Mackenzie
"Pretty please? Everyone had to work Memorial Day weekend, so we’re getting together tomorrow. Will you come to the cookout?” Maggie begged as she sat innocently on the couch in Coast & Roast nursing Katie.
“It’s a family thing and I’m not—”
“You’d hurt Doreen’s feelings if she heard you say that. You’re my best friend and friends with all her daughters as well. That makes you family. Besides, she loves to take in strays.” Maggie grinned.
“Funny. I’m not a stray. It’s just…” She didn’t want to be comfy and cozy at Blake’s family home. He’d think she was working her way into something more. Trying to latch on to him or something.
Which she totally wasn’t. Just because she enjoyed spending time with him and he made her laugh and could bring her to orgasm with a snap of his fingers didn’t mean she’d fallen for him.
Any hot guy could do the same.
“Is it Blake?”
“What? Oh, no. We agreed to a quick sex thing. No awkward feelings or anything there. He’s a nice guy. We’re just friends.” She shut herself off before she rambled even more. Maggie raised an all-knowing eyebrow and shifted Katie as she fixed her bra.
“Is it your mom?” Maggie propped Katie over her shoulder and patted her back.
Mackenzie could be a loser and use her family as a scapegoat, but running away wasn’t her thing. She preferred to face her fears, call people out on theirs. The queen of ball busting. Maggie was usually the same, but she gave Mackenzie an out.
“Mom’s the same. Which means she’s different and you never know what you’re gonna get. Dad is hoping to get her out for the Strawberry Festival next week. It will be good for her.”
“You know they’re more than welcome to come too. I didn’t think Renee would be up for it. To be with so many people she doesn’t know.”
“It’s better than being with people she should know and doesn’t remember.”
“I’m sorry, Kenzie. This is so hard for you and your family. You know I’ll help in any way I can.” Maggie gave her a one-armed hug and rested her head on Mackenzie’s shoulder. “Think she’d be up for a visit? She hasn’t met Katie yet.”
“That’s a great idea. Just be prepared. She may scoff at you for having a baby while you’re still in high school.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment. It’ll mean she’s seeing past the wrinkles and gray streaks.”
“As if.” Mackenzie laughed. Maggie’s pale Irish skin was as smooth and clear as her baby’s.
“So you’ll come to the cookout and next week Katie and I will visit Renee. Deal?”
“Fine. I need to get back to work. Tell Doreen I’ll bring a fruit salad or something.” Mackenzie kissed the baby and peeled herself off the couch.
“See you at four,” Maggie called after her.
The steady stream of caffeine addicts kept Mackenzie busy right up until closing. She wiped down the machines, stacked the chairs in the eating area, and swept and mopped the floors.
Once the other chores were done, she called Diane to make sure she could still close up tomorrow, and then went to the grocery store to buy fresh pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries.
The following morning she prepped the salad, covered it, and put it in the fridge and set out for another long day of keeping the people in southern Maine caffeinated and happy.
At quarter to four, after making sure everything was stocked and the shop looked decent, Mackenzie grabbed her keys from under the counter.
“I’m heading out. Call if you need anything.”
“Have fun. It’s good to see you getting out more often.” Diane tucked the dishrag in her apron and shooed Mackenzie out back. “Go upstairs and change. Don’t give me or this place another thought.”
“You’re the best. I owe you.”
“You pay me by the hour.” Diane laughed.
“True.”
Mackenzie jogged up the stairs to her apartment, took a quick shower to wash the daily grind off, and changed into a pair of denim capris and a sleeveless bright blue top.
She was a sneakers kind of girl, being on her feet all day, and hadn’t had a pedicure in ages. It was flip-flop weather, though. She slid her feet into her favorite pair and slapped a coat of bright blue polish on her toenails.
Never one to coordinate before, she was proud of her outfit. Top and toes. Who would have guessed they’d look adorable as a matching pair?
