Page 4 of One More Time

I ignored her, holding McKenna’s gaze. “Let’s go.” I turned to the side, keeping my arm firmly around her waist, and began to walk.

Chapter Three

McKenna

A few months later

An icy blast of wind gusted across the harbor. I stuffed my hands a little deeper into the pockets of my down jacket as I walked quickly down the street. The sign for Spill the Beans Café glittered on this gray winter day.

My lips curled in a smile as I turned up the walkway. I wished I had some beans to spill.

“No, you don’t,” I said to myself.

“Who are you talking to?” My older brother’s voice reached me just as I walked through the doorway.

I had seven older brothers to choose from. Of course, Blake had to be the one to catch me talking to myself.

“Myself,” I countered with a jaunty grin. The only way to deal with Blake’s teasing was to play it off.

“In that case, no, you don’t, what?”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” I countered pointedly.

“You are talking to me. Right now, in fact,” he returned.

I shook my head with a bemused chuckle just as Blake’s wife, Fiona, stopped at his side. She nudged him lightly in the ribs with her elbow. “Leave her alone,” Fiona ordered.

Blake glanced down, his brows rising in a look of faux outrage. “Leave her alone? Why do you assume I’m bugging her?”

Fiona’s eyes met mine with a knowing glint. She looked back at Blake. “Because I know you. You usually tease your siblings, especially McKenna.”

Blake, the brother I’d thought would never fall for anyone, looked at Fiona with pure love. He shrugged easily and curled an arm around her shoulders. “You might have a point.

I burst out laughing. I was happy for them. I really was. But I hated the little sting I felt on the surface of my heart. I wanted everyone to be happy and find their person, yet I’d accepted the fact that I didn’t think I would ever trust anyone again. I’d also concluded I didn’t want children. While I certainly wasn’t reconsidering having children, doubts had started to swirl regarding my faith in not having faith in anyone.

I'd been wishing for things ever since that stupid kiss from Jack Hamilton.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Is everything okay?” Fiona prompted, her gaze concerned.

“Oh, of course,” I said, injecting some forced cheerfulness into my tone. “I’m just preoccupied and haven’t had my coffee yet today.”

Blake’s eyes widened. “You’d better get some fast.”

He waved me by them, and I rolled my eyes as I approached the counter. There was a lull in the flow of customers although the café was busy. Despite being fairly early for a winter morning, most tables were occupied.

Just as Blake began to say something else, the door to the café opened. My friend Tessa came in, her eyes catching mine as she released the door behind her.

“Hey, Tessa,” I greeted, just as the door pushed open again.

My pulse skyrocketed the second my eyes landed on the man walking through. Tessa immediately glanced over her shoulder.

Jack Hamilton walked into the café. He glanced to the side when Blake said, “Hey there, Jack.”

Of course, Blake knew Jack. Jack had met my whole freaking family on the ferry trip. Time ticked by in slow motion as Jack’s gaze arced toward where Blake stood near me just as Tessa stopped on my other side.

“Hi, Blake,” Jack said. His eyes met mine briefly, and he dipped his chin. “And McKenna.”

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