Chapter 5
Cal
Coffee time. I whistle as I walk down Catoonah Street toward Main Street.
I’ve been pulling some late nights with Mackenzie.
Not complaining. With Gabe, the retiring lawyer, away on a third honeymoon (I had no idea that was a thing), work doesn’t start for another week.
Mackenzie comes over every night on her own initiative, texting me to ask if the coast is clear.
She’s a wonder—open, enthusiastic, sensual.
Clover Park has been very welcoming to me so far.
For a small town, it’s really got everything.
All roads lead to Main Street. My favorite spots so far are the bookstore, Something’s Brewing Café with the best coffee on earth, the ice-cream shop, the pizza place, and Happy Endings, a bar and restaurant.
Away from the main business district, there’s a few churches and Ludbury House, the historic mansion where Hailey works as a wedding planner.
Nice lady. She texted me this morning to see if I needed anything.
I told her that her sexy daughter was filling all my needs, thank you. Kidding!
Mackenzie has sworn me to secrecy about our meetups, especially from her mother, who told her to avoid me because I’m a commitment-phobe.
I wouldn’t say that’s exactly true. I was with Rayna for a year.
She didn’t mind my dedication to my career, as she was passionate about her own. It worked. Until it didn’t.
Though Rayna often complained I wasn’t expressive enough, or was it open enough? I hear that a lot from women, that I’m emotionally distant. Maybe I don’t have deep emotions anymore. I had to shut them down or drown. It was them or me.
Deep, true love isn’t worth the risk. Dad never recovered from the loss of Mom. His life ended the day she died of ovarian cancer. He lost his job as an architect because he couldn’t focus anymore. Now he only leaves the house for work at a warehouse. No friends, no life.
I was a freshman in college when Mom died.
I lost her, the Dad I used to know and, a year later, my serious girlfriend Brenda.
Car accident. I had to push all that grief into a tiny box to be dealt with later so I could function.
And it worked. I graduated college while playing at the top of my game, leading to minor league baseball recruiters scouting me.
And now, after this latest in a series of relationships that ended with me disappointing a woman in the emotional-availability department, I guess I’m at a point in my life where I can accept being alone.
That’s what’s so great about this casual thing with Mackenzie—there’s no pressure, no expectations. A woman who only wants the fun part. Amazing. I don’t know why I ever attempted relationships before. This is the way to go.
I pull open the door and breathe in the delicious scent of fresh-roasted coffee. Hailey let me know you get double points on your reward card on Fridays at Something’s Brewing Café, but only until ten a.m., so I came over as soon as I could drag myself out of bed.
The café is a warm cozy space with dark wood tables, deep red walls, and golden sconces around hanging lights.
I get in line, eyeing the pastries in the glass case while I wait—scones, banana loaf, pain au chocolat, and some intriguing cookie bars with chocolate and cherry.
I’m not as strict with my diet now that I don’t need to be in top athletic form.
A few minutes later, I take my cappuccino and banana loaf (hey, it has fruit in it) and turn to find a table. I freeze. Mackenzie’s sitting with a guy who looks like a damn movie star. Her lips part in surprise. We haven’t covered what to do for the random public encounter.
Maybe he is a movie star. Short dark hair, piercing blue eyes, chiseled jaw. Hailey told me that Mackenzie’s aunt is Claire Jordan, and Mackenzie’s close friends with Shayla Adler. Clearly, she has Hollywood ties.
I clench my teeth, my feet frozen to the ground. Mackenzie can have coffee with any guy she wants. We’re the definition of casual.
Nod and be on your way—
To her table.
“Don’t you have work today?” Not my smoothest greeting but come on.
She gives me a bright smile. “Oh, hi, Cal. I remember you from the Valentine’s dance. How’s lawyer life?”
So we’re playing it that way, huh?
The guy offers his hand. “In case you don’t remember, I’m Nathan. I’m sure Hailey and Mackenzie introduced you to a bunch of people that night.”
I relax. I remember him now. He was there with a date, not Mackenzie. “Right. Too bad everyone wasn’t wearing name tags for my benefit.”
He smiles. Mackenzie lets out a high-pitched laugh like she’s nervous. Is she afraid I’ll spill our dirty little secret? I’d never kiss and tell. Nathan gives her a strange look.
I incline my head. “Good to see you both.”
“Have a seat,” Nathan says, pushing out the chair across from him with his foot. “We were just wrapping up our meeting.”
