A Spot at Starlight Beach (Spotted Cottage #3)

Fifteen

The moment the tea shop door shut behind Cameron, Mackenzie braced herself. The bells on the door jingled their little song, and Eliza burst out of the kitchen.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“He left without his tea and cookies.” Granny had followed, a plate in her hands. Her lips twisted into a scowl.

Mackenzie glanced down at the check. Her head was lighter than her body, floating up, up, up… “He brought a donation for the Blackfish Ball.”

Eliza wiped her hands on her apron. “Aw, that’s sweet!”

“Why would he agree to cookies and tea, then just leave?” Granny snatched the check off the table before Mackenzie could react. “Ten thousand dollars!”

Eliza gasped. “What!”

“It’s not from him, it’s from the company,” Mackenzie said. She put her feet flat on the floor. “I guess he really wants me to work for them.”

Granny raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s all he wants?”

Mackenzie shut her eyes. “Granny!”

“I’m just saying!” She set the plate of cookies on top of a stack of papers. “A good-looking young man doesn’t get all dressed up and come to a tea shop if he isn’t trying to woo a young lady. Especially if he doesn’t have any tea.”

Eliza laughed. “I think Granny might be on to something, Mack.”

“Of course I’m on to something. Not that anyone is going to listen to me.” Granny cackled a laugh.

“It’s not about listening, Granny,” Mackenzie said, clicking extra hard on her computer. “I’m not interested in a romantic relationship, especially one with a potential coworker.”

“Then why are your cheeks all flushed?” Eliza asked.

“And why won’t you look me in the eye?” Granny added.

Mackenzie turned, eyes bulged, and stared at her. “There. Are you happy?”

Eliza shot Granny a look and they both erupted into snorted laughter.

“It’s okay to admit you like him,” Eliza said. “He is your type.”

Mackenzie sat back. “I have a type?”

“Well, you know. He’s just…”

Mackenzie leaned in. “What?”

She sighed. “This isn’t an indictment of you, Mackenzie, but you’re not the most approachable woman. The guys you end up with tend to be the ones with, you know, confidence.”

Granny nodded. “Good looks, too. Like I said. That was a nice suit, wasn’t it? The boys don’t dress like that anymore.”

“He was here for work, Granny.” Mackenzie shut her laptop. “Thank you both for this riveting conversation. I’m going to the bank to deposit this into Lottie’s account.”

“Oh! I’ll drive,” Granny said. “I’m headed into town.”

Eliza turned to her. “What for? I can go.”

Granny stared at them. “I didn’t have time to update you two, but your Aunt Adelaide moved her visit up. I need to pick her up from the ferry.”

Mackenzie sat up. “What, is Aunt Addy coming today?”

“Yes. Your mom talked to her a week ago, and she sounded so down about being alone for her birthday that we pulled some strings to move her flight up!”

“Aw, poor Aunt Addy,” Eliza said.

“You’ll need to make space for her at the ball,” Granny said. “And don’t you dare make her feel unwanted!”

Mackenzie put her hands up. “I would never make Aunt Addy feel unwanted!”

It was bad enough that her husband had announced he wanted a divorce out of nowhere last year. Then, last month, she was laid off from her job as a professor.

Mackenzie could relate, somewhat. Though she’d technically been fired.

“Good,” Granny said. “I’m picking her up in an hour. I can take you to the bank.”

It seemed Mackenzie’s plan to get away from their prying eyes failed. She pulled out her phone and saw she had a message from Cameron. Her heart leapt.

I just had an idea as I was leaving the island. How would you feel about me inviting Bailey Jo to the ball? I’m not sure if she’d want to come, but it might be good publicity.

Mackenzie’s jaw dropped. “Cameron just said he could invite Bailey Jo to the ball.”

Eliza shrieked. “Are you serious? Tell him to do it!”

“There had still better be room for Adelaide!” Granny barked over her shoulder as she walked off to the kitchen.

“There will be!” Mackenzie yelled back.

“Answer him!” Eliza said, nudging her. “I can redeem myself after acting like such an idiot in front of her last time.”

“You weren’t an idiot,” Mackenzie said. She took a deep breath and wrote back.

That would be incredible! Thanks, Cameron.

She put her phone away, her heart still fluttering against her ribcage like a little hummingbird.

Maybe the job at Opuluxe wasn’t what she wanted. Granny might be right. She often was.

Maybe Cameron was the prize? What better way to win the breakup than to level up? Way up?

“I was already so excited for this ball,” Eliza said. “Now I’m not going to sleep at all.”

Mackenzie bit her lip. “Me too.”