The Certainty of Deception (10 page)

Gavin sidled up to McKenzie and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “I knew I liked you for a reason.  I’ve been telling him that since he was a kid; that shit stinks.”

“How on earth did we get caught up on my flatulence?” I returned. 

With a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder, Gavin released McKenzie.  She giggled at the sight of Gavin wiggling his brows and shifting his eyes.  I couldn’t help but enjoy watching the two of them together.  When it came to the women of my life, Gavin had never warmed up to any of them.  He was always careful and calculated in their presence.  Even Olivia, who’d befriended his fianc
é
e, he maintained a certain distance.  But Mickie, something about her drew him in just as it had me.  She was magic.  Pure magic.

The room grew quiet save the sound of machines and electricity running.  McKenzie swayed back and forth with her arms crossed behind her back.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.  Being here, in this moment, had been everything I’d dreamed of for the last two months.  All I wanted to do was to get her alone and talk. 

“So.” McKenzie glanced down at her feet.  Golden strands of hair fell into her hooded eyes, blocking my view of serenity.  She reached up to push them back.  I stepped forward, placing my hand over hers, tenderly tucking her hair behind her ear.  Her eyes darted to meet mine.  Pale pink heat painted her cheeks.  Excitement buzzed through my fingers and my groin as I watched her graze her teeth across her bottom lip.  I loved that little nervous habit of hers.

“So,” I mirrored in a soft undertone.  The back of my knuckles brushed across her cheek, feeling the heat underneath her skin.  Her blush brightened, as her eyes fluttered closed.  “Why don’t you show us your office?” I suggested.

“That’s a great idea,” Jared chimed in.

McKenzie opened her eyes, shaking the fog away from her head.  I smirked at the look on her face, recalling all the nights we’d spent wrapped around each other only for her to be left with that mesmerized expression.  “Oh, yeah. Um. Sure.”  She scratched the back of her head in a vain attempt to regain her composure.  “This way, fellas.” 

McKenzie motioned for us to follow her.  She directed us behind the counter toward a hidden hallway in the back.  The floors creaked with each step we took, and the smell of motor oil and age grew heavier in this part of the building.  Fluorescent lights masked by yellowed fixtures hung over our heads, producing dull light that illuminated the path.  The same dank, cracked tiles squeaked under our feet.  A few office spaces lined each side of the hall.  All the doors were closed except for one as we passed.

I glanced into the room and noticed a woman talking on the phone with a baby cradled against her.  The telephone cord stretched over her chest and across the baby.  As she talked, she rocked the infant in her arms.  My stomach knotted at the sight of her and the child.  I quickly diverted my eyes only to catch Gavin staring between me and the woman in the room.  The same thought had passed through
both of our minds.  Being near an infant was pretty much hell for me.  There were things in my past that needed to remain in my past, and being in close proximity to a baby would only ensure that they’d resurface.  That wasn’t something I was quite prepared to handle yet.  And even though only Gavin and I knew what had just transpired inside of me, I feared my heart was on my sleeve for the whole world to see.  My only saving grace was Jared nor McKenzie knew of my past, and neither would understand the silent transaction that occurred between my brother and me.

“Starting them off kind of young, aren’t you?” Gavin teased, thrusting his thumb toward the office.  My big brother to the rescue as always. 

McKenzie glanced in the direction Gavin pointed.  A look of confusion furrowed her brow. 

“There’s
such a thing as child labor laws,” he teased.

Her eyes widened and a smile spread over her face.  “Oh, that’s my cousin, Jackie.  This is her first week back to work after having Honor.”

“And she brought the baby to work?” Gavin questioned.

McKenzie shrugged.  “Yeah.  Why not?  She works back here, and it allows her to be with the baby as much as possible.”

Jackie saw us standing outside her door.  She nodded a quick greeting toward us while she continued to talk on the phone.  Jackie appeared to be a young woman in her thirties, but moving closer to forty.  She resembled McKenzie to some degree, with short, dark blonde hair, almost brown.  She was heavier than McKenzie, but that didn’t take away from her beauty.  She glowed with happiness, as any new mother would.   Her gentle yet tired smile knocked on the door of my memory.  My stomached soured, as I forced the flood of emotions back.  I waved at her and quickly darted away, hoping I didn’t come off as too rude. 

