“I’m happy for you, Mac. You’re getting everything you’ve ever wanted.”
She smiles and I don’t miss the way her hand tightens slightly. “Just about.”
A part of me wonders if she’s finally starting to make her mind up, and I’m practically bursting at the seems to ask her what she means by that. However, I don’t want to do anything that could potentially ruin tonight, so I decide against it.
We spend the rest of the drive talking about the office building I’ve been overseeing the renovations on. It’s a small tech company that’s trying to expand and they need to appear more economically friendly. With the way the world is lately, you need to do everything in a certain way so no one strikes against you.
Of course, during the conversation about my work, she once again brings up the house I’m having built. I can tell how eager she is to see it, but it’s just not the right time yet. I know I’ll be showing it to her one day, no matter how things go between us. I just don’t want anything influencing her decision. If I’m the one she picks, I need to know that it was a fair fight.
The restaurant is everything I pictured and more. I tell the hostess I have a reservation for Brooks. She grabs two menus and leads us back to a table that has the most amazing view of the ocean. A lit candle sits on the table between us, making it all that much more romantic.
“How did you find this place?” McKenna asks as she looks around in awe.
“A client of mine recommended it. She’s a certified matchmaker.”
Her eyebrows raise. “That’s a thing?”
“Apparently.”
“Huh. I’m surprised she didn’t try to hook you up with someone.”
I chuckle. “Oh, she did, but I told her I already have my sights firmly set on someone and there’s no changing my mind.”
The corners of her mouth raise and she blushes as she looks down at the table. Watching her get flustered like that has always been one of the most endearing things I’ve ever seen. She opens the menu to look at the choices, then narrows her eyes at it.
“There are no prices. Why are there no prices?”
How did I know she was going to notice that? “Because you don’t need to worry about it. Just order whatever you want.”
She gives me a knowing look and puts the menu down. “This is one of those super expensive places where the entrées are like $100 a plate, isn’t it?”
“McKenna, you’re sweet for caring, but seriously – stop thinking about it. I chose this place because it has all of your favorites, and the food is supposed to be delicious. Just focus on having a good time tonight, okay?”
Her hand slides across the table and her fingers interlace with my own. The way my body tingles at her touch should make me feel like less of a man, but it doesn’t. There’s always been something different about McKenna Taylor. She has the ability to make me feel like I’m flying just with a brush of her hand.
The waiter comes to take our orders and I can’t help but notice how his eyes linger on Mac a little too long for my liking. Can’t he see that she’s on a date? Or does he just not care if she’s taken? Shit, listen to me. Talk about being the pot calling the kettle black.
McKenna orders the Chicken Marsala while I go with the Filet Mignon. I also order a bottle of wine for the table, one that came highly recommended throughout almost every review they have. It might be the most expensive wine I’ve ever bought, but like I said, she’s worth it.
“Okay, we’re going to play a game.” She announces with a glimmer of something in her eyes that I don’t recognize. “It’s called ‘Marry, Fuck, Kill’. I name three people and you say which one you would marry, which you would fuck once, and which you would kill.”
“Oh god, alright.”
She leans back against the seat and crosses her arms over her chest. “Me, Ivy, Tatum.”
“That’s easy. Marry you. Fuck you. Kill Tatum. Done.”
The way she laughs is something I want burned into my memory for the rest of my life. “That’s not how it works!”
I rest my elbows on the table. “Sure it is. I picked which one out of the three for each category.”
“No. Only one category per person.”
My nose scrunches up in disgust. “You mean I have to pick if I’d rather fuck Ivy or Tatum?”
“Well, it seems like you’ve already offed Tatum without a second thought, so it looks like you’re stuck with Ivy.”
“Yeah, okay.” I chuckle. “Like you’d ever let that one happen. And besides, Rome would probably bury me, even if it is only a game.”
The second her eyes widen, I realize what I let slip. Sure enough, she caught it. “Roman likes Ivy?!”
