Free Tipping Point by Rain Stickland Page B

of her head and kissed her deeply once again. She was straining to get at him through the door by the time he released her mouth. It took her a moment to remember what she’d been planning to say.
    “I was going to ask if you wanted to drive up, or we could walk part of the way. I was thinking it would give me a chance to catch my breath and cool down a bit, but now I’ve got serious doubts about that.”
    Neil just laughed and indicated the passenger seat with his head. She sauntered around the hood of his car, and slid in beside him. She closed the door and buckled her seatbelt out of habit, which made him laugh again.
    “How fast did you think I was planning to go on this driveway of yours, Mac? It’s not exactly conducive to top-fuel, funny-car racing.” She smiled at her actions.
    “Habit, of course, but you never know. You’re pretty slick.” His smile slipped into a more sober expression.
    “Mac, about that? I sure as hell can’t lie and say I don’t want you something fierce, but I want the whole package, not just sex.” He turned to look her directly in the eye. Her breath caught once again.
    “Neil, are you having as hard a time as I am, remembering that we only met about ten hours ago?”
    “Pretty much, but I don’t care either. It is what it is, and I’m not interested in pretending it’s not. The second I walked out of that room today and saw you standing there with that irritated look on your face, you snapped front and centre for me. I just wanted you to know that.”
    “The way you looked at me did something to me. I’m the cautious type these days, so it’s hard for me to trust, but it seems to be a lot easier with you.”
    “Okay, let’s go see your daughter before she loses her mind and thinks I’m attacking or abducting you.” Mackenzie gave a rueful chuckle and took his hand as soon as he’d shifted back into drive.
    He pulled in behind the BMW a minute later, and Mac saw that he’d been right about Cameron. She was waiting in the doorway, poised like an avenging angel. Mac got out of Neil’s car and approached her.
    “Jesus, Cam. You don’t have to defend my honour. Get back in the house so we can come in too.” As soon as they were all in the open space, Mackenzie turned to Neil.
    “Neil, I’d like you to meet my ornery and cynical offspring, Cameron. Cameron, this is Neil, who likes to play with sharp objects.” Neil choked out a laugh and extended his hand to Cam.
    “Nice to meet you, oh ornery and cynical one.” Cameron gave a reluctant smile and accepted the offer of a handshake.
    “Same here. Nice to see you’re still able to shake hands with a habit as dangerous as yours.” Neil grinned at her response.
    “Alright you two. You’ve met. Are we all happy? Cam?” Cameron rolled her eyes and moved further into the open space.
    “I’m afraid we’re not exactly set up here yet, so things are kind of a disaster at the moment. Not that I’m any kind of neat freak or anything, but this isn’t the building we’re going to be living in. The other one isn’t up yet. Not that it’ll be any prettier from the outside, since it’s the same sort of building, but it will be a lot bigger.
    “This will be the garage, workshop, and hydroponic greenhouse once we’re set up. I still have to install the insulation before I can grow anything in it in the winter, but it keeps us dry for now.” Neil nodded intently, obviously listening to everything she was saying.
    “Was that a solar set-up I saw on the roof?” She nodded.
    “Yeah. The two buildings will have separate systems, though they can be patched together if necessary, so both buildings can be powered by the larger set-up. This one wouldn’t do both buildings. I meant to improve it, but things moved faster than I could.”
    “Speaking of which, have you heard anything new about what’s happening down there?”
    “Well, Kirk and Leigh got as far as Gravenhurst and ran out of gas. The stations there are