I take a deep breath. “Olivia was my fiancé.”
Her mouth drops and she takes a step away from me.
“McKenzie, it was a long time ago.”
She sets my phone down toward the end of my bed and hugs herself. “You were engaged, like to be married?”
I nod.
“Why didn’t you get married?”
I look down and drag my hands over my face before I lift my head and my eyes find hers. “She didn’t want to be stuck with me after I lost my leg.”
McKenzie’s mouth drops open and her eyes widen. “Wait, what?”
I hold her eyes. “She couldn’t deal with what happened to me, so she broke up with me.”
McKenzie’s arms drop to her sides, her hands fisted. “That . . . that . . . what a bitch!”
It takes effort, but I manage to hold back a laugh. “It sucked at the time, but it’s all good now.”
She stomps her foot. “That’s just not right. I mean, who does that?”
“Seriously, it was a long time ago.”
“Were you still in the hospital when she did it?”
I nod, not sure where she’s going with this.
“Total friggin bitch,” she grumbles.
This time there’s no holding my laugh back. I reach for her, pulling her to me and kiss her, hard.
“I know you’re pissed on my behalf, but my Aunt Cathy is right. You are easily a hundred times the woman she was.”
She nods, pauses, and then grins. “Only a hundred times? She sounds pretty awful.”
I shake my head and let her go. “Fine, a million times.”
She walks around the bed to climb on behind Zeus. She slowly pets him and he rolls toward her, offering her his belly for rubs. There was a time, not that long ago, that I was so sure I’d never have a woman in my bed again.
I figured it’d be Zeus and me, and that’s it. I couldn’t picture how another person could accept me; and not only my issues, but also my need for Zeus to be near me. Zeus is trained to be well behaved and to follow my commands. We’ve bonded and I credit him for keeping me sane this long.
I’ve never seen him react to anyone else like he does McKenzie. It’s as if they’ve bonded too. Considering I do not intend to lose her, it’s a huge relief they get along as well as they do.
“Is it cool if I take a nap?”
Her eyes are already drooping. She claims she isn’t pulling her weight at the Critter Haven and Spa, but that’s all in her head. I’ve seen her work. She’s on her feet the entire time, running herself ragged.
I nod, holding back a chuckle considering she’s already out and was before she could even see my response.
“You sleep, baby.”
I text Alec to let them know we’ll rain check on dinner once we’re back from the beach. I finish packing and Zeus manages to get off the bed without waking her. We were going to go out to eat; but since she’s so wiped, I decide to pick up a pizza instead.
I call Bellissima’s so it’s ready for me when I get there. Carl is working the register.
“Hey, Mitch. Heard about what happened from McKenzie. You okay man?”
I nod. “It wasn’t fun.”
“And that asshole’s still missing?”
That reminder has me cutting any further conversation short, so I can get back to McKenzie.
The moment I’m back in my apartment with Zeus and see her, my pulse relaxes. The door must have woken her. She’s sitting up, her long brown hair a gorgeous disaster as she rubs her eyes.
She’s still in the scrubs she wears to work every day. Today, it’s a light green pair. The pants are baggy, the shirt loose and she’s still the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Mmmm, pizza.” She stretches forward; leaning over a pillow, she’s hugged to her front. “That smells amazing.”
I set the box on the counter. “I figured you were too tired to go out. I texted Alec and let them know we’d have dinner with them after the beach.”
A still sleepy grin spreads across her face. “You are my hero.”
I blink at her words.
“Mitch?”
I shake off the mental fog that had enveloped me. “Huh?”
“You zoned out there for a minute. Is everything okay?”
I lift my chin. “Want to start with one piece or two?”
Her head tilts to the side, her eyes assessing me. For two beats, I worry she’s going to push it.
Instead, she lets me off the hook and says, “two please.”
I grab a plate and she’s by my side to collect it once it’s ready. I flip on the TV and we both sit on my love seat while I search for something to watch.
