Page 43 of Renewal After Dark

McKenzie had to bite her tongue to hold back the sharp retort that was dying to get out. But that never helped anything. “Nothing, Mom. He’s a nice guy who was close to Gran. It’s how people are out here. They help each other.”

“No man helps a pretty young woman without an ulterior motive.”

“I’ve got to go, but I’ll text you soon.”

“You should come home with that little one, McKenzie. It’s probably not safe out there.”

“We’re perfectly safe. Talk soon.” She ended the call before her mother could say something else that could never be unheard. That was her special gift—inserting the most negative, unhelpful comments into any situation.

McKenzie was outraged by the awful things she’d said about Duke, a man she didn’t even know.

“What set you off?”

“Huh?”

“You look furious.”

“My mother, as usual, with her commentary about what a man who helps a pretty young woman would want in return for his kindness.”

His expression went flat with shock. “She said that?”

“She did.”

“Well, it’s not true.”

“I know that. That’s how she is. If she thinks it, she says it, with no filter or regard for the feelings of other people. She assumes I’ll come home because the cabin is wrecked, but I can’t go back there. I just can’t.”

“You don’t have to. My place is all yours for as long as you need it, with no strings attached.”

“I’m sorry she said that, and I’m sorry I told you what she said. I should’ve kept it to myself, but she makes me so damned mad.”

“I can see why. It’s funny how I always wanted parents, but the more I hear about other people’s, the more I see I might’ve gotten lucky.”

“They’re not all like mine are.”

“I know, but enough of my friends got the short end of the parent stick that I’m glad to not be dealing with that as an adult. It would drive me crazy to have someone judging everything I said and did.”

“It’s tiresome.” She forced a smile. “I’m sorry to derail our day of positive thinking.”

“Eh, life happens. You can’t let it get to you.”

“How do I do that again?”

“You look at this perfect little face.” He gestured to Jax, taking in the world around him from the seat. “And you realize that no matter what’s going sideways at the moment, you’ll always have him to remind you of what’s really important.”

His words went straight to her heart and had her looking at him with even more admiration and, let’s face it,interestthan she’d had before. “What a sweet thing to say.”

“Just telling it like I see it. What else matters besides him and whatever’s best for him?”

“Nothing else matters.”

“Well, it’d be nice if you could make yourself happy in the process of making him happy.”

“That’d be good.”

“You’ll get there. Don’t let her take up rent-free space in your thoughts.”

“I still want to know how you got so wise.”

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