Page 56 of Shattered

“What about yourself?”

She glanced over her shoulder at Mackenzie who stood at the kitchen island with Jase, his youngest brother. How did she answer Keeley’s question, especially when the truth had been more complicated than the question? What happened between her and Mackenzie was instantaneous. Combustible. Resisting him was futile. Yet, he could hold her at arm’s length without hesitation. Sure, she could blame it on his past. He hadn’t had very good luck when it came to women and her story could almost be a carbon copy to Holly’s, but they also diverged.

“I guess I’m okay,” she answered. “Working as much as I can so I can move out of our shitty apartment.”

Keeley frowned. “Kalkin has been trying for years to get that apartment complex condemned and tore down.”

“I wish the staff was more willing to fix stuff.” Her mind wandered back to the day Mackenzie showed up to fix the pipe. The way he pinned her to the wall and crushed her lips with his. The way he seemingly grew before her, looming over her like the wolf did all those weeks ago. “If it hadn’t been for Mac, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Keeley pursed her lips. “Probably been forced to pay for the damages.”

“Yeah.” It’d been the biggest thing she’d worried about. “Mac kind of jumped my ass for not having renter’s insurance.”

“He’s an asshole,” Keeley quipped. “Trust me.”

“You’re preaching to the choir.” She snickered. “So, I guess these dinner parties are a hit around here.”

“More or less.” Keeley’s brows furrowed. “We’re missing a few.”

“Bad?” Aurora hedged.

“Pretty shitty, honestly.” She sighed. “One day it’ll get fixed, until then, we have to remind them—all of them, the door is always open.”

Keeley’s cryptic answer perplexed Aurora, but she wouldn’t push anymore. They were there to have fun and that’s what she’d do. “I think it’s all you can do.”

A quick knock came at the door before it opened. There in the entryway stood a distinguished man, a little over six-feet tall holding Fern, Charisma’s daughter. Beside him, a man a few inches shorter than him, with long black hair pulled back at his nape. His piercing green eyes startled Aurora. For a man, he was arresting. Gorgeous. She automatically envied him.

“Hello everyone,” the tall of the two men said with a wave. “It good to see most of you again. It’s been too long.”

“Daddy!” Penelope hurried toward him. “You’re here.” She glanced at Jochi and grinned. “Mr. Sloan. Good to see you again.”

“Likewise.” Sloan smiled, and it took Aurora’s breath away.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“He’s got a way about him,” Keeley said. “Penny Ann’s father is Jefferson and you know the man beside him.”

“His name isn’t Sloan,” Mikey said, confused. “It’s Jochi. He’s a snow leopard. I told you I wasn’t lying, Momma. See he’s here!” The little boy pointed to the man beside Jefferson.

“Huh?” Penelope scrunched up her nose.

“So much to explain.” Jefferson sighed.

Kalkin chuckled as he grabbed a couple of beers out of a large cooler sitting on the table in the kitchen. “I don’t think you can get it out in one go.”

“You like what you see,” Mackenzie growled in her ear.

She peered up at him through her lashes. “I don’t have any idea what you mean.”

He chuckled. The rough sound skittered across her skin setting it on fire. “You can’t hide anything from me, star.”

“You’re an asshole,” she muttered.

“Not a no.” Mackenzie wrapped his arm around her middle. “I’m not jealous. I have one thing he doesn’t.”

“What?” The second the word fell from her lips, she realized she fell right into his trap.

“A knot.”

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