Playful Hearts (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 4) Read online

  His sisters and Mackenzie and Sage had signed up for the first heat of the morning and were volunteering at the final station handing out shirts once they finished.

  Graham and Luke took time off to supervise the warped wall. It wasn’t exactly a family event, but Blake was grateful for his family stepping up to help out for their first run.

  Once Colton arrived, he and Blake went through the lists one more time before the first round of volunteers showed up. By the time the girls got there, Blake was so busy he didn’t have time to wish them well, or make out with Mackenzie like he’d hoped.

  The day flew by in a flurry of mud, scrapes, only one broken bone, and a hell of a turnout. They’d made a little cushion and had a nice sum to donate to the weekend’s charity, A Home for All. It seemed fitting that the first donation go toward their mother’s foundation.

  They had a calendar indicating the various charities that would receive a percentage of the profits for each race. That was Sage’s idea. She may be a party planner, but the woman had some stellar marketing strategies in her pocket as well.

  It was nearly three in the afternoon when Blake realized he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and made his way toward the tent near the finish line to see if Mackenzie wanted to grab a bite with him.

  His sisters and Sage were busy marking off runners and handing out shirts, but he didn’t see Mackenzie.

  “Hey, Rach. Is Mackenzie around?”

  Rachael looked over her shoulder and shrugged. “She was here a minute ago. Must have headed to the outhouses. Or maybe to get something to eat?”

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh, and we had fun. Thanks for asking.”

  “Sorry. I’ve been busy. And distracted. Did anyone get hurt?” He looked Rachael over and then glanced over at Lucy, who was flirting with a runner covered head to toe in mud.

  “Some bumps and bruises. Kenzie was on fire, though. I could hardly keep up. It’s like she was on a mission or something.”

  Pride and lust filled his head. He needed to find her. “That’s my girl.”

  “Yeah?” Rachael grinned. “I know you try to blow it off like it’s no big deal, but we all know there’s more to you and Kenzie than you’re letting on.”

  “Don’t go there,” he warned.

  “It’s fine, Blake. We’re happy for you. You’re good for each other. No pressure from us, though.”

  “Yeah, right.” He kissed the top of Rachael’s head and went in search of Mackenzie.

  He’d made it about twenty feet when his walkie-talkie rang out.

  “Man down at the monkey bars. Medics are on their way.”

  Blake unclipped his walkie-talkie and replied. “Do you need backup or is it under control?” He could hop on the four-wheeler but it would take fifteen minutes to get there. The monkey bars were at mile marker six.

  “We’re good. Guy isn’t in too much pain but may have busted his ankle in the fall. I can see the medic now.”

  “Ten-four.”

  There were medics stationed at strategic points throughout the course in case of emergencies, which typically occurred in an event like this. That’s why they had waivers and why the insurance they carried was so expensive. But worth it.

  The day went on with minor issues here and there. Overall, it was a great success.

  It was after nine when everything had been cleaned up and cleared out. The teens he’d hired to pick up the grounds had tossed the last of the garbage in the dumpster and honked as they pulled out of the lot.

  “Nice work, bro.” Colton slapped Blake on the back and unlocked his truck.

  “Teamwork. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

  “It was your brainchild. If it wasn’t for you I’d still have that sardine can trailer sitting right about here. Granted, I’d have money in my savings account as well.”

  “You’ll make your money back. Promise.” That had been Blake’s biggest fear, that Colton would put his faith in him and the gym and course only to end up tanking, losing his investment.

  Blake wasn’t as concerned about himself; he didn’t have a wife and kid and possibly more kids on the way. Colton had a family he needed to support. If Blake wasn’t confident in his brainchild, he wouldn’t have coerced his brother to sell him the land or put up the cash.

  “You’ve proven yourself these past few months, kid. I’m proud of you.”

  Pride flowed through him. It wasn’t a familiar feeling. Sure, Blake had been proud of his work in the past. He’d been on the receiving end of many accolades but they’d never meant much to him. He was a hard worker and did his job well. That was to be expected.

  However, a compliment coming from Colton meant the world to him. Blake never had anything to contribute to the family. His career wasn’t noteworthy like Colton’s service in the Marines or Luke’s many rescues on the fire department.

  “Thanks. And thanks for believing in me.”

  “Don’t bring on the tears or the tissues, man. We did good. All is well.” Colton saluted him and stepped up into his truck, waving again as he pulled out of the lot.

  When he was alone in the dark, the loneliness set in again. He should check on Mackenzie, see how she was faring after the run.

  Hopping into his truck, he rolled down the windows and let the night air cool his mind, and sent Mackenzie a text. It had been racing nonstop since…Mackenzie. When he’d returned to Rocky Harbor last fall his mind had been running with the idea of the gym and course. And then he’d hooked up with Mackenzie and she monopolized every second he wasn’t thinking about work.

  And then his sister and niece barged into the miniscule amount of brain space he had left, working its way like a cancer through his thoughts. He didn’t want to think, to let his ideas about them fester.

  Blake didn’t do the serious, troubling shit. He preferred keeping the space between his ears occupied on obstacles and Mackenzie. And right now she was an obstacle as well.

