Pawliday Love

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

brENDA

I watch McKenzie out of the corner of my eye as he peruses the raft. He hasn’t made any more smartarse remarks since it began to float. I’m sure he was thinking he’d need to rescue us all, that’s probably why he’s told his next in command that we’re fine and he doesn’t want to leave.

Although he wasn’t on speaker when they talked, I could make out some of the conversation.

Honestly, I feel a lot calmer with him here. I know I could’ve done all this by myself, but having someone to help, to talk to, is a bonus.

At least he isn’t making fun of me, unlike the rest of my family.

They all think I’m weird because I love animals. I believe they have feelings and can love and hate just like us humans.

“How did you get Bubbles here?” my flood buddy asks. “Surely you didn’t walk him here from…” He cocks his head at me before inquiring. “Where did you come from again?”

“I didn’t say,” I mutter. Is he trying to figure out where I’m from so he can call them and tell them where I am? Did my father post a reward? I wouldn’t be surprised. He doesn’t like it when his orders aren’t adhered to.

Reaching into a plastic bag, I grab a pair of trackie pants, turn my back to him, and pull them on under the towel, going commando. When I’m dressed, I spread the towel out on the floor of the raft to dry.

When I turn around, McKenzie is right behind me, and I give a small squeal of surprise. I didn’t hear him approaching. He grasps my forearms as I teeter back, pulling me to him. “Shit, you scared me,” I blurt out, a shiver running down my spine at his touch.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he replies, his eyes darkening as I glare up at him.

Unhappy with my reaction to being held by him, I snap “I could’ve fallen overboard.”

“I would’ve jumped in to save you,” he declares calmly, his voice husky. He’s still gripping my forearms, his eyes on mine.

I lick my lips as they seem suddenly dry, and he drops his gaze to watch the movement. His face dips down as I raise my head, his lips brushing against mine so softly, I think I might have imagined it. McKenzie appears as shocked as I am. I watch him lick his lower lip as if to taste me before grunting, “Shit.” His hand wraps around the back of my head, while his other slides around to my back as he pulls me against his hard body and kisses me again. This time it’s rougher, harder. When I gasp he takes the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth where it battles with my own as it licks and tastes me.

McKenzie freezes as if he’s just realised what he’s doing. He releases me and steps back, one hand falling to his side, the other cuffing the back of his neck.

The loss of his body against mine leaves me cold. I try to catch his eye, but he won’t look at me. Does he regret kissing me?

“Shit,” he repeats the curse word he uttered earlier, his eyes finally back on mine. “I’m sorry, Brenda. I shouldn’t have done that.” His words confirm my thoughts.

I’m not sure of his reasoning, so I push him a little. “You didn’t mean to kiss me because…?” I fade off, allowing him to answer.

“You don’t even know me. I don’t really know you,” he splutters, trying to elaborate on his apology. “I just…I just…” he scratches the back of his neck, vulnerability flashing through his eyes. “I just felt the need to.” He blows out a breath after he answers quietly. He appears as puzzled as I am. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“What about me?” I rasp.

McKenzie’s eyes catch mine again, confusion still obvious on his face.

“Maybe I want it to happen again.” It’s a bold statement, something I’m not known to be. But now I’m no longer under my father’s controlling ways, I find I’m growing a backbone. I can stand up for myself.

The corner of McKenzie’s mouth lifts in a smirk as he prowls back towards me like a lion stalking its prey. His thumb sits under my chin, while his hand caresses my cheek. “Are you sure about this, Bren?” His tall body squats a little so he can look in my eyes. “I’m not a one-and-done guy. When I’m into someone I’m in for the long haul. Can you handle that, Pix?”

“Pix?” I frown. This isn’t the only time he’s called me that.

“You remind me of a pixie.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “What? You don’t like it?” He cajoles.

No one’s ever given me a nickname before. “No, I like it,” I smile up at him.

McKenzie takes my hand, tugging me over to where the folded towels and blankets are. He sits, tugging my hand gently until I’m seated next to him. We kiss again and again, in between getting to know each other.

It’s getting dark now, and the water is level with the top of the front door of the farmhouse. According to McKenzie, the water will peak late tonight.

For a while, I’m thankful it’s not raining and cold until the bugs come out to play. The storm appears to have gone around us for now.

Mosquitoes are rife so it’s lucky I threw sting sprays and mosquito repellents into my go bag. It’s not quite the perfume I wish I was wearing, but it keeps the mozzies at bay.

We roll out the sleeping bag on top of the blankets and towels we’ve attempted to make a bed from. Luckily it’s a double bed size and covers us both.

All the animals have been fed and are now sleeping. The little gas BBQ worked well to boil water for bottles. McKenzie helped out, which made it easier. The cats have been let out to stretch their legs and toilet themselves in a box of dirt I brought for them. When they’ve eaten they roam around the ark, meowing at the water with contempt. I put them back in their cages for their safety.

Bubbles got a little antsy when a black snake swam by, but he’s settled down now. Trying to calm a couple of thousand pounds of bull is no mean feat, but he has a soft spot between his sawn-off horns, where, if I scratch it long enough, sends him off to la la land. He has a bed of straw and when he finally laid down, the ark bucked a little, but thankfully held together.

I drift off to sleep wrapped in the strong arms of McKenzie. I’ve never felt so safe.

I’m no fool though. He has a life waiting for him. Once the water starts to recede, he’ll leave. It’s his job to help people, and he obviously loves it by the way his face lights up when he talks about it.

When we’re on dry land again, he’ll see there’s no future with me and he’ll move on. But tonight? Tonight is mine.