Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
"Thanks for all your help, Mackenna. Really, I wouldn't have gotten through the night without you."
"It's only right I return the favor, finally." She pauses and lets out a sigh as she pulls her arms from around my neck. With some reluctance, she says, "You don't have to drive home if you're tired. I have a spare bedroom if you want to crash."
My emotions war against my desires. "I'm sorry. I have to get up early, and I don't want to throw your morning off. I'm already running down my list of things to do since I'm going to have to start interviewing folks to replace Hank."
Mackenna strokes the side of my face and lets her thumb run across my bottom lip. I fight the urge to suck on her finger before she offers me a timid smile and gets out of the car. It only takes me a second to get out myself and walk her to the door.
"You're always a fucking gentleman." She giggles as she heads inside.
"The fact that you're wearing a different shirt says I'm far from gentle."
"Far from gentle, indeed. Good night, Dean."
"Good night, Mackenna." I stand in front of the door, mentally kicking myself for not taking up her offer to go inside. If I didn't have to be up in five hours, I would have jumped at the chance, but I tend to put work first.
Instead of beating myself up over sex I'm not having, I head home to beat myself off to fantasies of what should have been. In another life where I didn't care about the health standards of my business, I'd fuck Mackenna all over the bakery and the bar. But no, I have to let my primitive urges subside and let memories of our passionate kisses lull me to sleep.
For now, at least.
3
MACKENNA
The sound of my phone ringing forces my eyes open just as the morning sun's rays greet me from outside my bedroom curtains. A groan crawls out of my throat as the soreness in my legs and back flares when I get out of bed.
My sister's voice is far too chipper when I pick up the screeching device. "Morning, Kenny Penny. Where are you? Are you home yet? I'm coming over unless you went home with some rando from the bar, and that's why your car is still parked outside On the Rocks."
My voice breaks as sleep fades further and further away from me. "You are way too hyper this morning, Maddie. I forgot I drove last night when I got a ride home. I'm going to hop in the shower. Come get me so I can pick it up."
"Fine, but you owe me breakfast," she replies and hangs up.
By the time she gets to me, I have to race out of the house before she decides to piss my neighbors off by honking in an obnoxious rhythm. Madison lets her hand hover above the horn, teasing me with impending chaos to force me to trot faster than I already am.
"You're such a dick," I laugh as I plop into the passenger seat.
"Speaking of dick, whose was it that made you forget about your car at the bar?" she asks with a giggle.
"I helped Dean after his bartender quit in the middle of his shift. He drove me home."
"That's it? He just drove you home? You guys have been beating around that bush—definitely not beating around your bush—for years now." She does an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
"Don't be gross." I scoff and sing my next words playfully. "Stay out of my business, Mad Maddie."
She replies in a similar sing-song way. "I would stay out of your business if it didn't require me pushing my morning meeting back."
"I didn't tell you to wake me up at the crack of dawn, worried about why my car is parked in front of a bar."
She huffs and grins. "Considering you've been parking at this bar more than a few days a week, I'm right to be curious or even concerned. You're lucky Dad didn't see it. But this little ride also gets me breakfast. I want pancakes and—"
I cut her off, finishing her usual order. "Scrambled eggs, extra cheesy, and an extra large coffee with two shots of espresso."
"Yes, yes, yes. Finally, someone who gets it right every time. I'm sure Dean would get your order right every time if you let him."
Shaking my head, my gaze shifts out the window. "Dean wants all or nothing."
"And why is that so bad? He's always been there for us, for you especially. I mean, you were a mess a few months ago. I know we were all mad that you forgot about our anniversary dinner for Mom, but you also dropped out of grad school to help our family when she got sick. It sucks that the burden fell on you. We forget how much her loss takes a toll on all of us."