She let them inside the brownstone and asked, "do you want something to drink?"
"What do you have?"
She led them to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "Sam Adams, white wine, soda and water."
"Sam Adams, please."
She grabbed two and handed him one. "Want to go upstairs?"
"Sure," he said. As she passed him, he stopped her and took her into his arms and held her. "Thank you for today," he whispered in her ear.
She hugged him back and said, "you're welcome. I had fun."
They stood there, holding one another until she leaned back and asked, "what's going on, Billy?"
"I don't know," he replied and released her.
"Let's go upstairs, come on," she said taking his hand and leading him upstairs. When they went out on the roof he saw that it had been remodeled since he'd been there. There was a fireplace now and what looked like an outdoor kitchen.
"This is nice."
"Sir David thought it needed something the last time he was here, so this is what came of his idea."
"I like it."
She led him to the chairs and said, "sit, please."
"Is the fireplace wood or gas?"
"Wood, up here, gas in the living room."
They chatted for a few minutes until he said, "today was the best day I've had in a while and that was because of you, Mac."
She took his hand and said, "thank you. I enjoyed being with you, too. Are you all right, Billy?"
He got up, breaking their connection, and began pacing in front of her.
"You don't have to answer, it's all right," she said pulling her legs up onto the chair and wrapping her arms around them.
He could see his non-answer upset her. "Are you all right?"
"I'm confused. I'm getting all sorts of signals from you but I have no idea what you really want to happen here."
"I'm sorry."
She shrugged.
He stopped pacing in front of her. "I've loved you since I met you, that's never changed, Mac. Never."
"But," she added for him.
"I don't know. I don't know if there is a but."
"What does that mean?"
"Today reminded me how good we were together. I want that back."
"We aren't those people any more, Billy. We've changed, circumstances have changed, but that doesn't mean we can't be better than what we were before, either."
"All I know is I want us, you and me together."
She got up from her chair and with her hand on his neck pulled his mouth to hers. When she broke the kiss she said, "I love you, Billy."
He pulled her against him and hugged her tight. "I love you, Mac. Can we go in and sit by the fire and talk some?"
"Sure, come on," she said taking his hand and walked back to the living room. She turned the fireplace on and sat on the couch. "What do you want to talk about?"
He picked their joined hands up and said, "this. How do we do this?"
"I think that depends on what we want to happen. We love one another and want to be together, but we've not been in a romantic relationship in a long time, we need to get to know each other, really know the other, again."
"So, we what, date?"
"Why not?" she asked.
"It feels like it should be more."
"How so?"
"We dated for two years, I don't care how much time passes some things just don't change."
"I agree, but we've changed due to circumstances and experiences so that needs to be explored and the best way I know to find these things out is to date."
"When was the last time you dated someone? Seriously dated, not just went out for dinner and never spoke to the person again."
"Wade. He put me off dating."
"He was a prick and used you, that's not your fault."
"I should have realized."
He squeezed her hand to make sure he had her full attention. "Listen to me, Wade didn't deserve you. He used you, that's not love, sweetheart."
"I know."
He smiled. "I know you know that, but do you believe it?"
She smiled at him. "I'm working on that part."
"Come here," he said, pulling her into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you trust me?"
"Completely."
"Okay, trust me when I tell you that Wade didn't deserve you. You've got to forgive yourself for Brian." He felt her stiffen when he said Brian's name. "I can talk about this, can you?"
She eased herself off his shoulder so she could see his face. "Yes."
"You screwed up, but who hasn't? I certainly have, we all have."
"But I hurt you with my screw up."
"You did, but you know what, I understand why now and that's what's different."
"When did you come to this conclusion?"
"When I realized that I was hurting myself even more by keeping you at arms length when all I wanted to do was to have you in my life, whatever way possible."
She pulled away from him and walked to the fire and sat on the hearth. "You really have forgiven me?"
"Yes. I won't ever forget, but it's not all I see when I look at you, now. I see someone I love very much," he said coming to sit beside her.
"I'm sorry I hurt you, Billy."
