Page 102 of Rumor Has It

Chapter 22

Mackenzie

I sit, twirling my cold cup of coffee that I never planned on drinking, waiting for him to show up. Of course the gossip started flying the minute he pulled into town. I didn’t think the shop phone would ever stop ringing.

I peer over the table of people in front of me, hoping to get a look at him before he walks in, the last thing I want is to be seen with him and looking like roadkill. I’ll never live it down.

After waiting for what feels like an eternity, I watch as he pulls up, parking in a handicap spot. My nerves are coiled tightly. I hope he minds his manners.

He enters the place as if he owns it and is running for office. Rolling my eyes would be a little cliché at the moment, but when he spots me and begins pointing and announcing he’s meeting me, they practically do it of their own volition.

“There she is, Mackenzie Baker!”

I force a smile. “Hey, there. How are you?”

“What? No love for the ex-lover?” He holds his arms wide with a smile to match. I can taste vomit in my mouth as it rises in the back of my throat. I take a huge swig of my coffee, my bitter, cold coffee.

I offer my hand because touching him isn’t an option. “No, it’s best to keep it PG up in here. Ya know, for people’s safety and all.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” His eyes travel down my body, immediately making me feel queasy and insecure. “I see time has done your body damn good.”

“Thanks.” I grind my jaw.

He pulls the chair out, scanning the room as he sits. Would it be too much to ask for him to miss? “Mind telling me why in the hell I’m here, Mackenzie.” He gestures at the table across the room, fake smiling and waving.

“Sure, Reed.” I swallow hard, swimming in my own disdain. “It’s about my daughter, and I’m hoping you can help clear a few things up for us. Maybe then, we can all move on from this after.”

His head whips around as he glares at me. “You brought me to a public place to air this shit out? What the fuck?”

“I wanted … needed to be in an open setting. I thought it would be better for the both of us, so things don’t get out of hand.” I plaster a pleasant and pleasing smile on my face.

His brows fall low. “Don’t you trust yourself to be alone with me?”

“Not the point, not a problem either.” I shift in my seat, readying for a fight.

“I beg to differ, or should we phone a friend and ask Hatch? I’d bet good money he’d have a opinion on you calling me.”

I narrow my eyes. “What makes you think he doesn’t know?”

“Again, we’re meeting in a public place. One of the two of you need this to be around a crowd, and I’m willing to guess it isn’t you.” His tongue sweeps over his lower lip.

I hold up a finger. “I texted you after getting your number from your office. I chose for this to be in front of people, not because I’m afraid of being alone with you either.”

“Okay, so it’s about your daughter. What’s it to me?” He crosses his arms with a sneer. I seriously want to puke.

“I was hoping you’d go with us to take a DNA test. I’d like to clear her parentage up.” My stomach lurches when his eyes dart around the room. His tongue rolls around his mouth as if he can’t stand the taste of his own words or mine.

“Again, what do I have to do with it?”

I shake my head, straightening in my seat. “You know damn well what it has to do with you, Reed.”

“What about Boone? I thought you were with him before I left?” He fidgets, still not meeting my eyes.

I drag a deep breath in, knowing he could get dirty if he wants to. “He’ll also be tested, since her birth was within the margin of time between you and him.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” He chuckles as his eyes snap to mine. “This is better than I could’ve ever expected.”

“I’m happy to afford you the laugh. About the test, can you do it?” I bite my tongue in hopes it’ll bleed, instead of me making his nose do the bleeding.