“What? I didn’t say that.” I try to play it off but judging by the way she looks at me, I know there is no point.
“You didn’t have to. You said enough.” She takes her phone from her clutch but I instantly reach across to pull it from her hand. “Hey, give me that.”
“Nope.” I pop the p as I slip it into my pocket. “Tonight is about us, and if you start texting Ivy about something she was never supposed to find out, you’ll be distracted all night.”
McKenna rolls her eyes but then smiles. “I wonder if she likes him, too. We should totally set them up!”
“Like oh my god, and then we could go on double dates and paint each other’s nails!” I tease.
She goes to kick me under the table but I react quickly, wrapping my legs around her ankle and trapping her foot into place. She attempts to pull it away, but I won’t let her. Instead, I rub my calf against hers. Her whole body settles and her hand tightens around mine. I’m so turned on that if this place wasn’t so classy, I’d probably find a way to finger her under the table.
AFTER WE’RE FINISHED EATING, we walk back out to my car hand in hand – gushing about how incredible the food was. Not only do I plan on coming back again, but I’ll be sending a thank you gift to the woman who recommended this place. The food, the atmosphere, the mood – it all went better than I could have imagined.
“Thank you for tonight. It was perfect.” McKenna tells me as I pull out of the parking lot.
I smile and glance over at her. “We’re not finished yet, Princess.”
“We’re not?”
I shake my head but don’t say anything else on the matter as I drive to our next destination. It’s not far, but on our way there, she sings along with the radio. Her voice has always been music to my ears, even though she won’t let many people hear her. I remember when we were younger, I used to hear her singing in her room. I’d stop by the door and listen without her knowing. Maverick thought I was doing it because it was funny, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the way McKenna acts when there is music playing, can tell you a lot about the mood she’s in. If she isn’t at least mouthing the lyrics or letting her body move to the beat, something is wrong. She sings along when she’s happy, and sways to the song when she’s simply content. The times when she looks like she’s not even listening to it, are when there’s a lot plaguing her mind.
The club we arrive at is one that neither of us have been to before, but I’ve never heard a bad thing about it. The last time I got to dance with her wasn’t anywhere near long enough, so I’m rectifying that. I park the car and the two of us climb out, showing the bouncer our IDs before making our way inside. It’s a gorgeous place, with the bars lit up in neon lights and DJ on a platform high in front of the dance floor.
I place a hand on McKenna’s lower back as I lead us through the crowded place and over to the bar. Already knowing they have her wine, because I had a supply of it sent here last week, I order her a glass and get myself a beer. When I hand her the drink and she takes a sip, her eyes light up.
“They carry this here?!”
I shrug. “Sure. You could say that.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “What did you do?”
“I made a phone call to the mana
ger and insisted he give the stuff a shot. When he brushed me off, I offered to pay for the first shipment.”
“That’s an expensive glass of wine.” She murmurs over the rim of the glass.
The corners of my mouth raise. “I’d pay all the money in the world to keep that smile on your face.”
For the umpteenth time tonight, she blushes. I swear, I could spend every day of my life putting that pink tint in her cheeks and never tire of seeing it. Knowing I have that affect on her gives me all that much hope for us. Maybe one day we won’t have to sneak around. I’ll be able to take her to places in town for lunch, bring her flowers at work, hold her in front of her family – all things that seem so insignificant but would mean everything to me.
The two of us talk some more as we enjoy a couple of drinks. I make sure to pace myself, knowing I need to drive home, but McKenna doesn’t. By the time she finishes her third glass of wine, I can tell she’s starting to feel it. She grabs my hand and drags me onto the dance floor. Her body molds against mine like it was made for it. I wrap my arm around her and hold her close. Yeah, I could get used to this.
Songs change as the two of us move together, but it’s as if no one else is in the room. The only person that matters to either of us is each other. She looks up at me through her lashes and it’s like someone hit me in the chest with a battering ram. Staring into her eyes, I know with absolute certainty – there will never be anyone for me but her.
