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

Blake held out his hand to shake her father’s. “You must be Mr. Pratt. It’s great to meet you. I’m Blake Riley. We spoke on the phone.”

  “Blake. Nice to meet you, and call me Simon.” He turned and gestured toward her mother. “And this is my beautiful wife, Renee.”

  “Ma’am. I know you’re not feeling well. I’ll help get your water heater up and running and then get out of your way so you can rest.”

  “Nonsense. If you trouble yourself to fiddle around with that ancient machine then the least we can do is have you over for supper. Mackenzie and I are about ready to get started on it right now.”

  “I brought soup, remember? You don’t have to cook for anyone, Mom. You’re not feeling well.” Mackenzie placed her hand on her mother’s forearm and tried to steer her toward the table.

  “Why do you all keep saying that? I can rest when I’m dead. Now let the men do their thing.” She pointed to the refrigerator. “I have fixings for a salad. Wash your hands first.”

  Twenty minutes later Renee pulled the garlic bread from the oven and Mackenzie placed the dishes on the table.

  “It isn’t much, but it’s the least we could do,” Renee said as the men came up the stairs.

  “It smells delicious, Mrs. Pratt.”

  “The bathroom is right there if you’d like to get cleaned up.”

  Blake nodded and tossed a wink at Mackenzie before walking away. Not that he had far to go. The bathroom was only two steps from the basement door, which opened up into the kitchen.

  Chad had often commented on her cramped house, not wanting to spend much time there, with no privacy if they wanted to make out on the living room couch while watching a movie. It had made sense and she was more than happy to hang out at his parents’ home. The basement was finished into an impressive Man Cave and his parents always gave them privacy.

  When Blake and her father were cleaned up they all sat at the table, her mother serving the soup as they each helped themselves to salad and bread.

  “Mackenzie, you didn’t ask your friend what he’d like to drink.”

  Blake sat across from her, his long legs stretched out—purposely, no doubt—bumping into hers.

  “Friend, what would you like to drink?” she huffed.

  “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

  “Two waters coming up.” Mackenzie filled two tumblers with ice and water and set them on the table. A creature of habit, her mother had already poured her father’s coffee.

  While they ate, her father rattled on about old wiring and the upgrades needed on the house, Blake offering his advice and help.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Blake. I don’t know if I would have been able to fix that darn heater without your skill.”

  “It’s called Google and an iPhone.”

  “Well, I don’t have either. I’m thankful.”

  When they finished eating Blake stood and started stacking the plates.

  “What are you doing?” her mother asked.

  “You and Mackenzie made dinner, I’ll take care of kitchen duty.”

  “That’s kind of you but not necessary. Dishes are women’s work, not for men who have been working hard all day.”

  “You and Mackenzie have been working hard all day as well. She put in a twelve-hour day at Coast & Roast and Simon says you were out gardening even though you’re under the weather.”

  “It’s not the same.” Her mother picked up the crockpot and set it by the sink.

  Mackenzie sat back and enjoyed the show, seeing the spitfire back in her mother and Blake squirm his way from under Renee Pratt’s wrath.

  “The thing is, Mrs. Pratt, my mother will…well, honestly, I don’t know what she’d do if she found out I had a delicious dinner at a beautiful woman’s home and didn’t help with the dishes. She taught me to always do my share.”

  Oh, the man was good. Now, would her mother interpret the beautiful woman as a compliment toward her or Mackenzie? She looked at her father, who was enjoying the banter as well.

  “I met your mother at Maggie’s wedding. She’s a lovely lady.”

  “That she is. But you don’t ever want to get on her bad side.” Blake continued clearing the table while Renee leaned against the counter, most likely thinking about his argument. “You’ll be doing me a favor by allowing me to clean up.”

  “Where’s Chad?” her mother interrupted, looking dazed and confused again.

  The room went silent as Mackenzie and her father passed a knowing look. She’d gone back in time again.