“This good?” I ask, stopping on a rerun of a comedy.
She rests her head on my shoulder and replies, “It’s perfect.”
She’s asleep in my bed, and it’s a struggle to leave her. Zeus waits by the door for me as I take another moment to appreciate how lovely she is.
She’s wearing only a pair of panties, which are covered by the sheet. After I moved out from under her, she had claimed my pillow in her sleep and hugged it to her chest. She hugs it still. She sleeps more on her front than her side, exposing her back to me.
The sheets cover her up to her shoulder blades; her shoulders and upper back are bare. She pulled her hair up into a bun before we went to bed. It’s remained intact for the most part, only a couple of strands have freed themselves to fall against her neck. She’s peaceful in her sleep.
I want to lie back down in that bed and hold her body to mine. I want her peace to sink into me and form roots. I want it to grow inside me until the anxiety plaguing me has no room left and is purged.
I write her a note and leave it on the table by my bed. It’s an excuse to ensure I will be in her thoughts when she wakes. We discussed the schedule for today so telling her I’m mowing the complex is unnecessary.
The walk to the storage shed is quiet. It’s early; but I expected more people to be out given the cloudless sky.
Any guilt for possibly waking tenants on a Saturday morning by mowing is overruled by McKenzie’s excitement to see Cathy’s beach house. Zeus stays in the shade next to the shed while I start the outside perimeter.
The sun steadily rises as I push the mower back and forth across the grass.
I pull off my shirt and tuck it into the waistband of my pants before making my way back to the shed to add fuel to the mower. Zeus walks with me to the patch by the pool. He’s panting, so I quietly let him back into the apartment to drink some water.
McKenzie is sitting up when we walk in.
“Are you done already?” She asks.
I shake my head and fill up Zeus’ bowl. “Water break.”
I pour myself a glass next.
“How much is left?”
I finish it before answering, “Only the spot by the pool.”
“I’m going to shower then run to get some coffee.”
“Don’t buy coffee. Diane has one of those individual cup makers in the office.”
“Sweet. I’ll do that then.”
I walk over to her, leaning down to kiss her.
She deepens the kiss, moving onto her knees to wrap her arms around my neck.
“I’m gross,” I try to argue against her lips.
“Nuh uh,” she murmurs, not letting go. “You’re all hot and sweaty and smell like fresh cut grass, and your muscles look all glistening and stuff.”
“You like this?”
She nods. “If I wasn’t in such a hurry to go to the beach, I’d have my way with you right now.”
Her words, plus the sheet covering her breasts falling away when she started kissing me so now their pressed against my chest, have me okay with a delayed start. I fill my hands with her generous ass and pull her snugly against me to show her how turned on I am.
Not pulling away, she accepts the invitation my body offers and moves her hands down to unbutton my pants. I break our kiss and lean d
own to lave her pebbled nipple, one hand remaining on her ass, the other rubbing her over her panties.
“Fucking soaked,” I growl.
Her hand is on my dick, stroking up and down. I pull both of her arms from me and push her onto her back. Sliding her panties down her legs, I watch as she squirms for me, her hands cupping her breasts as she lifts her hips in an offer to me.
I surprise her by sinking to my knees, grabbing her ankles, and pulling her legs off the bed until they’re over my shoulders. Then I eat.
There is no sound sexier than McKenzie when my mouth is between her legs or she’s full of my cock. I fuck her with my tongue until she’s about to come, and then I suck her clit into my mouth.
She covers her mouth with her fist to muffle her cries and I lap at her until her body relaxes. Then I shed my pants and leg to climb onto the bed.
She’s breathing heavily as I tug her up the bed, and then flip her onto her stomach, lifting her ass up, so I can drive my cock into her.
“Fuck.” I start to pull out. “I’m not wearing a condom.”
“Don’t stop,” her hand reaches for my hip. “I’m on the pill.”