Mackenzie stared at herself in the mirror and cringed. “Adorable?” When had she ever used that word to describe herself? Or anyone for that matter. Maybe Katie.
She rarely touched her makeup bag, only diving into it to sex up her eyes for a hot date or one of the Riley weddings. While a backyard barbecue didn’t call for slutty eyes, she could apply a coat or two of mascara. Just for fun. It had been too long since she last gussied herself up for a date.
Not that she was going on a date today. Heck, Blake would probably be at the gym anyway. Mackenzie snorted. Who was she kidding? She wanted to look good for him. Wanted him to fantasize about her as much as she fantasized about him.
Satisfied with her looks, she dried and straightened her hair. When was the last time she’d worn it down? The tips brushed the bottom of her bra. And when was the last time she had a trim? She pulled a few long locks around to her front and hunted for split ends. Yeah, a trim was definitely needed. Lately any free minute Mackenzie had was spent at her parents’ or shopping for her parents.
And then there were those few excursions with Blake. Those were fun. She smiled to herself as she grabbed her keys and fruit salad and let herself out the back door.
By the time Mackenzie pulled up to the Riley homestead, the dirt driveway was already filled with trucks and cars and Jake’s sexy motorcycle. She wouldn’t be surprised if Blake showed up on a bike one day. He’d look totally hot on one.
As soon as she got out of her tiny car she could hear laughter and the clanging of horseshoes out back. Instead of rounding the house and joining the party, she went to the front door, knocking and calling out through the screen.
“Hi, Doreen. It’s Mackenzie.”
“Come on in, sweetheart! I’m in the kitchen.”
Mackenzie let herself in and headed toward the back of the house. “Smells delicious in here. Not that I’d expect anything less.”
“I’m so glad you came. Maggie made my day when she said you were joining us.” Doreen wiped her hands on the apron tied around her plump waist and pulled Mackenzie in for a hug. “How’s your mother doing?”
Of course she’d know what was going on. The Rileys kept their own personal stories private, but were always reaching out to help others in need.
“Dad said you stopped by with some apple bread and corn chowder last week.”
“Just being neighborly.” Doreen took the fruit salad from Mackenzie’s hands and placed it on the counter.
“You live twenty miles from my parents.”
“Everything is twenty miles away when you live in Maine.”
Mackenzie laughed. “You’re very kind to do that. My parents loved it and asked for your recipe.”
“I’ll be sure to send you home with it. Next time bring your folks over. I’d like to get to know your mother better. She wasn’t up for socializing when I’d stopped by.”
“She has good days and bad days. Dad said Mom was in a funk all morning, but when she dove in to your chowder she perked right up and started rattling off ingredients, trying to figure out what was in it, and made a grocery list. She talked his ear off about the chowders she used to make and asked Dad for his opinion on dinner. First time that’s ever happened.”
“That’s good, then. I’m glad the chowder spurred good memories.”
“Hey Kenzie.” Rachael and Lucy came in from the back door, Lucy with an empty wine glass in hand and Rachael with an empty water bottle.
“No wine?”
“Nope.” Rachael grinned.
“We all know you’re knocked up. I don’t know why you won’t just come out and admit it.”
“Lucy,” Doreen scolded.
“Don’t deny it, Mom. I’ve seen you stare at her belly quite a bit the last few weeks.”
“I’ve done no such thing.” Doreen took the towel out of her apron and swatted Lucy on the backside. “Rachael can tell us when she’s good and ready. I’m not going to pry.”
Lucy burst out laughing and Rachael clamped her mouth shut, spinning on her heels and marching out the door.
“I’ve suspected the same,” Mackenzie admitted.
“She’s probably waiting for the right time,” Doreen said and changed the subject. “Blake said he’ll be late and not to wait to eat.”
“Then let’s throw the chicken on the grill.” Lucy picked up the pan of marinating chicken and used her hip to open the door.
“What can I bring out?” Mackenzie held the door open for them and followed behind.