  “Mom, Chad’s been gone a long time.”

  “He’s dead?”

  Ha. Mackenzie wished. “No. We broke up, remember?”

  “But your wedding.”

  Mackenzie’s gaze flickered across the kitchen and caught Blake’s. She wouldn’t worry herself about the deep furrow between his brows.

  “We didn’t get married.”

  “Well, why on earth not? He’s a wonderful man.” Not if you considered fidelity important. “You and Chad were just here a few nights ago sneaking kisses on my front porch. You shouldn’t be eating dinner with another man.” Renee put her hands on her hips and tossed her scowl between Mackenzie and Blake.

  Simon got up from his seat and stood next to her mother. “Sweetheart, Chad and Mack broke up quite some time ago. This is Blake Riley, a friend of hers who came over to help me with the water heater. It’s fixed now.” He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “How about that bubble bath you’ve been talking about?”

  Simon led her to the bathroom, leaving Blake and Mackenzie alone in the kitchen. She heard the water turn on in the next room and stood there nibbling her lip.

  “These dishes aren’t going to do themselves,” Blake said, filling the kitchen sink with bubbles.

  Her mother never wanted a dishwasher, claiming it was a lazy person’s appliance. As Blake washed, Mackenzie dried, putting the dishes away.

  “Your dad’s cool.”

  “Sorry about my mom.”

  “No apology necessary. She can’t help it. Your dad seems to know how to handle it.”

  “He’s so good to my mom. I feel bad that he never gets a break.”

  “Didn’t sound to me when we were talking downstairs like he wanted one.” Blake rinsed off a bowl and handed it to her. “Think they’d like a getaway somewhere?”

  “What do you mean?” The man standing next to her smelled like clean honesty. Not only did he turn her on with his fishhook grin, sculpted arms, and silly jokes, he seemed to care about her parents and wasn’t the least bit offended by her mother’s change in personality.

  This wasn’t good. She wanted the comfort of his arms and words but also wanted to rip his clothes off. Mackenzie couldn’t fall for him. She didn’t want to like him so much. Maybe if they turned this thing between them into something sexual she could bypass the friendship crap and use him for his body.

  “Maybe being in the house all the time is bringing back memories and locking her into her past. Maybe a weekend away to somewhere they’ve never been would be good for your parents.”

  “You saw my mom.”

  “She’s nice. I like her.”

  “What, you’re like, trying to make friends with her now?” Yes. Sex therapy needed to happen soon. No more friendly conversations and sweet gestures. Those had to go.

  He drained the water and rested a hip against the counter. “Sure. Why not?”

  Mackenzie smacked his ass with her towel and dropped it on the counter. “You’re so getting laid tonight.”

  Chapter Six

  Blake

  Blake watched as Mackenzie picked up her crockpot, tucked it under one arm, and let herself out the front door. Did she just say…was he going to…?

  Not wanting to be rude, he tore off a piece of paper from the notepad stuck on the fridge and wrote a quick thank you note to Simon and Renee, leaving his cell number in case Simon needed any more help.

  By the time he got to his truck, Macke
nzie’s little toy car was gone. He figured as much since he heard her peel out while he was scribbling his message. He needed to tread lightly now. Mackenzie could have said the statement in jest, or because she was upset about her mother.

  If he didn’t stop by her apartment she could interpret his no-show as a decline to the best invitation he’d had in awhile.

  In ever.

  He thought about the comment her mother made about the Chad dude. So Mackenzie had been engaged before. Interesting. She didn’t seem to be the bride in the big white puffy dress type.

  Like a girl, he checked his reflection every few minutes on his way to her place, making sure he didn’t have any lettuce in his teeth or boogers coming out of his nose. His truck dwarfed her little car but he liked how they looked parked next to each other.

  Mackenzie loved to appear all badass, but she wasn’t as tough as she liked people to think. Knowing she could be an emotional roller coaster right now, he sat in his truck and sent her a text.

  Feel like company?

