Confessions (New Beginnings #4)
Page 9
A last word from Mackenzie: “I’m going to bring a cup to this city. You can count on that.”
“It’s shorter than I thought it’d be.” Abigail grabbed the tablet from Mack and read the article again. “And nicer.”
“That would be the Simms spin,” Mack laughed, feeling relieved. The whole world now knew what he’d done, and he was glad.
The article was posted in the early hours of the morning and had since been picked up by every major news outlet.
Abigail’s phone chimed, and she scowled as she looked at it.
“Colin again?” Mack asked.
“Yeah, wants to know what I think about what you did.”
“What do you think?”
She rested her chin on his shoulder and ran a hand up and down his arm that was resting on the table. “One mistake doesn’t make the man.”
“Yeah?” He grinned down at her. “Then what does make the man?”
She smiled wickedly and he laughed.
“Press conference, remember?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “You might want to get dressed.”
When he didn’t move, her hand wandered lower.
Their spell was broken by the sound of his phone cutting through the tension. She stood and looked down at him as he answered.
“Hello?” he said, not bothering to read the name on the screen.
“Grant,” a soft-spoken woman on the other end said cautiously.
“Elise.” He was too stunned to say anything further.
“I’ve missed you, brother.”
“Yeah?” His voice thickened.
“I saw the article.” Her quiet crying sounded in his ear. “I’m so sorry.”
He tucked his phone between his ear and his shoulder as he raised his eyes to Abigail’s.
“Me too,” he said. “You have no idea how sorry I am.”
“Labor Day weekend at Dad’s?” she asked. It used to be their tradition when their mom was alive. They’d throw big Labor Day bashes.
“I’ll be there,” he said.
Neither said anything for a long moment. Time and again, Mack had thought about what he’d say if given the chance to reconcile with his sister, and now none of it was coming out. He coughed quietly, trying to stave off the emotions swirling in his head.
“Brother,” she said softly.
“Uh huh?” he responded.
“I’ll see you.”
“Yeah.” He pulled the phone away from his face. “Bye, sis.”
Mack sat still for a bit, not quite believing that had just happened.
“I just talked to my sister,” he said.
Abigail ran a hand through his dark hair, cupping his chin with the other.
She just stared at him, leaning forward to brush her lips against his.
“She knows you aren’t that other guy.” Her breath warmed his lips. “And this man in front of me is all too easy to love.”
“Was that an ‘I love you’?” He smirked, pushing the phone call to the back of his mind.
“No.” Her voice didn’t waver.
“I think it was.” He stood, putting his hands on her hips.
“You’re delusional.” She squirmed, breaking free of him.
“I don’t know.” He scratched the back of his neck and looked away. “I mean, we haven’t been together long. You don’t really know me. You couldn’t possibly be in love with me.” He turned back towards her with a grin as he spouted off the same nonsense she’d said before.
She slugged him in the stomach. “I didn’t say I loved you.”
“Why, Miss Abigail.” He rubbed his stomach. “You do wound me so.”
“Why, Mister Mackenzie, you are an idiot.”
He grinned and pulled her back towards him. “You’re losing all credibility, you know.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Stop fighting it, babe.”
“Don’t-”
He cut her off with another kiss.
“Call you babe, I know.”
He kissed her again before she ducked out of his embrace.
“Come on,” she said, straightening up and bouncing on her toes. “Time to get ready.”
“Don’t be too excited. It’s only a press conference.”
“No it’s not.” Hands firmly planted on hips, she stared him down before breaking into a grin. “This, Grant Mackenzie, is your new beginning.”
“You think so?” he asked jokingly.
“Yeah. Don’t mess it up.”
Thanks for reading Confessions!
Have you started the series from the beginning?
Book 1, Choices, is now available.
When perfection became flawed…
Michaela Matthews--future wife of Connecticut’s most eligible bachelor--lived the perfect life.
An upcoming socialite, all she had to do was embrace the good fortune handed to her. But nothing was ever that simple.
When she envisioned what her life would entail, she freaked and fled to her brother’s apartment in the city. Straight into the arms of his best friend, Jason Marks.
Jason--a hardworking, bar owner--scraped together a life anyone would be proud of. Anyone, but Michaela’s family. Theirs was a match made in desperation. Kindling, just waiting to be set aflame. When the reality of their separate worlds neared, would it be enough to light the blaze?
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The K Word: Cameron
Can one simple kiss change everything?
Cameron Tucker has only ever had one person he could count on: his best friend Peyton. She’s been everything to him. Friend. Family. Confident. He needs her more than he needs his dream of becoming an Olympic runner or his desire to make his demanding father proud.
A Christmas Eve party could ruin everything when a cruel joke crushes Peyton. And the only way to make Peyton see just how beautiful she is might be to reveal the feelings Cam has tried so hard to hide.
About Michelle
Books are an addiction. One I can’t seem to shake. I was the girl who stayed in on a weekend night as a teenager to finish just one more chapter.
Now, I’m the adult lacking in sleep for the very same reason. Making books a career made sense to me. I have two jobs in this life. Taking care of my imaginary friends, testing them every day. And taking care of my niece and nephew. Both are exhausting and completely exhilarating.
Reading has been such an important part of my life, getting me through illness, disability, and more. Stories make us stronger. More compassionate. We wouldn’t be the same without them.
Find me at MichelleLynnAuthor.com
Also by Michelle MacQueen
Legends of the Tri-Gard
Prophecy of Darkness
Legacy of Light
Mastery of Earth
Fantasy and Fairytales
Golden Curse
Golden Chains
Golden Crown
Glass Kingdom
Glass Princess
Noble Thief
Cursed Beauty
The New Beginnings series
Choices
Promises
Dreams
Confessions
Dawn of Rebellion Trilogy
Dawn of Rebellion
Day of Reckoning
Eve of Tomorrow
Acknowledgments
This book came together rather quickly, in part because it truly is a labor of love. That might sound cliché, but it doesn’t make it any less true. I love my readers. Those of you who have spent your money and your time with the characters that feel like family to me. I only hope they feel as real to you. I wrote Confessions for the singular purpose of giving something back to you.
Self-publishing has been a wild ride that I wouldn’t change for a second and you all have allowed me to enjoy it. Both the Dawn of Rebellion serie
s and the New beginnings series have now been picked up by a publisher and I couldn’t have done it without you. So, this is my thank you. I hope you enjoy your free novella about Mack and Abigail, two characters who began their journeys in Dreams.
As always, I owe so very much to my family. They support my writing, help me deal with long-term health issues, and feed my hockey obsession.
My beta readers – Kayla, Kimberly, Michelle, Bethany, Linda, and Beth – keep me honest and tell me when my story isn’t cutting it.
Patrick, my editor, balances out my comma deficiencies.
Cover genius Rachel continues to bring my stories to life.
And the Blue Jackets. You might think it’s odd that I thank a sports team. I am only one of many many fans, but you don’t have to play a sport to learn a lot from it. Sports teach us that the little guy can win – that underdogs are exciting. Anything can happen on any given night and that’s amazing. Inspiration comes from many places. I tend to believe it comes from all places.