Doreen loaded her with utensils and paper towels and paper plates as the men came in to grab their share as well.
With so many helpers, it didn’t take long to carry the pasta and potato salads, veggie platters, fruit salad, rolls, condiments, and other treats everyone had brought along to the table outside. Colton and Jake moved two picnic tables next to each other and Sage covered them with a red checkered tablecloth.
“Grub’s ready,” Luke called from the grill. “Bring your plates over and I’ll serve you from here.”
They made an assembly line, the kids insisting Doreen go first, then the girls, then the boys. Colton and Ellie’s ten year-old son CJ was so polite, letting Mackenzie cut in front of him when Colton gave him a look.
“I promise not to take all the whoopee pies,” Mackenzie whispered to him when she saw him eyeing them with desire.
“Did you make any of your brownies? My mom said yours are the best in the world.”
“Aw, shucks, kid. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” She ruffled his head and when Colton turned around, she nudged him in front of her so he could get his food first.
The rest of the evening was spent in casual relaxation. They’d paired off, taking turns playing horseshoes and corn hole. Since Lucy and Mackenzie were the only two unattached, they partnered up and Doreen and CJ were a team.
So much laughter and chatter and fun. She’d never had this with her brothers. Sure, they got along fine enough, but the age gap kept their social lives pretty separate.
By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, Luke had made a fire in the fire pit and the men had dragged lawn chairs around in a circle.
“What happened to the party?”
Twelve heads swiveled toward Blake.
“It’s about time.” Doreen jumped up and hugged him like she hadn’t seen him in ages even though he visited her every week for dinner. “I’ll go make you a plate.”
“You sit, mom. I can get it.”
“Are you sure?”
“He’s not an invalid, even though he acts like it. Maybe Mackenzie can help him with his noodles and junk.”
Mackenzie scowled at her horseshoe partner who did nothing to hide her shit-eating grin.
“Lucy,” Blake growled.
“What? It’s not like we all don’t know you two are boinking behind our backs.”
Mackenzie whipped her head around and glared at Blake. “Way to run your mouth—”
“Easy there, Mack. I haven’t said a thing.”
“Thanks for confirming, though.” Lucy stood and patted Blake on the shoulder.
“You’re a pain in the ass.”
“Uh, there are kids here.” Colton covered CJ’s ears with his hands.
“Sorry, man.” Blake nodded toward his brother.
Mackenzie, mortified that everyone, especially Doreen, now knew they were sleeping together, closed her eyes and hung her head.
“Lucy’s mouth moves faster than her brain. Sorry, Kenzie, but if it makes you feel any better, this doesn’t come as a shock to any of us. Well, maybe CJ. Other than him, we all knew,” Sage offered.
Mackenzie moaned and dropped her head into her hands.
“We saw you making out on the four-wheeler. Couldn’t believe you didn’t hear us until we came up on you,” Rachael offered oh so sweetly.
The brat was going to be looking for a new job.
“I would have outed Rachael and Jake, but they’re not ready to come clean. Besides, their news is best broken by them. Your news is juicy and—”
Blake cut Lucy off. “Okay, you’ve had your fun. Just wait until you bring a guy over. Payback’s a bitch.”
“Ten-year-old,” Colton warned.
“Sorry, man.” Blake placed a hand on Mackenzie’s shoulder and nodded toward the house. “Come on. Let’s give them something to talk about.”
“I don’t think so.”
Blake took her hand anyway and pulled her out of her chair. She could either follow or lock her feet in place and risk falling on her face. Dignity won out and she scurried to her feet before her arm got torn out of its socket.
“I have never been so humiliated.” Mackenzie yanked her hand away from Blake’s as soon as they were inside.
He opened cabinets and drawers, taking out a plate and fork, and piled it high with leftovers from the fridge, practically ignoring Mackenzie. She crossed her arms and leaned against the kitchen sink in defiance. His family could see her through the window and would know they weren’t having a hot and heavy make out session.
