Book Read Free

McKenzie's Turn to Fall: A Holiday Romance

Page 8

by Harlow James


  I scrunch my nose. “Not really my style.”

  “Really? I feel like you could pull off anything, Mac. I just picture you in a black bikini on a beach somewhere with this hat on and cocktail in your hand.”

  “Uh, this woman doesn’t wear bikinis,” I reply sarcastically.

  “That’s a shame.”

  “Not for people with eyes,” I mock, feeling my heart pound more furiously in my chest. If there is one insecurity I harbor most, it’s my body. I am a size fourteen and give chicken and dumplings a run for who has the most bumps. I wish I had more confidence, but it’s hard to in this day and age—although I will say that companies are finally starting to advertise with curvier women for their products and I am all for it.

  “Mac,” he declares, pulling my eyes to his. “Don’t talk down about yourself like that. I happen to love your body. It’s all I can do to keep my hands to myself when I’m near you.”

  I swallow hard while our eyes are still connected, not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that.

  “Uh, thank you,” I finally manage to squeak out before diverting my gaze from him and scouring the table of crocheted beanies, as if I need another one. I find a hunter green one that would be the perfect color to add to my collection, but Dylan takes it from my hands just as I pick it up. “What are you doing?”

  “Buying you this beanie.”

  “Dylan, you don’t have to do that.”

  “I know,” he huffs. “But I saw the way your eyes lit up when you saw it and I know this color will bring out the rings of green in your eyes.”

  “Dylan …”

  “And then every time you wear it in the store, it will bring a smile to my face, knowing I’m the one who gave it to you.” He bends down and lightly presses his lips to my cheek. “So stop arguing and let me give the woman my money.”

  I fight the smile on my lips, but it’s no use. “Thank you. That’s very sweet. I guess you probably know I have one of these in about every color.”

  “I might have noticed you have an affliction for beanies, yes.”

  I watch him hand the woman some cash, and then she stuffs the hat in a small plastic bag as I wait for him outside of the booth.

  “Thank you again.”

  “Anything for you, Mac. I don’t know about you, but I’m in the mood to play a few games. You up for that?”

  I shrug and follow him in the direction of the games, the closer we get, the louder the noise around us gets. “I never win anything, but I’m up for playing.”

  Just as we close in on the entrance to the game area, a familiar voice calls out to me. “Mac!” My head twists in the direction of the voice as Brooke’s beaming smile flashes across the distance at me.

  I groan, but can’t help smiling at my best friend. “I’d better go say hi or I’ll never hear the end of it,” I tell Dylan as we turn and start heading toward Brooke’s booth for her insurance company. I knew I’d have to say hi to her sometime today, so I guess now’s as good as any.

  “Then we’d better go make you’re BFF happy.”

  “Are you trying to kiss up to her too?” I joke.

  Dylan laughs. “Hey, I know that best friend approval is everything, Mac. If I can score some added brownie points with Brooke here, maybe she’ll convince you that I’m worth taking a real chance on.”

  I eye him amusingly. “You’re doing a pretty good job of that on your own, Dylan. And not that I should tell you this, but Brooke is the one who convinced me to accept a date with you. I’m pretty sure you’ve already got the gold stamp of approval from her.”

  “Excellent,” he says with a gleam in his eye as we arrive at her table.

  “Well, look at you two,” Brooke croons as I roll my eyes. “I must say, you two make a beautiful couple.”

  “Nice, Brooke. Subtle.”

  She shrugs innocently, even though there’s nothing innocent about my best friend. “Just stating a fact.”

  “Well, I’m glad to know other people can appreciate how good we look together,” Dylan adds as my mouth drops open in shock and his arm snakes around my waist, pulling me in to his side. I can’t help the way my body reacts as I realize he’s staking his claim to me in public and in front of Brooke.

  Brooke’s eyes go wide and her smile builds with glee. “I take it the day is off to a good start then?”

  “Excellent,” Dylan answers her as I just nod my head in agreement.

