Her list had grown considerably from last year. She had her brother, Shelby, Mimi and Ron, and now Shane. Maggie glanced through the glass wall of the workout room and spied Mac laughing with two other guys by the free weights. She couldn’t decide whether to get him something or not. She wanted to but she feared he might take her gift the wrong way. He was her boss, they’d been lovers—hell, she’d called him Master and liked it—but she wanted them to remain casual friends. The thought of a relationship excited her way too much, so she quashed the idea before she could act on it.

Imagining herself crying over Mac the way she’d cried over too many exes reinforced her notion to stay away. They’d have sex again, because they both wanted the physical gratification, but the emotional thing scared her. She wasn’t ready to go down that road again.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my favorite aerobics instructor.”

She turned to blink up at George Collins, Shane’s younger brother. She smiled with true affection. “Geo. How have you been?” She accepted his bear hug and wheezed. “A little tight.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He let her go, then studied her from head to toe wearing the same smile his older brother wore when looking at Shelby.

Maggie gripped the ends of the towel to cover her breasts. The kid was seventeen, for God’s sake. “You know, staring at a woman’s breasts is not considered a form of flattery.”

“It is in high school.” He winked at her. “Besides, I’m no lecher. I think you’re beautiful. You need someone who truly appreciates you.”

“Oh?” Maggie decided to play. “And what exactly can you do for me that men my age can’t?”

Apparently the opening he’d been waiting for. “Great question.” Geo led her toward the bench where she’d stashed her gear and fetched her water bottle for her. “I’d take care of you. I mean, those older guys, they don’t have any stamina.”

She choked on her water. Please tell me he’s not talking about sex.

“You’d maybe get a dinner out of them, but they’d fall asleep before you hit the end of a movie afterward.” Geo made a face. “Shane can barely work ten hours then stay up for poker night. And now that he’s with Shelby, he’s always tired.”

Maggie stifled a grin. “Oh?”

“Yeah. He never wants to go out anymore. Always needing his sleep at night. Guy is like a thirty-two year old Boy Scout. It’s embarrassing to the Collins name.”

Shane wants to sleep with Shelby, more like. She cleared her throat. “That’s too bad.”

“Then you have guys like Brent, Tom and Mac.” Geo pointed at the three of them still talking by the weights. “I mean, sure, they’d do you. No question. But after that first time, it’s all downhill. Men peak at eighteen. Heard it in biology class.”

“Wonderful what they’re teaching you in school.”

He grinned. He had the same dark hair and green eyes as Shane. He’d be a lady killer in no time, especially since he had charm all but tattooed to his forehead.

“You know, Geo. You should give Mac lessons in how to deal with women. I think you’re on to something.”

Geo brightened. “That’s what I’ve been telling him. But Mr. I’m-God’s-Gift-to-Women doesn’t think so.”

She laughed with Geo. Especially when they noticed Mac look over at them and frown.

“What’s this?” A deep voice with a slight brogue preceded Ian, Mac’s uncle. Another charmer who would have been hell to deal with in his day. Even now she felt like she had to keep on her toes around the older man.

“Hey Ian.” Geo took the hardy slap on the back from Mac’s uncle with fortitude. “You know Maggie, right?”

“Of course. How are things, Maggie?” Ian smiled at her, and Maggie saw Mac in that broad grin.

Wow. They sure made the Jamesons F-I-N-E fine. Black Irish and built like a tank. If Mac would like this in another twenty years, she wondered what kept her from signing up. “Things are good,” she hastened to say, aware she’d been staring. She fought a blush when Ian gave her a more subtle onceover than Geo’s scrutiny. “How are you, Mr. Jameson?”

“Ian, girl. Call me Ian.” He sighed. “Things are well enough, I suppose.” He threw an arm around Geo. “With Christmas only a few days away, I confess I’m much behind on my shopping.”

“Not me. I finished last week.” Geo shook his head. “You can’t wait last minute or all the good stuff is gone. Besides that, Mom lets me take a day off to do my shopping. If I wait, I lose the free time with Christmas vacation.” Geo smiled. “And I’m not stupid.”

“No, you’re a smart one. Unlike my stubborn nephew. Boy still hasn’t gotten his shit—er, stuff—together. I know he hasn’t gotten me that ratchet set I’ve been wanting, and I all but put the coupon for it in front of his face.”

Maggie grinned. “He’s a little clueless, isn’t he?”

