Dangerous Love(14)

As they finished their discussion on the agenda, the sliding glass door flew open, and Murphy's two children bolted out of the house, across the deck, and down the steps to the backyard.

“Hi Daddy, Smith, Derk,” Caitlin yelled on her dash past them, Daniel quick on her heels.

Their mannies, Russ and Jarrett, casually followed. Tagging along behind them was Lynn, Russ's sister. She cradled her soon-to-be stepson, Brady, in her arms.

"Well, if it isn't L-Y-N-N," Derk teased. Their interaction consisted of nothing but barbs. He loved it.

She rolled those gorgeous hazel eyes, but she didn't fool him. Those peepers shined with humor.

"Great. Jackass−present and accounted for," she said as she made her way down the steps.

"You know you love me, sweetheart," he called after her.

"As much as a cold sore," she quipped over her shoulder.

He chuckled. Man Lynn was a hoot. Too bad she was head-over-heels for Mrs. Murphy's cousin, Ryan.

"Heard her daycare business is taking off," Derk said, pulling his cigarettes out of his jeans and lighting up. Murphy despised the habit but he didn't argue too much when they were outdoors.

"It is." Mr. Murphy nodded.

Derk didn't miss the underlying tone of displeasure. He glanced at the man and cocked a brow. Naturally, Murphy didn't elaborate. Never did. He only stared back at him with those dark, soulless eyes. But Derk could guess. Lynn didn't borrow money from Murphy to open the daycare. Therefore, Murphy couldn't hold the loan over Lynn and Ryan's heads as a way to ensure they stayed in Courtney's life. Since both her beloved cousins found women to spend the rest of their lives with, they retreated from Courtney's life because of Mr. Murphy's far-from-legal earnings. That devastated Mrs. Murphy. Derk didn't know what was in the water across town at the Millen home, but he wanted none of it if it turned a man into a pansy-ass woman slave.

On cue, Courtney stepped out onto the deck. Murphy's eyes brightened slightly and he grinned. Her amazing blue eyes never left her husband's hungry gaze. She went straight to him and elegantly slid into the seat beside him.

"I love the blue," Murphy said low and appreciatively.

"Thank you," she said softly as Mr. Murphy kissed her lightly on her lips.

Smith silently left his seat to give the couple their privacy. Derk tried to keep his noise level down but he'd never been the strong silent type, like his partner.

Derk pulled out his cell. It took every bit of self-control not to contact Mackenzie. Hanging around the in-love Murphys could do that to you. Make a man consider what he was missing in his life. That his world could be considered empty. That waking up in a cold bed most mornings wasn’t exactly fulfilling for a thirty-five year old man.

Fuck that shit.

He dialed Claire.

"Hey, baby," she answered on the second ring.

"I'll be over around ten." He disconnected before she said a word. Not that Claire would ever deny him. She was a sure thing.

Why the fuck did that not rile him up like it used to?





11



Derk never showed back up to take Mackenzie to work. Part of her felt a twinge of disappointment. All that managed to do was confirm he truly wasn't interested in her. Only her body. So she spent the night pouring herself into her work, which was easy since her section of the bar remained busy throughout the evening. Apparently, the bar flies picked up on the fact the sexy bartenders worked designated areas, so the patrons conveniently positioned themselves according to their preferences.

Around one in the morning, Derk’s friend from the other night appeared in Kayla’s section. The thinning crowd sent Kayla packing early.

“I’m going to head home, call me when you're finished so I can come and get you,” Kayla said to her on her way out the door.

“Okay,” she called back.

While Mackenzie cleaned a bit, she kept a close eye on her customers and noted Derk’s friend needed a refill.

“Another?” she asked.

He nodded.

She slid the beer in front of him then leaned on the wood bar. “I’m Mackenzie.”

He gave her a once over. “Smith.”

She smiled. “Nice to meet you. Derk’s friend, yes?”

He shrugged.

Well, so much for conversation. Most men that wandered into the bar relished one of the bartender's undivided attention. Guess he wasn't one of those. Maybe he was gay? She started to wipe down the liquor bottles, then glanced his direction, again. All right, so he's hetero. She caught him eyeing, Dana, the bar's other token bleach blonde goddess, with a glazed over look like he wanted to devour her.

She left him to finish his beer in peace and drool. For another half an hour, she worked diligently to prepare the bar to close. She noted Smith had left twenty minutes ago and left her a twenty as a tip. Wow.