Three months. That’s how long Daniel has been searching for Mackenzie. He wants her back and he would do anything to get back what so rightfully belongs to him. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel of his black Mercedes Benz as he pulled into the driveway of Katrina Jones-Wilson’s South Carolina estate that belonged to her and her third husband. Katrina was difficult to locate on account of Mackenzie not informing Daniel on her mother’s new marriage.
Shutting off his car, Daniel climbed out and fixed his gray suit jacket. Pushing his tie knot back up in its proper place, he began walking up the cement steps and over to the large oak door. He gave three solid knocks and waited. The door opened to reveal an older image of Mackenzie with dyed auburn hair. Removing his sunglasses, Daniel sent Katrina a charming smile. His smile was received with a well aimed glare.
“I figured you would show up sooner or later. What could you possible want that will take up my time?” Katrina asked, not opening the door wider nor closing it in his face.
Daniel bit back a sharp remark and continued to smile down at the older woman.
“Katrina, I’m so glad to finally meet you. Mackenzie speaks so highly of you.” Daniel said sweetly, his voice carrying an over-tone of sugar.
Katrina’s brow rose up in the same way Mackenzie’s would. Daniel cleared his throat, seeing as the woman was not about to reply to him, he continued.
“I want to apologize to Mac face to face. We had a fight and I handled it rather poorly. Surely you can help me out by telling me where Mac is. It would mean the world to me.” Daniel spoke as he gave the woman a distressed look.
“My daughter wants nothing to do with a man who forces himself on women.” Katrina hissed. “That’s right. She told me what you did and that the police believed you over her. I have no intention of telling you Kenzie’s whereabouts.”
Despite the rage that filled him, Daniel willed tears into his eyes.
“Please, Katrina, please. All I want to do is apologize to Mac. She doesn’t have to do anything, but listen to my apology. Afterwards, she can do whatever she wants.” Daniel cried. “I beg of you, Katrina, let me repent for my mistake.”
Katrina’s eyes lost their hateful glare as her wall slowly chipped away under Daniel’s tearful gaze. Tucking her tongue into her cheek, she gave it some thought.
“She has a restraining order against you. I can’t help you with that, but she’s at her late father’s cabin up in Vermont. I don’t remember the address, but it’s somewhere in Rutland.” Katrina told him.
Daniel’s eye’s cleared up and he took the woman’s small hands in his.
“Thank you, Katrina. I don’t know how to thank you enough.” Daniel said.
It was the first honest thing that came out of his mouth in a long time.
“You make peace with Kenzie. She deserves to be happy.” Katrina said firmly.
“I will. I promise.” Daniel said and went back to his car.
Driving away, Daniel’s grip tightened on his steering wheel.
--
While Reid was downstairs showering, Mackenzie was in her room peeling off her snow-dampened clothes. She stepped into a pair of black wool leggings before pulling on a dark raspberry colored sweater dress. Slipping her feet into a pair of black house shoes, she left her room. In the kitchen, Mackenzie started a pot of coffee, knowing that she would need the heating up from being outside. Fixing her cup of coffee with two sugars and some cream, she took a sip of the hot liquid as Reid walked out of the bathroom.
She took a large gulp of her coffee, scalding her tongue in the process of looking the man up and down. His hair was darker when wet and was sticking up in every direction from being toweled dried. Reid was sporting a pair of dark gray jeans that were faded on the thighs and a long sleeve navy shirt. His feet were covered with a pair of plain white socks. She had noticed the brown leather jacket hanging up beside her parka and the hiking boots beside her snow boots when she was coming down the stairs earlier.
“I…made coffee.” Mackenzie told him; inwardly rolling her eyes at how obvious the fact was since she was indeed holding a cup of the hot liquid.
Reid smiled at her and moved into the kitchen to fix himself a cup. His arm brushed hers as he walked past her and Mackenzie’s pulse spiked. After coming to the conclusion that she felt extremely attracted to her guest and that she wanted nothing more than to move on and forget about Daniel, she was becoming fidgety…embarrassingly nervous around the handsome French teacher. Reid did not miss the way Mackenzie had eyed him up and down when he had walked out of the bathroom. If anything, he was grateful that he was not the only one feeling any attraction between the two of them. With a cup of coffee in hand, Reid leaned his back up against the counter and looked at the brunette woman.
“Mackenzie.” Reid said her name softly, debating on how to approach the current topic between the two of them.
“Hm?” She hummed, taking another sip of her coffee as she glanced in his direction.
“I want to make love to you.”
Reid was rewarded with Mackenzie choking on her coffee at his blunt statement. Her brown eyes were wide as they met his blue ones, but instead of fear reflecting in Mackenzie’s gaze, there was a flicker of lust hidden behind surprise and the blush covering her face. He grinned at the woman and took another sip of his coffee. Mackenzie’s mouth opened and closed, not sure what she should say to that statement of Reid’s. Suddenly she looked determined and it had a ball of heat curl in the pit of Reid’s abdomen.
“I want to be with you too, but…” Mackenzie started strong, but her voice trailed off as she became unsure of herself.
Would he want to touch her after what had happened to her? Should she even tell him? Seeing the conflicted look on her face and the creasing of her brows, Reid set his coffee on the counter before moving to her. He took her hands in his, taking her coffee as setting it to the side before giving her hands a comforting squeeze.
“I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Mackenzie. The ball is in your court. The first move is yours.” Reid told her, gently rubbing his thumbs over the top of her hands.
Swallowing her nerves, Mackenzie pushed up on the tips of her toes and pressed her mouth against Reid’s. The kiss was slow and warmth seemed to spread through Mackenzie. Reid kept his hands on Mackenzie’s, afraid that if he touched her too much too soon that she would pull away from him. He wanted anything but for her to pull away. Hesitantly, Mackenzie parted her mouth and surprised Reid by touching the tip of her tongue to his bottom lip. Reid parted his mouth and deepened the kiss. When his tongue ran over hers, Mackenzie moaned and slipped her hands free of his only to wrap her arms around his shoulders and angle her head to better accommodate them.