  “Well, you’d better treat my bestie here like the queen she is, Dylan, or you’ll have to answer to me,” Brooke sarcastically threatens.

  “No worries, Brooke. I plan to let McKenzie know just how exceptional she really is today.”

  I glance up at him just as he turns to return my stare. This man is going to break my heart, I just know it. He’s too good to be true. There has to be something wrong with him, right?

  “Well, you two have fun and don’t let her drink too much spiked cider, Dylan. It makes her get frisky,” she says with a wink.

  “Brooke!”

  Dylan laughs beside me, the vibration of his voice traveling through his body and into mine as he grips me tighter. “Well, she’s already had one, but maybe we should grab another? What do you say, Mac?”

  I swat his chest and step away from him. “You and Brooke aren’t allowed to talk anymore. Come on, Dylan. You need to win me a prize to make up for ganging up on me with my best friend.” I start walking away from him as I hear him call out to me.

  “Then can we get more cider and bring out your frisky side?” he replies, garnering a full-fledged snorting laugh from Brooke.

  I shake my head and then walk away, slightly irritated, but mostly amused, giddy with what the rest of the day, or night, could hold.

  Chapter 11

  Dylan

  “Let me guess. You were the star quarterback of the football team, weren’t you?” McKenzie asks as I hand her the giant stuffed dog I won at the football throwing game I just kicked ass in.

  “I don’t know about star,” I mock, “but I was pretty good.”

  She hoists the dog in her arms, propping it on her hip. “I have to say, that was pretty impressive. And now it kind of explains why you help coach your nephew’s team.”

  “Yeah, I have some knowledge to pass on to the boys, I suppose.”

  “Did you ever think about playing professionally?” she asks as we start heading toward the exit to put the dog in my truck.

  Shrugging, I grab the dog from her so she doesn’t topple over from its weight. I am a gentleman, after all. “I mean, my coach offered to have scouts come watch me play, but I turned him down. I didn’t want that life and everything that comes with it—the scrutiny, the watchful eye of the public, the lack of people you can trust and genuinely want to know you for who you are and not how much money you make. I told you, Mac, I’m a simple guy. I just want to live a good life.”

  She leans her head on my shoulder, catching me off-guard at first, but then my heart pumps passionately as I soak up how much I truly love that gesture. “Why do you always say the right thing?”

  We reach my truck and I unlock it, setting the stuffed dog in the back seat and then turning to face her. “Believe me. It’s not a line, and not all women have liked that about me.”

  She widens her eyes, but then her face softens in contemplation. “Well, obviously you’re still single. But I just have a hard time believing women aren’t throwing themselves at your feet.”

  I chuckle. “Most women my age don’t value the little things. They’re obsessed with having the next best thing, or a life where money is the root of their happiness. When they realize that I don’t play into that façade, they quickly move on or I end things before it goes too far.” Or I fall too fast and push them away.

  “I respect that so much.”

  I reach out to push a strand of her hair behind her ear, loving how her breath hitches slightly each time I touch her. “I love that you do. I feel like you appreciate me for who I am, and
I can’t tell you how irresistible that makes you.”

  “Me? I’m irresistible? Um, have you not seen you?”

  Her comment makes me laugh. “I might not be hard on the eyes, but you my lady, are simply breathtaking.”

  Her eyes peer up at me beneath those dark lashes covered in mascara. McKenzie doesn’t wear a ton of make-up, and quite frankly, she doesn’t need it. But right now, the way her eyes are glistening in the soft light of the sun as it sinks down to set, I’m getting lost in every freckle on her cheeks and fleck of gold and green in her hazel eyes highlighted by the neutral tones she’s painted her face with this evening.

  “You are way too honest sometimes.”

  “Why is that a bad thing? At least you know how I feel, where I stand. Most men think playing games is the way to a woman’s heart, but not me, Mac. I just know how I feel and don’t have a problem with saying it. Like right now. My heart is pounding so hard with the way you’re looking at me that it’s killing me not to kiss you.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?” she whispers, sparking even more lust in my body. I could kiss her right now, but I really wanted to wait until the end of our date. I want our kiss goodbye to speak of promises to see each other again soon.