“Cool.” I take a seat. They both stare at me. Nathan’s chill, but Mackenzie looks about to bolt. “Was it a business or personal meeting?”
At Mackenzie’s widened eyes, I quickly amend, “None of my business.”
“New client brief,” Nathan says. “We run Brooks Campbell Security along with Owen Campbell, but Mackenzie here is the glue that keeps us together. We’ve got a complex work situation with two clients—”
Mackenzie cuts him off. “He doesn’t want to hear about work stuff. Speaking of work, I should go. Lots to do.” She stands.
“Sit a minute with us; then I’ll go with you,” Nathan says. “I’ve got some papers I need to give you back at the office.”
“Just tell me where they are.”
“What’s the hurry?”
Me. I’m the hurry. I take a sip of coffee and watch Mackenzie over the rim of my mug. Her cheeks are flushed, and that makes me think of last night, her lusty sigh, the way she reached for me, eager to join.
I look away, pushing lust down. My neck feels hot. Nathan stares at me. Mackenzie takes her seat, and he stares at her, too.
“Something going on with you two?” Nathan asks.
“No,” I say at the same time as Mackenzie exclaims, “Don’t be silly! We just met!”
The woman is not chill. She may as well announce it—we had sex!
Nathan cocks his head. “Hold up. Did your mom try to set you up with the new single guy in town?”
“Just the opposite,” I say. “She warned her away from the player with commitment issues.”
Nathan laughs. “Aren’t we all? Hey, what was it like to play triple A ball? Was it as cool as it sounds?”
“Playing your favorite sport as a job. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
“I used to follow the Hartford Yard Goats.”
I grin at the funny name. “The Goats. Buddy of mine played shortstop for them before he was called up.”
We start talking baseball. That goes on for so long that I finish my coffee and suddenly realize Mackenzie’s falling asleep sitting up. Her head rests on her hand, her eyes closing for longer moments. Looks like our late nights are catching up to her.
“I’ll let you get back to work.” I stand and fish my business card out of my wallet, handing it to Nathan. “Open for business March first. I’ve got a background in corporate law, but I’ve been reading up on Gabe’s cases to make myself more useful in town.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
Mackenzie wakes up. “I hope we don’t need a lawyer. No offense.”
My gaze lingers on Mackenzie’s beautiful face.
There’s something about her eyes—intelligence shines there but also spirit.
A pulse beats in her throat. I love to kiss her there and breathe in her sweet scent.
I mentally shake it off and force a neutral expression.
“I never take offense when someone says no offense.”
Nathan laughs. Mackenzie fights a smile.
I lift a palm. “Nice to see you both again.”
Mackenzie flashes a bright smile. “Bye! Good luck with everything.” She says it like I’m just the new guy in town. No special naked connection.
I leave, the cold winter air a relief after that strange encounter.
No way we can keep this thing a secret in a small town for long, and that was the only way she agreed to do anything in the first place.
Mostly because her mom warned her away from me for being a player, and Mackenzie doesn’t want to deal with her mom’s I told you so, even though I never was a guy to do casual hookups until Mackenzie, and she came on to me!
This is so fucked up. I trudge back toward the inn.
“Cal!” a familiar feminine voice calls.
I turn, my gut tightening at the sight of Mackenzie rushing toward me. I half want to catch her in my arms. “Hey,” I say warmly. Now she’ll apologize for acting like she barely knows me.
“You forgot your banana bread.” She shoves it in my hand. “Bye!”
“Thanks,” I say to no one. She already sprinted away.
I continue toward the inn, an uncomfortable feeling gnawing at me. I have no claim on her, so why does it bother me that she pretends I’m some random new guy? Just because we had an amazing hookup followed by five more amazing nights?
It’s just that I know how to make her moan and, dammit, it’s my name she says over and over. I don’t know why that matters, but it does.
I try to shake it off. We’re probably only going to keep this up for one more week. That’s when I start work. Better timing that way for forgetting her. Two weeks still counts as casual.
My phone chimes with a text.
Mackenzie: That was too weird. Let’s stop this craziness before it gets messy.
I exhale sharply. Messy? How can things get messy when we agreed it’s casual? It’s not like it’ll complicate things with anyone else since I barely know anyone here. This is just between me and her, which is exactly what I text her.
I have half a mind to turn around, go back to the café, and tell her to her face.
What am I getting so worked up about? This is nothing, a fun whatever. I shove my phone in my pocket, ignoring the chimes of new texts coming in. She can text her lame excuses all day for all I care. We both know she’ll show up tonight at midnight.
Mackenzie