Page 38 of Tempting

“I need you to really hear this, Mackenzie. I don’t care if you’re dating Nixon. I don’t care if you ever date anyone. What I care about is you and whether you’re living a full life. Work is only supposed to be a piece of that. You’ve got to fill the rest of it up with other things.”

“Jules...” I want to tell her she’s being dramatic, but I would never disrespect her that way. “My life is full. I have my friends and family. I have a job I love. And if I decide to do this, I’d only apply for local fellowships. I wouldn’t leave again. I promise.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “I’ve got all three of you kids home right now. You can’t blame me for wanting to keep it that way for as long as possible. Blaise has less than two years left before he leaves for college, and he’s already talking about wanting to go away to school. I don’t want to let go of you again.”

“Jules,” I chuckle. “You never let go the last time.”

“Fine. I didn’t let go. But can you really blame me?” I know what she’s saying without coming out and saying it, and no, I can’t blame her. When you lose someone so quickly... someone as young and vibrant as my mom was... it changes your outlook on life.

“I’m not dating Nix.” I decide changing the subject is my safest move. “He was going, and I was going, so we went together. As friends. That’s it. There’s no story.”

She cocks her head and stares. “Yeah... I’ve heard that before. I may have said it to myself a time or two.”

“Oh yeah?” I steal another bite of muffin before she pushes it to me. “How’d that work out for you? Are you still friends?”

“Yup. Best friends. I married him.”

My pumpkin muffin gets caught in my suddenly dry throat.

“There’s always time, Mackenzie. And you can have it all. A career. A husband. A family. Whatever you want, you can have. It might not be easy, but the best things never are.”

I don’t need promises of an easy life. I can navigate difficult. I thrive on hard. The harder the better. I can take that and make it my bitch.

But what scares me enough to turn and walk away, is the idea that it can all be ripped away in a single heartbeat. That... I don’t think I could survive that. Not again.

Rumors are swirling that we may have our first sighting and it involves fresh meat.

One fan favorite Revolution-ary and a member of Kroydon Hills’ very own royal family may just be the first casualty... I mean coupling of the season.

Do you wanna guess who?

Only time and this reporter will tell. Stay tuned!

#KroydonKronicles #Revolutionary #KroydonHillsRoyalFamily #FreshMeat

NIXON

I’m on my way to pick up Gordie from my parent’s house when I turn off Main Street and catch Mac out of the corner of my eye, walking into her office. And wow. She looks incredible. Heels that make her legs look like they go on for days and a form-fitting dress that shows off every one of her delicate curves.

Shit.

Eyes on the damn road, Sinclair.

The other night on the goddamn phone was one of the hottest nights I can remember having in a long damn time, and I didn’t even touch her. But I knew it would be. How could it not? It’s Mackenzie.

My teenage fantasy.

Fuck . . . she’s my adult fantasy too.

I hit the Bluetooth button and tell it to text Mac.

Nixon

A little late to be walking into work.

Kenzie

You stalking me, Sinclair?

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