Finding The One (Meadowview Heroes 1; The Meadowview Series 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

neck, his hands still working the straps behind her.
    “Um, thank you?” she said. After a pause, she added, “You know, I do appreciate you rescuing me.”
    “My pleasure.” Mac traded positions with his hands and fished around for the other strap. He worked the soft silk up her chest. Someone bumped him from behind and his hand slipped.
    Trudy sucked in a deep breath.
    “Sorry. Unintentional.”
    “Really,” she drawled out, raising an eyebrow. But the corners of her mouth were raised. A good sign.
    “Yes, really. I’m being a gentleman, which, believe me, isn’t all that easy right now.” He maneuvered the silk and got both straps to cover her breasts. “Knot or bow?” he asked.
    “What? Oh, knot. Make that a double knot.”
    Mac closed his eyes and let his hands linger at the nape of her neck. Her skin under his fingertips felt as soft as silk sheets. He breathed in the scent of her hair again. Cucumber and mint, huh? Who would have thought that would be so enticing? He pulled the straps together behind her neck and tied a neat square not. Then he looped it again. “There. All concealed.”
    “Thanks.” Trudy heaved a breath. “You can let me go now.”
    “I’d rather not.” Mac loosened his grip but kept one arm wrapped around her, gently caressed the small of her back. He caught the attention of a passing waiter, then took the plate of food and the now-flat champagne from Trudy’s hand and placed them on the waiter’s tray. Then he caught her gaze. For a moment they stood, silent, connecting visually the same way they’d done earlier, when he’d been up on the balcony after she’d been attacked by a flying grape.
    The tension in her back released. That cute quirk of a smile came back.
    Mac’s pulse raced. No part of him wanted to let her go. The two of them most definitely needed to start over. He’d reintroduce himself, then introduce her to Doe and Aaron as his sister and nephew. But he wouldn’t introduce his father. Tonight he just wanted to be Mac, not Mac Johns, son of world-renown sculptor Gregor Johansson. Just this once he wanted to rest on his own laurels and not any residuals from his father. He could always get to “the son of” part later.
    “I know,” he said, leaning close to her ear, “let’s have a do-over.”
    Trudy wrinkled her brow. “A what?”
    “I’ll pretend like I didn’t see the grape”—Trudy blushed—“or your incredible, um, assets”—Trudy’s blush deepened—“and you pretend like you never thought I had a kid and was married. You know, a do-over.”

    * * *
    “ A do-over ,” Trudy repeated. Huh . She considered Mac’s proposal. Not an easy process, what with Mac’s firm body still pressed up against hers, causing all sorts of inappropriate thoughts to go through her mind (there were three condoms in her purse, right?). She stared into those hot blue eyes, and any coherency she’d once possessed dissipated, replaced by a powerful sexual draw.
    She gave herself a mental shake. Focus, Trudy. When Mac had pointed to her cleavage while he was up on the balcony, she’d thought he’d been laughing at her. But apparently he really had been flirting, although not very well, in her opinion. Then she’d gone all Wicked Bitch of the West on him. Following that, she’d erroneously assumed he was a married man.
    And even after she’d given him her best stank-eye and treated him like a stinky pile of manure, Mac had rescued her from broad humiliation, especially from her hopefully future employer. Now here he stood, asking for a second chance.
    He ran a light hand down her spine. “Well?”
    She shivered, not from cold but from intense attraction. Gregor Johansson was nowhere in sight, and she was pretty sure she’d noticed him ducking out of an exit while Mac was tying up her dress straps. And here this gorgeous and sexy guy was asking her for a do-over. She nibbled her lip as she considered the options…
    “C’mon,” Mac said. “Let’s