She erased the writing on the sandwich board and wrote a new message in chalk:
Due to unfortunate circumstances, Coast & Roast will be closed until further notice.
It saddened her that Alyssa was so troubled she thought trashing a place of business—two places of business—would get her what she wanted. The woman must be wrung out on drugs or that desperate for money.
Safely snuggled under the covers and in Blake’s warm embrace, Mackenzie nestled her cheek against his chest and sighed in contentment.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am about your shop.”
“It’s not your fault. She’s crazy. You warned us all.” Mackenzie played with the dusting of dark hair on Blake’s chest and snuggled her body in closer to his.
Blake’s fingers made lazy circles on her shoulder and down her spine and he kissed the top of her head. “She hurt you because she knows how much you matter to me.”
“How does she know that?” Mackenzie bit back her smile and kissed his warm skin.
“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re hot and it’s obvious I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Hm. That doesn’t mean you care.” She was playing coy—so unlike her—and loving every second of it.
“Could be the way I moan in ecstasy when I…drink your coffee.” Mackenzie twisted his nipple between her fingers. “Ouch!”
“So it’s my awesome coffee making skills that turns you on?”
“Oh yeah, baby. The way you grind”—he thrust his crotch into her thigh, making her laugh—“and stir.” He swiveled his hips in an over-exaggerated move. “And pour those coffee beans in a tall, paper cup. It makes me want to…drink. You. Up.”
Mackenzie burst out laughing at his corny lines. “You’re so cheesy!” Blake took that moment to pounce on her, gently crushing her to the bed.
“What? That doesn’t turn you on? ‘Cause baby, you turn me on.”
“I’m not sure what brought this side of you out, but it’s freaking me out.”
Blake pinned her hands above her head with one hand and scowled down at her face. “You making fun of me?”
“Totally.” Mackenzie giggled.
“You know what that means.” Blake’s eyes shone with torturous glee as his free hand made its way to her side, tickling her until her belly cramped.
“I can’t. Blake. Stop!” She laughed, tears pouring out of the corners of her eyes and down her cheek. “If you make me pee my pants…”
“There’s one way to solve that. Take your pants off.” With one quick sweep of his hands her shorts and underwear were off, flung over his head and across the room. “There. Now you don’t have to worry about peeing your pants.”
Mackenzie was too exhausted from laughter to be embarrassed. “You’re insatiable, Blake Riley.”
“It’s you, Mackenzie Pratt. There’s something about these big brown eyes and long, dark hair that captivates me.” He kissed her, taking his time sucking on her lower lip before releasing it. “And those lips.” He trailed kisses down her neck and nibbled on her ear. “And your skin. The way you smell like vanilla and chocolate and coffee all the time. I want to eat you up and sip you slowly, making you last until I’ve had my fill.”
Mackenzie’s body relaxed under Blake as he savored her, talked sweetly, and touched her with care. The man did things to her heart she didn’t think possible. To joke and laugh and kiss and make her melt all in a matter of seconds.
It wasn’t confusion in her chest or in her head. She knew exactly what she was feeling, and what Blake meant with his silly lines. It was the same with her. They were both uncomfortable with words of endearment, the funny, sexy, or obscure lines more their style.
“So basically…” Mackenzie moaned when Blake’s lips started traveling toward her breasts. “You’re just using me for my mad coffee skills.”
“Mm.”
“And for my brownies.”
“Your brownies can bring a man to his knees.”
“Speaking of…”
Blake’s head shot up, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “All you have to do is ask, sweetheart.”
“Will you say yes if I do?”
“I’ll say yes to anything you want. You’ve got me, Mack. All of me.”
“Can I ask you one question first?” Something that had been nagging at her for weeks, yet he always changed the subject, or distracted her with those sexy eyes.
“First?”
“Before you…” Mackenzie wiggled her eyebrows as he’d done so many times to her.
“Time’s running out so you better hurry. You can only be naked for so long before my body goes on autopilot.”
Oh, how she loved watching his body in motion. A thing of beauty it was. Hard edges yet a softness that kept her on her toes—and curled her toes. Bringing her hands to his shoulders, she played with the divot by his clavicle and slid her foot up his calf.
“Mack. Time’s running out.”
Remembering she had an important question to ask, she dropped her hands to her side and focused on his darkening eyes.
“Why do you call me Mack?”
“Does it really bother you?” Blake dropped to his elbows, his chest resting on hers.
It had bothered her the first few times, mostly because she liked it and she really didn’t want to like anything about Blake. When Mackenzie didn’t respond, he lowered his face to hers and sipped at her lips.
“There are times when I’m with you and it’s all I can do to keep my hands to myself, or to take things slow. I hold myself back so I don’t scare you away and it takes all the strength and fight I have in me to not scare you away. You take my breath away.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “And there are times I don’t think I’m going to have enough air in my lungs to say Mackenzie before sinking my body into you and forgetting to breathe.”
“Oh,” she sighed. The air problem had trickled down to her. Mackenzie didn’t think she could form a coherent sentence, much less a word. Definitely not a three-syllable word. “Blake.”
