we would go shopping when we got here, but I forgot we were in the RV.” Turning to Mrs. Vesper, she told her with a wry smile, “The RV is handy for staying in. Quite lovely for it, really. Like a house on wheels. But it does drive like a little house on wheels too. Big, and awkward, and my goodness does it guzzle gas, which is just horrible for the environment, of course. Not something you’d want to go shopping in.” Turning back to CJ, she reached out to squeeze her hand with gratitude. “How lucky we are that you are offering to take him in your car.”
“Oh, I . . .” CJ frowned. She’d seen freedom on the horizon, thinking their arrival meant she could be rid of Mac, and suddenly that freedom had just been snatched away. She couldn’t even dump him on Dandridge now that the officer was gone. Hell, she thought with irritation. It was like the universe was doing everything it could to ensure she wouldn’t be rid of the man.
“You finish your breakfast and I shall go tell the boys to get ready to go shopping,” Marguerite said now, getting up from the table.
“The boys?” CJ echoed with confusion.
“Well, Justin and Decker will have to accompany the two of you. They are here to protect Mac, after all,” Marguerite pointed out as she headed out of the room. “I shall be right back.”
CJ heaved a defeated sigh as she heard the screen door squeal open and clang shut, then turned to Mrs. Vesper and forced a smile when she noted the woman’s amused expression. “It would appear I’m going shopping.”
“Yes, dear. It seems so,” Mrs. Vesper said sympathetically, and then added, “It will be fine. Mac is a lovely young man. I know he’ll appreciate your help in the matter.”
“Yeah,” CJ murmured, and lowered her gaze to her plate. Oddly enough, she wasn’t hungry anymore.
Nine
Mac finished tucking in the clean T-shirt he’d just donned, and then took a moment to run his fingers through his still damp hair to smooth down the disorder that pulling the cloth over his head had caused. He’d had six bags of blood, taken a shower, shaved, and was now dressed in lovely clean clothes and ready to begin his wooing. He felt much better than he had before his aunt Marguerite and uncle Julius had arrived. Actually, he felt great now. He was clean, well-fed, and had met his life mate.
Life was good, he decided, winking at himself in the mirror before bending to scoop up the pajama bottoms and T-shirt he’d stripped out of to shower. He considered them briefly, and then simply tossed them in the small garbage bin next to the toilet before opening the bathroom door and stepping out into the equally small bedroom.
Mac heard Marguerite’s voice as he passed through the bedroom to the main part of the RV, which was a compact combination living room/dining area. Still, while he knew she was there before he stepped out of the bedroom, he was completely unprepared for her to gasp with horror and immediately start shaking her head when she saw him.
“No, no, no! Take those clothes off and put your pajamas back on,” she ordered, hurrying to his side.
“What?” he asked, dumbfounded.
“Take them off!” she insisted, jerking his T-shirt out of the jeans and starting to wrench it up his chest.
“Marguerite!” he protested, trying to grab at the cloth to pull it back down, but he was too slow. She was already jerking it off over his head, forcing his arms up as she did. “What are you doing?” he muttered with bewilderment through the cloth while it was temporarily covering his face.
“I am trying to prevent you making a huge mistake, Macon,” she said as she managed to get the cloth off his head. “I am helping.”
“Hey!” he roared, grabbing her hands to stop her when she started to work at undoing his jeans. “What the hell, woman?”
“I think he can manage the rest on his own, darling,” Julius said with gentle amusement as he slid an arm around her waist and drew her away from Mac.
“Yes, I can,” Mac said, scowling at her, and then he added, “Or I would if I knew why the hell I should take off the nice clean clothes I just put on.”
“I told CJ I did not know your size and could not bring you clothes,” Marguerite said abruptly, looking like she was ready