I stood against a closed door on the opposite side of the hall.  The cool wood felt good against my sweaty palm
s.  I tried to breathe normal and keep my focus on McKenzie who’d stopped in front of the closed door next to Jackie’s office.  “Here it is.”  She twisted the dull brass doorknob, pushing the door open.

Gavin and Jared entered her office, leaving me alone in the hall.  I pushed myself off of the door, taking a deep breath.  “It’s not much,” she stated, her gaze locked on me.  I stepped forward, closing the distance between us.  Chest to chest, our eyes met, but even this close I could feel the distance between us.  I moved to close it, entwining our fingers together, pressing my body close to hers, barring her between me and the door behind her.   Her chest rose and fell with each haggard breath she took.  My head dipped down, drawing my lips closer to hers.  There was no denying the energy that pulsed between us.  Nothing could change the need I felt for her, and I could tell the same applied for her.

“Ack-hem,” Gavin cleared his throat. 

It was for this very reason I’d wished my brother and Jared hadn’t joined me on this trip, because if it weren’t for them, I’d have kissed her.

McKenzie released my hands, and sidestepped, moving away.  “Pardon me,” she mumbled, sliding into the room. 

I clenched my jaw, mentally cursing my brother and Jared for cock-blocking me, and followed her into the office.  Black filing cabinets lined the wall behind her desk.  On the far wall, opposite of the door, was a large paned-glass window.  Sunlight filtered into the room, spotlighting the windowsill.  I smiled at the sight of the window.  Eight weeks worth of vases stood proud in the warmth of the sun.  Each one still filled with the flowers they arrived with.  Some were wilted and brown, petals surrounding the base of the vase as they died off.  Others were fresh and vibrant, and full of life.  Seeing the vases gave me hope.

“Nice garden.”  I nodded toward the vases.

McKenzie looked toward the window.  A mindless smile appeared on her lips.  “They’re the reason I look forward to Mondays.”  She clasped her hands behind her back, staring longingly at the row of flowers. 

“They’re the reason I look forward to Monday’s too,” I whispered, walking past her toward the window.  I leaned in breathing the fragrance of the Gerber daisies she’d received this week; I smiled, knowing I’d accomplished my mission with them.

She extended her hand toward the seats in front of her desk. 

“So, this is where you spend your days,” Jared interjected.  Jared and Gavin dropped into the two chairs sitting in front of her desk, forcing me to remain standing.  “It’s much better than that little closet we used to share.”

Even with my back to her, I could feel McKenzie’s eyes on me.  I turned around and propped myself against the window, meeting her gaze.  “I miss our little office.” She moved behind the desk and dropped into a faded rolling chair.  “How’s everyone doing?”

“Well, it’s summer vacation,” Jared reminded her, “but they all missed you after you left.  Actually, the last I heard your position is still open.”

“Really?  I expected that to be filled pretty quickly.”

Jared leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.  “It’s hard to fill the shoes of the best.”

Her eyes darted to me, and that tender blush reappeared on her cheeks, rushing down the length of her neck.  A very naked neck.  I choked at the sight.  The diamond necklace I purchased for her from
Tiffany’s
was missing.  I hadn’t bought jewelry for a woman since Rebecca.  The fact that I’d made such a commitment to buy her the necklace, even before we’d expressed our true feelings for one another, was a testament to how much I was already in love with her.

I crossed my arms over my chest to hide my clenched my fists, and sucked in a breath through my teeth.

“How’s Justice handling the new baby?” Jared asked.

“Rather well.  Cody and Jackie were worried at first that he wouldn’t adjust, but I knew he would.  That kid is resilient.”

“Who’s Justice?” I questioned.  My voice was strained, causing three sets of eyes to look up at me.