A little while later, we grab another round of drinks and stand at one of the high top tables near the bar. As much as I don’t want to leave her here alone, the urge to piss becomes too much to ignore. She insists I go, telling me she’ll stay to watch our drinks and hold the table.
Moving as quickly as possible, I do my business, wash my hands, and head back out. As soon as my eyes land on McKenna, I see red. There’s a man standing beside her, clearly unable to recognize the level of disinterest gracing her perfect face. I push through the crowd with more force than necessary, desperate to get to her before this douchebag can say anything else.
“Hey babe.” I greet her as I put my hand on her lower back. She instantly relaxes at the sound of my voice.
“Hey.”
The asshole standing way too close for my liking looks me up and down before scoffing. “Really? You’re with this tool? Honey, I can show you a much better time.”
Mac shakes her head and leans into my touch, trying to put some distance between her and him. “I’m okay. Thank you though.”
Leave it to McKenna to still try to be polite while this guy is practically salivating over her. I really should have thought it through before I had her wear that dress. She looks breathtaking in anything, but the way the material accents her every curve – it could easily bring any man to his knees, myself included.
“Come on, baby.” The dumbass with a death wish continues, reaching forward and grabbing her hand. “Leave with me. Let me show you what you’re missing.”
That’s it. I can’t watch this anymore. I move so that I’m standing in between them, my back to McKenna. I’m shielding her like a body guard as I grab his wrist and forcefully remove his hold on her. Now that I’m standing this close to him, I can smell the alcohol in his breath. He’s drunk.
“Listen man, she’s not interested. There are plenty of women here. How about you go find someone who is.”
He runs his eyes over my body, obviously sizing me up. “Who the fuck are you to decide what she wants?”
“Her boyfriend, and I’m not opposed to doing whatever it takes to keep her safe from guys like you.”
Looking as if he’s given up, he turns around and takes a step away. I relax my shoulders and wait for him to leave but at the last minute he spins back and lands a right hook directly to my cheek bone. The hit catches me off guard, but as soon as I realize what happened, I strike. Using all of my body weight, I tackle him to the ground. The sound of McKenna screaming behind me barely even registers. I land punch after punch to his face, watching as blood spews from his mouth.
“Don’t you ever fucking look her way again!”
Finally, the sound of Mac begging me to stop echoes through my brain. I’m distracted for only half a second before the mother fucker manages to buck me off of him. He gets up, shoving McKenna out of his way as he runs toward the exit. The suddenness of the attack throws her off balance and she doesn’t have a chance to steady herself. Instead, she flies backwards and slams her head on the metal railing. It’s as if it happens in slow motion and my every fear becomes a horrifying reality.
“Shit, McKenna!” I scurry to my feet and rush to her side. “Are you okay?”
“M-my head.” She groans, pulling her hand away to find it covered in blood. The force in which she hit the bar must have cracked her head open. “I’m bleeding?”
I grab a wad of napkins from the table and hold them firmly to her head. “It’s okay, baby. It’s going to be okay.”
McKenna looks like she’s starting to float in and out of consciousness as I take out my phone and dial 9-1-1. Everyone is standing around staring at us, but no one is doing anything. Even the bartender watches on from his perch without even the slightest offer to help. By the third ring, I hang up. Screw waiting, she needs to get to the hospital now.
I pick her up in my arms and bolt towards the door. The crowd parts like Moses with the Red Sea as I run through them and outside. As soon as I get to my car, I manage to pull the keys from my pocket and unlock the door. McKenna slumps in the passenger seat, groaning as I buckle her. Once I’m done, I rush around to the driver’s side and jump in.
The drive to the hospital is a panicked one, but somehow I manage to formulate a logical thought.
“Hey Siri. Call Ivy Williams.”
The phone starts to ring through the speakers of the car, and within seconds, she answers the phone.
“Colton? Is everything okay?”