I pause, glancing down to see my dick, uncovered, half inside the sweetest pussy I’ve ever fucked. Slowly, I sink back into her. We both moan at the feel of nothing between us. This is wrong, not being able to look in her eyes. I withdraw and she looks back at me. I lean over her, crushing my lips to hers as I turn her onto her back. Her legs open for me and I drive back into her, my mouth still on hers. I swallow her cry and taste her passion.
She’s molten beneath me, her body a fluid match to mine. Her fingertips drift up my arms. One of her hands sinks into my hair and holds my lips to hers. Her other hand grips my shoulder, her nails biting into my skin. I’m lost in her. We’re panting when our lips separate. I stare into her eyes as I fill her over and over again. I shove my hand between us to stroke her, desperate for her to come before I do.
Her body starts to tense and her eyes close when she is close.
“Let go, baby,” I urge, pressing my lips to her jaw.
“Mitch, oh, oh, God, Mitch,” she groans as I feel her pulse against my cock.
It’s too much. I buck wildly into her, before I release. I stay rooted, sliding my hand into her hair and gazing down at her.
“God, you’re gorgeous.”
She blushes and I want to take her all over again.
“Seriously, McKenzie, how do you do this to me?”
Her forehead creases. “Do what?”
I press my lips to hers. “Make me feel invincible.”
When I hear her sniffle, I lift my head and she covers her face.
“McKenzie?”
She wipes at her eyes and gives me a watery smile. “I’m fine, I swear.”
I lower my body onto hers and turn us both onto our sides, holding her to my chest, and shoving my face into her neck. Neither of us speaks as my dick slips out of her. She still makes no move to leave my embrace, in no hurry to wash me from her.
I don’t want to leave her, more and more I’m realizing I never want to leave her. Healthy or not, she doesn’t appear bothered by my fascination with her. If anything, she suffers from the same compulsion.
“I could stay like this all day,” I admit.
She snuggles into me. “As soon as we get to the beach, we’ll have a week of this.”
She’s right.
I turn my face to kiss her cheek. “You get ready. I’ll finish up then grab a quick shower, and we can hit the road.”
Her head lifts to look my way when I open the door to the leasing office. “Hi, Diane, right?”
She stands, a pretty smile on her face. “Yes, Rachel. I spoke to your husband when Mitch was in the hospital.”
I laugh, pressing my hand to my chest. “I’m not Rachel, or married.” I walk over to her, extending my hand, “I’m McKenzie. I’m sorry it took me this long to introduce myself.”
Her hand slips into mine and squeezes it before dropping our shake, her mouth dropping. “You were the one who was attacked?”
I cringe, not wanting to think about that night and nod.
“Oh, how awful,” she mutters, shaking her head.
“It was,” I agree.
Silence ensues as neither of us says anything for a moment.
After a beat, she’s the first to speak. “Was there something I could help you with?”
I laugh. “Coffee, Mitch told me you have a by the cup coffee maker here. Is it okay with you that I grab one?”
She tilts her head. “You’ve already seen Mitch this morning? I thought he was mowing.”
I blush. “Yep.”
Her brows lift; but otherwise, she makes no comment and directs me over to a table in the corner of the room laid out with coffee supplies. While my cup brews, a delicious smelling French roast I take the time to look at her stealthily. She’s stunning although slightly dressed more for a club than an apartment complex leasing office.
Not a strip club, but she’s definitely showing some skin. Considering the fact that it’s summer and humid as hell, and she has to show prospective tenants available apartments, I don’t blame her. If I had to guess, I’d say she was a few years older than I am. Once my coffee is ready, after I add half a sugar pack and some cream to it, I walk over to the window that overlooks the pool and where Mitch is mowing.
It’s awkward. I’m not sure if I should thank her for the coffee and leave, or try to engage in some small talk. I’m saved from having to decide between either when I notice I can no longer hear the mower, and see Mitch and Zeus walking toward the building. Diane’s head turns when the door opens and he strides in, Zeus coming straight to me.