Blake sat at the table and ate hungrily, never looking up at her or engaging in conversation, the only noise coming from the scrape of his fork across his plate. When there was nothing left to shovel in his mouth, he leaned back and patted his hard, flat belly.
“I was starved. That was good.”
“You yanked me inside to make your family think we’re doing the down and dirty and then made me watch you pig out on twenty pounds of food. Where do you put it all?”
She eyed him appreciatively, from his toned calves sprinkled with the perfect amount of hair to his strong thighs that bulged beneath his cargo shorts. To another bulge that was forming just north of his quads.
“Guess I’m not the only one who’s hungry.” Blake pushed back his chair and invaded her space in two long strides, trapping her between his body and the counter. “Miss me?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I miss the sex. I like sex.”
“You like me too.” Blake’s gaze lowered to her mouth and she sucked in her lips.
“Not really.”
“What’s not to like?”
“Your cocky attitude.” Mackenzie’s eyebrow lifted in pretend disgust.
“You’ve got a little attitude going as well. Only I think it’s sexy as hell.” Blake tilted his hips slightly, making contact with her stomach.
Her breath hitched and he lowered his head, leaning in to kiss her. He tasted like barbecue sauce and seduction. An odd combination that was sweet and spicy and oh, so Blake.
He pulled back, nipping at her lip one more time before straightening himself and stepping back. “I’d like to take this further but it would only fuel the fire that’s going on out there.” He nodded behind her and Mackenzie gasped.
“Oh my god! You did that on purpose.” She pushed him back with all her might and dipped under his arms that held her captive.
“Uh, yeah. I kissed you on purpose. Seems you kissed me on purpose back.”
“Not that.”
“Confused here, cupcake.”
Mackenzie moved away from the window and covered her face with her hands. “You kissed me in front of the window. Your whole family was probably watching. I can’t go back out there.”
“I hate to break it to ya.” Blake stepped into her personal space, trapping her once again between the counter and his big, hard, sexy body. “That kiss was pretty tame compared to what they think we’re doing in here. Good thing they saw us or knowing my brothers, they’d have a bet going on which room I’m having my way with you in.”
“You…you…” Mackenzie stammered, not enjoying the playful glint in his eye. “I hope your finger gets stuck in your nose and your fingernail continues to grow.” She ducked under his arm again and marched out the door and back to the nest of fools who grinned ear to ear at her as she approached.
“Not one word or I’ll spill all your dirty secrets to your mother. I have the goods on all of you, you know. A barista hears things.” Mackenzie plopped in her chair and folded her arms across her chest in an immature sulk.
“Here. I owe you this.” Lucy handed her a full wine glass and a smile.
“You owe me a freaking bottle.” Mackenzie took the offered glass and slurped. She peeked out of the corner of her eye at Doreen, who seemed quite pleased with the craziness.
This is exactly what she didn’t want. The Rileys would expect a commitment of some sort from her, from them. She didn’t need the added pressure or the look of disappointment in Doreen’s eyes when she learned Mackenzie was in it only for the sex.
When Blake came back out, he attempted to nudge Lucy out of her seat next to Mackenzie, but thankfully the little terror didn’t budge and made Blake sit across the circle in the seat CJ vacated. He’d dumped a pile of Legos on one of the picnic tables and was deep in his fantasy world of superheroes and villains.
“Well, since Rachael, Jake, Blake, and Mackenzie don’t want to be the center of attention, I suppose Sage and I will compete for the starring role. We have an announcement to make.” Luke stood, bringing Sage to her feet and tucking her under his arm.
The women gasped and moved to the edge of their seats and the men sat up a bit straighter.
“Luke and I are having a kid. A girl.” Sage held out her wine glass in a toast.
“Oh, honey.” Doreen practically ran to them, embracing each in a tight hug, tears already streaming down her cheeks. “It went through?”
“Yup.”
“So Mom was in on the secret. Fill us in on the rest.” Graham hugged Maggie into one side while Katie slept on his chest.