"I know you are and I know it won't ever happen again. I trust you, Mac and I love you."
"I love you," she said and leaned over to kiss him. Their kiss was a first step in their new relationship.
When they broke apart his hand was in her hair and he rested his head against hers. "Will you come to the Vineyard with me?"
"Love to. When do we leave?"
"Friday night after the show. There's a private plane leaving as soon as I can get there. "
"Is there room on the plane for Lonny and me?"
"I'll make sure." Will caught movement out of the corner of his eye. "Do you have a cat?"
Mac pulled back and looked where Will was and saw Percy. "That's Percy."
"He's the size of a dog, Mac. Is he friendly?"
She smiled. "Completely and very goofy; he will even play fetch."
Will held his hand out for Percy to sniff and instead of sniffing Percy ignored him completely and went to Mac. She laughed and pulled Percy into her lap where Will could see him. Will again offered his hand and Percy rubbed against his hand instead of sniffing.
Mac's stomach growled. "Hungry," he asked.
"I am, you wore me out today. Let's see what we have for snacks," she said putting Percy on the floor and going into the kitchen with Will following. After digging through the cabinets she found pretzels and a jar of Nutella.
"We could order food?"
"We'll be doing that, too. I need something now, though. What do you want to order?" She pulled a few pretzels from the bag and stuck them in the Nutella,.
"What are you doing," he asked smiling at her.
"You've never had Nutella?"
He shook his head. She pulled one of the pretzels out, covered in Nutella, and held it up for him. "Taste," she said placing it in his mouth.
She could tell he liked it. "That's amazing, what is it?"
"Hazelnuts and chocolate. I like the pretzels dipped because you get the salty and sweet. Animal crackers are good, too, but pretzels are my favorite."
"What do you want to order, or do you want me to cook," he offered.
"I'd love to watch you cook, but we have no food."
"Mac…."
"I'll stock food, okay? Then you can cook when you want to, I promise."
"How about we go grocery shopping?"
"When was the last time you actually went to a grocery store," she asked.
"It's been a while, I miss it. We could go to Dean and Deluca," he said with great enthusiasm.
"Compromise? I'll go shopping with you tomorrow, if we order in tonight."
"Deal," he said kissing her. "What are we ordering?"
Mac opened a drawer with nothing but take out menus and put them on the island. "You're choice."
He gave her a look. "What, I don't cook and I've got to eat."
He continued looking through the menus until he came to a Japanese place. "How's this place?" he asked, holding up the menu.
"Not great. There is a great sushi place a few blocks away, though."
He shook his head and she smiled at him. She never could get him to try sushi.
He flipped through more menus and saw an Indian place. "How's their curry?"
"Excellent. It's hot, though, even their mild is hot." He resumed his search.
"Turkish, Mac?"
"Great goat kebabs."
"How about something simple, like Chinese. Would you like Chinese?"
She hugged him. "That's perfect," she said and remained in his arms. He'd missed holding her. She was still in her running gear, so she was shorter than he was used to her being.
"You okay," he asked when she didn't move from his arms.
She nodded and pulled back. "I like being in your arms."
He smiled at her. "Good thing, I like holding you." Her grumbling stomach interrupted them. "Right now I think I need to feed you, though. Where's the menu?"
She looked through the menus and pulled out her favorite Chinese place and handed him the menu. "Everything I've had has been good. I'll call in our order when you decide."
"What are you having?"
"Steamed potstickers and orange chicken. Maybe some Lo Mein, too, that's great for breakfast."
"Add some spring rolls and General Tso's chicken, please."
"Done," she said picking up the phone. She didn't even need the number off of the menu. She gathered the menus and put them back in the drawer while she was waiting to order. He stood behind her and placed his arms around her waist, leaning her back against him. Her hand linked with his.
When she disconnected she said, "forty five minutes. Should we have ordered food for Lonny?"
"His wife usually brings him food."
"I didn't know he was married."
"He is and has a couple of kids, too."
"Wow. I had no idea. Are you staying here, tonight?"
"I'd like to, if that's okay with you."
