Mac raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“You went overboard with the gifts. You know that you don’t have to buy me.”
Mac came over to her and took her hand in his. “I know that, and I wasn’t trying to. I told you once, a man takes care of his woman and after everything you’ve been through—after all the sacrifices you’ve made—you deserve to have anything your heart desires. And I’m going to do my damnedest to give it to you.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. Melina tried to ignore the way her heart felt as if it were humming with joy.
This man loved her.
For better or worse.
Through the good and the very bad.
Mac loved her and if it made him feel good to express his love by giving her things, then she needed to make an effort to accept it.
“All right, but if you keep this up I just might get used to it,” she teased.
“Maybe that’s exactly what I want.” He winked at her as he raised his hand to cup her cheek. “You’re so damned perfect. How did I get so lucky?”
“Right place. Right time.”
“Is that it?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
His thumb brushed over her cheek. “When we’re done with all these obligations, I’m going to remind you of what else you didn’t mention. Now, come on. I’ve got one more surprise waiting for you downstairs.”
“Mac …”
He smiled and shook his head before taking her hand, and leading her from her apartment. “Don’t say anything. Just wait and see.”
Mac closed and locked the door and then they were in the elevator heading down to the parking area. They’d only gone a few feet when Melina stopped walking. Directly in front of them was a silver, two-door Maserati.
“Mac. You didn’t …”
Mac shrugged. “Your car was impounded and they refused to release it. You need a new set of wheels, doll.”
Melina let go of Mac’s hand and walked closer to the car, running her hands over the sleek body as she marveled at the rims. Shiny chrome with a small crown in the center of the hubs, there was no telling how much he’d spent on the wheels alone.
“But a Maserati, Mac …”
“You like it, don’t you?” he asked.
“Of course I do. I love it.”
“Then that’s all that matters.” He walked up to her and pressed the keys into her hand.
“You’re letting me drive?”
Mac eyed her in that intense way of his, grinning sexily. “Why else would I buy you a car, doll?”
Melina wrapped her arms around Mac and kissed him hard on the lips. His hand palmed her ass, pressing her tighter against him. She’d missed this so much. The feel of his lips, the depth of his passion for her that he never tried to hide. She frowned when he ended their kiss.
“Can’t we just stay in tonight?”
“You have no idea how much I wish we could. I promise I’ll make it up to you,” Mac said.
“I’m holding you to it.”
“I’d expect nothing less. Now, let’s see how this baby rides.”
Melina unlocked the car and Mac opened the driver’s side door for her. He placed a quick kiss on her lips before he closed the door and took his own seat. Smiling, Melina started up the car and ran her hands over the smooth, black leather interior. The navigation system came to life, and Mac laughed softly.
“What’s so funny?” Melina asked, facing him.
“It’s cute to see you so excited about something. I could get used to seeing you like this.”
“Don’t get used to it, buddy. One way or another, I’m going to pull the reins on all this spending you’ve been doing.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Buckling her seat belt, Melina put the car in drive and roared onto the highway. Mac took her hand and held it in his as they headed toward his mother’s house in Amityville.
“I just had a thought,” Melina said.
“What’s that, doll?”
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“What do you mean?” Mac asked.
“I mean, you and I both know that I will never be able to hold a day-to-day job with my record. Hell, I probably won’t even be welcome at the center anymore.”
That last thought stabbed Melina right in the gut. In the time she’d started teaching kickboxing, she’d grown to love those kids. They were bright spots in her life when things had been so dark. Knowing she could probably never see them again hurt.
It hurt a lot.
“Melina, you don’t have to work,” Mac reminded her.
“Well, what do you expect me to do with myself? We’ve talked about this before. I’m not going to sit at home waiting for you and baking cookies.”
“Can we discuss this a little later? Right now, the only thing I want to concentrate on is the fact that you’re home and we no longer have to be apart. As far as the kids, don’t give up on what you’ve built with them. People have a way of surprising you sometimes.”
“I hope you’re right.”