Stay With Me (The Montgomery Brothers) Read Free Page B

at a hotel and rent a car.”
    “My father would never have allowed that.  He and Arthur have been friends since they were kids; you’re like family.  And family takes care of one another.”
    Just what she wanted to hear; another reference to her being like family.  While she didn’t mind it coming from William and Monica or even Lucas or Jason, the last thing she wanted was Mac to think of her like family. 
    “Well, that’s sweet of you to say,” she said as they stepped out into the sunshine and placed her sunglasses back on.  “I’m very grateful for their hospitality.  Plus, I have some very fond memories of the times our families spent together.  It will be nice to stay someplace familiar.”
    Soon they were at Mac’s car and Gina settled in as he put her suitcase in the trunk.  When he climbed in beside her, it was as if the entire interior had shrunk.  He was big; much bigger than she remembered.  Mac stood easily a little over six feet tall and even in his monstrous SUV, he overpowered the space. 
    He didn’t try to make small talk and for that Gina was thankful.  As they made their way out of the airport parking lot, she took some time t o secretly observe him.  Considering his intimidating frame, he moved with grace.  His hands were large and tanned and Gina secretly wished that he’d reach out with them to offer her some comfort.
    But he didn’t.
    His dark brown hair was cut short and there wasn’t a hair out of place.  His suit was impeccable and she could tell that Mac Montgomery was a man who liked order and organization.  His car was spotless, his appearance was spotless and she had a feeling that he did not do well with any form of disorganization or chaos.
    He’d think that she was a hot mess.
    She had no real plan for her time here: there was no schedule or itinerary.  She had to simply go with the flow and take each day as it came until it was time for her to go.  Gina knew it was just a gut feeling but just watching the rigid way Mac held himself reminded her of a person who did everything with a purpose and rarely relaxed.
    With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach she thought that they’d probably make each other crazy if they spent too much time together.
    Although making each other crazy could be part of the fun.
    A small smile tugged at her lips.  While she had no idea how her days were going to go while she was here in North Carolina, Gina knew that they were bound to run into one another; especially if she was going to be staying at his parent’s house.
    “I don’t know if my father mentioned it but he and my mother are going to be out of town for part of your visit.”
    Gina nodded.  “He did.  He said that he’d happily cancel their trip so that I wouldn’t be alone but I told him that it wasn’t the same thing as being alone at my father’s.  There I have no connection; it’s a strange house that I’ve never been to.  With the guest house, it’s part of my childhood.  Plus, I didn’t want them canceling their vacation on my account.”
    “Well, to be honest, he’s really worried about Arthur.”
    She nodded again.  “I know he is but right now there isn’t a whole lot that any of us can do.  Dad wouldn’t want your father hovering over him at the hospital; that would make him crazy.”
    “It would make anyone crazy,” Mac said a little too harshly and saw Gina’s head snap towards him.  “I mean, your father has enough to deal with right now with medical staff hovering over him, he doesn’t need anymore spectators at this point.”
    “I hope that doesn’t include me,” she snapped.
    “Of course not, Gina; you’re his daughter.”
    “And your father is his best friend.”
    Mac sighed with frustration.  Why were they even discussing this?  “There’s a difference and I think you know that.  Your father is going to be happy to have you there with him after all this time.”  He realized immediately how that sounded.