She turned in his arms and kissed him. "That's fine with me. You should send Lonny home, though."
He pulled out his cell and hit pound and the number five, which connected him to Lonny. Will explained he was staying for the night and that they wouldn't be going out again this evening. Lonny said he would drop off his packages with his doorman on his way home. Will thanked him and said good night.
"Let's go sit by the fire," he suggested.
Once they were settled by the fire he asked, "are you sure you're okay with me staying here?"
She moved from her spot next to him onto his lap, straddling his legs, her arms going around his neck. "I am," she said and kissed him from his neck up to his ear and nibbled on the lobe.
"Mac," he said, adjusting himself on the floor. "You need to stop."
"Why," she asked, leaning back to look at him.
"Because when we make love it's going to take hours and we have food coming in about half an hour, now."
"Hours, Billy?"
"Hours, Mackenzie."
"Can't wait," she said with a smile. They chatted until their dinner arrived and then they at in front of the fire, with Percy watching them eat.
When they had finished dinner she took the leftovers and their plates to the kitchen and put food away and washed the dishes.
"Are you ready to go upstairs," he asked her, kissing her neck while she was doing the last of the dishes.
She turned around in his arms. "I am, are you?"
He nodded and took her hands in his and led her out of the kitchen. She, in turn, led them up the stairs. "Percy, bedtime."
"Does Percy sleep with you?"
"No, he's too independent for that, but he does sleep upstairs. The only place he isn't allowed is on the roof. We tried the roof and he almost fell off, so he stays inside now."
Will stopped on the stairs as Percy ran past him, "he can't stare at us making love, Mac."
She laughed, "performance anxiety? You're a pro."
He smiled. "How about I want you to myself?"
"Better," she said, kissing him. "I'll explain it to Percy."
When they made it to the bedroom Percy was sitting on the bed. Mac picked him up and said, "you're going to have to go find something to do for a while, buddy. You can come back later, I promise," she said, kissing the cat and placing him outside her door and shutting it tight.
"Thanks," he said.
"No problem," she said. She took his shirt in both hands and pulled it out of his pants and began unbuttoning it for him. Next came the t-shirt and she made sure to tease the skin on his sides. It was their secret that Will was a wee bit ticklish. She unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants off. He stepped out of his pants, kicking them to the side.
He started with her sweatshirt and pulled it up and off of her. Her t-shirt ended up coming off with the sweatshirt and she was left standing there in a running bra. Her stomach was flat and her arms were toned. She looked great and he made sure to tell her how great she looked. He pulled her running tights down while she held onto his shoulder. He looked up at her waiting for permission to remove her underwear. She nodded her head and he kissed her stomach before pulling them off of her. He stood up and pulled her bra over her head. "Gorgeous," he said and kissed her. As they were kissing she pushed his boxers off.
He picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her in the middle, resting himself between her legs. "You okay," he asked.
"Perfect. You?"
"Great. Are you on some type of birth control?"
She nodded. "Pill. We're fine."
He kissed his way down her body and fulfilled his promise of making love to her for hours. They were both exhausted. He was lying with his head on her chest and her fingers were playing with his hair, scratching his scalp very lightly.
"Tired," she asked.
"You wore me out," he teased.
"Sleep, Billy."
"I love you," he said and kissed her.
"I love you," she replied after their kiss.
"Want me to let Percy inside?"
"Please."
He got up and let the cat inside the bedroom. He immediately went to Mac and curled up next to her. "You have to share her," Will said to the cat who was now resting where he just was. He lay down next to Percy and stroked him. It wasn't long before Percy moved off the bed, allowing Will to pull her to rest on him.
"Thank you for letting Percy in."
"Welcome," he mumbled sleepily. Mac wasn't ready to sleep yet. She lay there watching him and when she turned over onto her side, he followed her, pulling her back against him with his arm around her waist. He always had been a close sleeper with her.
He woke in the middle of the night and got up to use the bathroom and when he returned she was on her stomach, asleep. He had never known her to be a stomach sleeper. He'd ask her about it in the morning.