Page 54 of My Dearest Mackenzie

He’d missed a couple of golf gatherings due to being with me, and had taken to teasing me over my lack of playing.

“Sure, I’ve been secretly practicing while you were away…” I giggled.

“I’m not really a surprise kind of guy. I like to know what I’m walking into,” Mack responded, knowing I’d been joking.

When I’d called Corey to double-check on Mack’s availability, he’d said as much— “He’s not going to love a surprise, Frankie, babe,” were his exact words. “I almost got fired a few times for trying to pull one over on the guy.”

“I’m willing to risk it,” I’d told him. “I’m persuasive, you know?”

Now I reassured Mack.

“You will like this, I’m pretty sure. It’s a simple surprise.”

“Does it involve you?”

“Yes…” I couldn’t help the laugh escaping me. Mack had a way of making everything feel easy and fun, as if I were young-ish again.

“I have to swing by the office and head out to Westchester. I want to see the remodel on the store. They’ve added a few new tester areas in the front since the vandalism, and I haven’t seen the layout. Dinner later? And you can surprise away?”

That was what I was hoping he’d say. “Okay, how about at my place? I have to see one client for a French cuff emergency and then I can head home and cook. Might be nice to eat something decent?”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind going out…”

Things I’d learned about Mack over the last month: he didn’t like to make extra work for others; he’d rather spend money on getting something done than ask someone a favor; and he was allergic to leaning on anyone for support. Basically, he’d been emotionally abandoned by his mother, and convinced himself it was best not to be reliant on anyone.

There was no French cuff emergency; I was already in my kitchen with my own sleeves rolled up.

Mack and I had eaten out so many times, but I wanted to do something a bit different to mark this day. Despite going out often, Mack liked his space. He’d come to kickboxing with me two more times—requesting our own corner, reserving several extra spots to allow for the privacy. I kept wanting to settle into a more regular home-based routine, but Mack clearly tried to be a fancy-pants. Well, not this weekend, he wasn’t.

“I’m sure,” I told him despite being slightly worried later when I opened the door, wearing a party hat and a bright pink apron over my long sleeve T-shirt and jeans, in bare feet and minimal makeup.

With an eyebrow raised, Mack entered my place. He seemed to be looking for someone else.

“Is anyone here?” he asked, either reading my mind or being overly panicked.

“No, who would be here?”

“No one. Never mind. Have you been stalking me again?” He growled the question while half smiling.

I felt a small grin spread over my face. “Maybe a tiny bit of internet searching. Fact-finding, you know?”

Mack circled me, gathering me close, pulling me into his chest and kissing the top of my head. I heard him breathe me in before he spoke. “Hello, Frances. I missed you…until this very moment when I realized you were up to something naughty.”

“I knew it!” I taunted, not moving from his arms.

“But the thing is, I don’t do birthday parties…” His breath tickled the top of my head as he spoke.

Slipping out of his embrace, I stood with a hand on my hip. “This year you do, Mackenzie Miller.” I watched his mouth quirk and knew something sinister was going to come out.

“I also don’t do Mackenzie. I think I’ve mentioned this before.”

“Okay, sir. No full name, and a private birthday celebration, not a party.”

“Do I get to do whatever I want with you?”

“We will see if you behave.”

He strode over to the window and noted, “It’s starting to rain. And since we’re stuck inside, I can think of some things I’d like to do… Things I want to do very badly.”

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