Courtney rolled her eyes. “What a horrible nick-name.”
“I know,” she agreed.
“Please,” Courtney grabbed her hand and pulled her over to a large patio table, “come meet my husband. You plan on staying right? The men will go off after a while to do whatever it is that men do, while us women get to gossip.” Courtney stopped and spun on her so quickly, it surprised her. “Lynn and I get along well, but the moment my crazy sister-in-law gets into the gossip mix, everything tends to get out of control. With you added, maybe she’ll behave. Doubtful. But we can hope.” Courtney grinned and nodded.
Mackenzie found herself nodding along. This woman didn’t know her. Not one minute detail. Yet she opened her arms and immediately welcomed her into her home and was already planning a trio army to combat an obnoxious sister-in-law. No looks of shame or pity haunted her. This woman didn’t have to be friendly toward her. She didn’t even have to introduce herself. She was on an entirely different social class than Mackenzie, yet with Courtney’s approach, you’d never it. She blinked back the sting in her eyes.
“Derrick,” Courtney said, guiding her to the table. “This is Mackenzie.” She turned to her. “I apologize. I didn’t get your last name. Here I am calling Derk rude and where have my manners gone?”
“Hiland,” she softly answered.
Courtney spun back around, but her husband was already standing from his chair. Again, Mackenzie gaped. And again, the web pictures didn’t do anything for the man before her. He wasn’t just handsome. He was striking. As he stood, his tall, lean body moved gracefully. His dark, chocolate eyes never left his wife as he rounded the table, where a group of men gathered, beers in hand. She watched Courtney focus in on her husband, a tiny smile curled at her lips and her chest inflated with a long inhale. As if she hadn’t seen her husband in months. When Mackenzie looked back to the man, his piercing eyes were focused in on her. She didn’t know whether to fall to his feet or run screaming. His chiseled features softened as he grinned knowingly at her. Though she couldn’t decide if the look was sinister or amused, or both.
Mr. Murphy wrapped an arm around his wife’s thin waist and pulled her into his body. “Mackenzie, it’s a pleasure.”
Struck stupid, she stood mute.
Courtney tilted her head. “How did you and Derk meet?”
Derk, the devil, slid up next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “She kissed me at the bar one night.”
She gasped. “I did not.” She turned to Courtney and Mr. Murphy and tossed a thumb Derk’s direction. “He decided to assault my mouth, caveman style.”
Everyone within earshot chuckled.
Courtney giggled and shook her head. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Please, help yourself to food and drinks. Dinner will be served in about an hour,” Mr. Murphy said, his tone polite but cool.
“Thank you.”
“Come, let me introduce you to everyone. I’m sure Derk will be fine without you for a bit.” Courtney grabbed her hand and led her away. She heard Derk laughing behind her. The bastard.
***
Before dinner, Mackenzie went through a whirlwind of new names and faces. Every single person at the party was polite and courteous to her. No one made her feel like a stranger amongst them. No one made her uncomfortable. Well, except for Derk when he thought Russ, one of the mannies, took too much of a liking to her.
He yelled over the top deck to the backyard, where they stood by one of the small trees that lined the back of the property, “She’s taken, manny. Go find yourself a nice little college girl.”
Russ’s reaction was to snort and shake his head.
Mackenzie knew her color had turned as red as an apple.
“Jerk,” she muttered.
“Can’t argue with that one, Mackenzie,” Russ said. Clearly he was trying to hold back his laughter.
Dinner turned into a light affair with scrumptious food Mr. Murphy had catered. He’d specifically told Mackenzie he didn’t want his wife to worry about cooking for thirty people. Especially when he’d been the one to invite everyone. That conversation preceded what felt like some sort of inquiry on his part. But she wasn’t quite sure. He seemed polite yet standoffish. He also put out an aura of absolute power. The man was fully aware of himself, his environment, the people in his home, his family, his children, and specifically his wife. Mackenzie frequently caught herself staring at the couple and their interaction. Even across the yard from one another, they seemed to be well aware of each other’s presence. If Derrick was speaking to someone, his eyes would always search for his wife. If Courtney went into the house for something, she always asked her husband if he needed anything. They went out of their way to take care of one another. It was awe inspiring and depressing at the same time.