Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MAKENZIE
“Has he come over and serviced you yet?” Jill’s voice carries as she stacks the last chocolate croissants on the display.
“Keep your voice down.” I glance at Mr. Morgan. Thankfully, he’s too engrossed in his coffee to notice. The last thing I need is for him to report to his wife that I’m entertaining a man. Especially since it’s not true.
Jill grins, unbothered. “Why? Afraid of the gossip? You’ve got needs, Mackenzie. Don’t act like you don’t.”
“Good point, but still.” I shake my head. “To answer your question, no. But he’s helping me with Liam’s practices.”
“Oh, really.” Her eyebrows jump to her hairline as she shifts closer. In an overeager voice, she says, “Spill.”
“Trust me. It’s purely innocent. Liam has soccer practice three days a week. One of the practices lands during my clinical. Nate not only offered to take them to practice so I could study, but he also offered to stay with them on the night I’d be gone. It’s a relief, honestly. I won’t have to burden Sandy, and the boys can release some steam.”
“Wow, he’s sure going out of his way to help. Are you positive you’re not slipping him a little on the side? ”
“Positive.” I shake my head. “It’s all about the kids. Although, I’m sure the gossip hounds will twist it around.”
“I know you worry about it being too soon, but believe me when I say nobody cares.”
“Oh, I know someone who’ll care.” I direct my gaze to Mr. Morgan.
“You shouldn’t let that woman get to you. Her opinion hardly matters.” That woman being Mr. Morgan’s wife.
“Yeah, you’re right, but that woman has always gotten to me. She initially hated me and never thought I measured up to her standards.”
“Why?”
The door opens, and the answer to Jill’s question walks through the door. Mark Morgan. My stomach twists. Even after all these years, his mother’s judgmental whispers echo in my mind. Mark is the eldest heir to Morgan Wineries, but he never wanted anything to do with the business. His mom blamed me. That sentiment only worsened after our breakup. Although, that’s pure speculation on my end.
Mark’s eyes find mine. Sadness slams into me. I hate how things ended between us. More than that, I hate how small this town is, making avoidance impossible.
“Let’s just say I never measured up to her standards,” I murmur.
“I honestly don’t think anyone would.”
Mark says something to his father before heading to the counter. “Mackenzie, I heard you were back in town.”
“That would be correct. I wanted to be around family.”
“I also heard your eldest signed up for soccer. He’s on the same team as my son.”
“Is that right?” I figured the boy wearing Mark’s business name across his shirt was his. Either that or Mark had sponsored the team in the past.
“Yeah.” He falls silent as awkwardness swells between us. He breaks eye contact and reads the menu board. “I’ll have a caramel macchiato. ”
“I’ll make it,” Jill pipes up. She had been so quiet I forgot she was there. It’s funny how she didn’t disappear on me this time.
I suck in my fear and address the elephant in the room. “Look, Mark, I feel I owe you an apology.”
He holds his palm up. “No need. It was a long time ago. I am sorry for the way things turned out. That must’ve been hard for you.”
“Thank you. It hasn’t been easy. Even though his job contained risks, it still came as a shock.”
“I’m around if you need anything.” The door chimes, and Nate walks in. “Although I think you may have that area covered.” Mark winks, and I feel the warmth spreading across my cheeks. Does everyone think something is going on between us? It’s so getting back to his mother.
“Thanks, Mark. I appreciate the offer. Even though things ended between us, we did have our share of fun.”
My words bring a grateful smile to his face. “That we did.”
“A caramel macchiato for a Mark,” Jill calls out.
I roll my eyes as Mark chuckles.
“I best get going. Feel free to kick my dad out anytime. The freeloader.”
“You got it.”
Mark shifts to grab his coffee. He meets Nate on his way out. They exchange friendly hellos, and a sense of relief washes through me. That meeting could have gone a lot worse. I’m glad we’ve matured. Maybe it won’t be so bad when I run into his mom.
Nate steps to the counter, and my heart skitters. He looks … dangerous in the best way. His dark hair is neatly styled, but that five o’clock shadow gives him an edge. Oh, what that stubble would feel like scrapping against my inner thighs. That thought alone has those thighs in question clenching. I may not be able to act upon it, but I can allow my imagination to go wild, which is what I’ve done this past week in bed. Nate gives me plenty of material to keep me going while I fulfill th ose needs.
I greet him with a genuine smile, but my voice comes out raspier than intended. “Your regular?”
“Yes, please.” Nate leans over the counter and hands me his money. His clean scent competes with the coffee beans. It’s intoxicating. I’ve deduced he runs every morning and showers before coming here.
“What’s on today’s agenda?” he asks while I pour his coffee.
“Same as always: kids, cooking, and studying.” I cock my head. “I still owe you that meal. I sort of suck at repaying debts.”
“You suck, huh?” He smirks as his eyes dilate and darken to a deeper brown.
Heat flames my cheek from his sexy drawl. Guess I need to watch my phrasing around this man.
“Maybe.”
“Hmm, a form of punishment may be in order.”
Holy hell.
As if on cue, my nipples harden from the suggestion, and breathing has now become impossible. The air between us crackles with something dangerous, something thrilling. Jill chokes on her cough in the distance, but I can’t focus on her. I direct my attention to Nate. We’ve had a few flirtatious moments, but never anything so direct. What kind of punishment does he mean? The sexual kind? Do I want that?
Fuck, I think I do.
What is wrong with me?
He leans closer, his voice a low rumble. “The lasagna more than made up for it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing what else you’ve got.”
With a wink, he pivots and heads straight out the door. I’m left slack-jawed, staring after him.
“Oh, honey. Your needs are definitely getting serviced sooner rather than later,” Jill says in a low tone.
The rush of fluttering waves capsizing my stomach catches me by surprise. Is that what I actually want? To have my needs serviced by him? Eagerness swells inside me, telling me everything I need to know. Yes, yes, I do.