean that. Jenna has always dreamed of a big wedding. She even has our mother’s wedding gown in storage because she wants that vintage feel.”
Apparently word traveled fast and Jenna had already discussed the “engagement” with her sister. Mac glanced at Jenna who was waving her hand in the air. “I’ll be happy with any wedding, Amy. So long as it’s to the man I love. I’ll get my happily-ever-after,” she assured her sister.
Jenna didn’t meet Mac’s stare. When he reached beneath the table to slide his hand over her leg, she shifted away just enough so that no one could see, but her silent message delivered a blow.
He’d hurt her earlier. He’d hurt her with his own selfishness and lack of control. But when that bastard Martin had spouted off about Mac’s family...well, he’d been looking for an excuse to punch the guy since he found out Martin had cheated on Jenna.
The waitress brought their drinks and took their orders. The open restaurant provided a view of the crystalline ocean, which glowed even more in the moonlight, palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze and couples strolling around hand in hand. The carefree lifestyle here would be so easy to get lost in; it was the perfect romantic setting, but he wasn’t here for romance and his plan of seduction was backfiring in a major way.
Jenna deserved more than a fling. Mac took a hard pull from his beer and realized he was no better than Martin—as difficult as that was to admit. Martin had used her and Mac was attempting to do the same. Oh, Mac could justify his means by saying he’d always wanted her physically, which was true, but after this week he would go back to his life and Jenna would be left with...what? She didn’t have feelings for him beyond friendship, but she was the type of woman who wanted that fairy-tale ending. Hadn’t her sister just stated as much?
The only role Mac would ever play in a fairytale would be a villain. The villain never got the princess.
“Mac?”
Blinking, he sat his glass back down and looked to Amy. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked what happened.” She nodded toward his injured hand still curled around his frosted mug.
“He had a slight altercation,” Jenna chimed in. “No big deal.”
Oh, hell, no. She wasn’t coming to his defense or making lame excuses for him.
“I punched Martin.”
Jenna sighed and dropped her head. Amy jerked back in her seat and Nathan narrowed his eyes.
“Why?” Amy demanded in a whispered tone.
“He cheated on Jenna and—”
“And nothing,” Jenna stated, her voice rising over his. “Let’s just leave this conversation for another time.”
“He cheated on you?” Amy asked, her wide eyes turning to her sister. “I knew you guys broke up, but you never said why. Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you have to walk with him during the ceremony.”
Mac clenched his teeth. The thought of Martin getting close to Jenna only made him see red all over again.
Amy turned to Nathan. “Did you know about this?” she demanded.
Nathan held his hands up in his defense. “He’s my best friend, but I had no clue. I’d say he didn’t tell me for obvious reasons.”
Jenna reached for her wineglass. “Seriously, it happened a few weeks ago and I didn’t want to ruin the wedding, so let’s forget this conversation ever happened.”
As she sipped her wine, she turned just enough to glare at Mac. He wasn’t going to apologize. Amy and Nathan needed to know what kind of asshat was in their wedding party posing as a friend and all-round good guy.
Mac couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the jerk sporting a shiner for the ceremony. Probably not something Amy would find amusing, but Mac sure did. They should be thankful Mac hadn’t broken the guy’s jaw, or worse.
“Please, don’t let this ruin anything,” Jenna begged.
Amy studied her sister and finally nodded. “So, tell me what you’ve decided on for your wedding. Surely you have a date in mind or some details.”
Hell. He was going to need something stronger than beer to get through this.
“Actually, this is all still so new to us.”
Yeah, like two days.
“I want to focus on your wedding