“She’s fifteen,” Luke said after Doreen finished her hugs and returned to her seat. “And she’s practically family.” His voice dropped from excited to soft and compassionate as he made eye contact with Blake.
Mackenzie knew Sage wasn’t keen on the idea of being pregnant again after being a surrogate for her sister a few years ago and giving birth to her twins. She and Luke had talked about being foster parents, taking in troubled teens in a similar fashion to what Doreen and Keith Riley did. The fifteen-year-old, she guessed, was going to be their foster daughter.
“Before we finalize any paperwork, though, we needed to talk to you about it first. To make sure you’re okay with us taking her in.”
“Why do you need our approval?” Rachael asked.
“Not yours, no offense, Rach, but Blake’s.”
Blake bawked in surprise. “Me? What you and Sage want to do with your life is fine by me. I’ll always support you.”
Sage took Luke’s hand in her own and squeezed tight. Mackenzie’s gazed flicked back and forth between the loving couple and Blake, as did everyone else’s. Only Doreen seemed to be in the know.
“Her name is Natalie,” Sage said, her attention on Blake, her voice soft and gentle. Very unlike Sage. “Natalie Snyder. She’s your niece.”
“Come again?” Blake leaned forward, his elbows digging into his knees as he cocked his head and stared up at his brother.
“She’s Alyssa’s daughter.”
Mackenzie was completely lost. Who was Alyssa? And then realization set in. If Natalie was his niece, and Alyssa’s daughter…Alyssa must be…his sister.
“Shit.” Blake stood and paced outside the fire circle. “If the girl is fifteen, Alyssa must have been…sixteen when she had her.” He grabbed on to the ends of his short hair and tugged, lifting his face toward the blackened sky. “Where has she been all these years? Natalie.”
Luke approached Blake, but didn’t get into his personal space as everyone else watched from their seats.
“Alyssa gave her up for adoption shortly after she was born. Natalie was born addicted to heroin and it was hard to find a permanent placement for her. She lived with one family during her infancy, another one in her toddler years, and it’s been home to home to home during elementary and middle school. There are reports of behavior issues and…issues with her mother as well.”
“With Alyssa?”
“Yeah. Harassment. The past few homes Natalie has been in have had to file a restraining order on Alyssa. She wants her daughter back.”
“I take it she’s still…”
“Yeah.”
Mackenzie’s heart hurt and her eyes threatened to burst with tears, not something they usually did. She’d never seen Blake’s demeanor anything other than panty-dropping charming, or goofy, or lust-filled. Never so sad and confused.
Blake brushed his hand across his eyes and looked away, a poor attempt to hide the hurt and grief. Rachael got up and pressed her face into his back, hugging him from behind.
An overwhelming urge to rush up to him and hold him in her arms took over but she held herself back. He was surrounded by family who knew his story, or at least more of it than she did. They could offer him more than she could.
Feeling like an interloper, Mackenzie quietly got up from her seat and went inside. She found her fruit salad in the fridge and let herself out the front door, making her way to her car.
“Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?”
Mackenzie dropped the bowl at the sound of his voice.
“Blake?”
He crouched at her feet and picked up the bowl, brushing off the dirt from the driveway before handing it back to her. She took the bowl and set it on the front seat of her car.
“I thought I’d at least get a kiss goodbye. Maybe a cheap feel or something.” The laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I didn’t…” He didn’t want or need her pity or her questions right now. The nonchalant body language and poor attempt to be charming was a disguise to forget about the emotional news Sage and Luke just dropped on him. If he wanted a distraction, she could give him one.
“I was thinking we’d have sex.” Mackenzie looked behind her. “My car is kinda small but my bed is pretty big. Interested?”
Blake shoved his hands in his pockets and looked from her to the car to her again. “The only thing I feel like driving tonight is you. Mind if I leave my truck here and hop a ride in your toy car?”
“Honey, you can ride me any way you want.