“We both know that can’t happen,” she said.
“I don’t see why not—”
The beep of his phone cut him off. He answered and turned his back to her. “Brody Kane here.” The person on the other end said something, and then Brody said, “No, I said seven, not seven fifteen and ... You’re late ... Uh-huh. Whatever, I’ll be right down.”
Brody disconnected. “That was dinner. Fried chicken and waffles. Your favorite. I have to go let the guy in, since you refuse to come during normal business hours, when the front-desk clerk is still here.”
Guilt for keeping Brody from his family rolled through her. Even stronger was the comfort that warmed her chest at the idea of sharing a meal in a family-like setting, even if it was just her, Brody, and some takeout. But she couldn’t afford to fall back into old patterns. Relying on others to make her world safe was a dangerous habit. “Thank you for the sweet thought, but I already ate.”
“Uh-huh, and when was the last time you ate something that wasn’t from a microwave?”
Well, there was that.
“Last Sunday, when you used your same guilt tactics.” She stood and gathered her things. “Plus, you get to feed me next weekend at Caroline’s birthday dinner.”
Immediately, the crushing uncertainty that came every time she left the familiar began to build and take hold. Her breathing picked up, her hands began to sweat, and her heart pounded erratically against her breastbone.
Sensing her rising panic, Muttley pressed his body into her side, letting her know he was there. As quickly as it had come on, the unease and panic dissipated, leaving behind a feeling of serenity and autonomy.
“I’m fine for tonight,” she finally said. “Plus, Savannah is probably waiting at home with supper in the oven.”
Brody snorted. “She told me I’d better feed you or I was sleeping on the couch. She’s afraid you’ll lock yourself in a room, start writing, and remember your supper two days later.”
“If Arthur ever thinks I’m working too hard, he lets himself in and force-feeds me,” she said, referring to her sweet silver fox of a neighbor who had become more than a friend—he had become her self-appointed keeper. “So, thanks, supper would be fun, but—”
Brody sat her back in her seat. “Great. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a sec.”
Mackenzie got comfortable in the chair with a small smile. Even though her continued success demanded independence, the occasional pampering was nice. Stall tactic to talk about Hunter or not.
Her heart fluttered at the thought, which was all kinds of ridiculous. It wasn’t as if she could ever escape Hunter. Nope, when you were in love with a celebrity whose personal life was plastered all over the tabloids and entertainment news shows, trying to put him in the past was difficult. Steering clear of him when you worked in the same industry, lived in the same city, and had the same agent was damn near impossible.
High five to her. Mackenzie had managed the impossible for nearly three years. Facing the impossible seemed a hell of a lot easier than sharing her secret.
Her decision to remain anonymous had never been intended to hurt anyone—it was for their protection. Hunter would have insisted on taking care of her, watching over her. It was the kind of personhewas.
Luckily for both of them,sherefused to be a burden to anyone.
Not to mention Mackenzie was barely dealing with her own loss. She could only imagine how Hunter would react. God, the outpouring of concern would only add to the already staggering weight.
Remembering the pain of watching the man she loved love someone else had her turning her head toward the exit.
He’s single now,her heart sang. But the little voice in her head, the one who waited until she was ready to give in to hope, spoke up and reminded her that Hunter could never be hers.
It wasn’t a new realization but a fact Mackenzie had accepted early in her life. And the reason behind her decision to leave three years ago.
A decision that not everyone agreed with or even understood. But not having someone to fall back on would force her to stand on her own two feet, reemerge as a stronger—healthier—person. It had taken a lot of convincing on her part, but Brody and Savannah had reluctantly supported her decision to withdraw into anonymity. It had been necessary for her healing, but she hated that she’d put Brody in the middle.
The door squeaked behind her, and Muttley let out an impressivewhoof.An unwelcome prickle of unease raced down her spine, as the feeling of being watched sent her senses into hyperdrive.
Mackenzie jerked her head around to face the door. A faint hint of something earthy and dangerous made her breath catch.
“Who’s there?”
Hunter hadn’t even started negotiating and already he knew it was a nonstarter. No amount of beer or shooting the shit was going to make this a successful pairing. Because his good old boys weren’t boys at all.
And Brody was a fucking liar.
Thismeeting was with a petite brunette with bright mossy eyes. Eyes that had haunted his every thought for the past three years. She was wearing one of those long sweater dresses that clung to her body,showing off enough curves and manufactured bravado to level a guy. But it was the way she struggled to straighten those delicate shoulders, which he knew were strong enough to carry the entire world, that had his heart clenched so tight he thought he just might pass out.
