Free Stay With Me (The Montgomery Brothers) by Samantha Chase Page A

hardship.  I love being able to put my ideas out there and knowing that if they’re good, I’ll get honest feedback and if they’re bad, no one is going to hold back.”
    “That must be wonderful.  I hate my job.  It’s boring and not particularly challenging.”
    “So why don’t you quit?”
    Gina shrugged.  “I don’t know what else I’d do.”
    “Anything you want, I’d imagine.  You’re an intelligent woman; I’m sure you’d be an asset no matter where you went.”
    She beamed under his kind words and she could only hope that he truly meant them and that they weren’t empty words just to keep the conversation going.  “So what do you do in your spare time?”
    Mac laughed.  “That’s the problem; I don’t seem to have spare time.  I work all the time.  That’s why my father has been after me.  He wants me to find a hobby or something to do that isn’t work related or he’s going to make me take a leave of absence.”
    Gina almost choked on her fries.  “He can’t make you do that, can he?”
    “He’s the boss; he can do whatever he wants.”
    “So I’m saving you by…?”
    “Making sure that I have something to do and leaving the office while the sun is still out.”  He took a bite of his burger.  “It’s not as painful as I thought it would be.”
    “I’m sure your father’s heart is in the right place and that you’ll find something to do that relaxes you and brings you joy.”  Gina looked around the room.  “My father asked me to paint while I’m here.  I’m trying to figure out where the best place would be to set up.”
    Within minutes they finished their meals and began bringing all of the supplies in from the car
s
.  Mac did all of the carrying while Gina told him where to set everything up.  The guitar went into the bedroom along with the cowboy hats.  The cameras and laptop went on the coffee table and Mac set up her easel and paints next to a large window that overlooked his mother’s garden.  The room was large enough for all of the supplies without overwhelming the space and once everything was inside and set up, they stood back and admired their handiwork.
    “Thank you, Mac,” she said with a smile.  “I couldn’t have done this without you.”  Gina stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek at the same time Mac turned his head to look at her.  Their lips met and held for just a second before his arm snaked around her and pulled her flush against him.
    His lips sipped from hers gently at first as if testing her response until her arms came up and wrapped around his neck with a soft whimper.  Next thing Mac knew, he was devouring her.  His tongue licked at her bottom lip as she opened for him.  It was all heat and passion and wild; their tongues were tentative at first but then they settled in as if they’d kissed a thousand times before.  Mac pulled his mouth from hers and kissed her cheek, her jaw and then her throat.  Gina threw her head back and Mac reached up and pulled the clip from her hair and let those luxurious curls flow over his hands.  The feel of the silky tresses was as erotic as he’d thought.
    She whispered his name and raked her fingers through his hair to hold him to her.  “Mac, please,” she said and did her best to get even closer to him.  She felt the evidence of his arousal and mentally high-fived herself.  But just as she was mentally congratulating herself on finally getting the man to notice her, he released her and turned away.
    It took a moment for Gina to catch her breath.  She reached out and touched Mac’s shoulder but he flinched and took a step f arther away from her.  “Mac?”
    When he finally turned
,
his expression was one of cool indifference.  “I’m sorry; that shouldn’t have happened.”
    She hated that phrase.  Why did men feel the need to use that as their go-to line?  “Really?  Why not?”
    Mac kept his face neutral; if Gina had any idea how much he had wanted that to