  Pulling into the space next to her car, he looked up to her apartment. The lights were off. He checked his phone. No reply.

  Maybe she was asleep. It had been a long, tiring day for her, he knew. Even after running ten or more of these races a year, Blake still crashed at the end of the day. While he didn’t run today since he was now manning the whole show, his body was fatigued in a different way.

  The twinge of guilt he had for waking up Mackenzie wasn’t enough to stop him from texting her again, or getting out of his truck and knocking on her door. He missed her.

  After a few minutes and still no reply, he contemplated banging harder on the door. There was no doorbell and she probably couldn’t hear the knocking from her upstairs bedroom. Giving in to defeat, Blake dragged his feet to his rental and drove home with an unfamiliar longing in his chest.

  ***

  The cleanup and follow-up paperwork lasted until Wednesday, and then Blake and Colton sat down to tweak times and details for the next Mud on the Rocks run in a few weeks. This event would draw in an even bigger crowd with a portion of the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Fund. Colton didn’t want any attention on him or his time in Afghanistan or his prosthetic leg, but word got out. An up and coming band from the Boston area caught wind of the event and offered to come play for the weekend. For free.

  Blake and Colton had filled up every heat in a matter of days and had even contemplated extending the day, but they needed to make sure runners had plenty of time to finish before it got dark.

  Thursday morning came around as it usually did, and still no word from Mackenzie. They were finally at a place where both Colton and Blake didn’t have to work twelve-plus hours a day, so he’d opted for the morning stint and hoped to catch Mackenzie when she was closing up shop later in the evening.

  The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when Blake left his place and had shone directly in his eyes during his ten minute drive to the gym. His shades provided some protection but by the time he pulled into the empty
parking lot, the sun’s rays were reflecting off the corrugated metal of the gym, blinding him for a brief moment.

  On auto pilot, Blake pulled into his usual spot and shielded his eyes from the building. He took out his phone and checked his texts for the thousandth time. Still nothing from Mackenzie.

  With everything going on with his sister and niece, he worried for her safety. The only thing consoling him and keeping him back from storming down her door at night was knowing Maggie would have told him if anything was amiss.

  However, Mackenzie had kept quiet about the flat. Not that she’d suspected foul play at the time. Now that she knew the severity of his psycho sister, Blake prayed she’d be sensible and let someone know if anything suspicious happened. It was more than concern for her safety.

  This wasn’t like him, obsessing over a woman, over the lack of communication. It hadn’t even been a week since he’d seen her. Six days. Since when did he go nutso crazy when he hadn’t seen a woman in six days? Since never. He’d gone longer than a week without sex.

  Although, it wasn’t sex he was craving. Blake snickered to himself. Yeah, he was totally craving sex, but he missed Mackenzie as well. Her laugh, her snark, her competitive edge. How she distracted him from his other problems.

  Damn, he was in deep. Blake pocketed his cell and looked up before unlocking the door to Rock the Gym.

  “Shit.” He stepped back to survey the damage. “Alyssa,” he cursed. This time she’d gone too far. She’d vandalized his and Colton’s workplace.

  The windows were smashed and the same red spray paint in the same block lettering defaced the front of the building. The glass front door was gone, a pile of crushed glass on the ground. Carefully, Blake stepped over it and entered the building.

  The equipment seemed intact, but further inspection would be necessary. He checked out his office space. Drawers were opened, filing cabinets flipped over, papers strewn everywhere.

  She wouldn’t have found any cash and that probably pissed her off something fierce. With most of their memberships and all of their race entry fees paid online, they didn’t have much need for cash on hand. They kept some petty cash around, but had used it all up to treat the high school kids who volunteered on Sunday to a burger from the vendors.

  Taking out his cell, he dialed his brother. And then called the police.

  ***

  Mackenzie

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Maggie asked for the billionth time.

  “Don’t go all shrink on me. You’re my BFF, not my therapist,” Mackenzie growled.

  Their walk along the beach was supposed to clear her head from the cheating bastard who was not technically cheating because they weren’t in a relationship, not make her think about him even more.

  “Aren’t BFFs supposed to talk to each other? Vent, scream, yell. Tell the truth?”

  “So now you’re calling me a liar?” Mackenzie picked up a broken clamshell and chucked it into the ocean. Sweetie Pie, Maggie’s shih tzu, tugged at her leash, her little ten pound body struggling to break free.

  “Maybe a walk along the beach wasn’t the best idea. Let’s open a bottle of wine or make a pitcher of margaritas.”

  “Why don’t you go home to your perfect family and have sex with your perfect husband?”

  Maggie didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of Mackenzie’s mouth. She was thankful to have a best friend who was used to her cantankerous mood swings, yet still loved her anyway. Even so, Mackenzie cringed at her bitchiness.

  “Sorry. I’m not mad at you.”

  “I know.” Because Maggie was Maggie, she didn’t get offended.

  “I hate that you’re so perfect.”

  “I know.”

  “Bitch.” Mackenzie couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know why you’re friends with me. We’re complete opposites. And don’t give me all that bullshit about opposites attract and blech.”