“See? You have it easy. Blake. Mack. Those are good names to call out when you’re running out of air.”
“Blake,” she begged.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I think I’m falling in love with you.”
“Mack,” he moaned into her mouth. “I’m already there.”
Epilogue
Blake
“So when’s the wedding?”
“Easy, Rach,” Blake warned. “We didn’t say anything about marriage.” He watched Mackenzie across the field as she rode with CJ on the four-wheeler through the trails he and his brothers had made over a decade ago.
“You moved in with her and can’t keep your eyes off her or your tongue in your mouth. Wedding is next. Or, knowing you two unconventional kids”—Rachael punched his arm—“a baby first.”
“Holy hell, what?” Blake rubbed his arm and scowled at his sister. Mackenzie hadn’t said anything about a baby.
“I’m kidding. Wouldn’t surprise us, though.”
“Let’s take things one step at a time. Besides, we’ve been expecting an announcement from you and Jake any time now.”
“We’ll make one when you make your engagement announcement.”
A few months ago he would have grown hives thinking about being pinned down, but he’d planned on going to bed next to—or on top of—Mackenzie every night and waking up with her in his arms every morning. He supposed there wasn’t much difference if they were married.
There was no rush, though. He needed to make sure his family was safe from Alyssa and any smarmy men she may have in tow.
The police hadn’t turned up any leads and until then, he’d keep his family under his watchful eye. Luke had quite few connections with the police department and had called in some special favors. No one would mess with a Riley, or a friend or loved one of a Riley.
Natalie still hadn’t warmed up to him, but she and Mackenzie were somewhat civil. Mack h
ad told him about the lies Alyssa told her daughter about him and he took pride that Mackenzie believed in him and defended him without a second thought.
“What are you two up to?” Lucy opened the back door of their mother’s house, paint splatter on her jeans and orange shirt.
“Ogling the next Riley bride.”
“I’m not ogling.”
“Ah, he didn’t deny she’d be the next Riley bride.” Rachael beamed with pride.
“Well it sure the hell isn’t going to be me,” Lucy said with disgust.
“You say that now, kid.” Blake looped his arm around his sister’s neck and gave her a playful noogie. “You’ve been flying under the radar this past year with all the craziness of Colton and then Mud on the Rocks and Natalie. You’re up next, brat.”
“Not on your life. I’m still a kid. I like playing with paint and mooching off my siblings. Now that you’ve shacked up with Kenzie I get free coffee every day. Life is good. Don’t go ruining things by screwing up with her. I kinda like her.”
“I do too, Luce.” Blake shoved his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and studied his kid sister.
She had a lot in common with Mackenzie. And Natalie too. And he worried about the three of them equally. He worried that he wouldn’t be good enough for Mackenzie, or be a good role model for his niece, and that Lucy would stray from the path she’d been taking. He hoped she’d find happiness the way Blake and the rest of the Riley clan had.
“Hey tough guy,” Mackenzie hollered over the roar of the ATV as she came to a stop in front of him. “Wanna go for a ride?”
Blake smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. “Down to the lake?”
“Oh, God. You two are disgusting. Just go have sex already. No need for euphemisms.”
“That wasn’t a euphemism. I really want to go for a ride with Blake on this big, bad machine of his.” Mackenzie grinned.
Blake tipped his head back and laughed. “See ya around, sis.” He kissed the top of Lucy’s head, then Rachael’s and climbed on the back of the four-wheeler, squeezing Mackenzie tight around the waist and working his hands south.
“Yee, haw,” she yelped as she gunned the engine, taking them down the long stretch of field and into the privacy of the woods.
They didn’t make it far before the engine was cut, belts were unbuckled, and love was made.
THE END
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Acknowledgements
I had so much fun writing Playful Hearts. Blake and Mackenzie kept my spirits high when life was throwing curveballs my way. Between an abundance (yes, an abundance) of family deaths, my children’s multiple visits to the hospital, and some sad life-changing news for my son, the past year and a half have been extremely stressful. I am thankful to so many people for helping me get through one day at a time.
I could not be where I am today—a published author of eleven books!—without the support of so many.
To the lovely and awesome Maine Romance Writers, who have been with me from the beginning. You are incredibly supportive and encouraging and inspiring. You all rock! To the many authors who have hosted workshops and conferences and taught me about craft, marketing, and publishing, THANK YOU. Your lessons and tips are invaluable; I learn more and more about myself and my writing with every conference I attend. To my incredible editor, Therese. I can’t believe we’ve worked together on seven books already! I can’t thank you enough for pushing me and helping me grow as a writer.
To my friends I’ve never had the honor of meeting in person, I look forward to our interaction on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I really, really do! And to my Ricecakes. Your constant support is humbling. I treasure you.
And last, but far from least, my readers. Without you there would be no books. Thank you for reading my work and giving me the motivation to keep on writing.
About the Author
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always, always, find everlasting love. When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there’s time, relaxing with fancy drinks and romance books. Connect with her on Facebook or visit her website at www.mariannerice.com
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Playful Hearts (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 4) Page 24