The sun was setting low on the horizon making the sand of their private beach look aflame when they finally arrived back at the house.

"I am going to dig a fire pit and start us a bonfire," Mac announced and left out the back door in search of a shovel with the assurance that once everyone had changed and assembled a few snacks to roast they would join him on the sand.

Isabelle poured herself a glass of wine and wandered out into the dark of the porch demonstrating her disinterest in assisting the other women in the kitchen.

"Hey will you guys go see if there are some camp chairs in the garage or something?" Becca asked. Pete and Derek wandered off down the hall. "And see if there are any extra blankets anywhere too please?"

Pete waived his hand to acknowledge he'd heard her and the two men kept walking.

Once they were well out of earshot Becca rounded on Brenna.

"Ok, I'm really sorry!" she exclaimed and hugged Brenna.

"For what?" Brenna honestly had no idea why her friend would feel she was due to give an apology.

"I feel bad how Tammi and I and the boys just took off and left you with Mac. That wasn't ok. It was selfish of us. Tammi agrees."

"No! It was fine. I like hanging with Mac. He's funny. It wasn't bad at all. We both were happy you guys were getting some couple time in." Becca gave Tammi and incredulous look. "Seriously! You guys can just knock if off because we were just fine. There are no hard feelings I swear."

She crossed her heart for emphasis. Suddenly a mischievous glimmer sparked up in Tammi's eyes.

"I think Mac has no problem hanging out with you that's for sure." She winked at Brenna then turned her naughty smile to Becca.

"You know, I had noticed the same thing," Becca concurred. "Whenever given the opportunity, he's more than willing to strike up a conversation with you or compliment you. Honestly, in all the years we've known him I've never seen him be so comfortable around a woman."

"Oh my gosh you guys! Knock it off. It isn't like that. He's just trying his damnedest to stay away from Isabelle. Sometimes it looks like she's hunting him, I swear." she giggled to herself as a visual of Isabelle stalking and pouncing on Mac came to mind.

"Oh, I have no doubt that she is." Becca poured herself a glass of wine and swirled the contents in her glass. "From day one I saw her set her sights on him. I don't think he even notices a third of all her efforts."

Tammi sighed audibly. "Yeah, she's a piece of work. And I know it's my fault that she's here."

"No! Oh honey, don't think that way. It is what it is." Brenna quickly moved to reassure her friend that no one held a grudge against her for their less than savory companion. "You have a kind heart and you were trying to help her out. We all understood that. She's just kind of a nasty person."

"Kind of?" Becca snorted.

Brenna chose not to encourage that line of conversation and diverted the course. "Hey I appreciate all you guys have done for me. I know I was kind of a project too. I still have hope for her. She just has to learn to love herself more."

"Hell no! You were NOT a project. You are an amazing person and a good friend. Don't ever say that again!" Brenna was taken aback by the vehemence of Becca's exclamation.

"What she said." Tammi stared at her with equal seriousness.

"Ok, ok! I'm sorry," she had to admit it touched her that it mattered so much to them. "Back to the original subject; Mac is a great guy. He's super funny and definitely nice to look at but there is no way he's interested in me. So you guys can just put those thoughts away."

"Of course there is a way," Tammy shook her head as if she couldn't understand how Brenna could be so blind. "He's a man. Stable, mature for the most part, employed and intelligent. He's sees a beautiful woman who is also intelligent, stable, funny and he seems particularly appreciative of your cooking skills. How could he not be attracted to you?"

"Even if he was, I just don't know. I just....." she was at a loss for words on how to express how scared she was of everything. How even thinking about moving on felt like betraying Greg in some way but how lonely she felt sometimes. Tears pricked the back of her eyes. There was no way she would admit how strong a pull to Mac she truly had.

"Oh honey we know. We were just teasing. There is no pressure. Really. We're sorry aren't we?" Becca nodded in confirmation. Both women had put down their wine glasses and moved in to hug their friend.

The jiggling of the garage door alerted them to the fact the men were done with their search and on their way back.

"Ok then. Let's grab those bottles of wine, the chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers and lets go have a calorie fest!" Brenna announced in an attempt to break the mood that had settled on them.

"Yes, lets!" Becca agreed and they set about gathering all the supplies into a large canvas bag as the men returned arguing about the latest fantasy football trade.

*****************************

Mac had successfully located a small shovel in the shed beside the house and Reego joyously lent him a paw in digging a large round hole in the sand.

He'd just returned with a large armload of driftwood when a shadow detached itself from the darkness and Isabelle sauntered in his direction with a glass of wine in her hand.

"I brought matches," she waived the small package at him with her right hand while talking a large drink of her wine with the other.

He saw that she had put a mostly sheer black dress on over the tiny blue bikini she'd been wearing earlier. It didn't look as if it would provide her with much warmth against the cool evening breeze.

Mac dumped the wood down onto the sand and built the beginnings of the fire with the smallest pieces then reached up for the matches.

Isabelle stepped impossibly close. Mac was engulfed in the strong scent of coconut and lime. She extended her hand in his direction but the matches slipped from her finger before his made their way there.

