Crystal Mac: A prologue novella to Captive Series Book 3 HELL'S HILLTOP Read Online Free Page A

yet. Maybe never. “I thought I had a job to do.”
    After a moment, he nodded. “When you get back. We’ll talk.”
     

 
     

     
    Mac stood guard by the bathroom and caught Crystal’s reflection in the mirror. Face devoid of black streaky makeup, her pert little nose came into focus, along with full, sculpted lips. Her cheeks firmed when she smiled, completing a look that closely resembled the fairies in his kids’ favorite storybook.
    “What’s the matter, Mr. Truck?” Her bright eyes, which contrasted heavily with the dark brown of her hair, were alight with mischief as she wrung the water from her washcloth. “Still trying to figure me out?”
    Mac grunted in response.
    “Here, I’ll make it easier for you.” In one fluid motion, she ripped the black hoodie up and over her head, dropped it to the wood floor by her feet. “Better?”
    She expected him to look away. The white glow of full breasts loomed in his peripheral vision, but by some miracle he managed to hold her gaze. He reached into the pocket of his jeans, removed his cell phone.
    Eyes. Look into her eyes. Damn, they’re… symmetrical.
    Eyes, dammit!
    “Mac?”
    Mel’s voice hit him like smelling salts through the phone. “Crystal needs to borrow some clothes.”
    “Danny has some in her bedroom.”
    His eyes moved down briefly, long enough for those rose-tipped beauties to permanently etch into his brain. “A little more room is required in the, ah… the bosom area.”
    A moment of silence before Melanie laughed in his ear. Mac exhaled loudly. “Just hurry, Mel. Modesty isn’t exactly her thing .”
    Moments later, Crystal held the T-shirt Melanie brought way out by the shoulders. “Let me guess. This is a cover off some car in the driveway.”
    Melanie shoved her hands i n the back pockets of her jeans. “It’s Austin’s shirt. Best I could do on short notice.” Then she looked at Mac with a cocked brow. “Your hands will be full for a while.”
    The words conjured an image of his hands full… with Crystal’s alarmingly beautiful breasts. He pinched the bridge of his nose to clear it away. “If you’re worried about the daycare, Gretchen can open for us in the morning.”
    “By herself?” Melanie said doubtfully.
    It was an uncomfortable thought. Even Mac didn’t want to take care of fourteen kids on his own. “She can bring in subs to help out until this is over.”
    “Help for what?” Crystal asked by the mirror.
    Melanie pulled him into the laundry room and spoke low. “Mac… I think we should close it for the week. We’re both tied to IGP right now and we can’t let it touch our kids.”
    “And leave the parents in the lurch like that?”
    “It’s better than putting their children at risk,” she argued.
    Mac leaned close and whispered, “IGP doesn’t know shit about me. This thing with Crystal will be wrapped up by tomorrow and I can be back to work on Tuesday. I’ll hold things together until you figure out where you’re going from here.”
    It was the first time he expressed frustration over the sudden changes taking place in their lives.
    Her look softened. “I know how much the daycare means to you,” she whispered just as quietly. “And how much DJ means to you. You’ll still be Uncle Mac, no matter where we end up.”
    Not according to the eyes of Bennett. “You sure about that?” he countered knowing Derek would see it differently.
    “We all have to make acceptances,” she assured with a small smile. “Even Derek.”
    And Mac believed her. Feeling somewhat better, he gathered her in a bear hug. “Give me until Tuesday. Okay?”
    She nodded under his chin. “Assuming Crystal behaves.”
    “Don’t worry about me,” Crystal sing-songed from the bathroom.
    Shit. Mac released his roommate and winced. “Super hearing. Keep forgetting about that.”
    “And there,” Melanie said pointing toward the voice, “is your tie to IGP.”
    In other words, their daycare’s future… his