4 – On a Date

Mac knew the moment he walked into the brownstone that Felicia was upset. Seeing her staring determinedly and unhappily at a picture of Frisco only convinced him more of it.

"It's final today," she murmured. "The divorce, I mean. He didn't even have the decency to –" She shook her head. "Well I didn't exactly expect him to call and say 'Hope you enjoy the divorce' but … Well, he could reach out to Max, you know."

"I know."

"Did he ever love me, Mac?" Felicia asked. "Truly? Cause everyone says he did but I can't believe it when he doesn't have the decency to show his face around here."

Mac nodded begrudgingly. "He loved you, beyond reason or rhyme... Unfortunately, he's also a stubborn, horse's ass."

Felicia's bottom lip trembled and he thought that she was going to cry but instead she laughed loudly. The animated sound pleased his ears.

"You know what, Mac Scorpio?" Felicia said. "I don't fancy sitting around here all night moping over a man I never even remember meeting."

"What do you 'fancy'?"

"Flying the coop. Max is with Tony and Bobbie tonight so maybe …maybe we should go out."

Mac grinned. He couldn't resist saying, "Felicia, are you asking me on a date?"

Felicia blushed. "No… Well, I don't know. Let's not label it, okay?" She flushed. "Let's just go have some fun at The Outback! We can dance the night away just like we've done before."

"But I'm always there," Mac moaned dramatically.

"Do it for me?" She fluttered her long eyelashes at him and he knew saying "no" would be impossible.

"Put on your dancing shoes," he said. "I'll meet you at the door."

Felicia clapped her hands and immediately jumped to her feet. "Yesss!" She crowed.

XoXoXo

They must have danced ten songs straight and Mac was breathless by the time he convinced Felicia to sit down with him. He grabbed a booth at the back of the room that still gave them a full view of the dance floor.

Mac scooted in beside her and tried not to notice the scent of her perfume and the way it teased his nostrils. "Oh wow," Felicia said.

"What?" Was he being too obvious about how much he was enjoying this night and her company?

Felicia grinned. "I just can't believe my eyes… Dominique and Scotty? Holding each other close like that?"

"Well they are married now."

"Yes, but I thought it was an accidental thing." She held up her beer. "You know because they had way too many of these things." She peered closely at him. "Oh I forgot. You and Dominique…"

"There is no me and Dominique."

"But there was."

"Felicia, what are you driving at here?"

"Well, when you see her with Scotty…"

"Are you asking if I'm jealous?"

"Well, are you?"

"No."

"Not even a smidgen?" She made a little space between her thumb and forefinger.

"Not even a smidgen."

Felicia nodded. "Fair enough." She twisted the cap off her bottle, studying him under her eyelashes. "Mac?"

"Hmm?"

"Is there someone else – I mean, is that why you don't want Dominique anymore?"

"Felicia…"

"Okay, forget I asked!" Felicia smiled.

He just sighed. How he wanted to tell her that there was someone else –and that it was her! But he didn't dare. He had never been a timid man – anything but, actually – but telling Felicia he was full-on crazy about her wasn't an option at this point. She was trying to heal and that Ryan Chamberlin was usually hanging around… It wasn't the right time.

He wondered though if there would ever be a "right" time to tell her how he felt… The thought of bottling his feelings up inside forever made him grimace and Felicia immediately noticed.

"What's with the frowny-face? Are you mad because I was prying?"

Mac smiled now. "So you admit that you were prying?"

"Mac, I work at your P.I. office sometimes. That's my job!"

Mac chuckled a bit. "I'm not mad," Mac said. "I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Stop prying!"

"Fine, spoil sport." She took a swig of her beer. "By the way, thank you."

"For…?"

"For tonight. I am having a blast. I can't even remember what I was so upset about before."

"Is your amnesia –"

"No, Mac, it's not flaring up, if that's what you mean. I do remember that I am a divorced woman now. I just know that when I'm with you, things don't seem quite half so bad."

Mac smiled. "Right back at you, lady."

"So are ready to cut the rug again?"

"I am still trying to catch my breath here."

"Please!"

Again he found it impossible to tell her "no". He edged out of the booth and held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let's show Scotty and Dominique how the tango is really done."

"Sure, let's!" Felicia giggled as she hurried back to the dance floor with him.