“Are you okay?” Gavin inquired.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Jared piped in. 

“Andy?”

“I’m fine,” I growled. 

McKenzie darted her tongue over her lips.  Her brow furrowed.  She squinted her eyes, analyzing me as I would any client when approaching a new negotiation.  McKenzie was a peacekeeper; a trait I admired about her, but it unnerved her for someone to be out of sorts in her presence.  When she realized that there was no simple solution to fix my sudden shift of temperament, she replied with a soft sigh, “He’s Jackie’s son.”

“Why would he have problems with the baby?”

McKenzie picked up a photo from the desk, handing it to me.  It was a picture of McKenzie tickling a young boy who was nearly as tall as she.  His smile could light an entire room, but there was a distance in his big, brown eyes.  “He’s autistic.” I’d surprised myself by recognizing the disorder, but ever since I’d learned what McKenzie did for a living, I couldn’t stop myself from researching it.

I returned the picture to the desk.  “Yes.  He has Asperger’s syndrome.”  She leaned forward, clasping her hands in front of her, dropping her chin on top of her fingers. “Change is
difficult for him, but he’s adapted well.  To be honest, he’s very protective of his baby sister.  There’s a deep connection between Justice and Honor that no one anticipated.”

“That’s fantastic!” Jared proclaimed.

“Knock, knock,” a gruff voice from the past echoed into the room.  Standing at the door was Bill Evans, McKenzie’s father.  He was an average sized man in his mid-fifties.  For the most part he was fit, which I assumed was a result of him handling heavy machinery every day, but his stomach still protrude over his belt.  “I heard we had company.”

“Bill.”  Jared stood up and shook hands with him.

“Good to see you.  I had no idea you boys were comin’.  My little girl kept it a secret from me.”

“I didn’t know either, Dad,” McKenzie proclaimed; a twinge of that sweet cherry color painting her cheeks.

“Well, what a nice surprise then.”  Bill stepped past Jared and extended his hand to Gavin.  “Bill Evans.”

Gavin shook Bill’s calloused hand.  “Gavin Wise.”

“Pleasure.”

His focus turned to me, and I had that urge to cower in a corner.  I had to remind myself that he wasn’t my father.  Bill was a good Southern gentleman who wasn’t about to belittle me in front of everyone.  “Hello, son.”  A term of endearment, something my father would never use.

“Hello, Bill.” I extended my hand, a smile plastered to my face, to show him I had the utmost respect for him.  A few months back, Bill had provided me with some sage advice.  It was because of him that I made the decision to pursue McKenzie.  Prior to that, I assumed she’d have nothing to do with me because of her connection with Olivia.  It turned out that I was entirely wrong. 

Bill accepted my handshake with a smile.  “So, how long you boys staying?” 

“Only for the weekend.”  I glanced in McKenzie’s direction as I stated our itinerary. 

She turned her face, hiding the disappointment that appeared.  “What about Vegas? Liv said...” she asked.

I leaned back against the wall, my eyes darting between Bill and Mickie, who both seemed shocked by the arrangement.  “No one ever said we were going to Vegas,” I corrected her.

McKenzie opened her mouth then clamped it closed.  Four sets of eyes were on her as she contemplated what I said.  Then a light bulb seemed to go off in her head.  “Oh. I see.”  Her brow furrowed as the information settled on her. 

“Wonderful.”  A smirk tilted the corner of Bill’s mouth.  “Lindsey’ll be thrilled to see you boys.  Why don’t you come over to the house tonight for dinner?”

“Thank you, sir, but we don’t want to impose,” Gavin declined. 

“Nonsense.  Dinner’s at seven.  I expect you
all
to be there.”

“Yes, sir,” the three of us chimed unanimously.

A small snicker resonated from McKenzie.  I cut my eyes to her, only to find her looking back at me. 

“I have to get back to work,” Bill thumbed toward the door, “but I’ll see you fellas later.”  He gave a quick wave and darted out of McKenzie’s office.

“That was unexpected,” Jared noted.

“What can I say
; my father thinks of you as sons.”