“You can say that again.” Geo scoffed. “Guy turned down Megan and Wendy again today. I mean, how often does he think he’s gonna get a shot at, uh…” He flushed and looked away from Maggie. “I mean, he doesn’t seem to be dating lately. Shane thinks it’s a woman. I think he’s mid life crisis.”

“You think?” Ian asked, but his gaze on Maggie warned her to tread warily.

Uh oh. “You could be right. He’s forty, isn’t he?”

Geo shrugged. “Thirty, forty, he’s old.”

Ian glared at him. “The boy is thirty-six. Forty isn’t old. Neither is sixty, for that matter.”

“Sorry, old man. Truth hurts. Suck it up.”

Ian snorted. “You’re just like your father and brother. Suck it up, my ass. You need to get through school and sign up, Lieutenant Collins.”

Geo surprised Maggie when he nodded. “I’m going ROTC through school. Already talked to Dad and Mom about it. And I’m going to be a general. That way I’ll outrank Shane and Dad.” Geo gave Ian a calculated grin. “And you and Mac too. You guys will have to salute me.”

“With pride, boy.” Ian ruffled his hair, then put Geo in a headlock.

Maggie watched the play with fascination, not having realized how affectionate Ian would be, considering Mac seemed standoffish unless wanting sex. Then again, that same man had cuddled with her on the couch after offering her a hug. He made her brain hurt trying to figure him out.

“What’s that look, Maggie?” Ian asked.

“You seem very different than Mac. He’s domineering and standoffish.” At work. “But you’re…not.”

“That’s because you’re looking at superior genetics.” Ian flexed the arm around Geo’s neck, and Geo choked. “Oh, sorry. There you go.” He let Geo go.

Geo glared at him, fingered his throat, then sighed. “I have to run. Got a date with Andrea.” He looked at the clock overhead. “And it’s already seven. Later, Ian. See you at Shelby’s party, Maggie. Merry Christmas!” He took off like a shot.

“I’d love to have half his energy,” Ian said with a groan. He turned a speculative glance back on her. “So what are you up to this holiday season? Got plans? Family, boyfriend? The boy said you’d be at Shelby’s party?”

A bit intrusive, but he was her boss. “I usually spend the holidays with Shelby and her family, which this year includes Shane.”

“That sounds nice. Shane’s a good man, and from what I’ve heard about Shelby, she seems like a good fit. Mac likes her well enough, and she’s done wonders for his knee.” Ian looked through the glass at Mac again.

Mac noticed them looking, frowned, and turned back to his friends.

“Boy is a pain in my ass,” Ian muttered.

Mine too.

“But he’s family. I love him. We’re actually going to Shelby’s party as well.”

Damn. So much for avoiding Mac at Christmas. Now she’d have to get him a present. She felt better about the fact, because she’d been trying to rationalize why getting him something wouldn’t break any of her no-dating rules. “So I’ll be seeing you both at Shane’s house in a few days. Now if we could just get the sleet and rain to turn to snow, we might get a white Christmas.”

“Gotta love the Seattle weather, eh?” They laughed together before Ian noted the clock. “Guess I’d better get going as well. I’d like to say I have a hot date like Geo, but the truth is I have a business appointment.”

“This late at night? Bummer.”

“Yeah. But some things can’t keep. It was nice talking to you, Maggie.”

“You too, Ian.” She smiled at him, liking the softness in his gaze when he glanced back at Mac. The clear love she heard in his voice for his nephew spoke well of him. As did the remembrance that he’d given up his career to raise Mac. “Mac is lucky to have you.”

Ian beamed. “Feel free to remind him of that whenever you like.” He left, passing Mac in the doorway.

They exchanged something she couldn’t quite make out, then Ian moved away while Mac approached her. “You.”

“You.” She dragged on sweats over her gym clothes.

“I need a ride home.”

She waited with a raised brow. “I need a raise.”

“Funny.”

“What’s the magic word?”

He blew out a breath, and she fought the urge not to laugh. “Would you please give me a ride home?”

“Hmm. What’s in it for me?” A glance over his shoulder showed Megan pouting as she stared at Mac. Was it wrong that Maggie took joy in the woman’s obvious jealousy?

“How about a bonus?”

“What kind of bonus?”

“Drive me home and I’ll think of something.”

“Please. Drive me home, please.”

Mac snarled, “You’re on my last friggin’ nerve, Doran. So help me, I’m gonna take this out on your ass later.”

She shivered and cooed, “Oh, I can’t wait.” Not smart to bait the tiger, but the flare of interest he couldn’t hide made it worth it.