The gloom of defeat followed Mackenzie all the way back home like lead on her shoulders. Not just defeat, but utter devastation.It was just cruel.Dashing all of her hopes so carelessly. She had gone there confident and sure she would get the job. All of a sudden, they chose someone else? She didn’t even see any other candidate there except her. So how?With all those painful questions banging around in her mind, she walked closer to her apartment door. But stopped when her eyes fell on the bouquet of Pink Camilla flowers propped right in front of the apartment.What?That stranger had traced her house address here in Greensville as well? All the flowers they sent back in North Dakota was not enough?Anger erupted inside Mackenzie and she grabbed the flowers, smashing it against the wall with so much force. An angry sound left her as she flung her bag away to smash the flowers around better.All the frustrations and stress she had kept bottled in, all this time were all violently com
That question jarred Mackenzie, because she was not remotely expecting that question. She jolted, then abruptly looked around the living room. She was looking for Cameron, hoping he had not heard what Felicity just said.Felicity spoke up. “He is in the bedroom, watching TV and singing along to his favorite show. He can’t hear us.”Truly, Mackenzie could hear his excited voice filtering into the living room and out through the bedroom door. Charlotte was staring at Mackenzie as if she just realized it now that Felicity mentioned it. She slowly looked back at Chase on the magazine cover, then even more slowly, looked back at Mackenzie with shock.“Chase and Jeffery are half-brothers, not related by blood at all,” Charlotte started like she was thinking aloud, “But when you look at Cameron…. He has blue eyes, which no one in your family has. Jeffery has dark eyes. But he looks just like…” She trailed off.Felicity added. “Cali used to look like you as a baby, but the older she grows, t
Chase swallowed a bite of the food he couldn’t even taste, and felt it settle wrongly in his stomach. Suppressing a grimace, he took a sip of water.This was torture.He loathed the sight of Jeffrey and his mother. That was why this food looked so unappealing. He would have asked West to come with him to the dinner, but he had a feeling that this was strictly family time.Besides, West was in the hospital receiving treatment for the injuries he sustained from they fight that landed him in jail.His eyes moved over to where his father sat, and noticed that he was picking at his food as well. The food couldn’t be unappealing, because Jeffrey was wolfing down his plate like an animal.Eleanor placed one hand on his arm, encouraging him to eat more in her sickening “worried” tone of voice. That was unusual. His father usually had a healthy appetite. Chase was still staring at them when he felt the pressure of someone’s glare at the side of his face.Before he turned, he already knew it w
“She had been sleeping around for so long, that it is her second nature. An unbreakable habit.” Chase continued in a detached tone. “It disgusts me.”He did not mention that what triggered his decision to get a divorce was finding out she had also been having sex with his own step brother. No, not just sex, but a whole affair. Repeatedly.It was unnecessary to mention that, because only the knowledge that Selene was a chronic infidel, was enough to shatter the perfect image Richard had of her.Anger roiled in Richard’s eyes from the news. He was also appalled, asking, “How—? How did you find out? And for how long has this been going on?”“Since the damn wedding. It’s something she had always been doing.”Richard went silent in his anger, slowly realizing that he should have calmed down to ask his son why exactly he was filing for a divorce. Now that he was aware, he would do things differently.“But are you okay, Chase? Fertility-wise?” Chase’s father asked, slowly getting out of his
Mackenzie ran the white towel over the plate till it was a pristine, squeaky white . She placed it on the rack, ready for use, and took another.It was a week after a crushing disappointment at the employment interview at DarkWood Furniture Company, and she had gotten a job.As a waitress.In some four star restaurant in a bustling part of greenfield. The only bright side about this job, was that it was not located right at the heart of the city like all the other places she has been. It lessened her anxiety and paranoia quite a bit.This was not something she had ever pictured herself doing, but she needed this job to survive. Her savings from North Dakota had completely run out. She had two kids to feed, clothe and take care of. Desperation had clutched her heart like a vice when she realized that they could starve if she didn’t take a drastic decision.That drastic decision was not an easier option for Mackenzie either. Her job hunt was incredibly crippled by the four-year gap in
Mackenzie took a step forward, asking, “What are you doing here, Mr. Axford?”Chase’s sea blue eyes moved to meet hers for a split second, then he raked his gaze down her body. A heated swirl of desire had charged up in him from the moment those doors opened and she stepped in.On those long legs in a black skirt that made her waist look even smaller than usual, and the white shirt that was buttoned all the way to the crook of her neck.It made the soft bulge of her breasts all the more noticeable. His needy gaze found it’s way back to her distressed face, and it was the most beautiful thing he had seen all year.Her thick and dark curls were bound back into a ponytail that swept down her back, bouncing with each slight movement she made. Tiny baby hairs curled around her hairline, so delicately, so fragile that he was filled with the ferocious urge to grab her, kiss her, make her straddle his thighs while he did the most X-rated things to her beneath her skirt.But her hazel eyes we
Raising her head once she was done serving, she met his gaze. It looked so dark and dangerous, like a stormy sea, but she could clearly see the message in them. He was one thread away from devouring her, and there was nothing she could do about it.That thought jolted her back into action.She moved back and cleared her throat, trying to bring his attention back to the food in front of him.He glanced at the food, and said gruffly, “Come eat with me, Mackenzie. Sit right here.” He tapped the space beside him on the leather couch.She was already shaking her head no, when he transferred his hand to his strong, stallion thigh instead, and asked in a heated voice,“Would you rather sit on me, Mackenzie?”That question was so scandalous she nearly gasped. It’s double meaning made her blush bright red, because neither of them were innocent. Then again, Chase Axford and innocence never went hand in hand.“No.” She replied, a bit harsher than she intended.“Fine. Stay, and watch me eat. I d
Mackenzie walked back into the apartment after going to talk to her kids, and the babysitter at the neighbors’ apartment, and spotted Charlotte pacing around the living room. She was talking on the phone.“What do you think? The twins are in safe hands with that nice babysitter, don’t you agree?” Felicity stepped into the living room, wrapped in a bathrobe while she patted her hair down with a towel.Mackenzie nodded with a soft smile. “I’m so relieved. They looked so happy with their new friends .” Charlotte turned around, pressing the phone against her chest. “Hey, girls. I’m on the phone with Uncle Maverick. I told him to come pick us up!”“Why? You didn’t have to bother him…” Mackenzie protested but Charlotte was not having any of it. “He wants to see us, it’s been a long while since we were all together! I’m putting him on speaker.”She raised her phone and tapped on the screen.“Uncle Maverick, we’ll be fine. We just want to go have some drinks real quick and we’ll be back.” Ma