The weekend passed by in a pleasant haze of work. Brenna attacked all of the chores she hadn't been able to do while injured.

The teenage kid from down the road came on Saturday and they spent all day picking the ripe peaches and plums, loading them into crates and then into his pickup. He'd taken them to the farmer's market at the grange on Sunday and returned that evening with her profit which she split with him 50/50. It had been a pretty good agreement on both their sides for the last 2 years. She mourned the fact he'd be graduating in the spring and she'd have to find a new partner.

Sunday had been all about weeding and maintenance in her garden and home. She put on her faded jeans and an old band t-shirt and got down to work after finishing her coffee. Thoughts of Mac were never far from her mind as she worked and she found herself blushing several times as remembered their kiss and how he'd looked in his uniform when he'd stopped by her office.

She'd finally thrown in the towel when Shane from down the street had returned with her money and her crates. She'd settled into the chair on her porch with her hair tied up in a kerchief and a large glass of iced tea when a familiar black pickup turned into her drive. Reego bolted from the back seat of the pickup and catapulted himself up her steps in his excitement to reach her.

Mac looked a little chagrined as he followed his partner. "I hope it's ok I came out. I tried to call you but you didn't answer. I brought sub sandwiches and beer." He had both his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

"I completely forgot about my phone all day. I just now came in from the garden. If you brought dinner you are absolutely invited in. I was just thinking to myself about how I was hungry but had no desire to cook." She laughed until she realized that her hair was still tied up and she was covered in dirt, then she laughed again. "I'm a total mess."

"I disagree. You look hot, like a brunette Daisy Duke without the signature short shorts. I'm not complaining, those jeans look really good too."

She blushed deeply. Greg had been a lot more reserved than Mac. She'd always known that he'd found her attractive but he'd never been good at expressing himself verbally. Mac made no bones about telling her, not that she hadn't caught him looking her way with admiration more than a few times or making up reasons to be close or touch her the way Greg had.

"It's so nice out here, we should eat here. I'll just run in and wash up and grab some plates. Make yourself at home."

When she returned she found him relaxed in the other chair with the sandwiches removed from their paper bags and placed on the table. He was leaned back leisurely sipping on his beer.

"Work today?" She asked as she sauntered over loaded with some condiments and 2 paper plates.

"Yep, last day of the week. Dog face and I are off until Thurs." Reego was sprawled out on the top stair next to a water bowl Mac had filled and put out for him.

"Awesome. I got caught up on all my house stuff today. Neighbor kid took my peaches and plums to market and sold them for me. After a load of laundry and a shower I should be set and ready for the work week." She took a large bite of the piece of sub she'd taken for herself. It was good. She gave Mac a thumb up.

"What time Tuesday are we heading out?" He took a bite himself as he waited for her to swallow and answer him.

"If you want to stop by the office around 10 a.m. that should give me time to get the things I need. It's only an hour and a half drive; we can stop along the way for lunch."

"We'll be there with bells on and bringing the gift of coffee."

"Mac, I really like all that you do for me but I really want to make sure you know that you don't have to bring me things and stuff like that. I really enjoy just talking to you and your company."

"I know. I like to. You should see the color of pink you turn when I surprise you. It's great. So, this will make things more pleasant for us both if you tell me what your favorite coffee drink is." He tucked the last piece of his sub into his mouth and leaned back from the table.

"Pretty much anything except fruit. Never been a fruit and coffee kind of person, or peppermint for that matter. If you stick to good ol' chocolate or caramel flavoring and strong coffee you can't go wrong." He nodded and leaned back in his chair to work on his beer as she finished her sandwich.

After she was done she opened a beer of her own and rolled all of the meal remains up into a ball to carry inside later.

"Ok, favorite color?"

"So now we are playing 20 questions?" she laughed and took a drink. "Alrighty then, but you have to answer the same questions you ask. Dark blue." She pointed the neck of the beer in his direction.

"Green. Favorite food?"

"Is coffee a food? It should be. If not, I'd have to say sushi. Right back at ya."

"Anything you make. It used to be BBQ ribs but Mexico changed all that." He winked at her. "Political leaning?"

"Oh! You are brave!" she laughed and took another drink. "Most people wouldn't venture down that road until they'd gotten me into bed. That one could kill the whole thing, but I am pretty conservative and tend to lean toward Republican. Although I would like it known I think they are all lying crooks."

"Sorry. If you'd rather have this convo in bed I'm willing to go there to make you more comfortable."

"Oh you are smooth. Are you sure you don't go out and practice this stuff on the girls at the bar and then bring it back to me?"

He leaned in closer. "Nope. You're the only girl I care to impress. We are on the same page politically by the way." He placed his empty beer on the table. "Left to your own devices with nothing to do, what is your favorite way to spend time?"