  “That would be extremely therapist of me to say that. As your BFF, I can say you sound like you need to get laid.”

  Mackenzie tipped her head back and laughed. That was one of the many things she loved about Maggie. Straight laced, prim, and proper, yet she knew when to bring out the girlfriend talk.

  “I was getting laid. On quite the regular basis.” Mackenzie plopped herself down onto the warm sand and patted the space next to her. Sweetie Pie climbed into her lap and when Maggie sat, Mackenzie continued. “We were open about things not getting emotional and personal. It was just sex. We agreed that when we tired of each other and wanted to sleep with someone else, we’d call it quits.”

  “By your surely mood I take it he’s the one who called it quits? That surprises me. The way he looks at you is much more than like someone he’s schlepping with until the next woman comes along.”

  “Schlepping? Anyway, I wouldn’t be surly if he’d actually called it quits before he’d moved on.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Graham is going to kick his ass.”

  Mackenzie appreciated the loyalty, but had promised herself before she slept with Blake that she wouldn’t make the ending of their…thing uncomfortable for anyone in the family. Besides, Mackenzie was the outsider. Blake was family.

  “I’d rather not have anyone involved. I’m the third wheel here. He’s your brother-in-law. Don’t make things worse, okay?” She snuggled her face into Sweetie’s fluffy neck, seeking comfort.

  Maggie placed her hand on Mackenzie’s forearm and squeezed. “I’d never do that intentionally, Kenzie.”

  “I know.” Mackenzie leaned her head on Maggie’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t be pissed.”

  “Sure you should.”

  “Or sad.”

  “Of course you are.”

  “I trusted him.”

  “You love him.”

  Mackenzie shoved Sweetie Pie on to Maggie and shot to her feet. “No. Love has nothing to do with this. I caved and fell for…I fell for his act and trusted him to be honest with me. I was totally cool with it if he wanted to sleep around. He only had to tell me about it first. And he didn’t.”

  “What happened?”

  “His girlfriend stopped in Coast & Roast the other day.”

  “Girlfriend?”

  “Yup. Long distance thing. Now she’s moving in with him.”

  “What?” Maggie jumped to her feet as well. “I haven’t heard anything about this.”

  “Blake’s been occupied with Mud on the Rocks and the gym and now Natalie. He’s not one to talk about anything personal. It doesn’t surprise me in the least.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  Mackenzie turned her back on Maggie and wiped her eyes. Damn wind was making her tear up. The pain in her stomach was from hunger, she was sure. Not one to be emotional, she sniffed and shrugged indifference.

  “Kenzie, look at me.”

  She couldn’t. Maggie would see the hurt and want to comfort her with a hug, which would totally bring on the unwanted waterworks.

  “I miss the sex, that’s for sure. I’m sure I can find someone else to fill the void. Think Graham will mind if I drag you along to the Old Port this weekend in search of my next victim? If not, I’m sure Lucy will be game.”

  “Hey. It’s okay to have feelings for Blake. Don’t let what Chad did to you make you think all men are…”

  “Assholes? Yeah, because Blake stringing me along sure wasn’t an asshole move.”

  “How could he string you along if your relationship was just about sex?”

  Damn slip of the tongue.

  “It’s about honesty. Chad lied and made a total fool of me and so did Blake. Had I known I was his piece on the side while he had a girl somewhere else, I would have been fine with it. All I wanted was honesty.”

  “You’re right, honesty is what’s most important in a relationship, but I don’t think you would have been fine knowing he had a girlfriend somewhere else. I think you would have never gotten involved with him.”
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  “Well, we’ll never know, will we?”

  “What did he say when you confronted him?” Mackenzie averted her eyes and bent down to pick up another shell. “You did talk to him, didn’t you?”

  “There’s no point.”

  “Kenz, that’s so unlike you. You’re the outspoken one. You taught me to face my fears, hold Graham to the fire and say what’s on my mind. I think it’s time for you to take your own advice.”

  “Maybe. I haven’t had a chance. He’s been busy.”

  “Has he called you?”

  “Yeah.” About a hundred times. And left even more texts. The man knew he was guilty and was trying to make excuses.

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing.” He didn’t, really. His texts started out as sexy. Then funny. Then worried because she didn’t reply. If he really wanted to see her he would have stopped by. Granted, according to his texts he’d stopped by every night but she didn’t answer her door.

  The first night she honestly didn’t hear him, the sound of her crying louder than his knocks. The following nights she purposely locked herself in her room, kept her lights off, and pretended she was sleeping.

  Every day at the shop she worried he’d stop by while she was working. What would she say? How would she react? If she acted like she was pissed, it would mean she’d cared about him. Pretending to be indifferent would be a challenge, but it was the only way Mackenzie could get through each day.

  And he had yet to show. One week later and she hadn’t seen him once. Not since she’d dodged him at the Mud on the Rocks event. She’d seen him coming toward the tent and had ducked out before he spotted her. Rachael had told her he’d been looking for her and she’d managed to hide from him all afternoon, taking off before he could find her.

  “You know about Alyssa’s latest, don’t you?”

  “His truck? Yeah. I saw it.”

  “No, the gym.”

  “She went to Rock the Gym?”