* Please Review even though this story is done! Thanks!*

Scout Nichols sighed as she pulled up to her new apartment. She sat in her car and stared at the door. After a few minutes, she shut off the car and sat back. This was the one place she thought she'd never come back too and she wouldn't have come back if she didn't have too. But she had no choice, no other options. She knew she always had a place there and a job. Walter would always hold a place open at his bar and in his apartment complex for her. They had been close her whole life.

She opened the car door and stepped out. Scout shook her head as her stomach jumped. He still lived there. Of course he did, Mac Reedus would never leave Red Canyon. This was where he was king. He owned the town and it would only be a matter of time before he found out she was back and when he did, he'd come to her. They had been apart for 5 years but Mac could hold a grudge like no one she had ever met. It was his fault they had broken up but he didn't see it that way. He didn't see it that way when she left him and she was sure he wouldn't see it that way now.

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Three days after Scout had moved into her apartment, she was behind Walter's bar, wiping down the counter and working. Every time the door opened, her stomach would drop. She knew he would be walking in any minute. This was the only bar in town and he loved going to the bar. His friends had started moving in, all shocked to see her. A few of them muttered hellos to her before they ordered and walked away quickly.

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Mac parked his truck and turned it off quickly. He was tired and just wanted a drink. He was going to play a game of pool, have a few drinks and maybe bring someone out to his truck for a quick fuck before he headed home. He needed to unwind and there was no matter way to do that then with a beer, a game and a fuck. He slammed his truck door shut then trudged up to the bar door. He pushed opened the door and looked over to the pool table. He nodded to his friends quickly as he walked to the bar.

When he reached the bar, he leaned against the counter while his blue eyes scanned the crowd quickly. He knocked on the counter to get Walter's attention. He wasn't paying attention as a napkin was set down in front of him. A beer was set down next. He dug his wallet out and took out his card. He set it on the counter without looking up still.

" Just open a tab for me." Mac said.

" Hello, Mac." Came a soft voice that he thought he'd never hear again. Slowly Mac turned and looked to the bar. He turned so he was facing the bar completely. Her dark blue eyes were staring at him. The same dark blue eyes that used to stared up at him in the dark.

" What the fuck are you doing here?" He asked. Scout shrugged.

" I had to move back." She said.

" When did you get here?" He asked. His mouth was tight.

" Three days ago." She said.

" You planning on staying?" Mac asked. She shrugged again.

" For a while, yeah. How have you been?" Scout asked.

" Great." He snapped. " Open a tab for me." He said as he snatched up his beer and walked away.

Scout sighed and shook her head. She picked up his debit card and walked over to the machine. She scanned it and opened the menu on the computer for Mac's table. She stared at the card. It was from the same bank they used to have their combined account in. She closed her eyes briefly. 5 years apart and he still had a strong pull over her. He still took her breath away. She shook her head again and opened her eyes. It was going to be a long night.

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Mac glared across the bar at Scout as she wiped down the counter top. How the hell did she get into his town without him knowing? His left hand was holding onto his pool stick and his right hand had his beer. She hadn't looked up at him once since he walked away from the bar but he had been looking at her. She looked almost the same as she did when she left him. Her hair was a little longer but her face was the same. He'd never forget her face. It had haunted him for years after their break up. He kept seeing her as she drove away from him, all her belongs stripped from his house. Just staring at her reminded Mac of why he had went for her in the first place.

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7 years ago:

Scout had moved to Red Canyon because Walter could give her a job and an apartment. Walter had known her mother, had been very close with her. Scout had grown up calling Walter her uncle. When her mother died, she had packed up and moved to Red Canyon. Walter trained her how to mixed drinks and she found she was actually a good bartender. Then one night, Mac walked into bar and her world changed forever. Mac wanted her right away and he didn't give up on something he wanted.

" Who are you?" He asked when he sat down at the bar.

" My name is Scout, Scout Nichols." She said. " Can I get you something?"

" How did you get this job?" Mac asked. Scout frowned slightly.

" I know Walter. Is there something I can get for you?" She asked. Mac rested his arms on the counter top and clasped his hands together.

" Yeah, your number." He said. She laughed slightly.

" Ah, no. Thanks."

" Why not?"

" Because I don't know you." Scout said. Mac nodded.

" Yeah, well you're going to get to know me." He said.

Mac came after Scout hard, coming to the bar every night that she worked. He called every week and got her schedule to be sure that she was working. He came to bar and stayed until she kicked him out. He sat at the bar, drinking slowly and watching her as she worked. He watched as she interacted with the people. He sent dirty, looks to every guy who dared check her out or looked at her for too long. He had staked his claim on her and everyone knew it but Scout.

He talked to her for three weeks before she finally agreed to give him her number. He had taken her out the next night. They had went out to dinner and both were surprised at how well they seemed to get long. They had taken a walk in down town Red Canyon. He walked with his hands in his pockets while hers were clasped together in front of her. At the end of the night, he walked her up to apartment door, kissed her cheek and left. They had been dating for two weeks before he had even tried to kiss her. She wasn't like the other girls in town and he knew it. She wasn't a whore. She was someone he had to take his time with.

The night of their first kiss, she had invited Mac to her place. She had made them dinner and they talked together at her table. After dinner, they had settled into the couch to watch a movie. His arm had been around the back of the couch and she sat against him. He had been glancing at her off and on throughout the movie. He wanted her bad but wasn't going to push her. If he pushed her into bed, he was sure she'd completely turn away from him. To his surprise, he really liked her and didn't want to rush things.

After the movie, Scout walked Mac out to his truck while they talked. When he reached the truck, he leaned against it with her standing in front of him. She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head as they talked. The night was warm and nice. She laughed at something he said and he suddenly moved to her at once. His left hand went into her hair as he moved to her at the same time he pulled her to him. His mouth went against her and she parted her lips right away. They made out with one of his hands in her hair and the other around her waist. Her hands were against his chest. Their slow kissing moved through her entire body, rocking her to her core.