Page 22 of Shattered

He nodded. “Seems easy enough.”

“What time?” she inquired.

“We normally eat dinner at six every night. Come over at five-thirty. It’ll give us all some time to mingle. Does she have a favorite book to read at night?”

Aurora nodded. “Goodnight Moonis her all-time favorite book.”

Mackenzie smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It made her want to wrap her arms around him and comfort him for some odd reason. “My kids loved it growing up. Riley would ask me to read it to her sometimes two or three times a night.” For a second, he got this peaceful faraway look in his eyes. It softened his features and turned the gruffy growly man in front of her, into a stunningly handsome man—not as though he wasn’t before, this had been different. “She still has her copy in her bookcase. I’ll pull it and have it waitin’ for Abby. After dinner, I’ll show her where she’ll sleep on the nights she’s here and read the book to her.”

“She might not want to give it up,” Aurora stated.

“My girl, Riley, she’s a good kid, she’ll willingly share. I’m bettin’ Riley will want to read it to her, instead of me.”

The sweet, endearing term he used in reference to his daughter was adorable, and for some odd reason, it made her belly wobble in pleasure. “Can I bring anything? Tonight?”

Mackenzie shook his head. “Just you and your kid.”

“Tell you what, how about I bring dessert?”

“We’d appreciate it. You should be aware, though, neither of my kids like cake of any kind. Pies are fine, and Riley would love you for life for cheesecake.”

“And you?” she pushed, wanting to either make him something, or purchase an item special for him. “What kind of dessert do you like?

Mackenzie shrugged. “To be honest, never really thought about it. We didn’t get much sweets growing up, our parents were dirt poor. When the Martins took us in, I found I didn’t really like overly sweet things.”

“There has to be something…something you ate once and enjoyed or something you occasionally have a craving for.”

Mackenzie rubbed at the scruff on his chin, deep in thought. “None that I can think of, star.”

This time when her cheeks filled with heat, it wasn’t from embarrassment, but with pleasure. Aurora wasn’t much of a cook; she was more of a re-heater. She wasn’t much of a baker, either. There was only one thing she was capable of making, and that was her beloved grandmother’s famous apple cake. Many summers, Aurora sat in her Nana’s kitchen peeling the apples that would be used in the cake. Aurora still recalled the sense of pride she felt when Nana had let her make the cake from start to finish. No one at the annual church picnic even realized Nana hadn’t made it. Some were saying it was the best one she ever made. From that day on, whenever someone requested the cake, Nana had Aurora make it. She knew from experience; it’d hit all his requirements.

“I know the perfect thing then.”

“Don’t put yourself out,” he grumbled.

“I’m not…promise and it’s the least I can do. You’re providing the entire meal, and watching Abby,” she reminded him.

Mentally she began to make a list of ingredients she’d need. What she didn’t have, she’d pick up from the store on the way home from getting Abby from school. If she timed it all just right, the cake would still be warm after they’d finished dinner.

“I need to get going,” she stated, her hand on the front door handle.

“Drive carefully,” the dark timbre of his voice sent another wave of arousal down her spine.

“Will do.” She stepped out on the porch as the door closed firmly behind her. That had gone a hell of a lot easier than she’d expected it to.

Mackenzie waited until Aurora backed out of his driveway before he grabbed his keys and headed out to his truck. The little girl was sick. How had he missed it? He’d smelled her just fine when she waved to him on the way out the back door of Keeley’s house to play with the other kids, but open heart surgery?What the fuck?

He growled.

Aurora had been caring for her sick daughter on her own. He didn’t smell another male on her, except Kalkin and it’d been due to her sitting beside his brother. The wolf residing within him popped up for the briefest of seconds before dissolving back into the darkness. However, what he saw of the black and grey beast, startled him. His wolfish ice-blue eyes glimmered with intention.

When Aurora asked him if he remembered the Halloween party, he hadn’t been exactly truthful. He had a gap in his memory but didn’t think anything of it. The trauma he sustained would always cause dark patches. He accepted it. Most days he’d been thankful to still be alive. However, he worried something important had happened and he’d missed it.

Mackenzie started his truck and headed in the opposite direction of Aurora. He had to see Danielle. If anyone in Window Rock would know what to do with Abby it’d be her. Maybe they could work out an arrangement for Danielle to come over on the nights the little girl was at the house with him and help heal her, if it was possible.

What the fuck are you doing?Mackenzie came to a stop sign and sat there. Once more he tried to play the savior. Trying to integrate himself into someone’s life who might not want him there. He sighed. He didn’t expect anything in exchange. The little girl was sick. Shouldn’t anyone in his position want to do the same?

He crossed the four-lane highway and continued to the orphanage. None of what he was doing was the same. He had children of his own. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to wonder from one day to the next, if it would be the last time he saw any of his children alive. No, this was about Abby and nothing about Aurora.

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