favor. I watched the girls. You can put that culinary school education to use in my amazing kitchen.”
“I can’t believe this, but I’m about to say yes.”
He hooked both arms around his head, probably because he knew it put his biceps at their best, bulgiest advantage. “It was washing the dish that did it, right? I know I’m right.”
She crawled off him. “Stop while you’re ahead.”
He grabbed her hand as she stood. “Hey, Liv?”
She looked down, ready for another smart-ass comment and, frankly, desperately in need of it. “What?”
He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “My chest is yours anytime you need it.”
This was the Mack that scared her most. This sweet, charming version of the man who tried so hard to pretend he didn’t have a care in the world. This was the version of Mack she could fall in love with, which was the kind of foolish, naive thought she should be chasing off with a broom like she did with Randy. For all she knew, he’d shown this side of himself to a dozen Gretchens in the past year alone.
Her heart didn’t seem to care, though. Not when he was smiling at her like she was the only woman in the entire world or, better, the only woman he wanted to be with.
That was a man she could convince herself to trust.
And that was the worst kind of man of all.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Malcolm looked tired and annoyed when Mack sat down at their table in the diner at seven thirty the next morning. Mack hadn’t called anyone else because this wasn’t something he could talk about with the rest of the guys.
“What’s the big emergency?” Malcolm yawned.
Mack glanced around furtively before answering. “Liv is coming over tonight.”
Malcolm stroked his beard. “I see.” He shook his head. “Actually, I don’t see. What’s the big emergency?”
“I don’t want to screw this up.”
“Mack, you’re the one who has taught the rest of us everything we know about the manuals. You’re not going to screw this up.”
“I’m not talking about sex, douchebag.”
Malcolm smiled. “Neither was I. So just tell me what the problem is.”
Mack pursed his lips and looked away. “I’m not sure if she’s . . . if she’s really into me.”
A puff of air burst from Malcolm’s mouth. “I’m sorry. I just, I need to make sure I understand. You’re worried because, for the first time ever, you have to actually work for it?”
“I’m sure that’s super fucking funny to you, but I’m a goddamned wreck. Gretchen threw me off my game. I’ve never been dumped before, and I have no idea what I did wrong with her. And Liv is . . .” Mack scrubbed his hands over his face.
A waitress brought coffee and asked whether they wanted to order food. They waved her off.
“Liv is . . . ?” Malcolm said.
Mack had the sinking feeling that he’d never really understood how hard it was to be on this end of the book club until now. For years he’d been cajoling everyone else to spill their guts if they wanted to save their relationships without ever truly believing he’d need to take his own advice someday.
“She’s skittish. Distrustful. Just when I think she’s opening up to me, she closes herself off again. I don’t want that to happen again after tonight.”
“You really like her,” Malcolm said, his voice carrying an element of holy shit. Mack’s mood darkened.
“Look,” Malcolm said, leaning on his elbows. “You know how this works. If she’s scared and determined to keep her distance from you, then she’s going to be vulnerable tonight because sex is a big deal. Be prepared for her to show up as her normal sarcastic self.”
That made sense. It was exactly what he would’ve told any of the other guys. Still . . . “What do I do, then?”
Malcolm gave him an are you serious look. “You know the answer to that.”
Sure. He knew what he’d say to anyone else. “Be what she needs in the moment.”
Malcolm nodded.
But those words suddenly meant nothing to him because Liv was taking everything he thought he knew and throwing it on its head. He’d left her apartment last night feeling like the jagged edge of a knife. She’d slayed him with that snuggling fantasy and her unguarded words. I just like the idea of having someone to lean on sometimes. It was the loneliest thing he’d ever heard someone say, and the scary thing was, he’d known exactly what she meant. He would never