"Oops!" she bent swiftly just as Mac moved for the matches himself. The subsequent collision left his face planted firmly against the oil slicked cleavage of her chest.

Without thought he let himself fall back and away from her body landing on his butt in the sand.

"Sorry! I was going for the matches. I really didn't mean that. I'm really sorry." He could tell his face was beat red in the dark.

"Oh I didn't mind. Next time you don't have to make such a show to get what you want. You could just take what you want." She fixed him with a feline stare that had the opposite effect of what he assumed she intended.

"I don't know what you think just happened, but I didn't make any play for you or any party of your anatomy. I really was just reaching for the matches." He ran his hands through his hair. "Look Isabelle. I'm not blind. I've noticed how you act around me, the looks you give me and honestly that isn't going to happen. I'm just not interested in you that way. Not that there is anything wrong with you or anything, you just aren't my type."

She took a step back and crossed her arms across her body in defense. "Of course there isn't anything wrong with me. Just because you've got some hero complex and flock to scarred little bunny women doesn't mean there is anything wrong with me. It just means you couldn't handle a woman like me."

"Hey, I'm not trying to fight with you. I just wanted to clear the air and get things straight." Mac raised his hands in supplication. "There is no reason to get nasty and start throwing insults."

She gave him one long last look before breaking into a lazy smile.

"Your right, there isn't any reason for this to be a big deal," she took another drink of wine. "I'm sure it isn't a big deal anyway." She giggled to herself at her pun and took another drink.

He was saved from trying to come up with an appropriate retort by the arrival of the others.

Isabelle faded back as they arrived and set up several wooden chairs around his fire pit and a small wooden table for the food.

Mac picked up the matches and returned to starting the fire, unsettled by the encounter with Isabelle. She was a real piece of work and he'd have to watch her closer in the future. Unlike the smiling brunette who'd curled herself up in the chair near him with a green fleece throw. That one he had no problems watching.

He disputed Isabelle's insinuation that it as a hero complex that drew him to Brenna. He had no delusions that she needed to be saved or taken care of. In fact she projected exactly the opposite. Brenna Malloy could take care of herself just fine.

Mac simply enjoyed her company. She was very easy to look at and had a warm personality. She was witty but not unkind like some women tended to be and very intelligent. He sensed that she didn't just talk to talk but put thought into each sentence. Even when they weren't talking he felt comfortable being silent in her presence.

Once the fire got going he claimed the empty chair beside her and accepted the proffered long wooden skewer preloaded with a marshmallow.

"Thank you!" A minute later he also accepted the beer that came his way along with the chocolate and graham cracker. "You rock you know that?"

"Ya, ya." She brushed off the compliment with a smile.

Mac leaned back in the chair and took a pull off his beer as his marshmallow continued to brown. Slowly he observed the people he called friends, and in some cases family even.

Isabelle had taken residence in a chair across the fire from him and was doing her best to look bored and put out. Tammy sat sideways in her chair with her feet in Derek's lap as they talked quietly. She'd called and checked on Maddy before coming out and he knew she was feeling a little separation anxiety. Derek absently rubbed her feet as they talked softly.

Pete, Becca and Brenna were engaged in an animated conversation about some ridiculous new product Becca had seen on the Home Shopping Network. He'd missed most of the conversation but had heard Brenna declare it to be proof that the human race was deteriorating in the way of intelligence.

When he glanced back his marshmallow had turned in to a flaming ball that he quickly had to blow out and apply to the chocolate bedecked graham cracker.

He hadn't known just how much he'd needed a vacation until now. Sitting and eating the sticky, gooey mess he realized just how much he'd isolated himself with his work. Many days Reego, the patrol officers and perpetrators were the only people he saw between waking and sleeping.

A good, relaxed time with good people was something he missed and he made a promise to himself to not get so far out of the world again.

Reego made a small huffing sound as he flopped down between himself and Brenna. His rounds had produced no snacks and the disappointment was palpable.

"Awwww buddy this is the good life my friend," he reached down and scratched behind the dogs ears just where he knew he liked it best. Another, more delicate, hand came into view and scratched Reego's belly. Mac glanced up and met a pair of moss green eyes perched atop a small smile.

He couldn't help the smile that spread across his own face. "He's going to be so spoiled. He isn't going to want to do any work when we get home."

"I'll have to come see a demonstration because I have a really difficult time imagining this guy tackling bad guys. He's just too sweet." She continued to scratch the thoroughly contented dog.

"Ya, you should come do a ride along some time. Then we can show off for you. He likes to show off."

"That actually sounds like a lot of fun. I'll have to do that," she rolled her eyes. "Somehow I don't thinks he is the only one who likes to show off."

"Who me? Nah, I'm a really humble guy." he tried to give her his best innocent look. She just laughed.

Becca called her attention away again and Mac was left to study her profile in the fire light. He didn't know exactly what he wanted from Brenna Malloy just yet but he found himself really hoping she'd be willing to let him find out.