  “I feel like I should at least feed you dinner first,” I reply, cupping her jaw with my hand.

  And as if on cue, her stomach growls at that exact moment, pulling a laugh from both of us. When McKenzie finally gets her giggles under control, she states with confidence, “I think that might be a good idea.”

  “Yeah, sounds like it. So, would you like to go back into the festival and eat there? Or we could go somewhere else? Whatever you want.”

  She turns to face the festival again. “Let’s eat here. I’m sure there’s more stuff we haven’t done yet and there are so many options.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  I lock up my truck again and with McKenzie’s hand in mine, we make our way back inside. After scouring all of the food vendor options, we decide to get a barbeque meat platter from the BBQ Boys truck, garlic and truffle fries from the Fries Galore truck, and a funnel cake with caramel apples from the Funnel Cake Stand.

  “I’m impressed,” I tease as I wipe the last remnants of barbeque sauce from my fingers with a wet napkin and toss it on the tray of our trash and empty containers.

  McKenzie licks her fingers once more before cleaning her hands as well, the gesture so innocent she probably doesn’t realize what she’s doing to my dick.

  “I’m surprised you’re surprised. You’ve seen me eat cookies. That’s like an appetizer. This was a full-fledged meal and I enjoyed it immensely. Food that good can’t go to waste.”

  Her candidness makes me smile. At least she’s not one of those women afraid to eat in front of her date. I love it. “I agree. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it revolves around food. I don’t understand how people don’t think the same way.”

  McKenzie’s face lights up. “It’s mine too for that exact reason,” she says through a wide smile and with a shake of her head.

  “Damn. A woman after my own heart. You’re just too good to be true, Mac.”

  She pauses, but still holds that smile that is twisting my stomach into a heart-shaped knot. “I’m beginning to think the same way about you, Dylan.”

  We clear our trash and head back to my truck where I help McKenzie inside once more and head for her house. The sun has completely disappeared from the sky now and the bright stars and street lights illuminate the cab of my truck as we drive. Without any fight, McKenzie let me hold her hand the entire drive to her home, but we never spoke a word. It was as if all of the anticipation of our first kiss was soaking up the sound in the cab, the silence magnified at the prospect of our lips touching for the first time.

  Since she voiced wanting to kiss me earlier, the thought of finally following through with the daydream playing around in my head for weeks was casually resting in the back of my mind, legs crossed and arms folded as it sat on the couch and waited to be summoned.

  And now that I’m walking her to her front door with my hand on the small of her back, the scent of her perfume and shampoo smacking me in the face along with the way her curves feel under my hand, that thought that has been so patient all evening has leapt from that couch and is now prominently in my face, preventing any other distractions from ruining this moment.

  “Dylan,” she says as we arrive at her door and she turns to face me, her purse strap resting high on her shoulder, her long red hair framing her round and gorgeous face. “I had the best time tonight. I was scared, to be frank, of going out with you—not only because I know there’s an age difference between us, but mostly because it has been such a long time since I’ve been on a date.” She takes a deep breath and then lets her purse slink off of her arm as it hits the wooden patio beneath us with a thud. “But you made me feel so comfortable and not once did I regret saying yes this evening. If anything, I’ve been wondering why I was nervous at all.”

  I step forward, reaching for her hips as I draw her into my body, my heart pounding so wildly I’m sure she can hear the galloping of the organ in my chest. “I’m glad you said yes, Mac.”

  She nods. “Me too. And now, you’d better deliver on that kiss you promised. Because if you don’t, that would ruin the entire evening.”

  I can’t help the grin that slips over my lips. “Well, we can’t have that happening now, can we?”

  With a shake of her head, she replies breathlessly, “Nope.”