“I figured you were still in here,” he says, coming over to me.
I grin, lifting my now, half empty coffee cup and lovingly stroke it. He covers the hand holding my cup in his and lifts my cup to his lips for a taste.
After his sip, he grimaces. “Too sweet.”
I shrug and grin up at him, so he drops his head to brush his lips against mine.
“I need to shower, and then we can load up and hit the road,” he says, after our kiss.
I nod and slip my hand in his. He turns us both to Diane who has been quietly watching our exchange.
“I’m happy you got a chance to meet Diane. She keeps this place running.”
I smile over at her and notice it takes her a beat to return mine. It’s not surprising since she thought I was Rachel.
“Text me if anything big comes up. We can always drive back if we need to.”
Her eyes focus on Mitch. “Where are you two off to?”
“Cathy’s beach house. You’ve stayed there before, haven’t you?”
She nods. “It’s a great house.”
He lets go of my hand to slide his arm around my shoulders and looks down at me. “We better get moving then.”
I nod, before turning to look at Diane. “It was nice meeting you, thanks for the coffee.”
“It was nice meeting you too, McKayla.”
“McKenzie,” Mitch corrects.
She blushes. “Sorry, McKenzie.”
I wave my hand. “No worries, happens all the time.”
She lifts her hand, saying, “Have fun,” as we leave, Mitch holding the door for Zeus and me.
“She seems nice.”
He nods. “My Aunt Cathy says she’s great.”
“Let me guess. You’ve never really spoken to her.”
He shrugs which is answer enough for me.
“I can’t get over what a loner you’ve been.”
“It was easier that way,” he admits.
“There’s no going back to that; you’re stuck with at least Rachel, Alec, and me now.”
He opens the door to his apartment for us, kissing the top of my head as I pass in front of him. “I can live with that.”
I make each of us a bagel we can eat on the road while he takes his shower. Mitch, stubborn man
that he is, doesn’t let me carry anything other than my purse up to my Jeep. I don’t argue because it’s sweet that he likes taking care of me.
What I’m less a fan of is his need to drive.
“But, it’s my Jeep.”
We decided that in case it rained on the way there or back, it’d be smarter not to take his truck.
“Still driving.”
“I’m a good driver,” I argue.
“Baby.”
“Don’t baby me,” I snap.
Truthfully, hearing him call me baby in bed is hot as hell. It’s less hot when he’s doing it during an argument.
Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, he pulls me to him; his big, hard body flush to mine. “Is it that big of a deal that I drive?”
I tilt my head back so that my eyes can meet his and admit, “No.”
“It’s a long drive, and the truth is, it’ll help me if I drove.”
I pop up onto my toes and press my lips to his. “You can drive.”
His mouth breaks into a grin beneath my lips until I say, “But, I pick the music.”
“Stubborn,” he grumbles and I laugh, pulling away.
He swats me on the ass as I go.
I decide against torturing him with any boy bands or bubble gum pop, and pull up my Sublime playlist. While he doesn’t verbally approve, I catch him nodding his head more than once along the way. We make one stop for lunch and eat our subs at a picnic table in front of the restaurant.
“We’ll need to grocery shop for some basics after we unpack.”
“How about you and Zeus chill at the house since you did all the driving, and I’ll grocery shop?”
He frowns.
“It’s the weekend, close to peak season. The grocery stores are going to be packed.”
We’re at a traffic light, waiting to turn left to take us up North 12 toward Corolla. He turns his face from the road to look at me and reaches for my hand. He holds it for a moment before lifting it to his mouth and brushing his lips across my knuckles.
“Thank you, McKenzie.”
Traffic sucks until we’re past Duck.
“Cathy said we need to get donuts from there”—he points to Duck Donuts—“at least once while we’re here.”
“You’ll get no argument against donuts from me,” I joke.
Chasing Daylight Page 16