Mackenzie’s stomach turned at that heartfelt admission. In only a few words, Courtney managed to nail what was missing from her life. What she’d never had. An all encompassing love. Would she even recognize love if it slapped her upside the face. She’d never had parents, siblings, or a family to guide her in what love should or could look like. But standing on the deck of the home of a man who was supposed to be dangerous, love and loyalty saturated the air.
It was obvious between the man and woman of the house, and they showered it onto their two children. It was clear by how Courtney took care of her widowed mother. Love radiated from Derrick’s parents, who adored their son and even their crazy daughter, who constantly gushed over Courtney. It was evident in the friends that surrounded them in the form of verbal jabs, slight shoulder punches, small gifts that were passed around for no other reason than they were friends.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Ryan asked Courtney, interrupting them. His son lay sound asleep on his shoulder.
“Sure.” She turned to Mackenzie. “I’ll be right back.”
“No hurry.”
As soon as Courtney left, Derk slid up next to her. “Amazing aren’t they?”
“Who?”
“The Murphys.” Derk casually waved. “Courtney and Derrick and their family and friends. The people they surround themselves with.” He faced Mackenzie directly. “There isn’t anything this family wouldn’t do for one another. There isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for me and vice versa. When Mrs. Murphy’s father passed, who do you think made certain she got to the hospital safely? Smith and me. For that, her husband is eternally grateful. As he should be. I would if the roles were reversed.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “They have each other’s backs, they love one another, and support one another no matter what. You judge them and me, thinking you know who they are. But you don’t have a clue, Mac. These are good people. And I’m not the monster you think I am.” He took a step closer, his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her flush against him. She braced her hands on his rock hard chest. “You’ve gotten under my skin, Mac. I’m sick of this cat and mouse game between us. I can’t take you home and walk away.”
“I can’t be with you, Derk. I can’t go through whatever it is you’ll do to me. I don’t know that I can survive your kind of heartbreak.” She sighed and laid her head onto his chest, wishing they were in a different place and time and circumstance. Wishing he was a man she could trust. Wishing she was a woman who didn’t need to guard herself this fiercely. But she did. She’d been burned too much in life to allow herself to fall back into the same pattern.
Derk wrapped her up into his arms, his warmth and natural scent engulfing her, lulling her to relax. She could allow herself to get caught up in Derk. Any woman would. He was strong, sexy, cocky, funny, and dangerous. But he’d eventually break her. It was a given.
He ran a soothing hand up and down her back and sighed. “This isn’t the way I want this, Mac. I don’t want to let you go.”
She shook her head against this chest. “There’s no way I could‒”
“What!” Courtney’s high pitched scream echoed outside.
In the blink of an eye, Derk abandoned Mackenzie and rushed into the house. She ran quickly after him.
In the kitchen, Ryan had his arm around Lynn, and the baby had been transferred to her loving arms.
“You did what!” Courtney yelled. Mackenzie saw the woman’s body shake and tears fall from her eyes. “How could you?”
“Court,” Ryan said gently. “It wasn’t planned. We decided to get married and skip all the other crap that comes with it. We don’t have time for wedding drama. Lynn’s too busy with the daycare. I’m working double shifts at the hospital.”
“But I could have been there,” Courtney said, her voice shaking.
Ryan’s face fell.
Derrick, along with a group of other men, burst into the house. He went straight to his wife, his eyes black as night, assessing the situation.
“Sean was there, Court,” Ryan said gently. “He was my best man.”
Mackenzie didn’t understand what was happening, but she felt like she shouldn’t have a front row seat to whatever family dynamic was occurring.
Courtney outright sobbed. “Wasn’t it bad enough I didn’t get to go to Sean’s wedding? That he hasn’t spoken to me since the day the twins were born, except when Dad…” She hiccupped. “I thought…I thought…I…”