  Blake figured he’d have to wait a while before she responded. Girls were into those types of mind games. He didn’t have to wait long before his phone chirped a reply from Mackenzie.

  Door’s open.

  Not needing another invitation, he hopped out of his truck and moved as fast as his legs could carry him. He let himself in, locked the door behind him, and took the stairs two at a time until he came to another door. Blake tapped lightly on it.

  “It’s open,” Mackenzie called from inside.

  Her apartment was neat and comfortable, one big open floor plan that ran from the front of the building to the back. He didn’t care to take in the ambiance, only wanting to see Mackenzie.

  There was no sign of Mackenzie, only the sound of the shower from down the hall.

  “Damn,” he muttered. Should he shuck his clothes and join her in the obvious invitation, or be the gentleman and wait until she came out?

  The compass below his pants was pointing in her direction, or would be if he wasn’t tightly contained in his boxer briefs and jeans. Should he follow his…head or stay put?

  Their relationship was a kaleidoscope of colors. Hot and passionate to cool and aloof to fun and quirky. He loved all the colors, but was confused as hell as to where they stood.

  Once they crossed the line to naked land, there’d be no turning back. Mackenzie was part of his family, close friends with his sisters and sisters-in-law. If he screwed this up the clan would surely take her side over his.

  They’d put pressure on him to settle down, commit to a relationship. He didn’t know if he could do that and it wasn’t fair to Mackenzie to lead her on. They were surrounded by loving relationships, but being in one wasn’t what he was looking for right now.

  “Scared?”

  Mackenzie stood before him, wrapped in a purple towel, her hair dripping rivers down her bare shoulders. He licked his lips as his gaze traveled south, over the curves of her chest and hips and lower. His tongue wanting to lap up the cascade of water coming down her legs until she was dry, and then wet from him.

  “I…uh.” Blake blew out a loud breath and tugged at the hair on his scalp.

  “You don’t want to have sex.” Mackenzie sounded more pissed than hurt.

  “Of course I do. You’re…you’re freaking hot.”

  “So you’ve said before. What’s the problem then?”

  Blake looked away, out the window and studied the bricks of the building across the street. “My family loves you. Your best friends are—”

  “I’m aware of who my friends are. What does this have to do with anything?” She crossed her arms tight across her towel, her cheeks darkening with color.

  “I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

  “The only impression you’re giving me is that you don’t want to have sex.”

  “Then I’m doing or saying something wrong.” He studied her again and rubbed his hands across his scalp.

  “You seem a bit stressed. I know a great way to release some, but if you’re not into it…”

  “That’s not it and you know it.”

  She cocked an eyebrow and tempted him with her chocolate eyes and killer body. “Then what is it?”

  “I’m not into the relationship thing. Commitments and all.”

  “Good. Neither am I. Sex doesn’t equate to a relationship.”

  “I know that, but—”

  “You think because I’m a girl that I’ll fall in love with you if we have sex and expect you to settle down? Aren’t you a tad chauvinist? And cocky.”

  “It’s different with us. With you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we have family and friends in common. I usually keep my…uh, my partners separate.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you credit for being gentlemanly, but don’t be so kind and nice in bed.” She furrowed her brow and tapped her foot rapidly on the carpeted floor. “I’m looking for a release as well. That’s it. You’re handy. I don’t do relationships either and don’t need you breathing down my neck expecting me to be at your beck and call. This is a one-time deal.”

  “One time?” Blake’s legs finally found the strength to move. He approached her until her crossed arms rubbed against his chest and his groin tightened even more. “The first time’s gonna be pretty quick. I’m going to need to redeem myself with a round two.”

  “Oh.” He liked how she sounded out of breath already. “There are rules.”

  “Such as?” Blake picked up a wet strand of hair and watched the water drip down his arm before drawing her body into his.

  “You had garlic bread so we shouldn’t kiss.”

