Page 80 of Finding You

“Oh…well…”

Devin looked at his watch and then back at her. “I think everyone’s planning on meeting around nine and if all goes as planned, you should be on the road by noon. That’s not too terribly late, right?”

It meant she wasn’t going to get as far as she wanted on her first day of driving, but…how could she say no to her friends? And after all the ways Ashlynn had befriended her, how could she possibly bail on her?

“You’re right,” she agreed. “And maybe you and I can grab some lunch together before I go?”

He gave her a doubtful look. “Since Will opened the shop for me this morning, I figured I’d take the opportunity to run over to talk to my accountant. I’ve been putting it off for far too long, but I’m sure we’ll have a few minutes so we can say goodbye.”

Nothing. Not even a hint of remorse in his tone!

“Well, I wouldn’t want to pull you away from such an exciting appointment.” There was humor in her voice that she totally didn’t feel. “We could say our goodbyes before I go to meet up with Ashlynn.”

And in a move she never saw coming, he leaned forward and picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. “Or…we could spend the next couple of hours forgetting about saying goodbye.”

MacKenzie couldn’t help but giggle.

And for a little while, she let herself forget that her heart was breaking.

“So…wait. We all said our goodbyes yesterday and it sucked. And I have to meet her for breakfast…why?”

“Ash,” Devin whispered into the phone. “You said you’d help.”

“Yeah, I know I did, but you could have given me a little more of a heads up! I actually have a client coming in early! Isn’t there something else you can do?”

“Do you have suggestions, because I’m freaking out here?”

Silence.

“Ashlynn?”

“No.”

“Great,” he murmured. “Just great. Now what am I supposed to do?”

“Okay, okay, okay…just…stall her for an hour. Then send her over to Books & Beans. I’ll call the girls and together I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

“You’re the best, Ash. Seriously. Next tune-up and oil change is on me.”

“My next new car should be on you,” she grumbled. “It’s a good thing you’re so damn sweet or I’d be tempted to kick your ass.”

“You’re a scary woman, Ashlynn.”

“And don’t you forget it.” And then she hung up.

Devin switched his phone off and stepped back into the bedroom with the glasses of juice he told MacKenzie he was going to get. She was sprawled out across his bed, her eyes closed and so damn beautiful he could only stop and stare.

“Did you squeeze the oranges yourself?” she teased.

Chuckling, he put her glass down on the bedside table. “Sorry. I got a text from uh…Levi. The town’s already working up a proposal for next year’s festival and he wanted to know if I wanted to be on one of the committees.”

For a guy who prided himself on honesty and never lying, his pants should be on fire right now.

MacKenzie opened one eye and looked at him. “Why is he so involved with all of this? I thought he was in advertising, but it seems like whenever anything comes up about the town or even the resort, they all defer to Levi.”

He shrugged. “He’s kind of responsible for all the new life that got breathed into this town–including the ski resort. He handles all the advertising, but he also works with all the departments to make sure everything stays cohesive. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ran for mayor next year.”

Nodding, MacKenzie sat up and reached for her juice and took a long drink. When she put the glass down, she looked at Devin and blushed. “Thanks. I was really thirsty.”

---