"Curled up somewhere with a good book. The couch, the porch, under a tree, doesn't matter as long as it's comfortable."

"I can see you curled up on the couch in the winter in those pink pajamas you wore in Mexico. That is a very nice thought." She blushed bright red.

"I would not be wearing those pajamas in winter and I never left my room in those so how did you see them?" she wracked her mind trying to think of when he had seen her in her little pink shorts and tank top pajamas.

"The night you stood on the deck and cried." He looked uncomfortable and slightly ashamed. "I had to let Reego go to the bathroom and there you were. I didn't want you to think I was being creepy and it looked like a private moment so I snuck away. It was dark but you still looked great."

She remembered that night. "I have nightmares sometimes. They seem to be worse when I'm stressed out. I was dealing with some emotional stuff that had cropped up. Wow that is embarrassing."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mess up the conversation."

"You didn't. It just means I get to embarrass you now. So, let's see....... Boxers or briefs?"

He was slightly shocked that she'd gone there and stared at her for a few seconds. He had to admit to himself he hadn't expected her to take the upper hand. He could tell she was nervous having stepped up to the plate and pushed the conversation out of the safety zone. Now she waited in anticipation to see how he would respond and where they would go from there.

"Both. Boxer briefs actually."

Brenna had not prepared for the reaction her body would have to the visual her mind created of his response. Suddenly all she could see was those dark eyes hooded with lust as he approached her with his chiseled body in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.

The air was cooling down rapidly but Brenna felt as if she needed to fan herself.

"Well..." She faltered; at a loss for words."I should turn on the porch light. It's getting really dark out here." She rose and stepped into the house where she took a moment to steady her thoughts before flipping on the light. She reminded herself that she'd gambled, she'd wanted to throw him off his smooth game but lost. His reply had only flustered her more.

She flipped on the light and returned to him sitting in the soft light of the porch. She shook her head at the self satisfied smirk on his face, he knew exactly what he had just done to her.

Before she could sit back down he stood. "I'd better get out of your hair and let you get that laundry done so you can be good for work." They stood close. Despite his announcement he made no move to leave. He simply stood staring at her with those eyes set in that face with his sharp masculine features that did nothing to ease her flustered state.

This time Mac decided to take the lead, she'd been brave enough already. He lowered his head and placed his lips directly on hers. He tried to be gentle but when she moaned deep in her throat he lost it and before he knew what had happened they were up against the wall of the house. Her warm body was flush but he wanted more.

His hands worked of their own accord and cupped her bottom bringing her up so that they were face to face and her legs were around his waist. She gripped his shoulders as he deepened the kiss. His tongue sought entrance and she granted it.

He tasted of the beer he'd consumed. Paired with the smell of his aftershave and light sweat; the feel of his strong hands on her body, he assaulted her senses with dominant, strong male signals that threatened to turn her inside out.

One of his hands strayed under her shirt. His warm hand on the small of her back, the skin to skin contact sent an electric shock wave up her spine.

It took her a moment to realize his lips had pulled back. She struggled to focus on the change. They were both breathing hard and he continued to support her body between himself and the wall.

"You're killing me Bren. I just need a minute. I just...." she nodded in understanding. She was still trying to wade through the hormones and lust clouding her vision and setting all her nerve endings on fire.

"You. Wow." He shook his head in frustration at his second failed attempt to convey a coherent thought.

"Uh huh." she murmured with a smile. "You too."

With that they both broke into a fit of giggles. She noticed that when his smile was at it widest he had a slight dimple on the left side. Slowly she loosened her legs and he lowered her to the ground.

"Well, if Karen was spying on me she sure got herself a hot, horny teenager show right there." She ran her hands through her hair in embarrassement and dislodged the handkerchief holding it.

"Who?"

"My neighbor Karen. She thought you were pretty hot and said she'd be spying in hopes of getting a hot and steamy moment. That was definitely it."

"Absolutely. Very hot, very steamy." He leaned down and kissed her softly. "I'm going to go because all I can think about is picking you up and marching you into the house and finding the closest surface to lay you down on and taking off all your clothes. I don't think either of us is ready for that yet."

She froze at his words; the vision of just that flying through her mind. Immediately on the heels of that visual was a memory of Greg and her on the couch. Immediately guilt clawed at her gut. She shook her head. She was not ready.

"Thank you Brenna. Goodnight." He kissed the tip of her nose and turned away with a low command to Reego. She watched as he drove away.

Alone on the porch she turned her face to the sky.

"Shit Greg. What the heck do I do now? Is this ok? I just don't know!"

The silence continued broken only by a cricket singing it's song somewhere in there grass of her yard.

"Great! Very helpful. Thanks a lot." She let out a breath of frustration and turned back into the house just as her phone rang. The caller ID flashed and Karen's name filled the screen. With a smile Brenna pushed the button and made her way to the couch for the long conversation that was sure to follow.