“I enjoy his company.” McKenna bit her lip. Sometimes he said exactly what she needed to hear. Like now. Captain Jack was right. She captained her ship, and Erin’s problems wouldn’t capsize her.
McKenna strolled across the room to retrieve a piece of diced papaya from the treat bag. As she handed Jack the reward, she said, “Thanks, pal, I needed that.”
Then she turned to Erin. “It was a long night.” One filled with more passion than she dreamed possible and connecting her with Zane in a deep-seated level. How would she prepare for when he returned to California?
Deal with that when it happens. Remember? Enjoy now. Well, not now, because dealing with Erin is a pain, but rather the time you have with Zane.
“I need fresh clothes and caffeine. Do you want coffee?”
“No, but I’d love something to eat. What do you have?”
“You’re welcome to see for yourself,” McKenna said, knowing what her sister really meant was make her something.
“Never mind.”
Yup, nailed it.
Once dressed in lounge pants and an oversized T-shirt, McKenna headed to the kitchen. After preparing coffee, she took a minute to compose herself. Did Erin realize how lucky she was? McKenna never had someone older and wiser to count on or run to when she hit a rough patch. She’d handled problems herself.
Back in the living room, she settled into the overstuffed chair beside the couch and sipped her coffee. The warm liquid flowed through her, jolting her brain into gear. “What’s going on?”
“Lance came to work. When he wouldn’t leave, Darby called the police, and they hauled him off to jail.”
“Good. That’ll keep him from violating the protective order again.” McKenna waited. If Lance was in jail, why was Erin here? A minute passed while she studied her sister over her cup’s rim. Fidgety. Avoiding her gaze. Not good. “What else happened?”
“Darby was really ticked.”
Uh, yeah. No one wants a girlfriend beater at her business. Least of all wedding planners whose clients are among Houston’s elite. “She had a right to be. Don’t you think?”
“Well, sure, but she got all mad at me. She said I should’ve warned her about the situation with him so she could protect her business. The next thing I knew she threw all this poor work performance stuff and bad attitude garbage at me.”
“The problem is your attitude,” Captain Jack Parrot said.
“Shut up! Taking it from Darby was bad enough, but I won’t take it from a bird,” Erin snapped.
“Don’t yell at him.” Apprehension tightened every muscle in McKenna’s body. She had a bad feeling where this explanation was headed.
“Then the bird better keep quiet.”
“I regret nothing ever,” came the parrot’s quick retort.
“That’s it. Shut him up, McKenna.”
Wanting to pacify her sister to discover what brought Erin here, McKenna walked to the cage. Captain Jack hopped over to greet her. “I can let you drown…”
She smiled, realizing he was right. All her life, she’d been forced to sink or swim. No one helped her at Erin’s age. She’d solved her own problems, but she’d always been there for Erin. Had she done too much for her? While McKenna wouldn’t let her sister drown, maybe it was time for Erin to toss off the water wings and swim solo.
After giving Jack another treat, McKenna covered his cage and returned to her chair. “How did you respond to Darby’s comments about your work performance and attitude?”
Her sister’s eyes widened in surprise over McKenna’s less sympathetic, more confrontational question and tone.
“I told her I didn’t have to take her talking to me that way, and I quit.”
McKenna pinched her eyes closed as the ramifications ripped through her. No. Erin couldn’t quit. Not after what she’d sacrificed. Heart pounding, McKenna’s eyes sprang open and her gaze zeroed in on Erin. “You cannot quit. Not after all I did for you to keep the job.”
“You said you wouldn’t hold that over my head, but here you are throwing it in my face.”
There’s a discrepancy in the accounts. Mr. Jenkins paid his deposit in cash, but there’s no record of the payment.