“No. There…” I take a deep breath to try and compose myself. “There was a fight. McKenna got caught in the crossfire. She’s hurt.”
Ivy gasps. “What the fuck do you mean she’s hurt?”
“It’s bad, Iv. She cracked her head open and she keeps passing out. I’m rushing her to the hospital now.”
“Shit. Okay, be careful. The last thing you need is to get in an accident.” I can hear the sound of keys jingling in the background. “Text me what hospital and I’ll meet you there.”
We hang up the phone just as I pull up to the emergency room. If I had obeyed any traffic laws, it probably would have taken a little longer. I run around to her side of the car, yelling that I need some help. She slumps in my arms as I lift her and carry her inside. Two nurses run over to me with a stretcher.
“What happened?”
I lay her down on it and follow them as they push her into a trauma room. “We were at a club. Some asshole shoved her and she hit her head on the railing.”
Within seconds, a doctor comes in and starts to evaluate her. “She’s got a head lac with a skull fracture. Run a CT to check for any intracranial hemorrhage.” He glances at me for a second. “Sir, I’m going to need you to wait outside.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He shakes his head as he focuses on McKenna. “Your girlfriend is in good hands, but you need to let us do our job. Someone will come update you as soon as possible.”
I don’t want to leave, but if that’s what it takes for her to get the care she needs, I’ll do it. With one last kiss to her forehead, I reluctantly turn around and head for the waiting room.
IVY ARRIVES AT THE hospital much sooner than I thought she would. As soon as I see the wispy blonde hair, I relax. However, when her eyes meet mine, I begin to fear for my life. She marches toward me with a fury I’ve never seen on her before.
“What the fuck, Colton?! A bar fight? Are you fucking kidding me?!”
I stand up and raise my hands defensively. “It wasn’t my fault. Some asshat was hitting on her and when I tol
d him to back off, he wouldn’t. He swung first.”
“And that’s supposed to make it okay?!” The more she talks, the higher her voice gets. “You’re not a goddamn idiot. You know better than this shit. For God Sakes, you’re not a 21 year old kid anymore!”
Sitting back down, I run my hands over my head. “I know. Fuck, okay? I know. It’s just, when I saw him looking at her like a piece of meat, something came over me. I wanted to rip his head clean off his neck.”
“Yeah, well, you’re lucky the club didn’t call the cops.” She runs her fingers through her hair. “If you can’t handle seeing someone flirt with her, how are you going to be if she ends up going through with the wedding? Are you going to beat Parker’s ass, too?”
At the mention of her fiancé, my blood runs ice cold. “Shit, you didn’t call him, did you?!”
She looks at me as if I’ve grown an extra eye in the middle of my forehead. “Of course, I did. What did you expect? That she’d go home with a few staples in her head and no one would ask what happened?”
“I-is he coming here?!”
“He’s in love with her. What the hell do you think?”
I groan. “Fuck! How did all of this go to such shit?! Everything was perfect until that fuckwit had to go and ruin it.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry I yelled. I know you didn’t mean for any of this to happen. But, you should probably get out of here.”
“What?” I recoil. “No, I can’t. I have to make sure she’s okay.”
“I will let you know as soon as I hear something, but you have to go. Parker cannot see you here.”
Every part of me wants to stay. Tell Ivy to go fuck herself and refuse to leave. However, I know she’s right. If he gets here and sees me, he’ll start asking questions. McKenna will be forced to make a decision before she’s ready and that may not go in my favor. So, as much as it kills me, I swallow down the lump in my throat and agree to leave.
MCKENNA
I wake to the beeping of a heart monitor. As I try to open my eyes, a shooting pain radiates throughout my head. I groan and my hand goes to my hair, only to find it disgustingly matted down with what must be dried blood. Shit, the bar, the fight, Colton. The memory of what happened runs through my mind like a movie reel.
Returning to Rockport: A Brother's Best Friend Romance Page 22