  “We had garlic bread so it cancels out. Kissing is a must.” He lowered his lips to her neck and lapped at her sweetness. Vanilla and Mackenzie.

  “You need to wear protection.” She sighed and lifted her arms around his neck, the towel falling between them.

  “Of course.”

  “After tonight, no more sex.”

  Blake stepped back, keeping his arms around her waist and smiled. “That’s one rule I’m gonna break. Over.” He sipped at her lips. “And over.” He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and pulled her tighter, enjoying the feel of her crushed breasts against his hard chest. “And over again.”

  This time he took the kiss as deep as it could go. When Mackenzie went limp under his touch he picked her up, not breaking the seal of their mouths, and carried her down the hall to her bedroom.

  Blake placed her gently on the bed and climbed on top of her, his hands taking a life of their own, traveling down her body, opening the towel and absorbing the softness of her skin.

  “Wait.” Mackenzie pushed at his chest and he sat back, still straddling her.

  Blake looked down at the naked beauty under him and couldn’t help but grin ear to ear. “You’re even sexier than I imagined.”

  “You’re still dressed. Take your clothes off already.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Her hiss and wiggle when he slid off her body told him his denim-clad groin had brushed her just right.

  Taking pure pleasure out of her impatience, he stood and slowly unbuttoned his jeans and pulled down the zipper, then grabbed the bottom of his shirt and tugged it over his head.

  Another hiss and a wiggle from the bed. Blake reached out and stroked Mackenzie’s naked torso, his hand trailing over her hip and toward her inner thighs.

  “Hurry the hell up or I’m going to take care of myself.”

  “Now that, I’d like to see.”

  “I wouldn’t have invited you over if that’s what I wanted.”

  “I believe the invitation was out of gratitude.” Blake leaned over the bed again and lowered his mouth to her nipple, drawing out another loud gasp from Mackenzie. When he’d finished playing with one breast, he lavished attention on the other, enjoying the cut from Mackenzie’s nails in his back.

  “You’re driving me nuts.” Mackenzie pushed at him and sat up, grab
bing on to the tops of his jeans. She pushed as far as she could, her face so close to his groin that he thought she was going to—

  “Dear God.”

  She did. And he wouldn’t last more than five seconds if she kept doing that thing with her tongue. Gently shoving her back, he did a ridiculous dance with his feet until he freed himself from his jeans, grabbed a condom from his wallet, and put it on.

  “I’ll make it up to you next time.” He touched her to make sure she was ready before he entered her, his eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head.

  She moaned and gripped the sheets while he took. And took. And took.

  ***

  Mackenzie

  Holy mother. Mackenzie opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, focusing on her breathing. Blake’s body draped over her like a warm blanket, his face—and his labored breathing—near her ear.

  Her legs still dangled over the edge of the bed, as did Blake’s, tangled in with hers. She felt him stir between her legs and his body stilled.

  “I’m going to take care of…” Blake picked his head up and looked down between them where they were still joined. “I’ll, uh, be right back.” He slid off her body, the cool air taking away Blake’s scent.

  It was cute, the way he blushed and seemed almost embarrassed. Heck, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Mackenzie stood on wobbly legs and rummaged in her drawer for a pair of underwear. She slid on the black satin and grabbed the matching bra.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Blake came behind her, looking over her head at their reflection in the mirror.

  Mackenzie had never been shy about her body and wasn’t about to cover her breasts just because his gaze had turned hungry. Like a predator, he licked his lips—a habit she found sexy as hell—and slipped his hands around her waist, resting them across her belly.

  She liked how they looked together, rumpled and satisfied, naked as the day they were born. Well, except for her panties.

  “I thought we agreed on a round two?”

  “You sure you’re up for that, cowboy?”

  “Babe.” In one swift spin he had her facing him, his desire beginning to harden against her stomach, the traces of hair on his chest tickling her unbound breasts. “I’m ready for round two. The question is…” He sucked her bottom lip between his and bit it gently. “Are you ready?”