Dangerous Love(48)

After dinner, while the men set up for a poker game, the women gathered inside the house to gossip and cackle about anything and everything. There was a lot of talk about romance novels and what everyone was reading.

“Mackenzie, do you own an eReader?” Lynn asked.

She shook her head.

“I have an extra one you can have,” Courtney said, excited. “Then you can join us on book night.”

“What do you do for book night?”

“Oh, the best night of the week,” Lynn said. “No men. No kids. Plenty of alcohol and food and sexy books. A woman’s dream.” She sighed.

All the women laughed and agreed. Courtney rushed out the room and returned with an eReader. “Here. There are plenty of books downloaded onto it. We get together every week, either someone’s house or at a restaurant. It just depends if we need a girls’ night out.”

“I can’t accept this.” Mackenzie knew how much that electronic device cost. She’d looked into purchasing one for herself last year but couldn’t afford it.

“I have three of them. What could I possibly do with that many? Derrick indulges my love of erotica romances by buying me a new reader every time the latest model comes out. He insists I have only the best technology. Which is how I ended up with three.” Courtney shrugged. “It’s going to a good home.”

How would Courtney know if her electronic device was going to a good home? She knew zero about her, but the woman openly placed her faith that Mackenzie was a good person. How did Courtney know she might not sell it for some extra cash? Not that she would. She'd honestly treasure the item. It was extraordinary, overwhelming, and soothing to be in her presence.

“This week we’re meeting at Murphy’s,” Lynn said, pointing at Mrs. Murphy. “Because this one’s husband wants to keep an eye on her. Apparently, she disappeared shopping for a few hours the other day.”

Mackenzie looked at her quizzically. Why would that matter?

“I ditched security.”

So?

“Yeah, Derrick’s a bit paranoid since I was kidnapped a few years ago,” Courtney said nonchalantly.

“What?” Mac gasped, horrified.

“Another time.” Courtney waved off the subject.

“I’m still waiting for that story,” Lynn complained. “So don’t think you’ll hear it anytime soon.”

Derrick’s sister, Diane, handed her a glass of white wine and the ladies continued their hen chatter, including her in on every topic discussed, which ranged from clothing designers, The Walking Dead series, the neighbor’s new housekeeper, and anything else that could be shoved into the women’s alone time.

Mackenzie loved it. She felt like one of the girls. Courtney, Lynn, and Diane weren’t just women who were related, they were family. And for some reason, they acted as if she part of that group. Yes, she had Kayla and sometimes visited her relatives, but they always treated her like she was a piece of the room, never a person. They weren’t rude but they weren’t inviting. The Murphy family was entirely different. For the first time in her life, she was given a taste of what being in a large family was about. What being cherished within a close-knit unit felt like. Her emotions conflicted. Part of her was on cloud nine and relished the attention. Part of her feared that happiness because it wouldn’t last beyond tonight. No matter what, these people were the mob. She kept reminding herself of that every time she felt herself get swayed to the “dark side.” They were sucking her in to be a part of their black hole, and throughout the night she felt drawn to it. But she always reminded herself to keep a distance.

Now she stood on the back deck, looking out over the yard that had soft white lights strung from the canopy, creating a serene ambiance as the men battled over their card game. Mackenzie noticed that Derrick sat at what would be considered the head of the table, and all the men took their cues from him. He was silently commanding. Not quite domineering, but she had a feeling it was because it wasn’t necessary this evening.

“He’s my soulmate,” Courtney said softly, surprising her.

She turned, embarrassed she’d been caught stealing a look at Derrick.

“I’m sorry. I just find Mr. Murphy’s mannerisms and the way you two are with each other fascinating,” she admitted.

Courtney tilted her head. “How so?”

“You’re both so…aware.”

Courtney smiled, it reaching her eyes. “We are. He’s very self-aware, and he’s taught me how to be the same. It’s been a blessing. I went through too many years of self-doubt, questioning everything from the loaf of bread I bought, to what he was doing while gone during the day. We’ve been through too much together. Keeping close has saved each other and our marriage. Not everything was roses a couple years ago. But we worked through it and came out stronger. He’d do anything for me, and I’d do anything for him.”