“Geez, I don’t want to hear that.” Zane’s ears and cheeks grew hot. He couldn’t believe their conversation had drifted to make-up sex. Hell, some things were just plain wrong, and that topped the list.
“You heard about McKenna’s past and didn’t assume the worst. Why did I?” he asked, hoping her wisdom could make sense of what he’d done.
“You know the answer to that.”
“You think it’s because of my father? That happened when I was a kid. I got over that years ago.”
Ginny crooked an eyebrow.
No. She wasn’t right. His father choosing his other family over him had nothing to do with assuming McKenna was guilty and what he’d said. “I won’t waste my time talking about him.”
He had to do something to make this up to McKenna. But he realized while he couldn’t fix what he’d done, he could atone. He remembered her telling him how scared she’d been as a child because of her father’s unemployment.
He needed to find McKenna. He could at least restore her future. “Promote McKenna to wedding planner. She’s incredible at events.” She was incredible period. Only he hadn’t realized soon enough. “She spotted potential problems and dealt with them before anyone noticed. No matter what happened, she had a solution, and she cares about your business almost as much about you.”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
“But give her more responsibility. You work too hard. Travel or take a weekend off now and again.” He stood and kissed his grandmother’s cheek. Her subtle rose perfume floated over him.
“I will.” She patted his cheek. “Go see McKenna.”
Chapter Seventeen
McKenna made ithalfway down the Lucky Stars’ driveway before tears consumed her. A major miracle considering how Zane’s last comment, thrown at her with such venom, almost destroyed her. By the time she reached her house, McKenna’s chest ached, and she felt dehydrated from crying.
She’d loved Zane. Trusted him with her secrets, respected him and believed he’d felt the same about her. Not loving her maybe, but at least caring and trusting her. How could she have been so wrong? Otherwise how could he have assumed the worst about her?
Okay. Their relationship had ended sooner than she expected, and he wasn’t the man she thought. No big deal. She’d move on and learn from her mistakes. The most important lesson being never, under any circumstances, get involved with a man at work.
Work. Her breathing accelerated and she grew dizzy. She’d quit her job. She was unemployed. Again. After working less than six months. How would she find a job this time? She wouldn’t. No one in the wedding industry would hire her. She’d be relegated to flipping burgers, and who could live on minimum wage? She couldn’t go through being unemployed again.
Wait a minute. Zane was her temporary boss. Ginny was her permanent one and Lucky Stars’ owner. No one else could accept her resignation or fire her. What if she pled her case to Ginny? If she admitted Darby had fired her, explained how Erin had confessed to the theft, and they could discover what happened to the pin, maybe she could get her job back.
She was crazy. Why would Ginny believe her about Erin when Zane hadn’t? She needed proof. When she pulled into her driveway, she realized evidence of her innocence currently lived with her.
Erin had to admit she’d stolen the money. When McKenna unlocked her front door and stumbled inside, the creak and bang of drawers opening and closing greeted her. Staggering down the hallway, when she reached the spare bedroom, Erin stood tossing clothes into the open suitcase on the bed.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yup, for Vegas as soon as I’m packed,” Erin said without looking at McKenna as she grabbed lace panties from the dresser. “I can’t wait to brush off the dust from this hole-in-the-wall town.”
Her sister had only been working two weeks. She hadn’t even received a paycheck. How could she have enough money to leave?
Erin glanced up and gasped. “You look horrible. What happened?”
“My boss found out what happened in Houston.”
“You got fired?”
“I quit before I before that happened.”
“I’m sorry. That’s horrible, but you’ll be fine. You always are.” Erin returned to the dresser, grabbed her bras, and tossed them in the suitcase.
McKenna’s hands clenched into fists to keep from grabbing everything nearby to hurl across the room. A scream welled up in her throat threatening to choke her. How could Erin say she’d be fine? Her world had collapsed, leaving her with nothing. Less than nothing this time because she’d been happier than she’d ever been. She’d had a future. A place to call home. A man she loved.
“How can you say I’ll be fine, as if what I’m going through is nothing?” At McKenna’s harsh, furious tone, Erin froze and stared wide-eyed. “I’m tired of taking care of myself and being fine. I don’t think I’ll be all right this time.”
“You could come to Vegas with me. I bet Jeff could get you a job at the Bellagio, too.”