  As if time stands still in that moment, I pause only long enough to memorize the desperation resting between us, the serendipitous atmosphere alerting me to how much this woman belongs in my arms right now, as if I could ever fight the way she makes me feel. Hell, I haven’t been able to fight it since the first moment I saw her pop a cookie in her mouth.

  Without hesitating a moment longer, I lean down as I hear her breath hitch once more and gently press my lips to hers. And the moment we touch, the second her body gives in to me—it’s as if stars align and the universe takes a bow for uniting two lovers whose paths were destined to cross.

  Because kissing McKenzie, hearing her soft moan of pleasure in my ear as I pull her in tighter and nip at her lips before swiping my tongue against them, begging for entrance, is an out of body experience that was worth every daydream, every ounce of patience, every moment I almost jumped the gun with her earlier.

  Our tongues meet and I swear my heart stops beating because all of the blood in my body is rushing south, making my dick throb against my jeans as we kiss with such emotion that I don’t think I’ll ever be the same man again.

  My hands squeeze her hips tighter as she presses her breasts harder against my chest, her arms wrapping around my neck in a hold that speaks of desperation and believing—believing that her saying yes to me was the right choice, believing that the two of us together is something we never could have fought.

  Needing to catch my breath and prevent myself from taking her right on her front porch, I slow down the kiss and reluctantly separate her lips from mine, resting our foreheads together as the silence of the night rests between us. The only sounds you can hear are crickets chirping in the bushes and traffic off in the distance—and maybe the blood rushing through my body fighting to keep me alert and not pass out right in front of her.

  “Dylan,” she finally speaks, low and on an uncontrollable whisper. “Do you… do you want to come inside?”

  Fuck, do I ever. But I don’t want to send her the wrong message. I want her to know that as badly as I want her, she deserves so much more than sex on the first date. “Mac, I do. I want to so fucking badly. But I don’t want to move too fast.”

  She nods her head against mine as I feel her shoulders fall, alerting me to her disappointment. The last thing I want her to do is feel rejected, especially after she put herself out there like that.

  “Do you feel this though, Mac?” I ask, while pressing my rock hard ere
ction into her, hoping it doesn’t freak her out. “This is my body telling me to say yes because Christ, do I want you. I want you so fucking bad. I want to make you feel so fucking good and show you how crazy you make me. But my heart,” I say, reaching down to grab her hand and place it over the frenzy happening in my chest. “My heart is saying that taking our time will be worth it, that you deserve to know that I want you regardless of whether we have sex tonight or not.”

  “You’re not making it easier to resist you with these little speeches, Dylan,” she says through a chuckle that makes me reciprocate.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just being …”

  “Honest. Yeah, I know. And I know you’re right.”

  We separate hesitantly, our eyes still locked before McKenzie dips down to retrieve her purse and fish out her keys.

  As soon as she unlocks her door, she turns back to me with a shy smile. “Thank you again for tonight. I had the best time.”

  “Likewise, Mac. I’ll see you Tuesday?”

  “Oh, you will, will you?”

  I nod knowingly. “Yup. It’s grocery shopping day for you.”

  Her smile falls before she starts laughing again. “That it is. See you then, Dylan.”

  “Later, Mac.” I lean in and press one more chaste kiss to her lips and then head back to my truck, fighting my body’s desire to run back up there and take advantage of the opportunity she presented to me tonight.

  But like I said, my heart knows better. He knows she’s worth the wait.

  In fact, he knows that she’s the one I’ve been waiting for.

  After weeks of longing, a few days of talking, and one date, I just know—McKenzie Daniels is the woman for me. And I’ll be damned if I let her go now.

  Chapter 12

  McKenzie

  “Did you know that October is National Cookie Month?”

  Dylan’s voice makes me jump as I walk around the end cap of an aisle, staring down at my list in front of me. I knew I was going to see him tonight, but I anticipated getting his attention, not the other way around.

  With a hand over my racing heart, I give myself a moment to get my pulse under control before I answer him. “Well, hello to you too.”

 

‹ Prev