Page 6 of Boundaries

The silence stretched between us and I prompted. “Well?”

“It’s probably village gossip, but even if this taboo kiss does involve Boyd, why do you care so much? Is this your way of saying you have a crush on my brother?”

OMG, I think I just threw up in my mouth. “Absolutely not. I’d rather eat glass.”

“That’s a bit extreme,” Mason chuckled.

Deep grooves must have appeared on my forehead, I was frowning so hard it hurt. “I’m worried. The thought of any more of my family members getting involved with yours, is giving me a rash. Tell Boyd to stay away from Chrissy.”

He untangled one arm to itch his jaw, those sure fingers against his bristles making a scratching sound. “I generally steer clear of tangling myself up in my brother’s bullshit and so I think I’ll pass. You don’t even have any fucking facts. As usual, you’re jumping the gun. Running your mouth off, before you know what’s going on.”

He made to turn back to his task, but I placed my fingers on his arm, stopping him in his tracks. He glanced down toward where my slender boned hand touched his skin. My colouring appeared stark white against his sun-kissed appendage. He worked outside every day on the farm, I didn’t. What can you do? I so needed to top up my tan.

A strange sensation fizzled through my fingers and I quickly removed my hand. Did he just give me an electric shock? My skin was tingling. Fisting my palm, I dropped my arm and shot him a look that said it all.

“At least talk to him, find out if there is any truth in it. Do me a favour for once in your life.”

“I think you’re well out of favours where I’m concerned,” he snapped.

His dismissive reaction amped up the wattage of my temper.

Mason dropped his arms and rolled his shoulders. “Why don’t you speak with your sister?” he pointed out with a flick of his hand. His tone suggested he was now mildly annoyed. He obviously didn’t like me telling him what to do, but then all the McKenna boys had an issue with authority.

I exhaled noisily. Speak to my sister indeed. As if I hadn’t already tried that. “I have. She denied it and says she hasn’t got a clue what I’m talking about.”

Mason shook his dark head, his eyes briefly looking me up and down. He did it quickly, but I saw him checking me out. I sure hoped he didn’t get any ideas of that nature.

“And Boyd, being Boyd will say the same I imagine. What makes you think he’ll listen to me?”

“You’re a God to him. He does anything you say,” I pointed out, the words shooting from my mouth like gunfire.

He shrugged those massive shoulders, “Not anymore. Since he turned eighteen, he appears to be wearing his big boy pants. He does his own thing and is a stubborn little fucker now.”

“He’s not the only one,” I said under my breath.

“Sorry?” Mason shot back with a head tilt.

“You will be if you don’t do something about this approaching nightmare?”

“You don’t know if it’s true Amy,” Mason repeated his point from earlier.

“I know that there’s no smoke without fire.” The words were out before I could draw them back. Oops. Mason’s face darkened. “Sorry, no offence,” I added with an awkward smile. The McKenna family were touchy about fire for obvious reasons.

“None taken,” he managed with an uncaring tone. Mason was a master of the poker face.

“Well?” I repeated.

He sighed, “Well, what?” Mason arched one of those perfect eyebrows, part of me wondered if he had the things threaded, they were that neat. I shooed off the thought, as if Mason would ever be arsed enough to go to that level of grooming. He and his brothers were men’s men and probably never looked in the mirror. Not that they needed to, they were just lucky to have been born naturally attractive. Women magnets. And again, I stress. Not to me.

“Well? Will you say something or do I have to get involved?” I prompted as Mason watched me in brooding silence.

“You’re already too involved Amy. You should learn to keep your nose out of other people’s business. You did the exact same thing with Nixon and Jenna. Get a life of your own, and lose the obsession with what your sisters are doing.”

I ignored his obnoxious comment about getting a life of my own. I cared about my family, I was only looking out for them, wasn’t I?

I shook off the doubt his comment created, like I was an interfering busybody that had nothing better to do. He was such a git. Why did I let him get to me so much?

“If you don’t do something Mason, I will, and it may not be nice,” I snapped out my warning.

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